What is this "Vette Winter Storage"?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,063
Likes: 9,827
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Originally Posted by INTRUBL
I'm already reading about some people getting ready to store their vettes for the winter. WHY? I live in the Northeast and have had my vette since 02. Now I won't take it out when there is snow on the ground or when the roads are all sloppy but there is usually some good
stretches of weather to get it out a couple times a month. Salt, sand on the roads, yeah but it washes right off. Plus it gives you something to look forward to and turns you into an expert weatherman. I just don't get it, could someone clue me in.
stretches of weather to get it out a couple times a month. Salt, sand on the roads, yeah but it washes right off. Plus it gives you something to look forward to and turns you into an expert weatherman. I just don't get it, could someone clue me in.
I drive mine all year long. There are usually several days within a 30 day period during the winter when the roads are dry and can be driven on quite quickly. Although there was one time I went 60 days between drives due to continous bad weather. You wouldn't believe the feeling I get taking the Vette for a 35 mile drive once a month. It sure helps the mental health. The roads may have some salt/sand dust on them but I usually do not try to wash the car until spring comes. At 0 degrees you can have some interesting problems if you wash your car and do not have a heated garage to keep it in until it dries out. I have been doing this form of storage for 20+ years now and have not had any problems with corrosion on my Vettes.
By the way I used to use my 69 and 71 Big Blocks as daily drivers in all sorts of bad weather and they got around just fine. I usually passed the people in the so called better winter cars as the drivers sat along side the road afraid to move. One thing about driving in snow and ice is the great practice it gives you for the next season of track driving. No better way to improve your driving skills than letting it hang out on a snowy/slushy/icy road at a good rate of speed.
Bill
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 12,287
Likes: 0
From: york pa
Originally Posted by ebubman
here in pa, we are somewhat familiar with that white frozen phenonenon called snow. i plan to drive our vette this winter on cold, dry days only. it won't see snow, slop, sleet, et cetera. i swear the older i get the better georgia or texas look to me. bub
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 19
From: Driftwood PA
I guess you never passed a log truck in the winter and had your windshield splattered with sand, stones and salt. That kind of damage does not wash off. Just snowed here in pa and they put anti-skid on the road, I am done until spring.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,506
Likes: 5
From: West Michigan crew Mich
CI 7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08 & '12
storage
Man I can't wait for nov. 1st to get here every year because I can drive my 4 door Kia every where I go 
( it's a 5 speed you know) The vette is nice but the Kia rocks 
( it's a 5 speed you know) The vette is nice but the Kia rocks
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
My car has never been driven in the rain or in the snow. They put a ton of salt on the roads here in Illinois when it snows. It literally looks like dust from a gravel road at times because they put so much down. I usually don't take my car out of storage until we've had several good spring rains to wash all the salt off of the roads. According the the warranty on my chrome 505a's, it's voided if the wheels are exposed to salt.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 8
From: North\East Wisconsin
Originally Posted by OldschoolDon
Man I can't wait for nov. 1st to get here every year because I can drive my 4 door Kia every where I go ( it's a 5 speed you know) The vette is nice but the Kia rocks
( it's a 5 speed you know) The vette is nice but the Kia rocks 
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 826
Likes: 52
From: Chicopee MA
Originally Posted by 2KFRC5
, I live & drive in California. What does that have to do with this thread? Are you trying to say that between the earthquakes,mudslides,fires,floods you can drive your vette?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
Winter Storage
I think it depends on the area and the individual owners. I live in northern Arizona and last Jan. We had 44" of snow in five days. They cinder the roads here and put a chemical on the roads also. It's not salt and it really causes corrosion. I drive my car when I think I can do so without damaging it. Also I use the down time for the bigger installs with no time table to finish the work. I miss driving it every day like I used to(Cal.) but I enjoy being able to drive it when I feel it's OK to do so. We have a 6.O diesel Excursion with an Airaid intake, 5" exhaust and a hand programmer tune. This is a lot of fun to drive in the snow, almost 8,000 lbs. and runs like the proverbial Stripped a-- ape. Again, everyone has to decide what is best for them and their Vette. 
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
Originally Posted by graywolf04
I live in Wisconsin, they salt the roads, my Vette goes in storage November 1st and stays there until April. Have you seen a salt crusted undercarrige, ugly!. Although I have friends that drive there car year round. When the Vettes come out of storage we have " roll out parties", it's like having a new car again.
How many people are going to lay down on the ground to inspect your undercarriage though?
I saw mine after driving through one winter so far (the previous owner didn't drive it in the winter) and it doesn't look any different than before. I visit a detail shop once a week in the winter (and go to the $2 spray washes a lot too) so my car never stays dirty for very long, and salt doesn't have enough time to do it's dirtywork. My 98 still looks like brand new, and I'm sure it will for many years to come.
I get a lot of strange looks from people when they see me driving it in light snow, but I just can't bring myself to leave the car parked for four months a year.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,501
Likes: 1
From: Maine
i don't really "store" it..... but i never take it out in the winter..... i live on a hill and any snow at all and the vette will never make it up.....so i rarley chance taking it out......plus it stays below freezing most of the winter and the roads up here are wicked bad 
Pro
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 538
Likes: 9
From: Geneva, IL Bring back the Chief!
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10,'13-'14,'19-'20-'21-'22
Originally Posted by rws.1
I'll give it a shot.
I have a Vette to have fun and dry spiritedly, In the Winter that is tough to do with wide tires, high horsepower, rear wheel drive, and low ground clearance. For me, It is less fun to drive a Vette in the winter than the summer..
In the winter,I can drive my 4x4 more spiritedly and feel safer doing it. While it is more fun off the road in the summer than the Vettes, It is more fun to drive on the road in snow ice and slush than the Vette.
Secondly the 4x4 portrays and displays toughness. Dirt, slush and salt just add to the rugged good looks. So it's Ok for it to be dirty from time to time.
The Vette is sleek and sexy and best displays its lines and shine when immaculately clean.
It takes a lot of time to have the Vette looking the way I want it. It is never Ok for the Vettes to be dirty.
So for me, its about which vehicle delivers more fun under what driving conditions and what level of cleanliness is acceptable to me for that vehicle and how long it takes to get it to that level.
I have a Vette to have fun and dry spiritedly, In the Winter that is tough to do with wide tires, high horsepower, rear wheel drive, and low ground clearance. For me, It is less fun to drive a Vette in the winter than the summer..
In the winter,I can drive my 4x4 more spiritedly and feel safer doing it. While it is more fun off the road in the summer than the Vettes, It is more fun to drive on the road in snow ice and slush than the Vette.
Secondly the 4x4 portrays and displays toughness. Dirt, slush and salt just add to the rugged good looks. So it's Ok for it to be dirty from time to time.
The Vette is sleek and sexy and best displays its lines and shine when immaculately clean.
It takes a lot of time to have the Vette looking the way I want it. It is never Ok for the Vettes to be dirty.
So for me, its about which vehicle delivers more fun under what driving conditions and what level of cleanliness is acceptable to me for that vehicle and how long it takes to get it to that level.
Winter is for Silverado's.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
From: Illinois/Ca
[QUOTE=DevilDog II]My car has never been driven in the rain or in the snow. They put a ton of salt on the roads here in Illinois when it snows. QUOTE]
Then also you have to worry about other people not being careful when the roads are slick and sliding into you. Doesn't have to be snow but cold and rainy can do it too.. You can have the best handling car in the world and it won't matter if others aren't careful.
And with the big shopping days ahead for Christmas the parking lots are going to be jammed packed (seems like earlier every year) and there will be someone just waiting to ding my car. No thanks but I'll put her away on Nov 10 until Spring.
Jeff
Then also you have to worry about other people not being careful when the roads are slick and sliding into you. Doesn't have to be snow but cold and rainy can do it too.. You can have the best handling car in the world and it won't matter if others aren't careful.
And with the big shopping days ahead for Christmas the parking lots are going to be jammed packed (seems like earlier every year) and there will be someone just waiting to ding my car. No thanks but I'll put her away on Nov 10 until Spring.
Jeff
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 10,257
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From: not far enough from Chicago
Originally Posted by vettenovice
The answer is easy: Nothing 'washes right off' when it's below freezing outside! If it is above freezing, who wants to drive their vette when the road are full of salt dust (most of the winder in NJ) knowing that you will have to wash it after every ride? Not me. Easier to pack it up for the winter. Also, each Spring, I feel like I'm driving the vette for the first time!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,995
Likes: 9
From: Camdenton MO
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I'll drive mine in the winter, but the conditions have to be right. As others stated, it's too inconvenient to be out washing things off my car in the cold.
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
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From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
I don't get it either Bob. I drive mine year round as long as there is no salt/sand/mud/snow/ice/slush
Besides, cold air = 100rwhp
Besides, cold air = 100rwhp