Riddle me this...
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
From: Escondido CA
If you ain't gonna show it then "never driven in the rain" is a useless selling point. In fact, I don't think the Kelly Blue Book gives any additional value if it's never been driven in the rain either.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: Altamonte Springs Florida
Originally Posted by wolfmd
If you ain't gonna show it then "never driven in the rain" is a useless selling point. In fact, I don't think the Kelly Blue Book gives any additional value if it's never been driven in the rain either.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,495
Likes: 0
From: Paducah Ky
Just not as much fun to me driving it in the rain as it isn't my dd. I also don't like seeing it sitting in the garage with road grime all over it. It has been rained on several times, usually when I go out of town it always seems to rain.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 571
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach VA...originally Burtonsville, MD
I'm gonna say upfront that I LOVE my C5 Z06 and would never sell it. No 20 year old should ever own a Z and its a dream come true. But is still only a car. There acatually are more important things in life. So drive it in the rain and drive it in the winter time! You only live once, enjoy it to the fullest!!!! 
Jim
Jim
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
Originally Posted by Craig Wagner
I just finished reading the thread about the PNW gathering in the rain.
When I was looking for a car I kept running across ads that would state "never driven in the rain."
I just don't get it. So what? Did you ever wash it? Then it got wet.
What's the big deal about never driving a Corvette (or any car) in the rain?
When I was looking for a car I kept running across ads that would state "never driven in the rain."
I just don't get it. So what? Did you ever wash it? Then it got wet.
What's the big deal about never driving a Corvette (or any car) in the rain?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,081
Likes: 0
From: Bear Delaware
Originally Posted by MY1STPEWTER
Just not as much fun to me driving it in the rain as it isn't my dd. I also don't like seeing it sitting in the garage with road grime all over it. It has been rained on several times, usually when I go out of town it always seems to rain.
and there is one other factor not mentioned. This is my third vette and the first two were daily drivers. My C5 is a garage queen most of the time. One of the reasons goes back to an old adage that says "familiarity breeds contempt". By not driving it daily (avoiding the rain, snow and such) it's increases the enjoyment when I do drive it. It's almost like the first time after buying it. When I drive one daily, as I did my first two, I become less careful about where I park, less bothered by it being dirty, and more proned to let maintenance items slide a little longer. It's great having something exciting to look forward to all the time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,388
Likes: 2
From: Huntsville AL
Originally Posted by RocketDawg
I normally don't take the Vette out in the rain, not because I'm afraid it would "hurt" the Vette, but because of other drivers being less than careful. I'd rather have someone hit the truck than the Vette.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 7,788
Likes: 6
From: Winchester TN
Cruise-In III Veteran
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'11
Originally Posted by MTurnbo
and there is one other factor not mentioned. This is my third vette and the first two were daily drivers. My C5 is a garage queen most of the time. One of the reasons goes back to an old adage that says "familiarity breeds contempt". By not driving it daily (avoiding the rain, snow and such) it's increases the enjoyment when I do drive it. It's almost like the first time after buying it. When I drive one daily, as I did my first two, I become less careful about where I park, less bothered by it being dirty, and more proned to let maintenance items slide a little longer. It's great having something exciting to look forward to all the time.Now that's an interesting twist on the subject.
I drive mine in the rain - but I do admit if it is raining I sometimes will not take out the Z - purely for the cleaning aspect.
Since I have a lift, it is relatively easy to keep the underside and wheels clean. This is something that owners of "civilian" vehicles normally cannot understand - I mean cleaning the wheel-wells and brake calipers etc. is beyond most non-enthusiasts.
My first new car sat in the garage, never saw rain or bad weather - I had to test the wipers after a couple of years of ownership just to make sure they worked!
I did not really reap any rewards for this meticulous care, I just turned a brand new looking car over to the dealer on trade day - that is really all.
I learned from that - and the Z and coupe get driven regularly (40k miles on both cars now).
I absolutely want as many owners as possible to baby their corvettes - strain the fuel through imported coffee filters etc. (read that in tech nerd - corvette magazine lol), and generally keep my next used corvette perfect in every way for me.
best regards -
mqqn
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,639
Likes: 39
From: Winston-Salem North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I'm not saying that I intentionally drive it in the rain. I have an 02Z with 19k on the clock, not a dd at all. (work van for that, minivan for family stuff)But my first trip to ECS's dyno was on a snowy/slushy day. I ran the car at the Pocono's speedway for 2 days. First day was pouring rain/fog. Day2 was blowing snow. When I got her home, I just cleaned the sh*t out of it. While we were at the Pocono's the instructors told us that there was no better training/learning experience than driving in the rain. I just signed up for the Spring Mountain 3 day event in Nevada on April 10/11/12, and the first day part of what we're doing is going to be wet road control. To each his own, as long as you enjoy your vette
BTW- I take the rims off the car and wash/scrub brush the rims from inside, also have my roto hats painted and keep them clean, and always get the burnout rubber off the wheel wells, and either towel it dry or leaf blower.
BTW- I take the rims off the car and wash/scrub brush the rims from inside, also have my roto hats painted and keep them clean, and always get the burnout rubber off the wheel wells, and either towel it dry or leaf blower.
Last edited by GeorgeZNJ; Nov 15, 2005 at 11:48 PM. Reason: spelling
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 391
Likes: 1
From: Orange County California
I do not drive mine in the rain.
First off... I already have another car so might as well.
Second... it's more because of the idiots driving around me in the rain. See in Southern California when it rains people freak out and don't know what's going on like the sky is falling.
THE VERY FIRST DAY IT RAINED I drove the Blazer. I was at a backed up red light and had to slow to a stop suddenly. This ancient pink Neon that used to be red slammed on his brakes sliding towards me, I watched the whole time and inched my Blazer as far as I could forward... he had to be barely inches from hitting me when he stopped. You should have seen his face. I just laughed at him. Freakin' morons.
First off... I already have another car so might as well.
Second... it's more because of the idiots driving around me in the rain. See in Southern California when it rains people freak out and don't know what's going on like the sky is falling.
THE VERY FIRST DAY IT RAINED I drove the Blazer. I was at a backed up red light and had to slow to a stop suddenly. This ancient pink Neon that used to be red slammed on his brakes sliding towards me, I watched the whole time and inched my Blazer as far as I could forward... he had to be barely inches from hitting me when he stopped. You should have seen his face. I just laughed at him. Freakin' morons.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 146
Likes: 16
From: Reynoldsburg Ohio
Originally Posted by DevilDog II
My car has never been driven in the rain, snow or washed. It's my personal preference. For those who drive in the rain, snow, etc., God Bless them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 0
From: clackamas oregon
unless the car was picked up as a museum delivery, and possibly not even then, can anyone say its never seen rain. they are delivered to the dealer via car carrier. from far far away. last one i seen had 6 others with it on a truck. they came in looking as though someone shot them with a hose full of very soupy mud. pretty sure they saw rain, snow,sleet,hail,and just about any other thing going from bowling green to our store in oregon. i took a picture on my cell phone[ cuase it looked pretty cool all of them together] but i dont know how to transfer to my computer to show you all.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,960
Likes: 0
From: Issaquah Wa.
Originally Posted by talon90
You have to understand the meticulous nature of a Corvette owner that participates in judged shows. The judging in a show is based on cleanliness and I mean cleanliness. Inside the tailpipes, the wheel wells, in the engine compartment, places that the traditional owner would never even dream of cleaning. Driven in the rain equates to dirt in every conceivable nook and cranny. When translated, this means a ton of work if you plan on showing the car. Hours and hours spent cleaning. Additionally, rain will contain minute particles of sand and road debris that would otherwise stay put on the pavement. It can translate into hundreds of nicks and chips in the nose and not to mention rust and oxidation on the untreated underside components. The car will not melt, nor will it self destruct if driven in the rain. But there is always the owner out there that just doesn't want to deal with the mess, so this can be a selling feature.
For many of us the Corvette is a fulfillment of a lifelong dream and I guess some hope/expect it to last a life time as well. where else can you find a '98 anything with 8,000 miles on the odometer? People are going to do what they need to do. No one should try to understand it, we just accept it.
Paul
For many of us the Corvette is a fulfillment of a lifelong dream and I guess some hope/expect it to last a life time as well. where else can you find a '98 anything with 8,000 miles on the odometer? People are going to do what they need to do. No one should try to understand it, we just accept it.
Paul
Ya,...that just about does it
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 24,129
Likes: 1,038
From: The Beautiful Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
In the interest of full disclosure, guess I'll chime in on this one...
I started the thread about the PNW gathering last Sunday and it was a very rainy day. Normally I do NOT drive Red Racer when it rains...it'll stay in the garage and I'll drive my Olds Bravada SUV to work and elsewhere.
But since several of us just wanted to do a little cruise together and get some great rootbeer on a Sunday, I decided "What the heck" and took the Vette out even though it was raining pretty hard.
But you bet as soon as I got back home that afternoon, I cleaned it up real good and got it back to it's "usually clean" condition...detailed the wheels, tires, pipes, and everything else (I don't do the undercarraige.) I'm driving it to school this week 'cause it's clear with no rain in sight.
So...guess I'm on both sides of this debate. Occasional cruise in the rain? Sure, why not. Drive it everyday in the rain around town? No thanks.
I started the thread about the PNW gathering last Sunday and it was a very rainy day. Normally I do NOT drive Red Racer when it rains...it'll stay in the garage and I'll drive my Olds Bravada SUV to work and elsewhere.
But since several of us just wanted to do a little cruise together and get some great rootbeer on a Sunday, I decided "What the heck" and took the Vette out even though it was raining pretty hard.
But you bet as soon as I got back home that afternoon, I cleaned it up real good and got it back to it's "usually clean" condition...detailed the wheels, tires, pipes, and everything else (I don't do the undercarraige.) I'm driving it to school this week 'cause it's clear with no rain in sight.
So...guess I'm on both sides of this debate. Occasional cruise in the rain? Sure, why not. Drive it everyday in the rain around town? No thanks.
Last edited by ExRedRacer; Nov 16, 2005 at 02:30 PM.