Snow Vette?!?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colorado
Snow Vette?!?
Hey all. I've been away from the board a while (as far as posting).
I sold my C5 Vette Vert. because we were "downsizing" after getting a real nice house. Being in Colorado we get some serious snow once in a while. I'm wondering, has anybody ever tried to drive a Vette year round in the snow.
I grew up driving RWD monsters in the snow. I know its tricky, but with good snow tires, could it be done? Or would the front plastics go BOOM on the first good heavy snow day?
Any ideas? I'm a daily driver kind of guy and have my bike for sunny days. All the AWD sports cars under a 100k are slow and/or sedans
Try not to flame, I'm serious about the "next" car after my Maxima dies being a daily driver Vette. (We already have an SUV for her car, this would be mine and doesn't need to be "practical")
Thanks.
I sold my C5 Vette Vert. because we were "downsizing" after getting a real nice house. Being in Colorado we get some serious snow once in a while. I'm wondering, has anybody ever tried to drive a Vette year round in the snow.
I grew up driving RWD monsters in the snow. I know its tricky, but with good snow tires, could it be done? Or would the front plastics go BOOM on the first good heavy snow day?
Any ideas? I'm a daily driver kind of guy and have my bike for sunny days. All the AWD sports cars under a 100k are slow and/or sedans
Try not to flame, I'm serious about the "next" car after my Maxima dies being a daily driver Vette. (We already have an SUV for her car, this would be mine and doesn't need to be "practical")
Thanks.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 147
Likes: 2
ARE U F............ok ok no flame, of course it can be done GM could not/ would not put a car on the market that could be not used year round. That being said I COULD drive my Vettes in Mich. winters provided the snow fall was 3"s or less, AND the roads plowed and salted! Also Mich. is mainly flat. Colo. gets tons of snow and, more important, has real live freggin MOUNTAINS 
all joking aside, It can be done if you really want to, get a good set of snow tires and keep us posted.
or find and old 4X4 Chevy Blazer beater for the winter.
all joking aside, It can be done if you really want to, get a good set of snow tires and keep us posted.
or find and old 4X4 Chevy Blazer beater for the winter.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,556
Likes: 52
From: SoCal Twin Turbo, Any Questions?
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
who would ever do something dumb like that 
snow tires and itll work just fine, maybe add some weight to the rear of the car. if you can afford it id suggest getting a beater cause detailing the car after only a few trips in snow and salty conditions is proving to be a chore
snow tires and itll work just fine, maybe add some weight to the rear of the car. if you can afford it id suggest getting a beater cause detailing the car after only a few trips in snow and salty conditions is proving to be a chore
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
No way would I do that. You have several problems using the Vette as a snowmobile. One, your ground clearance is nil. Unless you are on compacted snow ALL the tme you can become "hung up" very easily.
Driving on snow that has partially melted and refroze can do wonders for your airdam and some other "unimportant" things on the underside. Lastly, I don't believe the Vette would be all that stable in snow and you could very quickly find yourself riding on an expensive "snowboard".
The idea just reminds me of that old song, "A Slippin and A Sliddin..".
jmo..Cheers
Driving on snow that has partially melted and refroze can do wonders for your airdam and some other "unimportant" things on the underside. Lastly, I don't believe the Vette would be all that stable in snow and you could very quickly find yourself riding on an expensive "snowboard".
The idea just reminds me of that old song, "A Slippin and A Sliddin..".
jmo..Cheers
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Get a beater car if you can swing it. I've driven mine in the snow a couple of times and was sweating bullets the whole time I was behind the wheel. With the hills around here, it just was not a fun time. I did not have the M+S tires on mine, so that added to the problems.
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
There are plenty of folks that drive their cars year round. Knowing how to coax a high power rear wheel drive vehicle into motion in the bad stuff is only one part of the equation. Having the right tires and knowing when not to drive it are two other parts you will need to get used to.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
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From: MDT
we drive our c5 year round. obviously if we have 8" or 10" of snow the vette stays in the garage & we do the dd honda pilot. that said, i've had the vette out in the slick stuff many times & if you take it E-A-S-Y & plan way ahead, it's not bad at all. enjoy the ride. bub
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 896
Likes: 1
From: Ewing NJ
I brought my 2000 vert home in the snow. Since it's my DD at the present time, I have driven it in snow & slush. I dont like it, but I've done it. Actually that's how I tested the ABS and active handling systems. They definitely do work well.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colorado
Originally Posted by PierEagle
No way would I do that. You have several problems using the Vette as a snowmobile. One, your ground clearance is nil. Unless you are on compacted snow ALL the tme you can become "hung up" very easily.
Driving on snow that has partially melted and refroze can do wonders for your airdam and some other "unimportant" things on the underside. Lastly, I don't believe the Vette would be all that stable in snow and you could very quickly find yourself riding on an expensive "snowboard".
The idea just reminds me of that old song, "A Slippin and A Sliddin..".
jmo..Cheers
Driving on snow that has partially melted and refroze can do wonders for your airdam and some other "unimportant" things on the underside. Lastly, I don't believe the Vette would be all that stable in snow and you could very quickly find yourself riding on an expensive "snowboard".
The idea just reminds me of that old song, "A Slippin and A Sliddin..".
jmo..Cheers
So much for the nobby studded snow tires....
I've got a while before I buy again, I just don't like the AWD cars that much. The Vette is just the best looking/driving car for the money.
I'll get one again, someday.....
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
Originally Posted by BlackJackel
Thanks everyone. The post above is what I was getting at. I guess it couldn't hack it as a daily driver here when it gets REALLY nasty.
So much for the nobby studded snow tires....
I've got a while before I buy again, I just don't like the AWD cars that much. The Vette is just the best looking/driving car for the money.
I'll get one again, someday.....
So much for the nobby studded snow tires....
I've got a while before I buy again, I just don't like the AWD cars that much. The Vette is just the best looking/driving car for the money.
I'll get one again, someday.....
By the sound of your enthusiasm about "THE CAR", when the time is right you'll probably be driving a new one.
Cheers