Winter driving.
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From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Winter driving.
Well it's getting near that time of year that most everyone in Canada and the Northern United States hates, winter. This will be the first one for me and the '00 MN6 vert and I was just wondering about driving it in the winter, other than the obvious, DON'T. Last year's winter was very mild here in Calgary, not too much of the white stuff, and by all accounts this year's is said to be the same, but there is no escaping it, it WILL snow. So that being said do I dare put a couple of sandbags (ugh!) in the back and get a good set of all seasons? For the last 8 or so winters I've driven (in order) '87 5.0 LX 5 spd, '93 LX 5.0 auto, '99 GT vert 5 spd (Sorry, I love Mustangs too) with relatively no problems but they all had a couple of sandbags in the rear. I guess I could get a winter beater but then that gets a little expensive with insurance on two cars and parking is also an issue. Any tips such as starting out in 2nd or have TC turned off would be appreciated. Also my car doesn't have a block heater, my Mustang last year was never plugged in and it started no problem even with overnight lows of -35 C (that's bloody cold) will the 5.7L be okay? Thanks again guys and gals.
The Monk!
The Monk!
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From: Northern NYs Adirondack Mountains,http://www.visitsacandaga.com.
Just remember how low the airdam is! It will make one hell of a snowplow if your driving in fresh snow or hit a drifted over area.
I live in a rural heavy snow area and I will NOT drive it in winter. I do not know about your area, but our road crews up here dump TONS of salt and sand on the roads. For that very reason my Vettes do not come out of garage till all snow is gone and we have a couple major rains to clear away the salt & sand.
GOOD LUCK
I live in a rural heavy snow area and I will NOT drive it in winter. I do not know about your area, but our road crews up here dump TONS of salt and sand on the roads. For that very reason my Vettes do not come out of garage till all snow is gone and we have a couple major rains to clear away the salt & sand.
GOOD LUCK
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 753
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From: Denville NJ
I feel the same here in north Jersey. I will try to park and cover mine for most of the winter, starting it ocasionally and moving it around seldom. Did this with my previous Camaro and it worked out fine.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: CT
I took mine out in the winter last year sticking to clean road conditions only... That being said I did get stuck in a snow / icestorm once...wasn't forcast or I just missed it some how. Woke up after a night out and went to head home...2 inches of the white stuff with a 1 mile long hill to go down at 25 degree angle then an entrance ramp to go UP 30 degrees 1/4 mile long....2003 Z06 stock F1 super car tires. The car got me home safely didn't even slide (other than an inch or two here or there)....however I have a VERY light foot when needed and I kept it in first/2nd with lots of clutch work. Not something I would like to do again. If you really want to drive it in the winter buy a 2nd set of wheels/tires with the deepest tread you can. And remember if you bump something in a slide its not a dent its a busted panel or worse.
Burning Brakes
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From: The Internet
Originally Posted by themonk
Well it's getting near that time of year that most everyone in Canada and the Northern United States hates, winter. This will be the first one for me and the '00 MN6 vert and I was just wondering about driving it in the winter, other than the obvious, DON'T. Last year's winter was very mild here in Calgary, not too much of the white stuff, and by all accounts this year's is said to be the same, but there is no escaping it, it WILL snow. So that being said do I dare put a couple of sandbags (ugh!) in the back and get a good set of all seasons? For the last 8 or so winters I've driven (in order) '87 5.0 LX 5 spd, '93 LX 5.0 auto, '99 GT vert 5 spd (Sorry, I love Mustangs too) with relatively no problems but they all had a couple of sandbags in the rear. I guess I could get a winter beater but then that gets a little expensive with insurance on two cars and parking is also an issue. Any tips such as starting out in 2nd or have TC turned off would be appreciated. Also my car doesn't have a block heater, my Mustang last year was never plugged in and it started no problem even with overnight lows of -35 C (that's bloody cold) will the 5.7L be okay? Thanks again guys and gals.
The Monk!
The Monk!
There's two answers to this and which one you get will depend on who answers it.
Those of us that just simply drive the car (snow, rain, sleet, hot, cold, fog, pollen, day, night, morning, afternoon, supermarkets; whatever) will tell you to get a set of M&S tyres and not to be wimp and that it's just a car. Others, quite likely people who have probably never been taught how to drive in the snow, will tell you that your first born will be assimilated for such a sin.
As you said, use a higher gear when possible, let traction control be your friend, and remember to be smooth. It sounds like you know what you're doing anyway, so you'll be fine. You really will.
http://www.idavette.net/hib/ah1.htm
Many Corvette owners are either too timid or too proud to drive their cars in severe winter weather but, on snow and ice with the right tires and ABS/TCS/AH, C5 is a pretty darn good car. Goodyear has an Eagle M+S (mud and snow) EMT tire in both the front and rear C5 sizes. At GM's winter testing facility just south of the Canadian border in Kinross, Michigan and in the Rocky Mountain states, C5, shod with four Goodyears M+Ss, has been tested extensively. Engineers, who've driven the car in severe weather conditions, say that, until the snow gets so deep that ground clearance becomes a factor, the C5 with Active Handling and four of Goodyear's EMT M+S tires, is quite an effective heavy weather car.
You are probably wondering, "What's with the mud and snow tire stuff? Hel-loooooooo---Corvette is a performance car not a darn snocat." True but the nice thing about C5 is it's been validated in an amazingly wide range of transportation duties
You are probably wondering, "What's with the mud and snow tire stuff? Hel-loooooooo---Corvette is a performance car not a darn snocat." True but the nice thing about C5 is it's been validated in an amazingly wide range of transportation duties
Safety Car
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From: Rochester MN
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St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
NCM Ambassador
I take mine out all year - of course, I am more selective about when I take it out in the winter, but no problems. I am not running all season tires either, but I do not get as aggressive in the winter as in the summer.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
I'm taking it in like a sponge people, keep it comming. Thanks a lot, this really helps. 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Indianapolis IN
I have driven mine in the Indiana snow several times. It's not a lot of fun but it can be done. It seems to do okay once it gets going but the rear tires tend to spin a lot when you're trying to take off (and that's with a really light foot). Also, once it starts sliding, it keeps sliding. I'd get the second car if you can, but if not, you should be okay if you're extremely careful.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Schaumburg IL
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St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
I think in an inch or 2 of snow, you'll get by if your careful, the 6 speed gives you a little more control (obviously) of what gear you are using, so that is a plus....but all in all, I would not recommend it...I drove my 99 Z28 2 winters, and once got caught with the vette in 3 inches of snow and it was not a pretty sight.(i've been driving in chicago winters for 15 years) Even with sandbags, there is just too much torque, and the tires are too wide on the vette...not to mention trying to turn etc.. and the low clearance in the front, the air dam turns into a snow plow.
I sucked it up and got a beater, it actually help my insurance on the vette since I got a multi car discount.
I sucked it up and got a beater, it actually help my insurance on the vette since I got a multi car discount.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 97,155
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From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Sounds like a second car is the way to go. I guess I'm vain, but I really hate being in, let alone driving a POS. I would like to think that I'm the best driver in the world and I will never cause an accident but I would feel like crap if I damaged my car or worse hurt someone else because I wanted to drive a NICE car even though that NICE car was not meant to be driven in certain conditions. Luckily I work at a car dealership so I get access to trade-ins at little or nothing above cost. Thanks again for the input people.
The Monk.
The Monk.
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From: Northern NYs Adirondack Mountains,http://www.visitsacandaga.com.
Originally Posted by chocoholic
Those of us that just simply drive the car (snow, rain, sleet, hot, cold, fog, pollen, day, night, morning, afternoon, supermarkets; whatever) will tell you to get a set of M&S tyres and not to be wimp and that it's just a car. Others, quite likely people who have probably never been taught how to drive in the snow, will tell you that your first born will be assimilated for such a sin.
]
"Others, quite likely people who have probably never been taught how to drive in the snow"
I have been driving in upper NY winters for 45 years and know how to drive in winters. That includes a few years/winters driving large commerical trucks .I also instructed new drivers for the company I worked for.
So get off your high horse about winter driving skills.
The question was asked about driving Vettes in winter,some do and some do not, some do not/ I will not unless something is realy pressing me to take the Vette out in winter. I have not found that reason in at least 15 years.
There is more problems out there than just the snow. Salt and sand as I mentioned (there are places in /on the Vette that will rust/rot)
The wide tires are not much fun either in the snow.
Another biggie is the OTHER drivers out there, the ones that do not have the necessary skills that you brought out in your post. My Vette is too valuable to me to trust it to it to the kamakaize attacks that happen in winter.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 645
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From: Hermosa Beach CA
edited because people's panties were getting a little too messy. Although I've heard that they have creams for that now. Maybe sprinkle a little vagisil on it.
Last edited by Architect; Sep 22, 2006 at 04:53 PM.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Alexandria VA
Originally Posted by Architect
People that drive corvettes in winter are nothing more than posers. If you can't afford a winter car, you shouldn't buy a vette.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 210
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From: Tonganoxie KS
Couple of snows a year in KC and no problems in the vette. The wide footprint works great in the snow (good tread required), though in the soggy slush, the wide footprint tends to hop the car right up on top like skis (my wife's old college car - geo metro - had the skinniest tires on the planet and that bad boy ran through slush like the car was on a rail!). Seriously though, aside from the one or two days I work from home due to winter weather, the vette handled better with rear wheel drive, electronics, and a soft foot than my accord coupe ever did. I would rather fishtail a little than have my front end push. Do watch out for those deep (3" or deeper, it is a vette afterall) ruts in the heavier snow. Good luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,112
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From: Torrance CA
Originally Posted by Architect
People that drive corvettes in winter are nothing more than posers. If you can't afford a winter car, you shouldn't buy a vette.
Did you stumble over here from the Ferrari forum? It is just a car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: PNW Cougar Country WA
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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I too would recommend the old beater. Most insurance companies will allow you to drop the insurance for a period of time you want. Have to keep the comp. in force but mine only charges about $10 a month for that.
Search the threads here for storage or winterizing your vette and you should find some good information. I'm in eastern Wash state and it doesn't usually get as cold here but even when there is not much snow we get the melting during the day and then the black ice in the afternoon. That's besides the salt and gravel on the roads.
Even if you don't mind driving your vette in any kind of weather it's still doesn't handle like most cars in slick conditions. IMO
Search the threads here for storage or winterizing your vette and you should find some good information. I'm in eastern Wash state and it doesn't usually get as cold here but even when there is not much snow we get the melting during the day and then the black ice in the afternoon. That's besides the salt and gravel on the roads.
Even if you don't mind driving your vette in any kind of weather it's still doesn't handle like most cars in slick conditions. IMO
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: CT
Originally Posted by Architect
People that drive corvettes in winter are nothing more than posers. If you can't afford a winter car, you shouldn't buy a vette.
For this loser, my "winter" car is a 1997 Z28
