Driving in the Rain?!?!
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
I've never found someone to look down at other Corvette owners who don't mind getting their ride rained on. I just know quite a few that want to keep their Corvette spotless; and simply don''t have the time to wash it whenever it gets rain on.
And that's me... I don't have the free time to be cleaning the car all the time; so I choose days where rain isn't likely.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I've never found someone to look down at other Corvette owners who don't mind getting their ride rained on. I just know quite a few that want to keep their Corvette spotless; and simply don''t have the time to wash it whenever it gets rain on.
And that's me... I don't have the free time to be cleaning the car all the time; so I choose days where rain isn't likely.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 420
Likes: 24
From: Newton, Wisconsin
Those garage queen owners will look down on driving in the rain. Those of us who use the car as a daily driver, drive it rain or shine whenever possible. It will get dirty but it will clean up. Does it add any increased value, probably not but it might add more potential buyers when you go to sell it. DRIVE IT!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,791
Likes: 44
From: Loudon/Lake Mary Tennessee/Florida
Mine is a DD. I intended it that way. I sold my '88 coupe which was my DD because I couldn't stand to let my '02 vert sit. I put about 22K miles per year on my vert.
I intend to buy either a supercharged C5 or an '08 C6 to keep as a weekend driver.
Now, when the time comes that I can buy the next one it will be from a CF member who WILL NOT DRIVE IN THE RAIN because I will know the car is owned by a meticulous person.
I intend to buy either a supercharged C5 or an '08 C6 to keep as a weekend driver.
Now, when the time comes that I can buy the next one it will be from a CF member who WILL NOT DRIVE IN THE RAIN because I will know the car is owned by a meticulous person.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I went from one extreme to another. From Las Vegas where it rained once in a blue moon to England where it rains once a day
Like most of the other guys I try not to get it wet too often, particularly at this time of the year when the roads are covered in salt and grit. It tends to get everywhere, particularly the engine compartment and it takes a while to get it looking good again. That said, its seen some rain over the last year, including the UK Corvette Nationals.
Like most of the other guys I try not to get it wet too often, particularly at this time of the year when the roads are covered in salt and grit. It tends to get everywhere, particularly the engine compartment and it takes a while to get it looking good again. That said, its seen some rain over the last year, including the UK Corvette Nationals.
Last edited by DeeGee; Mar 6, 2008 at 01:10 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 48
From: Chattanooga TN
I have a beater car for the rainy days so I don't drive mine in the rain. It's just a choice I made. I would never look down on someone that drives theirs in the rain. We all can make our own choices and no ones choice is better than another.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Since we have an active NCRS group in my area, there are a lot of "garage queen" Corvette owners I've gotten to know quite well.
While they look down on driving their own Corvettes in the rain... I've never heard then talk negatively about other people who do.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
My z is not a dd,nor has it ever been in rain purely for the purpose of clean up afterwards i cant stand a dirty car ,even my daily drivers get washed down 2-3 times a week same with all my toys ,i like em clean and shiny! little crazy like that but hey its how i like my stuff
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,947
Likes: 8
From: Redwood City CA
I never understood the whole "never seen rain" thing either. That is until i bought my Black Z06 last year. black is so tough to keep clean, so if my car is nice and clean I think twice about driving it in the rain.
I don't get it, why is driving in the rain looked down upon? Is is the effect of rain water on paint or something? just dont get it please Explain. Also How can you drive 50K miles without ever driving in the rain, Even if you live in the Sahara I would still think that to be a tough task seeing as weather is never more then 50% correct.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,214
Likes: 2,133
From: Right Corner Pocket of Illinois
No-IL Events Coordinator
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
2019 C6 of Year Winner (appearance mods)
2018 C6 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '26
My original owner didn't drive the car in rain for five years and I feel the same way. I spend half the week cleaning and polishing and the other half driving. The engine bay looks like it just came off the showroom. My one year old daily driver Ranger's looks like hell already. Fair weather driving is one of the many reasons my Corvette feels special to me.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,700
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma city Oklahoma
I like to enter car shows and spend coutless hours in the spring time to clean the underbody. I have been caught in sudden rain storms and I dont care because at that point you cant do anything about it. But cleaning up after the rain / road grime etc takes a long time to be show ready again and I like winning. However I do not will not take it out durring winter if there is even a slight chance of snow, ice etc if i take it out at all I wait for all the sand and salt to be cleard from the roads, I would think that could be pretty bad on auto parts period. That is what my wifes monte carlo is for.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 4
From: MI
Nothin wrong with rain, Drove my 02 to work today with about 2 inches of snow on the ground. I dont care that I will spend time cleaning it, its part of enjoying the car to me. I will drive it as much as possible its made to be driven not to sit in a garage.