Corvette vs Snow
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,849
Likes: 95
From: Springfield MO
The car will do fine with the right tires as long as the snow isn't too deep. I've driven vettes in snow up to 8-10 inches and got around just fine. It's mainly the other people on the road that you have to look out for. A little common sense goes a long way! Good luck with your decision. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
The car will do fine with the right tires as long as the snow isn't too deep. I've driven vettes in snow up to 8-10 inches and got around just fine. It's mainly the other people on the road that you have to look out for. A little common sense goes a long way! Good luck with your decision.
What was the most snow you drove a C5 in ? I can't see driving a C5 in over 4-5 inches of snow, how ? You would pack the radiator with snow.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 221
Likes: 1
From: Gurnee IL
I think it boils down to two types of drivers, those that know how to drive in the snow and those that simply don't...
The Vette certainly isn't a 4x4, or even as good as many front wheel drive vehicles in the snow... But, it holds it's own quite well from my experience with other rear wheel drive cars... A lot of it boils down to drive and car, not just the car...
On the same note and logic I could say I don't understand why anyone drives any 2 wheel drive vehicle in the snow, but we do... A heavy 4x4 is far superior in just about every aspect but even then probalby half the people driving them can't figure out how to drive in the snow...
Truth is at least for Northern Illinois there is proably only 10 days a year where the snow causes any real issue on the streets and then it's generally only for a few hours until the roads are cleared... The rest of the winter is just cold but the streets are generally fine...
The Vette certainly isn't a 4x4, or even as good as many front wheel drive vehicles in the snow... But, it holds it's own quite well from my experience with other rear wheel drive cars... A lot of it boils down to drive and car, not just the car...
I just dont understand how anybody would want to drive a C5 in the snow
Truth is at least for Northern Illinois there is proably only 10 days a year where the snow causes any real issue on the streets and then it's generally only for a few hours until the roads are cleared... The rest of the winter is just cold but the streets are generally fine...
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 221
Likes: 1
From: Gurnee IL
I have driven in 4-5" this year once, certainly wasn't easy but it was doable...
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 221
Likes: 1
From: Gurnee IL
Again with that logic why risk driving it anyday? It's not like accidents don't happen in good weather, as is evidenced all over this forum or a bunch of statistics that show that June, July and August account for the vast majority of vehicle accidents in the US not winter, July 4th being the absolute most dangerous day in the US to drive...
Last edited by Exoray; Feb 9, 2010 at 08:14 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,079
From: Guelph, Ontario
My C5 is my only car, and I've got Goodyear Eagle F1 all seasons on it and they work fantastic in light snow! If we get a big snow storm my work closes anyhow, so for me it makes no sense to buy a winter beater. Besides, I've had bad luck with beater cars in the past (they cost a bundle to maintain and are hard to sell in the spring) and I simply hate driving crappy cars.
We're actually supposed to get about 4 or 5 inches of snow overnight so it looks like work will be cancelled tomorrow and my C5 will stay tucked in the garage until Thursday (by then the roads will be fully plowed for sure)
Sure, if I had unlimited funds I would not drive my C5 in the snow at all, although I would still drive it for most of the winter since our roads are dry most of the time here.
We're actually supposed to get about 4 or 5 inches of snow overnight so it looks like work will be cancelled tomorrow and my C5 will stay tucked in the garage until Thursday (by then the roads will be fully plowed for sure)
Sure, if I had unlimited funds I would not drive my C5 in the snow at all, although I would still drive it for most of the winter since our roads are dry most of the time here.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: London Ontario
Again with that logic why risk driving it anyday? It's not like accidents don't happen in good weather, as is evidenced all over this forum or a bunch of statistics that show that June, July and August account for the vast majority of vehicle accidents in the US not winter, July 4th being the absolute most dangerous day in the US to drive...
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: El Paso Texas
I think it boils down to two types of drivers, those that know how to drive in the snow and those that simply don't...
On the same note and logic I could say I don't understand why anyone drives any 2 wheel drive vehicle in the snow, but we do... A heavy 4x4 is far superior in just about every aspect but even then probalby half the people driving them can't figure out how to drive in the snow...
On the same note and logic I could say I don't understand why anyone drives any 2 wheel drive vehicle in the snow, but we do... A heavy 4x4 is far superior in just about every aspect but even then probalby half the people driving them can't figure out how to drive in the snow...
My cousin just put up pics of her house with 22" of snow the other day. Her and her husband have two front wheel drivers and get around fine. Posted up on her facebook today that she couldn't help but laugh at a H3 that was stuck in a ditch after sliding off the road. Just goes to show even if you have 4x4, you still need to know how to drive in the snow, or end up in the ditch.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 551
Likes: 0
From: Florida, Sarasota Fl.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
Likes: 1,331
From: Middletown, DE
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
Likes: 1,331
From: Middletown, DE
It's certainly not a matter of WANTING to -- I HATE driving my Vette in the snow. But, I would not have a Vette if I were not WILLING to drive it in bad conditions now and then. Just not that a big deal.
