C5s Never driven in the rain.....
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,443
Likes: 2,189
From: Buffalo Texas
I bought a new 07 Monte SS ,had not had a new car for a while. So before I new it I didn't drive it much. Decided I had to have another Corvette so I put the Monte up for sale, 30,000 on 7 year old car, car was better than new in every way, could not even get a bite on the car,started at $17,000 found the vette I now have and traded the Monte in for $13,000. I decided on the way home this car is awesome I am going to drive the wheels off. Bought it with 50,000, put on over 7,000 miles last summer. If however the weather looks really bad I drive my truck, mostly because of the idiot's out there that drive like, well like idiot's. I also will not drive it in the winter witch gives me all winter to clean up like new, part of witch is my pleasure of ownership !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,285
Likes: 164
From: MA
I don't think there is as much a craze in the young crowd as before for American muscle, but I think there's more interest from young people focused on Japanese and German imports- a lot of which nobody can afford under the age of 30 to say the least.
It's nice that the base model V6 and turbo 4 (mustang) American sports cars still offer decent performance and are attainable money wise. I think if you're into corvettes and muscle cars you may miss the fact that cars like the cobalt SS, focus ST, Subaru brz, WRX, 370z, speed3, etc are all very fun to drive & offer great performance for the dollar.... I believe these are the type of cars that the "young crowd" gravitate toward.
But to topic- driving a Vette in the rain sucks, that's the main reason I don't lol
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
I guess I'm not that young anymore myself (34) but I've always been a "car guy" - got handed down to me from my father I guess.
I don't think there is as much a craze in the young crowd as before for American muscle, but I think there's more interest from young people focused on Japanese and German imports- a lot of which nobody can afford under the age of 30 to say the least.
It's nice that the base model V6 and turbo 4 (mustang) American sports cars still offer decent performance and are attainable money wise. I think if you're into corvettes and muscle cars you may miss the fact that cars like the cobalt SS, focus ST, Subaru brz, WRX, 370z, speed3, etc are all very fun to drive & offer great performance for the dollar.... I believe these are the type of cars that the "young crowd" gravitate toward.
But to topic- driving a Vette in the rain sucks, that's the main reason I don't lol
I don't think there is as much a craze in the young crowd as before for American muscle, but I think there's more interest from young people focused on Japanese and German imports- a lot of which nobody can afford under the age of 30 to say the least.
It's nice that the base model V6 and turbo 4 (mustang) American sports cars still offer decent performance and are attainable money wise. I think if you're into corvettes and muscle cars you may miss the fact that cars like the cobalt SS, focus ST, Subaru brz, WRX, 370z, speed3, etc are all very fun to drive & offer great performance for the dollar.... I believe these are the type of cars that the "young crowd" gravitate toward.
But to topic- driving a Vette in the rain sucks, that's the main reason I don't lol
Actually, I enjoy driving my C5 in the rain - I blame it on being brought up and learning to drive in Europe! But, if the weather is s****y, my wife's Legacy GT (sort of an adult's WRX) is my choice. It's the AWD that does it. If it gets really bad, the K1500 locked in 4WD will always get me there.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 343
From: Chicagoland
St. Jude Donor '16
I think we can agree on one thing . . . we all love and drive our Corvettes for different reasons. If you drive your car in the rain or snow that's awesome. If you choose only to drive it when the weather is nice, that's awesome as well. We're all intelligent enough to know that our cars won't melt or rust. Personally, I've never given a second thought to how someone uses their car. We all have different tastes and enjoy things differently, so let's not get lost over that fact that we all don't always do the same things. At the end of the day we share the same passion. Some of us just go about it differently. Enjoy your car the way you see fit, and don't be critical of those who enjoy their cars differently than you do. 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 343
From: Chicagoland
St. Jude Donor '16
Several coats of ReJex keeps mine pristine. I love the way water beads with ReJex.
Use a top conditioner on convertible fabric top.
After several years of being a garage Queen. I now use her all the time.
I like to detail and don't mind it at all. I have a Billion Dollars worth of
detailing products just for her. My love affair.
Use a top conditioner on convertible fabric top.
After several years of being a garage Queen. I now use her all the time.
I like to detail and don't mind it at all. I have a Billion Dollars worth of
detailing products just for her. My love affair.
I just bought my 2002 Coupe in January 2015...I already have purchased several detailing products for her.. I have another car that I drive everyday, but I plan on enjoying my C5 as much as posible whenever I can... Will not drive in the snow though..
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,971
Likes: 343
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
I had an '87 911 Targa and you COULD NOT drive that car in the rain. You couldn't see squat out of the front windshield because of how the wipers threw the water over in front of your vision and the car slid all over the road - the worst traction in any car I've ever owned. And it leaked like a sieve. I was never so glad to get rid of a car as that one. As a contrast, the C5 Corvette is glued to the road even in the rain, unless you're just stupid. Night and day difference.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 22,582
Likes: 251
From: Denison, TX
2022 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
CI 3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'16
I live in Dallas and had a wedding to attend in Austin this past weekend.
Forecast was rain so I purposely took my c5 with the nice new tires and the good gas mileage.
Too each his own, I suppose!
And Pewter99 is right....they don't melt!
Forecast was rain so I purposely took my c5 with the nice new tires and the good gas mileage.
Too each his own, I suppose!
And Pewter99 is right....they don't melt!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
I didn't drive my C7 in the rain for...6 months. Then on a trip to Bowling Green, got dumped on. After that, rain didn't matter.
Snow..lets just say I will *not* do that again.
Anyway...for about 12 years, My C5 was my only car, thus a daily driver.
Rain/wind won't hurt it, neither will snow (but starting off in 3rd gear w/o stalling can be a challenge unto itself)
If you do not have all-season tires on in, traction will reduced (OEM goodyears are not that great), but you would not driving like you stole it in inclement weather anyway.
If you get caught out with the roof off, at about 70mph, 99% of the water goes over the top and does not fall in the car....(I was on the interstate, night time, and several miles from any exit or overpass.)
Granted, when you spot the overpass, you do get a bit damp slowing down, but that's another story. Moral there is never leave home w/o a roof panel.
Point is, it's going to get dirty even sitting in the garage. It'll wash off.
Enjoy it, don't deny yourself the pleasure of driving it b/c it's cloudy outside.
Snow..lets just say I will *not* do that again.
Anyway...for about 12 years, My C5 was my only car, thus a daily driver.
Rain/wind won't hurt it, neither will snow (but starting off in 3rd gear w/o stalling can be a challenge unto itself)
If you do not have all-season tires on in, traction will reduced (OEM goodyears are not that great), but you would not driving like you stole it in inclement weather anyway.
If you get caught out with the roof off, at about 70mph, 99% of the water goes over the top and does not fall in the car....(I was on the interstate, night time, and several miles from any exit or overpass.)
Granted, when you spot the overpass, you do get a bit damp slowing down, but that's another story. Moral there is never leave home w/o a roof panel.
Point is, it's going to get dirty even sitting in the garage. It'll wash off.
Enjoy it, don't deny yourself the pleasure of driving it b/c it's cloudy outside.
Last edited by aj98; Mar 27, 2015 at 11:56 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
I didn't drive my C7 in the rain for...6 months. Then on a trip to Bowling Green, got dumped on. After that, rain didn't matter.
Snow..lets just say I will *not* do that again.
Anyway...for about 12 years, My C5 was my only car, thus a daily driver.
Rain/wind won't hurt it, neither will snow (but starting off in 3rd gear w/o stalling can be a challenge unto itself)
If you do not have all-season tires on in, traction will reduced (OEM goodyears are not that great), but you would not driving like you stole it in inclement weather anyway.
If you get caught out with the roof off, at about 70mph, 99% of the water goes over the top and does not fall in the car....(I was on the interstate, night time, and several miles from any exit or overpass.)
Granted, when you spot the overpass, you do get a bit damp slowing down, but that's another story. Moral there is never leave home w/o a roof panel.
Point is, it's going to get dirty even sitting in the garage. It'll wash off.
Enjoy it, don't deny yourself the pleasure of driving it b/c it's cloudy outside.
Snow..lets just say I will *not* do that again.
Anyway...for about 12 years, My C5 was my only car, thus a daily driver.
Rain/wind won't hurt it, neither will snow (but starting off in 3rd gear w/o stalling can be a challenge unto itself)
If you do not have all-season tires on in, traction will reduced (OEM goodyears are not that great), but you would not driving like you stole it in inclement weather anyway.
If you get caught out with the roof off, at about 70mph, 99% of the water goes over the top and does not fall in the car....(I was on the interstate, night time, and several miles from any exit or overpass.)
Granted, when you spot the overpass, you do get a bit damp slowing down, but that's another story. Moral there is never leave home w/o a roof panel.
Point is, it's going to get dirty even sitting in the garage. It'll wash off.
Enjoy it, don't deny yourself the pleasure of driving it b/c it's cloudy outside.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 481
From: OK
NEWS flash update! After our drive to Texas in almost 4 hours of, on and off pouring rain. I have spent approximately, 10 to 12 hours detailing so far and I'm not even close to getting it back to pre-trip status. I'm guessing about another 20 hours she'll be show shine ready again...
It didn't melt down, or hurt the car in any way... but, I will never do this again ON PURPOSE. If, we get caught in a little rain somewhere on a road trip..OK, no big deal.. But, this has turned into a BIG deal for me. Won't happen again because I'm getting too old and it's too damn much work. I guess I need to buy another C5 for daily driving or inclement weather.
It didn't melt down, or hurt the car in any way... but, I will never do this again ON PURPOSE. If, we get caught in a little rain somewhere on a road trip..OK, no big deal.. But, this has turned into a BIG deal for me. Won't happen again because I'm getting too old and it's too damn much work. I guess I need to buy another C5 for daily driving or inclement weather.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,495
Likes: 333
From: USA
NEWS flash update! After our drive to Texas in almost 4 hours of, on and off pouring rain. I have spent approximately, 10 to 12 hours detailing so far and I'm not even close to getting it back to pre-trip status. I'm guessing about another 20 hours she'll be show shine ready again...
It didn't melt down, or hurt the car in any way... but, I will never do this again ON PURPOSE. If, we get caught in a little rain somewhere on a road trip..OK, no big deal.. But, this has turned into a BIG deal for me. Won't happen again because I'm getting too old and it's too damn much work. I guess I need to buy another C5 for daily driving or inclement weather.
It didn't melt down, or hurt the car in any way... but, I will never do this again ON PURPOSE. If, we get caught in a little rain somewhere on a road trip..OK, no big deal.. But, this has turned into a BIG deal for me. Won't happen again because I'm getting too old and it's too damn much work. I guess I need to buy another C5 for daily driving or inclement weather.
THIS ^If you want your car to be pristine...many apparently don't care about that and it's all good...then you don't drive in the rain unless you have a lot of time on your hands for cleaning/detailing.
No thanks. I'm lucky there is so much good driving weather here in CA (and we have 2 other cars for rain driving).
