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I have never driven my 01 convertible in the rain and I have never been caught in a rain storm since I bought it 5 years ago.I have not had the top up one time in the last 4 years.It's because I am a Roadster type of guy.To say that the OPs vette is a nice looking vette would be an understatement.
Fred
I suppose you could keep it on jackstands and covered in the garage as well, then you could buy another vette that you could actually drive without sweating the weather and missing the action.
nothing is as cozy as a vette in a rainstorm..seems like some folks will never know.
It is a car! Good Lord, I think I now realize why I sold my Corvette!
It looks like it's about to "RAIN" this morning, I think I'll go fire up my old "55" Chevy [which is worth more than 90% of the Vettes out there] and go for a drive just for the Heck of it!
This past weekend at the pittsburgh vintage grand prix. Mine is in the middle, friends of mine own the other two. Rained most of the day Saturday and did not stop quit a few of use from attending.
OK, I've owned my first Vette ('04, 6554 miles) for a little over a month now, and so far I've been able to continue the same level of extreme care that the previous owner gave it for its first 10 years.....and not drive it in the rain. Of course it wasn't bought as a daily driver so it's not like I've missed work when there was a chance of rain forecasted, but I have missed three cruise-ins & a show because I didn't want to chance it after checking the weather radar (and each time it DIDN'T rain). Is it crazy that I feel this responsibility to keep her off a wet highway? I know it's going to kill me if I ever get caught out with no where to pull over & have to continue driving her in the rain. I'll feel like I've let her down, and even though I'll probably never meet the original owner I'd be ashamed if I ever did & had to break the bad news. Anyone else out there feel the same way about their Vette? Has anyone tried to keep theirs dry & clean but finally get caught out & decide to just throw in the towel? And for those that still own a "never driven" C5 what tricks or practices do you use to avoid the rain? Ever go on long trips? Right now I can't imagine ever venturing very far from home. Is this crazy? By the way, I absolutely love this car.
I'll appreciate any comments/advice. Thanks!
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You are missing out on a lot of fun. If it's raining I take my other car unless it's something we have planned for the Vette. Taking long cruises is what these cars are for and getting caught in the rain is not a big deal. The guy that had mine before me never drove it in the rain and only with the top down. I have got caught in the rain several times. The car cleans up nicely and I am glad I didn't miss the fun.
To each their own, but driving these cars is most of the fun. We are taking 4000 mile trip in two weeks and it will be a lot more fun with the Vette. I do expect to get rained on.
My '03 Cobra: Driven in rain or shine...or whatever.
My '04 Corvette: Exactly the same.
It's not made of sugar, it doesn't add resale value (people aren't going to believe you when you tell them it's never seen rain anyway), and as a car dealership employee, let me tell you it HAS been rained on and it HAS been test driven/demo'd in the rain.
Rain = Water. As others have said, it's not going to melt your car. Besides, you might actually find the time spent detailing it after the fact to be fun. I know I like washing my car. I may drive it every day, but I do keep it clean.
To each their own...but I do find it sad that the previous owner barely enjoyed driving the car all those years. I don't want to be that guy.
I flew out and drove my new Z06 home and it rained on us almost the entire 800 miles. Car made it home just fine after several hours of detailing looks brand new. I didn't buy my corvette to be a dust collector in my garage. I bought it because I'm going to drive it! Life is too short too stress over whether your car will get a little rain on it. Hail storm is a different story!!!
Something that always struck me about the guys that actually brag about never having driven their C5 in the wet:
Someday Murphy's Law will kick in and they're going to end up on a wet road in the C5 and, if their traction control and active handling isn't working perfectly, they're going to end up with brown stains all over the upholstery.
This is the underside of my 99. Driven in the rain many times. Every time I have been caught in the rain it was with the Corvette Club on an overnight road trip. Rain won't hurt it, drive it. Don't join the crazy rain freaks that should be on the Dr. Phill show
I drive my collector cars for fun - and IMO there isn't much fun to be had driving in the rain. On top of that, there is a lot more work to detail out the car (at least, for me there is as I am too **** for my own good ).
So yes, I avoid driving in the rain.
That said, I also agree with those who have posted that you don't want to miss out on things just due to a little rain. I agree with this and am starting to soften my position a bit.
I will be going to the NCM 20th Anniversary Celebration, including a two-day caravan to get there. Gonna be more fun than I can stand!
Chances are good I will get rained on - maybe more than once. I will have my Chadwick's with me and will just clean 'er up as soon as I can.
07-21-2014, 03:19 AM
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