sahhas

i'm curious if anyone who owns a C5 drives it in the winter cold months or in light snow accumulation?

i ask b/c when reading the book "all corvettes are red" they talked about the extensive testing of C5s corvettes in cold and snow (in canada, north MN, etc)....just curious if folks had any experience w/ this....

i ask b/c when my wife and i had a 79 mazda rx7, we drove it in the winter (from 86-89)....w/ moderate success-engine had a hard time starting in extreme cold and of course w/ RWD in heavy snow was hard.....

Vetteman Jack

I drove my '99 C5 in the snow before - it got through but it was a challenge getting traction since we have a lot of hills around here. Anymore I park my current C5 during the winter since I have a DD to take out instead. But if the roads are clear, I will occasionally get the car out for a little cruise.

frsr06

Living in Charlotte, I typically drive the Vette through the winter. There are a few days where snow is forecast and I'll take another vehicle. I've been caught in snow but nothing bad. I'm fortunate to have covered parking at work and no real surprises on the way home yet.

B-Rad54

I DD my car here in Texas and last year it froze over and I still had to get to school. Long behold the car started up being outside and in the 20-30 degrees, it was the only time it struggled to turn on. It sounded like it was cammed for about 15 minutes until it got to a decent operating temprature and I just drove very cautiously.

OKZ06

I daily mine but have a junk vehicle to use when it gets bad.

No problem with traction but when the snow is thick ground clearance is the issue

91LSMAN

Drove mine in an inch or two of snow back when it was stock ride height and had Kumho Runflats on it.

Like it was stated above-hard to get traction, but it's doable.

I would not do it anymore with my current wheels/tires.

Sinister-one

No snow in South Texas, but my FRC is driven 365, 24/7 !!

Chilliwack vettes

We don't get much snow out here (lots of rain though!) so I got a full years insurance last February since the last couple of winters have been awesome. That said, my old '88 C4 was caught on a few snow days. Light accumulations of snow was not too bad but not recommended. No I would not take my C5 out on snow days - that's what my Honda is for.

Peter

beboggled

I couldn't do it, I tried once in the snow. Cold fat tires, cam, and a manual trans make traction nearly nonexistent in the snow. It was dangerous. If it was an auto and with tires suited to cold I could see it possible for lighter snow. I drive the winter beater from Thanksgiving to March

C5R USA

I got caught in a snowstorm years ago in my old ZR-1 and not only was that a white knuckle experience but, left a lasting impression. I made it home but, I refused to drive from there on out without fairly clear skies and a temperature above 50 F. My C5 the way it is now with being lowered and running on Michelin Pilots, I'd be a fool to try it. Last winter was hard enough to get around some days in my 4X4.

CQRT

Of course...when I lived in Ohio, it was my daily driver.

No biggie...just not good in deep snow.

sahhas

thanks for all the feedback/replies!!!

itzza427

Mine sits out the nasty stuff,,but cold air actually wakes the motor up on these babies!! I'v driven down to single digit temps,,and I can tell you cold dry air will make them howl !!! Traction on smooth worn asphalt can be dicy though . Good all season tires are a must!

Crosis

I only need to put up the top 5 days in winter.

fedekz

Seems like this link is being posted in every thread ... Click with caution ...

Voodoo13

Haven't driven it in full on snow yet, the last few winters here in Vancouver have been pretty mild. Some cold weather, -10C was no problem once I got some all season tires. With summer tires any ice on the road and the car just went sideways as soon as I took off the brake. (A4) I think it should be OK as long as there is only a few inches but I doubt it would plow through snow over 4 or 5 inches.

DevilDog II

I don't drive mine in the snow, but I did drive a customer's car that was equipped with snow tires in a heavy snow one time. It was a 6-speed car and I was pleasantly surprised at how well it tracked through the snow. I have a friend who has over 250,000 on his C5 and he drives it year 'round.

donald4972

Some of 'us' are old enough to remember putting snow tires on in the late fall every year, or watching and helping our fathers put them on, and even chains. Remember winter tires sold with studs in them?

I got caught up over 10,000 feet, in Rocky Mountain Natl Park, in my Corvette in a snow storm once. These big tires, turn into 'skis', if you are not very careful, needless to say, in fresh snow.

I used to own a Lincoln Mark VIII, when still lived in Illinois. An amazing car with the 300 hp engine. Loved that car! But it was helpless in winter (rear wheel drive). Then, I got 'snow tires' for it, threw a bag of sand in the rear trunk, and it was so much improved. Ahhh, the lessons our fathers taught us...

Don

jr105

I might consider it if it wasn't for the salt and nasty chemicals they put on the roads here in MA whenever it snows.

DSTURBD

Have said this many times before on here, but here goes again. Mine is my DD, 365 per year. If you drive prudently for the conditions rather than like an azz-hat, the C5 is as good as any other rear wheel drive car in the snow. Yes, ground clearance can become an issue fairly quickly, but the extreme winter testing someone mentioned earlier proved to me that my C5 is a viable year-'round vehicle. My own personal experience has confirmed it.

Granted, being a school teacher, if the snow is too bad they tell us to stay home in bed anyway so it's all good!! On those days, the 'Vette stays warm and dry in the garage, and I'm sure she enjoys sleeping-in too.

DSTURBD