Driving in the SNOW - as seen in Richmond
12-20-2018, 08:36 AM
#41
Burning Brakes
Like the hot MacDonald's coffee in the lap or the guy who used his LAWNMOWER as a hedge trimmer and cut his fingers off! That's why they won't run if you let go of the handle now. Hardly anybody will accept responsibility for their own stupidity and lots of you know whats more than willing to help them place the blame elsewhere... and get rewarded for said stupidity. What a country!
but you can find the pictures of what happened to the mcdonald's coffee woman, and it will clear up any confusion about why she won that lawsuit
12-20-2018, 11:45 AM
#42
Team Owner
The only good thing the C5 has going for it as far as driving it in the snow is the weight distribution. Other than that, I would think it would be a terrible car to drive in the snow. Even if the roads weren't salted where I live, I would still be afraid of other drivers crashing into me...
12-20-2018, 11:51 AM
#43
Because we now live in a society where everything is someone else's fault...
12-20-2018, 12:29 PM
#44
Team Owner
12-20-2018, 01:46 PM
#45
12-20-2018, 05:06 PM
#47
Team Owner
I considered that, but by the time that this kind of mindset had become commonplace, my father had been long dead, and my mother didn't have the money....
12-21-2018, 08:03 AM
#49
Team Owner
12-21-2018, 11:22 AM
#51
Drifting
Back in 1970, I daily drove my C2 all winter here in northern Ohio with no issues whatsoever. Today if I had to I'd do the same with the C5/6/7 (and it would be safer than the early Vettes) but I don't want the cleanup afterwards so by choice they sit in the barn all winter. Air dams? They can be taken off in about a minute and a half.
12-21-2018, 01:01 PM
#52
Race Director
Back in 1970, I daily drove my C2 all winter here in northern Ohio with no issues whatsoever. Today if I had to I'd do the same with the C5/6/7 (and it would be safer than the early Vettes) but I don't want the cleanup afterwards so by choice they sit in the barn all winter. Air dams? They can be taken off in about a minute and a half.
12-21-2018, 02:54 PM
#53
Team Owner
Thanks for reminding me about that. When I replaced the corner air dams on my car, I took out all the screws to all three pieces. Figuring they might work loose somehow, I used loctite when I put them back in...the RED type ( I know better but for some reason I did it anyway). So when I installed braces on the corners I had a hell of a time getting them out. I used a heat gun, which was a bad idea as it enlarged the screw holes. So my question is: What I should use as a heat source to break the loctite? I was thinking soldering iron. Any thoughts? Thanks.
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glbeauchamp (12-21-2018)
12-21-2018, 03:34 PM
#54
Race Director
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2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
There has been many posts on this subject recently, My opinion is that my car will remain in the garage until March, it just seems that you are asking for an accident to happen driving around in that weather
Last edited by 449er; 12-21-2018 at 03:34 PM.
12-21-2018, 10:11 PM
#55
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Some people on this forum seem to think that it is impossible and/or irresponsible to winter drive a C5 Corvette. In my 43 years of driving, I have driven far worse cars in the winter (and I have never been stuck...knock on wood). I confess I did nearly go off onto a divided highway's median just outside of Jefferson City, Missouri, winter of '78 (Oldsmobile 442, studs on snow tires and limited slip differential...I was young and going too fast). Forty years later, I can point out that exact curve.
The low ground clearance of the C5 is absolutely a factor, but only if one is driving in an environment where snow plows don't operate. Contrary to some posts, the C5 Corvette's front air dam is not a poorly engineered functional equivalent of a snow plow. Rather the air dam folds up on a spring hinge should it encounter an obstacle. I have experienced this first hand. It works as designed. Not an oversight, and no worse for the wear.
While the C5's ABS and traction control systems are very effective; these systems depend on having some grip to work with. The wide tires coupled with typically relatively shallow tread are less than ideal for snow and are horrible on ice. But as I mentioned above in my previous post, my wife and I safely traveled a hundred miles or so in our C5 during a winter storm earlier this year. Most of the vehicles we saw that had gone off the highway, in a ditch or onto the median, were SUVs. This is not to suggest that the C5 is a superior winter vehicle, rather only to suggest that it is not wholly incapable.
I choose to drive my Corvette when I can....because I bought it to drive.
12-23-2018, 01:45 PM
#56
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I love seeing Corvettes out in the snow...why not enjoy yourself? 4wd trucks without lockers have essentially the same driving wheels as the Corvette does, with the LSD. So, getting down the road wouldn't be an issue, it's just down to traction/tire type. With good tires, the Corvette should be very capable in snow.
12-23-2018, 06:46 PM
#57
Everyone enjoys their cars in their own way. Your way is the right way for you. I tend towards the view that it is better to use what you own while you can rather than save it for someone else to enjoy.
Some people on this forum seem to think that it is impossible and/or irresponsible to winter drive a C5 Corvette. In my 43 years of driving, I have driven far worse cars in the winter (and I have never been stuck...knock on wood). I confess I did nearly go off onto a divided highway's median just outside of Jefferson City, Missouri, winter of '78 (Oldsmobile 442, studs on snow tires and limited slip differential...I was young and going too fast). Forty years later, I can point out that exact curve.
The low ground clearance of the C5 is absolutely a factor, but only if one is driving in an environment where snow plows don't operate. Contrary to some posts, the C5 Corvette's front air dam is not a poorly engineered functional equivalent of a snow plow. Rather the air dam folds up on a spring hinge should it encounter an obstacle. I have experienced this first hand. It works as designed. Not an oversight, and no worse for the wear.
While the C5's ABS and traction control systems are very effective; these systems depend on having some grip to work with. The wide tires coupled with typically relatively shallow tread are less than ideal for snow and are horrible on ice. But as I mentioned above in my previous post, my wife and I safely traveled a hundred miles or so in our C5 during a winter storm earlier this year. Most of the vehicles we saw that had gone off the highway, in a ditch or onto the median, were SUVs. This is not to suggest that the C5 is a superior winter vehicle, rather only to suggest that it is not wholly incapable.
I choose to drive my Corvette when I can....because I bought it to drive.
Some people on this forum seem to think that it is impossible and/or irresponsible to winter drive a C5 Corvette. In my 43 years of driving, I have driven far worse cars in the winter (and I have never been stuck...knock on wood). I confess I did nearly go off onto a divided highway's median just outside of Jefferson City, Missouri, winter of '78 (Oldsmobile 442, studs on snow tires and limited slip differential...I was young and going too fast). Forty years later, I can point out that exact curve.
The low ground clearance of the C5 is absolutely a factor, but only if one is driving in an environment where snow plows don't operate. Contrary to some posts, the C5 Corvette's front air dam is not a poorly engineered functional equivalent of a snow plow. Rather the air dam folds up on a spring hinge should it encounter an obstacle. I have experienced this first hand. It works as designed. Not an oversight, and no worse for the wear.
While the C5's ABS and traction control systems are very effective; these systems depend on having some grip to work with. The wide tires coupled with typically relatively shallow tread are less than ideal for snow and are horrible on ice. But as I mentioned above in my previous post, my wife and I safely traveled a hundred miles or so in our C5 during a winter storm earlier this year. Most of the vehicles we saw that had gone off the highway, in a ditch or onto the median, were SUVs. This is not to suggest that the C5 is a superior winter vehicle, rather only to suggest that it is not wholly incapable.
I choose to drive my Corvette when I can....because I bought it to drive.
12-23-2018, 06:58 PM
#58
I love seeing Corvettes out in the snow...why not enjoy yourself? 4wd trucks without lockers have essentially the same driving wheels as the Corvette does, with the LSD. So, getting down the road wouldn't be an issue, it's just down to traction/tire type. With good tires, the Corvette should be very capable in snow.
12-23-2018, 07:39 PM
#59
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Is this one of those discussion threads..?
Unfortunately, not everyone is born with common sense. Not everyone understands the mechanics of a loss of frictional ecoefficiency.. .potential and kinetic energy are forces that play into driving in the snow. but not everyone understands their impact.
Many people are unqualified to safely drive in the snow, but much like the Mattress tag removal police, disqualifying anyone is not visible. Nothing is worse than a guy who is unqualified to drive in the snow., or have common sense, to drive a 5000 lb 4 wheel drive truck as if was impervious to be a killing machine, and think he is the best driver on the road and everyone else is a bad driver.
Knowing and Respecting you limitation, and your cars limitation in bad road conditions is a very mature and intelligent perspective.
Bill aka ET .. .
Unfortunately, not everyone is born with common sense. Not everyone understands the mechanics of a loss of frictional ecoefficiency.. .potential and kinetic energy are forces that play into driving in the snow. but not everyone understands their impact.
Many people are unqualified to safely drive in the snow, but much like the Mattress tag removal police, disqualifying anyone is not visible. Nothing is worse than a guy who is unqualified to drive in the snow., or have common sense, to drive a 5000 lb 4 wheel drive truck as if was impervious to be a killing machine, and think he is the best driver on the road and everyone else is a bad driver.
Knowing and Respecting you limitation, and your cars limitation in bad road conditions is a very mature and intelligent perspective.
Bill aka ET .. .
12-23-2018, 07:43 PM
#60
Drifting
Before moving to FL my '99 Hardtop saw regular action in the snow in the winter months of SE Pennsylvania. Hell, the previous owner caused a HUGE amount of butt hurt and up roar on this very forum with pics of him driving it with the family Christmas tree tied to the roof. I have driven mine in 4 inch deep snow without any issue. Good snow or all season tires and knowing how to drive in snow makes the world of difference. Like it or not fellas...it's a Corvette...they were designed with the ability to be driven in the snow...they are not going to suddenly stop running if they see action in the rain or even heaven forbid snow.