You only live once. If the car wasn't meant to be driven in the snow then GM wouldn't have tuned the Active Handling for those conditions nor would there be M+S tyres. Last time I checked, there was no admonition in the owner's manual regarding driving in inclement conditions.

At the end of the day, when it comes time to sell it, the biggest difference between the cars of those of us that drive year-round and those that don't will be exactly that -- we'd have actually driven ours.

 

I agree, you guys talking about how bad the salt is for the cars. Sure it isnt good for it, but in the end does it really matter? I drive my vette everyday and the weather hasnt been exactly nice here in Chicago. The roads are white from salt. Come spring time I can have my vette looking as good if not better than all your garage queens.

 

Every sports car I have ever owned has never been driven in the salt. I've had a 1977 datsun 280z 1992 toyota supra and trust me mine looked like show cars.The ones that were driven in the winter are now in the scrap yards. hell I had a 1988 pontiac feiro the body was plastic but some of the cars I have seen were rotted under the frame.

 

My original '02 wheels became pitted from salt because I drove it all the time including in the snow and through the salted streets. I never could clean them because it was too cold and I don't have a garage. Doug

 

I drive my car about every 30 days or so during the winter. I always wait until the roads are dried out and will drive with salt dust on the road. Have been doing it for many years with no ill affects on the cars. I last drove the car the day after Christmas and am hoping the warm spell we are expecting (20 degrees) will help clear the snow so the roads will be dry by the 25th or 26th.

You have to remember it is just a car and babying it will not provide any advantages. You do not have to pray to it.
Bill

 

As I posted in another thread, I don't worship my C5 like it was some sort of holy turtle. Life is too short. Enjoy the ride, everyday.

 

spring time I can have my vette looking as good if not better than all your garage queens.[/QUOTE]

Okay JT your on mine is not a garage queen, only in the winter when there is salt on the roads, I don't mind the rain and snow just salt. It does make a big difference on the undercarriage and engine bay. I experimented with this when I had my Z28, drove it 2 years all year round, then stored it during the winter for 2 years. The difference was night and day!

I guess if you only plan on keeping your vette for 3-4 years it's no big deal to drive it year round in the salt, but I plan on keeping mine for a lot longer and don't want to have to deal with rust and crap

 

Just say to salt ! Here in WI my car is parked til June ! It takes months for the rain to move all the stones & salt to the sides of the road. This state blows for keeping cars nice

 

I bought my car for fun


Looking at my car sit in the garage is not fun


Lot's of people out there taking better care of their cars than themselves

 

I wouldn't expose my Corvette to salt. It's all the hardware, like bolts, clamps, straps, etc, that immediately take a visual hit. Also the alloy material gets a white chalky look to it. You won't be washing the car in all those areas no matter how hard you try.

If you want to maintain the car looking show room condition, rain is fine, salt is not.

If you consider the car expendable, like you would a family car, then by all means, drive it in those conditions. The car will not suffer any more corrosion damage than any other "all composite" body like a Saturn. Just don't be surprised when your Corvette's condition looks like a family car's.

I wouldn't drive mine until a heavy rain washes the salt dust from the streets. In my particular case that won't be until mid March.

There is a real benefit to seasonal driving. The car stays like new in your heart as well as in your eyes. It's like the car is "on order" again, and you are waiting for it to be delivered to your local dealer. Just don't look under the car cover.

 

with the salt issue. I work for NYC sanitation and believe me what goes on the roads is not just salt but a mixture of thick salt and calcium chloride chemicals... when the truck spreads it spreads a mixture of the two that forms into a sticky paste and literally eats the asphalt....that stuff is nasty and I dont want any of it near my Corvette..it will literally eat your clear coat. It will take some time, but say maybe two winters and your cars side paint will start fogging up and dulling. It is very corrosive. If you like your car looking new, dont drive it in those conditions, plus some azz hole could slide right into you, or you could slide into somebody, or some truck or suv will kick up the rocks, and salt paste and mess up your paint job. It isnt worth it. And driving a car like a Vette slow in those conditions is not fun, unless you have another one to baby. If you like to drive real fast, your car should be in perfect condition because that makes it safer...who knows what corrosion will take place and when you are driving fast your wiring or brake lines got corroded without you knowing and you loose your brakes..anything is possible with mother nature so why drive it in those conditions? Do you all think that you are better drivers because you can drive in the snow? Big deal.. Use a beat up piece of junk that runs good, or take public trans, because there are too many idiots out in a snow storm when someone like me is trying to do their job and open up the streets and you are in my way with your stupid cars trying to cut around me and nearly missing getting sliced up with a two ton plow! Stay home when it snows and keep your Vette home too

 

Thanks for the advice! I do not like to drive even my daily driver when it does snow!