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yeah. But it's not fun here in the freezing rain and salt all over te place. You keep the car and the underside gets destroyed. Not to mention the pot holes from the big plows omg.
northeast corvette ownership is a different experience lol
LOL . . . nothing gets destroyed by salt. Proper tires allow one to drive all year round. The only limitation is snow depth with the C7. The "northeast corvette ownership" is only a different experience if you can't properly wrap your head around it, and prepare properly.
With regard to ice, nothing works well on ice, not snow tires, not 4WD, nothing. Stay home.
I agree, but you have to have someplace to go. I drive mine a lot but usually only average 500 miles a month.
What about summer road trips? Even if I have nowhere in particular to go, sometimes my wife and I will just jump in the Corvette and spend the entire day exploring new towns in southern Ontario that we've never seen before. When we retire in 5 years we'll be spending our winters in Florida and will be putting miles on the Corvette down there (and by then I will have traded the C6 for a C7 too!) and will do lots of exploring there too. It's a lot of fun driving to new places!
So even if you don't have someplace in particular to go, just start driving and figure it out as you go!
I have to respectively disagree with you on that one. When I first bought my C5, it was my daily driver, so it saw 7 Toronto winters in the 9 years I owned it. The car was like new when I bought it, only 30k on it. I took it to a detail shop every week for a proper hand wash, so the paint still looked great (other than the nose), but the undercarriage and engine bay looked absolutely terrible after those 7 years of being exposed to the salt. They use a crazy amount of salt on the roads up here in winter. So maybe "destroyed" is a bit extreme word to use, but it certainly wreaks havoc on the undercarriage of these cars. And as I eluded to above, it also wreaks havoc on the front end of the car, that salt spray just causes thousands of tiny stone chips.
When I traded my C5 for my C6, I decided that this car would never see salt, and I try not to even drive in the rain. It's not fun to drive under those conditions anyhow, and even though it's not a show car by any means, I still like to keep it looking reasonably good (and simply put I just hate having to do heavy duty cleaning!). I still do drive it in the winter months, I was out yesterday for a half hour and will drive it again today too. But we've had a lot of rain lately and the roads are free of salt. As soon as they lay down more salt, the Vette will stay parked until the rains clean things up.
I have to respectively disagree with you on that one. When I first bought my C5, it was my daily driver, so it saw 7 Toronto winters in the 9 years I owned it. The car was like new when I bought it, only 30k on it. I took it to a detail shop every week for a proper hand wash, so the paint still looked great (other than the nose), but the undercarriage and engine bay looked absolutely terrible after those 7 years
of being exposed to the salt. They use a crazy amount of salt on the roads up here in winter. So maybe "destroyed" is a bit extreme word to use, but it certainly wreaks havoc on the undercarriage of these cars. And as I eluded to above, it also wreaks havoc on the front end of the car, that salt spray just causes thousands of tiny stone chips.
When I traded my C5 for my C6, I decided that this car would never see salt, and I try not to even drive in the rain. It's not fun to drive under those conditions anyhow, and even though it's not a show car by any means, I still like to keep it looking reasonably good (and simply put I just hate having to do heavy duty cleaning!). I still do drive it in the winter months, I was out yesterday for a half hour and will drive it again today too. But we've had a lot of rain lately and the roads are free of salt. As soon as they lay down more salt, the Vette will stay parked until the rains clean things up.
[QUOTE=9157;1593870099]One of the reasons I sold my '15 ZO6 was it could not fit in the car wash. The car wash I use cleans the undercarriage and I wax it weekly in my climate controlled garage.
The salt and debris builds up on all cars; only a car wash with undercarriage wash can clean it.
My point is, these cars are massed produced; just like the daily driver that most purchase in lieu of driving the vette. Makes no sense to me to give up the great experience that only s vette can provide! And yes, I track my car and take it to car shows; the only difference is my smile is a little bigger then those who only choose to drive on weekends!
Thanks to the OP for the encouragement, but here in MN we have just SO MUCH salt on the roads . . . This is going to be my first salt-free car ever. (Assuming I keep my resolve . . .)
You can do it! I've kept my "good" cars salt free since 1995. Get a car that you enjoy to drive for the winter - for me it is all about handling more so that pure thrust. It makes it a lot easier. When that first moderately warm day comes and the roads are free from salt and sand you feel like you just bought your car! For me it keeps the agonizing thought of the upcoming yard work at bay!
I have to respectively disagree with you on that one. When I first bought my C5, it was my daily driver, so it saw 7 Toronto winters in the 9 years I owned it. The car was like new when I bought it, only 30k on it. I took it to a detail shop every week for a proper hand wash, so the paint still looked great (other than the nose), but the undercarriage and engine bay looked absolutely terrible after those 7 years of being exposed to the salt. They use a crazy amount of salt on the roads up here in winter. So maybe "destroyed" is a bit extreme word to use, but it certainly wreaks havoc on the undercarriage of these cars. And as I eluded to above, it also wreaks havoc on the front end of the car, that salt spray just causes thousands of tiny stone chips
That's
When I traded my C5 for my C6, I decided that this car would never see salt, and I try not to even drive in the rain. It's not fun to drive under those conditions anyhow, and even though it's not a show car by any means, I still like to keep it looking reasonably good (and simply put I just hate having to do heavy duty cleaning!). I still do drive it in the winter months, I was out yesterday for a half hour and will drive it again today too. But we've had a lot of rain lately and the roads are free of salt. As soon as they lay down more salt, the Vette will stay parked until the rains clean things up.
That's what I do. Rain washed salt away here so taking out the C7 today. Going to order an underwasher to clean under cars, too.
Totally agree, my Ranger falls in the pot holes we have here! See ya in the spring!
Geez, I live almost next door to you and I have my Z06 out all winter (provided roads are dry and not heavily salted). If you think the potholes that are out there now are going to be fixed in NJ when it gets warm you are going to have a long wait
LOL . . . nothing gets destroyed by salt. Proper tires allow one to drive all year round. The only limitation is snow depth with the C7. The "northeast corvette ownership" is only a different experience if you can't properly wrap your head around it, and prepare properly.
With regard to ice, nothing works well on ice, not snow tires, not 4WD, nothing. Stay home.
Nothing gets destroyed by salt are you serious. Wow.
Dvilin, I realize that's a bit of controversial statement, and I completely understand that constant exposure to salt over a very long time period is corrosive even to aluminum. On the other hand, corrosion on aluminum is usually just on the exterior with an oxide coating that actually is protective. It doesn't create the type of "cancer" that eats through steel.
What I mean is that is the small amount of salt exposure, even if you drive it fairly often in winter in most cases is fairly minimal, and the C7 structure is less prone to salt damage. It would take 7-10 years or more of daily salt exposure to start causing any significant damage. In most places, salt gets washed away by rain within a couple of weeks after a big snow storm.
As was pointed out in another thread, cars living in coastal areas that are exposed to salt mist 365 days a year, are in a much worse situation because they suffer far greater exposure. Those cars are far more vulnerable, suffering nearly constant salt mist exposure, than cars driven during winter in areas where the roads are only occasionally treated w/ salt. A few winter drives will do next to no harm.
On the other hand, 10 winters of driving every day on salty roads may cause some issues unless an owner does good job of keeping the undercarriage cleaned off, but that's not the situation in most places.
I guess the bottom line is 90+% of Corvettes aren't going to suffer any ill effects from salt damage within the first 5-7 years of ownership. While there are always forum folks saying they're protecting the car for collector status 25 years from now, that's pretty rare, and in my view pretty silly.
Dvilin, I realize that's a bit of controversial statement, and I completely understand that constant exposure to salt over a very long time period is corrosive even to aluminum. On the other hand, corrosion on aluminum is usually just on the exterior with an oxide coating that actually is protective. It doesn't create the type of "cancer" that eats through steel.
What I mean is that is the small amount of salt exposure, even if you drive it fairly often in winter in most cases is fairly minimal, and the C7 structure is less prone to salt damage. It would take 7-10 years or more of daily salt exposure to start causing any significant damage. In most places, salt gets washed away by rain within a couple of weeks after a big snow storm.
As was pointed out in another thread, cars living in coastal areas that are exposed to salt mist 365 days a year, are in a much worse situation because they suffer far greater exposure. Those cars are far more vulnerable, suffering nearly constant salt mist exposure, than cars driven during winter in areas where the roads are only occasionally treated w/ salt. A few winter drives will do next to no harm.
On the other hand, 10 winters of driving every day on salty roads may cause some issues unless an owner does good job of keeping the undercarriage cleaned off, but that's not the situation in most places.
I guess the bottom line is 90+% of Corvettes aren't going to suffer any ill effects from salt damage within the first 5-7 years of ownership. While there are always forum folks saying they're protecting the car for collector status 25 years from now, that's pretty rare, and in my view pretty silly.
What about summer road trips? Even if I have nowhere in particular to go, sometimes my wife and I will just jump in the Corvette and spend the entire day exploring new towns in southern Ontario that we've never seen before. When we retire in 5 years we'll be spending our winters in Florida and will be putting miles on the Corvette down there (and by then I will have traded the C6 for a C7 too!) and will do lots of exploring there too. It's a lot of fun driving to new places!
So even if you don't have someplace in particular to go, just start driving and figure it out as you go!
Our Corvette club occasionally has caravan type drives to places of interest however most of the time they only go to car shows. I do enjoy open road motoring but do like a planed destination.
Last edited by Larry/car; Jan 15, 2017 at 05:50 PM.
I agree...its a great daily driver. Once I sell my Honda S2000 and 427 Shelby Cobra replica the 2017 C7 will be my only car and daily driver. Bought in Aug. 2016 it has only 3400 miles
Dvilin, I realize that's a bit of controversial statement, and I completely understand that constant exposure to salt over a very long time period is corrosive even to aluminum. On the other hand, corrosion on aluminum is usually just on the exterior with an oxide coating that actually is protective. It doesn't create the type of "cancer" that eats through steel.
What I mean is that is the small amount of salt exposure, even if you drive it fairly often in winter in most cases is fairly minimal, and the C7 structure is less prone to salt damage. It would take 7-10 years or more of daily salt exposure to start causing any significant damage. In most places, salt gets washed away by rain within a couple of weeks after a big snow storm.
As was pointed out in another thread, cars living in coastal areas that are exposed to salt mist 365 days a year, are in a much worse situation because they suffer far greater exposure. Those cars are far more vulnerable, suffering nearly constant salt mist exposure, than cars driven during winter in areas where the roads are only occasionally treated w/ salt. A few winter drives will do next to no harm.
respectfully disagree....
just to give you an idea about "salt" damage if you haven't experienced it. under the hood of my one year old Sierra anything aluminum looks 20yo from the salt water IN THE AIR... i live near the ocean. not on top of it NEAR.... like 1 mile away...
My 06 TBSS new within a year same thing. i had that truck 4 years and traded it at 16k miles. my friend had 30k on his lives inland couldn't believe the difference underneath and underhood..it's terrible
my new Yukon Denali chrome wheels pitted inside of a year as well..
the salt is a mess here. last thing i want to do is increase the damage already happening. I won't even leave my Z06 outside the climate controlled garage for extended periods near my house.. moving not an option. need another 7 8 years then i can go (job/kids).
It actually sounds like you're agreeing not disagreeing regarding my point that exposure to salt air near the ocean being far worse than occasional driving on salted roads in the winter because the exposure is much greater. My point was all these coastal Florida and CA cars may be at greater risk to salt exposure than winter drivers in snow country.
Yes, I acknowledged the oxide layer on the outside of exposed aluminum, which does change the surface appearance only of aluminum, but it actually serves as added protection from internal corrosion. It does not affect structural integrity as does salt-induced corrosion on steel.
I've lived on right on a saltwater bay for more than two decades. Lose the chrome wheels. That cheap coating will badly corrode as it is not aluminum.
Two types of owners...... those flipping there cars are a regular basis and those with a keeper. If I had a Keeper I'd not take it out in the salt either. But I'm in my 60s and my car will outlast me even in the Ohio salt. Each to their own but the car is so different in cold weather it is neat to drive.
What is really getting destroyed by the salt on the underside? The frame is all aluminum and the panels are a composite. So the exhaust, and bolts? Both of these can be replaced pretty easily.
Salt-free is the way to go. This year has been good so far, no shoveling and only one or two brine applications. The rain has washed it mostly away and we had some good Vette days last week. I got out 2 days in a row and saw several other C6 and C7 about. Looks like this week will provide similar opportunities. :-)
