InfiniteReality

Back story is the reason I'm in a C5 is because I flooded out my WS6 end of April during a flash flood, but luckily I carried full coverage. Apparently it only takes 6-7" of water to this on a f-body, the water was at the bottom of my side ground effects for reference.

I probably should have gotten a truck, but while I loved my Raptor, it wasn't near as much fun to drive....plus I like have no car note now and that money can go into my Superlite SLC. I got the C5 only because it was one of the GM sports cars I've never owned and was time for something different (WS6 was my 3rd f-body). I can't even say I was excited to go pick it up, other than it was something new to learn on. After a couple of months of the C5 being my DD, I can't believe I did get one sooner. They really are nicer than a f-body inside, more updated, ride better (WS6 had BMR/Koni), handle better, etc... I really don't want to flood this car, but it is my daily and I live in Louisiana and we've gotten more flash floods lately than in the past decade so little nervous.

Anyone know how deep a C5 can go? Obviously I'll never go through water past the door sill, but curious how high it can be and still drive through it. BTW, also still running the stock airbox.

nsogiba

No offense, but this is kind of like asking how many times you can safely take a bullet and still live.

With the C5 being a "bottom feeder" you run an even higher risk of water ingestion than a regular car. When a car is moving at any rate of speed, even just an inch of standing water becomes a big vertical plume that can get sucked in and hydrolock the motor.

Maybe just leave the C5 in the garage on days when there's risk of rain?

Vetteman Jack

6-7" of water would not be a good thing for the C5. I know it is hard to predict when you might run into a deep enough level of water to cause problems, but since you say flash floods have happened frequently lately, you might want to consider leaving the C5 at home when heavy rain is predicted.

LoganExplosion

Simple. Move.

UM Rebel

I also live in Louisiana. Have driven my C5 through water up to the bottom edge of the doors. No problems. Just went through at crawl speed. Welcome to the C5 world. They are really great and FUN cars!

Pounder

you were lucky !!! as stated the water would have made it to the air intake !!!!! (unless you have a Vararam then it's to the front vents !!!!)

InfiniteReality

I guess I wasn't clear in the original post... I haven't ever driven the C5 through that much water, don't ever plan on it. That was the WS6 on that one faithful day. The bottom of the WS6 ground effect to the ground was 6" and that's about where the water was when it happened. Water wasn't entering the car or anything crazy.

I've owned f-bodies for the better part of 10yrs in total and driven through some heavy rains and standing water over the years without issue. Since the WS6 was totaled after that accident, I decided to get a C5 as my daily driver even if not the most practical.

Lately I'll take the busa if flash flood is predicted since it's intake is way higher, even took it the day of the Tropical Storm Cindy which was said to be up to 6" of water and 40mph winds.. I don't mind riding in the rain if I have to, only down side is it's a pain to deal with the rain suit plus my gear. I take the bike as much as possible in general though.

I am just thinking out loud on a realistic amount of standing water a C5 can go through (slowly of course). No Varaam or any aftermarket air intake for me, I'll stick with stock. Sooner or later, I'm sure I'll get caught in the C5 in heavy rain and don't want a repeat, as I really like owning a C5. I think realistically bottom of the the actual car (water not touching painted part) would be okay, any higher may be asking for trouble.

Speaking of aftermarket intakes, what keeps the filters dry anyways when driving in the rain?? Just washing my car, the air intake area gets wet and most aftermarket systems don't have covers for the filters. Always been curious about that.

Where you from in LA? I hate to say it, but I thought the same thing when I flooded the WS6 and was going slow, so now I'm nervous of rain in general in case of a flash flood, lol.

001pewter

Not only with it being a bottom feeder but with the pcm being so low there's the chance that gets wet also. When I bought mine apparently the previous owner ran something over, my best guess, and busted a hole in the passenger fender well right at the bottom. On 2 separate occasions it got wet and when it did the car will not start. I'm in northwest la and some places flood pretty bad anything other than normal street puddles I'll highly avoid.

UM Rebel

Lafayette. I've driven through water several times. One time on Mississippi Coast water up to bottom of doors. I could see the air dam pushing the water in front of the car. Woman behind me in an Escalade couldn't stand the crawl speed I was going passed me and sent a wave over top of car. She evidently hadn't read the boating rule,."Ypu are responsible for your wake." That was several years ago. No problems as a result.

Lexybird

What's the deepest mud a c5 can get through ? What's the highest jump a c5 can handle ? Sounds like a tryout for an early 80's dukes of hazard episode. It isn't a 69' charger

c5vetteguy

Even if there was a definitive answer to your question (let's say 6" is the max), are you going to stop your car, get out a ruler, measure the puddle at its deepest point, and then decide whether or not it's safe to traverse?

Of course not - you have no idea how deep a puddle is until you're in the middle of it, and by then it could be too late. Whenever possible, avoid any type of flooding scenario, regardless of how deep you think it is. Better safe than sorry, but you already know that.

Corvette#2

My C5 is a daily driver. I once got caught in a sudden monsoon rain storm.

I had to drive a few blocks through about 6" of water. The air intake is actually at the top of the air box, but one of the turn signal bulbs must have got splashed and burned out. I put in a new one and it was fine. Bottom line, I don't sweat driving in the rain, but I would avoid standing water at any cost. If you actually hydro locked an F-Body, the same could happen to a C5. Maybe get a beater car to drive when the roads are flooded ?

Patches

This guy and his buddy in another C5 both made it through on the way to a race and also made it through on the return trip.

InfiniteReality

PCM is one thing I haven't tried to find on the car, I had no clue where it is, but now I know. On an f-body it's pretty much where our batteries reside.

Haha, what a rude driver! Least I know these cars are more durable than I expected. I'm actually not far from you, I live in Vinton... 8 miles from the LA/TX line.

LOL. Give me a few months, I may find out some of those answers. The Raptor was fun to jump stuff though, actually it was a blast.


Good point! I was just thinking if I could gauge a safe height, all I would is have to keep the door cracked to see the level and only go on roads I know. I definitely don't have an intentions on driving roads I don't know when it's flooded, mostly between work and home

Good to hear, sounds like C5's may be better suited than f-bodies although will avoid standing water at all costs. I have since found an alternate route where the WS6 flooded. If I know it's possible to flood that day, I'll take the bike... pretty much is my beater, I typically put more miles on it than my DD yearly.

Holy crap!! That guy has some *****, I don't think I could make myself drive through that! Nice picture, even more proof these cars are better than a f-body.


Thanks for the replies, I feel better about the whole "what if" I get caught in a monsoon. I'll do my best to avoid, but my luck sucks sometimes....although it was actually good luck for flooding the WS6 because now I'm in a vette.

JR-01

Watch:
http://interactive.tegna-media.com/v...%C2%A7ion=home

Driving a Corvette through standing water doesn't take *****, it takes stupidity. It could totally ruin your car.

Rover01

WTF, Why? Park it and come back later, electronic gremlins will haunt your sleep.

Nyt_Muves

Bigger cajones than I have.

v8srfun

This is funny because the majority of c5 owners will not even let water touch there car. But I agree with the above my limit would be about 5 inches

SAYUNCL

nope...not turning mine into a wet vac...did that in a GTI and also a TBird SC...not fun

digi2t

Maybe better off with one of these...