C5 drivers

[wannavette]

Am I the only 1 who is amazed to see the kinds of weather that C5's are being driven in.It's snowing pretty good here today and I saw 2 on the highway on my way home.And a few weeks ago when it was really bad here I some some out being driven as well(although not very fast).
Maybe more people have these as their everyday driver regardless of weather?All I know is I would not drive any Vette in some of the weather that I have seen them in

 

[Hib Halverson]

Actually, C5, especially with Active Handling, is a pretty fair snow car and certainly the best performance sports car in the snow. During development, the C5 was tested extensively at GM's cold weather test facility at Kinross in the Michigan UP. One C5 engineer told me that when shod with four of Goodyear's C5-sized snow tires, it was better on snow covered streets and highways than even some 4WD SUVs until the snow reached a depth such that the car would get high-centered.

 

[Fishman]

Some people consider it as just another car. Once in the 80's (when I was mostly always broke) I had to drive my previous C3 through an entire Wisconsin winter.

In snow, I wasn't sure if I preferred to go side-ways with the drivers side in the lead, or the passengers side. And the noise of the snow going through the wheel well directly behind your head was deafening.

 

[B17Crew]

We have two to three inches on the ground here, streets are slushy. This morning, I saw a white C5 vert going along as if it was a July day. :cool

Seeing the C5 this morning made me do a double take, it’s the first Vette I’ve seen on the road for a while.

B17Crew

 

[lov-n-life]

Vettes handle weather great!

I can't vouch for C3s and earlier, or any pre-traction controlled cars for that matter, however the later C4s and C5s handle and drive great in almost any weather, provided the driver is capable. My '96 was my daily driver, and as a matter of fact, my ONLY car for the year and half I owned it. On the couple of occasions where the weather turned foul, I had no problems with it. In fact, I was the only person to make it to work one day when we received 8 inches of snow and ice... and mind you, I live in truck country (Arkansas) and even the 4x4s were in the ditch. This year driving my C5 home I ran into what was left over of some very nasty weather outside of Memphis... I hit a wall of slush and ice about 6 inches deep at 70mph... no issues. Just let up off the gas and allowed the car to coast down. Once down to a reasonable speed to keep me from sliding too much and still allow me to merge into a clear lane with faster moving traffic (about 50mph), the car pretty much followed where I wanted it to go. Some of this is driver ability (I've been driving in these conditions every winter for my entire driving career starting at 16), but mostly due to the engineering of the car. Where the wide footprint of the tires can cause hydroplaning in rainy weather, the wide contact patch aids in traction in the slippery stuff (with carefully applied throttle of course). And yes, my '04 is my daily driver, and once again my ONLY car.

 

[1995 RedVette]

If you look at this link, there is some info about C5's dirven in snow, and a pic of Dad's C5 after a trip through the snow.

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58686&highlight=snow+tires
Brett

 

[WhalePirot]

I had to drive my C3 through an entire Wisconsin winter. In snow, I wasn't sure if I preferred to go side-ways with the drivers side in the lead, or the passengers side. And the noise of the snow going through the wheel well directly behind your head was deafening.

You reminded me of a very short drive in my LS-6ed '71. At least you had inner rear whell wells. Mine was in a mod mode and they were partially missing. The noise beats snow being kicked up onto your head and down your nape. Those L60x15s kicked up lots of snow but the half treads had zero grip. Man, I had a case of Vette withdrawal!

 

[wannavette]

Well after mentioning the c5's I see out daily in bad weather,today on our very slushy and nasty roads I saw A 96 collectors edition and could not believe my eyes when there was mint condition 65 vert. getting on the highway in front of me this A.M.:confused Not sure what that guy was thinking

 

[RodsnRides]

I'm guessing his regular daily driver must have died. I wouldn't believe that someone would normally take a classic (let alone a convertible-brrr!) out.

Stuff happens, though. Could be he's loaded with Vettes and cash and wanted to do something different. Myself, I would only if I had to, but I would be worried about the other idiots. Especially the ones with SUV's.

We got lots here, plenty with Texas and California plates, and 9 out of 10 have drivers with a cellphone in one hand, coffee and cigarette in the other. I don't know how they do it. Don't bother looking for a turnsignal-that device on the left side of the column is a useless, foreign object to them.

Rick

 

[atmmac]

yeah i bet he was stuck without a car. I know i dont have a car right now because my camaro broke down. My dads car also got hit by a drunk. If the camaro cannot be fixed soon enough the impala may be making an early entrance this year but i hope not. I would never drive my vette int he snow!

 

[Wegone]

I got my C5 for a beater That way I can baby my C4 But than we don't see much bad stuff in the south..

 

[bossvette]

the roads are clear here, but the report is for more snow tomorrow, the wife wants to make a run to Toledo, I might just uncover the C-5 otherwise its the S-10 :L. I looks like it will be the last ride for a while, now if she will only get off the phone