Do C4's go in snow??

[Corvette-Pilot]

Some the members wouldn't
be safe behind the wheel of a Town Car yet they buy this
corvette and think they can drive like a 20 year old again.

I am almost 40 and will put my drive experience against a 20 year old's cocky attitude anyday

 

[ZAL81]

...but the cars are not safe.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Corvette on of the safest cars on the road today. With ABS, ASR, and a lot of other technology built into the C4's/C5's how can you say that their not safe?

The car is only as safe as the driver behind the wheel. If you drive like an idiot, then in time, something bad will happen to you. In which case you probably deserve it.

As far as the "snow wreak" that you refer to. If you were to read the whole thread, the gentlemen was driving safely, just had a bit of bad luck. Thats why they call them "accidents" I sure we've all been there at some point in our life. Noone got hurt & the car can be fixed, so I don't see what all the fuss over this is about. The man had an "accident" plain and simple.

I also agree with Corvette-Pilot, in the fact that I'll also put my 20+ years of driving experience up against any 20 year old on the road today.

In fact, I drove my home in 3" of snow yesterday and never had a problem. Its called "respect" You "respect" the car for what it is and it will get you home. Dis"respect" it and it will put you into ditch or worse!
Zane
Zane:confused :confused

 

[Topless]

Ok, time to wade in on this one....

This is my third winter with my '92. It is my only car, so it get driven in the snow. The first year, I was driving it with Goodyear GS-C's. Remember two things: first they are what were designed for the car, second, they are NOT even all season tires.

Now, that said, I was driving it around with Hummers in the snow. It will do just fine if you have good tread depth, and are easy on the throttle. (oh, and you don't try to plow the street with the lower air dam) The real difference is the ASR (traction control). It helps.

This year I have a set of nice new Eagle M&S on there. Of course it has not snowed since I put them on....:eyerole

But, then again, this is the first car I have driven with ABS and ASR. I was driving fox body Mustang GTs in the snow before. :L

Oh, and driving it in the winter is the main reason I have the hardtop. You never know when some SUV will try to mate with you in the snow!!!

Lou96lt4....
Good to see another Denver vette on here....

 

["94 Sixspeed]

Snow no problem

While there has not been a lot of snow in Louisville this year.. I have driven in snow quite a bit this year and even with the ASR turned off the car drives fine.. I have driven in snow for years and as long as you use the right technique, it's no problem.. The only reason I might not drive the vette in snow would be if it was so deep that I couldn't make it go.. My opinion is that many people just do not know how to drive in snow, even with a FWD or other similar vehicle.

 

[ZAL81]

"Oh, and driving it in the winter is the main reason I have the hardtop. You never know when some SUV will try to mate with you in the snow!!!"


Topless, I also have the hardtop for my car, but seeing that I just got the car in Oct and in Missouri we seem to get some unexplained "warm" days thru-out the winter months( -2 last nite/50's mid next week) I haven't talked myself into putting the hardtop on yet. Don't want to miss out on any warm day chances.

I also have the GS-C Emt's on my car, so I would be real interested in knowing how well your Eagle M&S's do in the snow, as I will be putting on new rubber for next winter.


Save the Wave,
Zane

 

["94 Sixspeed]

Mating is not my objective

At least not with another car, or SUV. Hey I can barely afford to own this car.. If I had to have another car to drive when the weather was not the best I could not make this work... Sorry I am not an affluent sort of guy, but this is my daily ride.. It is a ball to drive, and experiencing the drive in all kinds of adverse conditions is actually good fun.. It helps me learn more about how the car works in less than optimal conditions.. I used to imagine driving on ice as being somewhat like driving at very high speeds.. There are similar aspects to the way a car handles in these two situations...the advantage is that when on ice ,,, if you make a mistake you may do a little damage to your car... At 150 MPH you may die... sounds compelling to me... Sort of a simulator for speed with out the risk... Anyway it's my only ride and I love it ,, sorry if I do not fit the mold, but I am having a ball.. After all isn't that what it is all about????

 

[Topless]

it is my only car as well. I have put 44K miles on mine in 2 1/2 years, so you know it does not hide from much. Only when the snow is really deep do I keep it in the garage.

I know some people would never dream of taking thiers out in the rain, much less the snow. That is fine. I just don't happen to subscribe to that. Maybe if I scrounge up another car, I might keep some of the miles off the vette. On the other hand, I bought it to drive.

>>>Turning right to go left<<<<<< :L

 

[Edmond]

Went out last night

and got caught in the snow coming home. It was not fun. The rear tires would break loose even under light throttle and when I hit the breaks, the car slid to a stop. Turning had to be done very slow.

I wouldn't suggest driving in the snow, it really sucks!

 

[secondchance]

My 84 Z51 and 91 ZR-1 did not have ASR and not easy to drive on snow. 94 ZR-1 with ASR is a totally diffrent car on snow. I would'nt drive in major blizzard but 3-4 inches is not a problem. Watching out for other drivers is another matter.

 

[Remo]

Decisions, Decisions

I got up this morning and there was another four inches of snow over night - which adds to the already thirty plus on the ground. Let's see - I could take my C5 to work because it does have "traction control" or I could take my 4WD F-150. After reading this thread I'm really confused about what to do - not!!

Regards - Remo

 

["94 Sixspeed]

Good choice

Hey if I had a truck, I would dirve it in the snow as well. But if I have to choose between driving a truck all of the time or the Vette. Let me see... What would you do.. I'm driving the Vette...

As far as spinning wheels and sliding... Surprise,, all cars do that in the snow. I have had several four wheel drive vehicles, and they did it too.. The big difference is that they can take off better, they do not stop better.. A lot of owners of four wheel drive vehicles seem to forget this.. I think the biggest problem with sports cars in general, the tires you buy for fair weather performance stink in the snow... I have the Goodrich KDWS, and they do pretty well in the snow.. I will find out this spring if they are any good for autocross.

 

[Corvette-Pilot]

Re: Decisions, Decisions

I got up this morning and there was another four inches of snow over night - which adds to the already thirty plus on the ground.
Regards - Remo

4"
We just got a dusting to an inch in the Lowell area :L

But I think your right,
I took out the old Ram 4x4 today.
No :s here

 

[Remo]

The Snow Belt

Corvette-Pilot,

Your note made me chuckle. Last year our neice married a young man who was born and raised in Lowell. They bought a home up in the Townsend area (Ashby). We bought them a new snowblower for a house warming gift. He called me this morning to let me know he was going out to blow the "dusting" out of the driveway. He remarked "it's like living in a snow belt up here".

BTW - he also elected to drive his 4WD Explorer to work and leave their C4 in the garage (until April).

Regards - Remo

 

[Corvette-Pilot]

Remo



It was just enough to make a mess.
Now my nice red truck is white again ad

 

[Topless]

Had a little black ice up here the other day...Eagle M&S did well up the hill out of my neighborhood. As long as you did not punch the throttle, no problems. Then again, any car would have trouble if you punch the throttle on black ice.

Remo-
As stated by several people, some of us only have one car, our corvette. I am sure that if offered a free truck to go plow snow with, most (if not all) of us would accept. Until then, I'll keep my vette, and drive it every day, rain, snow, or shine. It is quite capable of making it through the snow.

 

[Boba Vett]

It's a lil scary in rain I can't imagine in snow without traction control

 

[Edmond]

It's a lil scary in rain I can't imagine in snow without traction control

Boba,

They didn't plow my street for whatever reason and trust me, you don't want to find out!:L

BTW, welcome to the and don't forget to

 

[Remo]

Note To Topless

Mike,

If you read this thread in it's entirity you will see there is a theme that goes something like this. "I'm a better driver then the average person and I can therefor drive anything in the snow - even a Corvette". Of course you can drive a Corvette in the snow but at what cost? BTW - maybe the snow in Denver is different then the snow out here in the Northeast. But I'm pretty sure if it's more than 6" deep you're not going anywhere.

As far as the "Corvette only" car issue goes - I guess it's a matter of priorities. I just hope I never get hit by a spinning Corvette driven in a snow storm by guy who thinks he got it all under control.

Regards - Remo

 

["94 Sixspeed]

Why

Why is it hard to believe that we can safely operate our Vettes in the snow? If you were to able to check the numbers, I doubt that Corvettes make up a larger than normal percentage of cars involved in accidents due to ice and snow. My car does fine on snow. I am nearly fifty years old, and am not prone to much exageration, or delusion. When I drive my car on slippery roads I am in a lot more danger from the others around me that do not drive well under those conditions than they are from me. I think you are projecting your own inability on others, and not accepting the fact that most Vette owners drive their cars regardless of weather conditions.

 

[Mr Dark]

I've lived in Minnesota all of my life and I know for a fact that wide-tired, rear wheel drive sports cars that sit low to the ground are NOT good winter cars. I don't care how good a driver you are, these cars just aren't made for it. For several years I owned only a Camaro and I was white knuckled every time I took it out in the winter. It was like a tobaggan (sp?)! It may be somewhat different further south where the snow comes and is gone in a few days, but here the roads can have compacted snow and ice for the entire winter (well, not this winter - we've had practically no snow). Put the vette away for the winter and drive something else. I've got an old four wheel drive truck that is my winter transportation and I wouldn't drive the vette on a bet.