what do you drive in the winter

spearfish25 · 07-22-2010, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimimonet

I don't want my 40th to even see any rain let alone snow. I drive my Lexus LX 470 year round and it is about the best snow car there is.

It's one thing to love your car, but it's no Bugatti. Just drive and enjoy it. The Z won't melt in a little rain, nor will it fall apart with a little snow and salt.

Jeffblue · 07-22-2010, 08:41 AM

yea, just wash the car a day or two after a big snow storm to get the salt and grime off the car, especialliy the undercarriage and suspension components

wgw370z · 07-22-2010, 09:06 AM

I drive my baby Hummer truck in the winter:

WGW

Cunnos · 07-22-2010, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

I live in Chicago and drove my Z the entire winter...blizzards included. Get yourself a good set of snow tires and you'll be all set. The Z with Blizzaks is better than any car I've had before on all-seasons. That includes two Audis with quattro and a LandRover Defender.

As for the concerns about salt, the Z holds up very well in that respect too. I made a point of keeping a yard weed sprayer filled with fresh water in my parking space. If it was wet out or particularly salty, I'd spray down the undercarriage and body. Putting it on a lift this summer, my local tuning shop was dumb-founded with how pristine the undercarriage looks. No rust/corrosion.

So, ignore all the 'you can't drive a Z in the winter' posts that are and will be made by people who haven't ever driven a Z in snow. The facts listed above are firsthand.

I was originally going to put some snow tires on but because of the route i drive I its really not worth it to drive the car in the winter. Up here in Boston last year we had a handful of storms that dropped 6+ inches and every road, highway, etc was awful. I consider myself a good driver, but there are others out there that have no idea what they are doing when bad weather hits. The Z will be in the garage all winter.

Cunnos · 07-22-2010, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK370Z

I drive my Z in winter. As long as you have the right rims and tires, it's a lot fun driving this car in snow. Heck, I drove it in 4-5" of snow!

Check out some of the pics:

Z buried in snow

Yup, that's half the car in snow.

If you see my car now, you WONT believe I drive this car in snow. It's a completely different car!

/\ This pic may not look as bad, but if you look closely, you'll see a thin later of salt all over the car! I got it washed the same day. Lucky for me, I have a GREAT touchless car wash place. After each snow incident, I get it washed. You can buy the highest car wash which includes double wash and high power undercarriage wash!

Me, JB1, spear etc we all drive our cars in snow. I kinda like it. It takes a whole different driving skills and technique.

Ohhh man those pictures are hard to look at. You are very brave my friend. I just dont wanna submit my Z to the snow, Ive had a few new cars and the winters in Boston do a number on your paint, especially the ice storms, and ESPECIALLY when your driving on the highway and a salt truck comes outta nowhere and salts the side of your car, i love that. The other thing that kinda sucks to, shoveling your car out. LIke ive said before, i had a bunch of Jeeps, start it up, put in 4wheel drive, and there is no shoveling or problems.

Cunnos · 07-22-2010, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NismoJim

2002 Toyota 4Runner Limited, after I pick up my new Nismo this coming Monday.

Hey Cunnos, I live in central MA. Are you in Boston or from the surrounding area?

Jim

Welcome to the club Jim, i just PM'd you, another Z in MA!!!

Cunnos · 07-22-2010, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wgw370z

I drive my baby Hummer truck in the winter:

WGW

Very jealous, nice combo my friend

DrewDong · 07-22-2010, 09:58 AM

just curios, what would be considered good snow tires/wheels? like would bigger be better? I have some 16 inch rims from my old toyota celica i was thinking of putting on for snow tires, good/bad idea? also is there a specific tire i should aim for?

Cunnos · 07-22-2010, 10:05 AM

i think a lot of people stated the blizzards are the best wheels

TheWeatherman · 07-22-2010, 10:20 AM

The ol' 2009 Infiniti FX35 does the trick in the winter for me. If I had the choice now, I'd do a 4-door Jeep Wrangler, but I'm waiting for the new one to come out with the Pentastar V6. I had no clue I was going to be buying a Z when I bought the Infiniti.

Edit: I think utility, and dollar for dollar, the Jeep Wrangler is one of the best values on the road. The new ones are actually quite livable. They just need some more power and a new automatic transmission. Looks like this problem will be solved shortly. I'd get a used, '07+ Jeep Wrangler if I were you. Great resale, and you can have some utility thrown in as well. They're also quite reliable. My bro has an '09 along with his Jeep SRT8, and both have been quite reliable. Just an opinion.

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spearfish25 · 07-22-2010, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrewDong

just curios, what would be considered good snow tires/wheels? like would bigger be better? I have some 16 inch rims from my old toyota celica i was thinking of putting on for snow tires, good/bad idea? also is there a specific tire i should aim for?

There are many snow tire options but I like Blizzaks. As for rims/widths, narrower is better for deep snow. This allows the tire to 'cut' into the snow better and produces more pressure (smaller area of rubber on the road). You'll lose some dry performance with narrower tires, but snow tires neuter the car anyway.

16" rims probably won't clear any of the Z's brake packages, but absolutely will NOT work with the sport brakes. I have 18" winter rims that were cheap (~$120/rim) and work fine.

Jeffblue · 07-22-2010, 10:23 AM

for wheels for snow tires, i wwould't go wider than the factory 18's 8.5"/9.5"

Cunnos · 07-22-2010, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWeatherman

The ol' 2009 Infiniti FX35 does the trick in the winter for me. If I had the choice now, I'd do a 4-door Jeep Wrangler, but I'm waiting for the new one to come out with the Pentastar V6. I had no clue I was going to be buying a Z when I bought the Infiniti.

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Good idea on waiting on the 4 doorJeep Wrangler. I had a 2009 4 door Sahara, such a nice Jeep, only problem was they took the engine out of the Chrysler minivans, modded them a bit for offroad use and then stuck ehm in the new Jeep. Thing had no power which was my major reason for selling it, and also cuz i wanted the Z. Whats the story on the new engine Pentastar they are putting in??

TheWeatherman · 07-22-2010, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cunnos

Good idea on waiting on the 4 doorJeep Wrangler. I had a 2009 4 door Sahara, such a nice Jeep, only problem was they took the engine out of the Chrysler minivans, modded them a bit for offroad use and then stuck ehm in the new Jeep. Thing had no power which was my major reason for selling it, and also cuz i wanted the Z. Whats the story on the new engine Pentastar they are putting in??

Ah ha ha! Check my edited post above.

Oh, and try getting the manual if you want more power in the Wrangler. That's what my bro's is and it can chirp the tires easily in 1st and 2nd. It's a 6-speed. I also can easily get 22 MPGs on the highway with it and about 19 city. That's not too bad. You can buy the new Pentastar Wrangler when it comes out. That should be a nice machine. Apparently, the 2011 has an all-new interior.

Zsteve · 07-22-2010, 10:34 AM

The Zeeeeeeeeeeeeee

07-22-2010, 10:20 AM	#55 (permalink)
TheWeatherman Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 265 Drives: 2009 370Z 6MTw/Sport Rep Power: 16	The ol' 2009 Infiniti FX35 does the trick in the winter for me. If I had the choice now, I'd do a 4-door Jeep Wrangler, but I'm waiting for the new one to come out with the Pentastar V6. I had no clue I was going to be buying a Z when I bought the Infiniti. Edit: I think utility, and dollar for dollar, the Jeep Wrangler is one of the best values on the road. The new ones are actually quite livable. They just need some more power and a new automatic transmission. Looks like this problem will be solved shortly. I'd get a used, '07+ Jeep Wrangler if I were you. Great resale, and you can have some utility thrown in as well. They're also quite reliable. My bro has an '09 along with his Jeep SRT8, and both have been quite reliable. Just an opinion. Uploaded with ImageShack.us Last edited by TheWeatherman; 07-22-2010 at 10:29 AM.

07-22-2010, 10:34 AM	#60 (permalink)
Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: TX Posts: 3,298 Drives: the 2 balled club Rep Power: 22	The Zeeeeeeeeeeeeee __________________ 2010 LS3 C6 Silver coupe corvette

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07-22-2010, 08:41 AM	#47 (permalink)
Jeffblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NY Age: 36 Posts: 9,192 Drives: Z32TT & 335xi Coupe Rep Power: 38	yea, just wash the car a day or two after a big snow storm to get the salt and grime off the car, especialliy the undercarriage and suspension components

07-22-2010, 09:06 AM	#48 (permalink)
wgw370z Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 48 Drives: 2010 370Z Rep Power: 15	I drive my baby Hummer truck in the winter: WGW

07-22-2010, 09:58 AM	#53 (permalink)
DrewDong Base Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: ks Posts: 22 Drives: 370z nismo 09 Rep Power: 15	just curios, what would be considered good snow tires/wheels? like would bigger be better? I have some 16 inch rims from my old toyota celica i was thinking of putting on for snow tires, good/bad idea? also is there a specific tire i should aim for?

07-22-2010, 10:05 AM	#54 (permalink)
Cunnos Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: boston,ma Posts: 230 Drives: 2010 370z 40th anniv Rep Power: 15	i think a lot of people stated the blizzards are the best wheels

07-22-2010, 10:23 AM	#57 (permalink)
Jeffblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NY Age: 36 Posts: 9,192 Drives: Z32TT & 335xi Coupe Rep Power: 38	for wheels for snow tires, i wwould't go wider than the factory 18's 8.5"/9.5"