Question for you more experienced car owners.

fly yellow · 06-06-2009, 11:54 PM

I haven't had the Z in snow yet, and we don't get a lot of snow in Baltimore, so it wasn't a concern. I can tell you that at one time I did have a 91 MR2. That was rear wheel drive and I lived in Pittsburgh for 2 years while I had it. Pittsburgh has snow and lots of hills. I used to drive back and forth from Pittsburgh to Baltimore every other weekend and I never had any issues at all. Now the MR2 was mid engine, so that may have helped with having some extra weight over the drive wheels. I've also had a Mustang GT which never gave me problems in the snow, and a Cadillac CTS RWD that did fine in the snow. You wouldn't want to take any of them out until after the plows have passed, but I imagine you have the same deal with the Mazda.

azn1515 · 06-07-2009, 12:22 AM

Hey Portlis, am from Apple Valley and am planning to buy the Z next year. It is going to be my daily driver regardless of winter. I am just going to purchase another set of rims and snow tires for to solve the traction problems and, of course will drive her sensibly during winter. The clearance problem is a non-issue for me as I currently have a dropped car which I used last winter without any hassles.
Am not going to let winter get in the way of my ownership of this beautiful car!

Cyberium · 06-07-2009, 12:18 PM

People that drive the Z in the snow are f'ing nuts.

First off all, this car is LOW to the ground. I mean, if your town doesn't have alot of snow plows they will appreciate you helping them out as you'll do a good job plowing.

Second of all, it's a REAR WHEEL SPORTS CAR. If I have to explain why you shouldn't drive a car like this in the snow please don't get one. I mean how many corvettes and vipers do you see driving in snow... Exactly.

Third -- The paint on these cars are extremely fragile. Rock Salt and freezing rain and snow and all that crap with RUIN this car's finish.

Do yourself and whoever plans on driving this car in the snow a favor and buy a $2000 Jeep or equivilant winter beater and keep the 370z waxed and pretty in a garage.

jakoye · 06-07-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyberium

Third -- The paint on these cars are extremely fragile. Rock Salt and freezing rain and snow and all that crap with RUIN this car's finish.

Cyberium, not saying you're wrong or anything, but what do you base your belief on that the paint job is fragile on the Z?

CBRich · 06-08-2009, 12:08 PM

Unless of course you plan to upgrade those later on.

xiven · 06-08-2009, 12:18 PM

Hmm, looks like snowboarding trips to the mountains will be in question having RWD.

Will the LSD help out with traction on somewhat slick roads? I do frequently head up to my local mountains during the winter so this raises a bit of concern. Of course, if it was really bad I wouldn't even attempt it but my eclipse being fwd never had a problem.

MightyBobo · 06-08-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xiven

Hmm, looks like snowboarding trips to the mountains will be in question having RWD.

Will the LSD help out with traction on somewhat slick roads? I do frequently head up to my local mountains during the winter so this raises a bit of concern. Of course, if it was really bad I wouldn't even attempt it but my eclipse being fwd never had a problem.

The traction control will help significantly more than an LSD will. I strongly advise against driving on slick mountain roads with this car, at least with stock tires. Blizzaks might do the trick, but you'd still need to be careful. Once again, if you have any significant snow, the car with the front lip may as well be a snow plow.

xiven · 06-08-2009, 12:39 PM

They won't even have the road open if it had that much snow. Usually the roads are very well coated with a sand/salt type mixture. That can make the road a little slick depending on how much they put down. Is the traction control and vdc the same?

MightyBobo · 06-08-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xiven

They won't even have the road open if it had that much snow. Usually the roads are very well coated with a sand/salt type mixture. That can make the road a little slick depending on how much they put down. Is the traction control and vdc the same?

Significant for this car would be anything even north of 3" or so.

jakoye · 06-08-2009, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xiven

Hmm, looks like snowboarding trips to the mountains will be in question having RWD.

Will the LSD help out with traction on somewhat slick roads? I do frequently head up to my local mountains during the winter so this raises a bit of concern. Of course, if it was really bad I wouldn't even attempt it but my eclipse being fwd never had a problem.

Just don't do it. You can drive a RWD car in the snow. It's not physically impossible. But you're gonna be dancing with the devil A LOT and it's just not worth the hassle. Especially for a RWD sports car. There's just too much power going to those rear wheels.

You might think "oh, I'm a good driver... I'll go slow", but then you'll drive for a little while and get cocky/go too fast and then BOOM... hello snowbank (if you're lucky)!

The Z is simply a car made for fair climates. It makes no pretense of being an all-weather car. So don't treat it like one or expect it to be one.

Just my 5 cents.

CBRich · 06-08-2009, 12:40 PM

If you plan to purchase this car in areas with adverse weather you will definitely want some dedicated ice/snow tires mounted on an extra set of wheels.

xiven · 06-08-2009, 12:48 PM

We rarely have bad weather like that here. its only when i go up to the mountains. I may just have to stop by my parents house on the way up and borrow one of their cars if need be.

Here is what my car looked like coming back from one of my trips

MightyBobo · 06-08-2009, 12:54 PM

Just keep in mind, the tires on that car would have been much better suited for winter weather.

xiven · 06-08-2009, 01:03 PM

most likely. i think they are yoko avid a4 or something like that.

frost · 06-10-2009, 09:13 PM

We're still talking about this? Everyone is saying pretty much the same thing.

06-06-2009, 11:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
fly yellow Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 455 Drives: 09 yellow 370z Rep Power: 266	I haven't had the Z in snow yet, and we don't get a lot of snow in Baltimore, so it wasn't a concern. I can tell you that at one time I did have a 91 MR2. That was rear wheel drive and I lived in Pittsburgh for 2 years while I had it. Pittsburgh has snow and lots of hills. I used to drive back and forth from Pittsburgh to Baltimore every other weekend and I never had any issues at all. Now the MR2 was mid engine, so that may have helped with having some extra weight over the drive wheels. I've also had a Mustang GT which never gave me problems in the snow, and a Cadillac CTS RWD that did fine in the snow. You wouldn't want to take any of them out until after the plows have passed, but I imagine you have the same deal with the Mazda. __________________ A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer. Mitch Hedberg

06-08-2009, 12:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
MightyBobo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 8,465 Drives: No cars; only bikes Rep Power: 53	Just keep in mind, the tires on that car would have been much better suited for winter weather. __________________ I don't own a car anymore.

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06-07-2009, 12:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
azn1515 Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 20 Drives: Lexus IS-F Rep Power: 17	Hey Portlis, am from Apple Valley and am planning to buy the Z next year. It is going to be my daily driver regardless of winter. I am just going to purchase another set of rims and snow tires for to solve the traction problems and, of course will drive her sensibly during winter. The clearance problem is a non-issue for me as I currently have a dropped car which I used last winter without any hassles. Am not going to let winter get in the way of my ownership of this beautiful car!

06-07-2009, 12:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cyberium Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vermont Posts: 379 Drives: 370z Touring \| Sport Rep Power: 17	People that drive the Z in the snow are f'ing nuts. First off all, this car is LOW to the ground. I mean, if your town doesn't have alot of snow plows they will appreciate you helping them out as you'll do a good job plowing. Second of all, it's a REAR WHEEL SPORTS CAR. If I have to explain why you shouldn't drive a car like this in the snow please don't get one. I mean how many corvettes and vipers do you see driving in snow... Exactly. Third -- The paint on these cars are extremely fragile. Rock Salt and freezing rain and snow and all that crap with RUIN this car's finish. Do yourself and whoever plans on driving this car in the snow a favor and buy a $2000 Jeep or equivilant winter beater and keep the 370z waxed and pretty in a garage.

06-08-2009, 12:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
CBRich A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,464 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 545	Unless of course you plan to upgrade those later on.

06-08-2009, 12:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
xiven A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta Age: 44 Posts: 4,128 Drives: Cookie Monster Rep Power: 294	Hmm, looks like snowboarding trips to the mountains will be in question having RWD. Will the LSD help out with traction on somewhat slick roads? I do frequently head up to my local mountains during the winter so this raises a bit of concern. Of course, if it was really bad I wouldn't even attempt it but my eclipse being fwd never had a problem.

06-08-2009, 12:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
xiven A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta Age: 44 Posts: 4,128 Drives: Cookie Monster Rep Power: 294	They won't even have the road open if it had that much snow. Usually the roads are very well coated with a sand/salt type mixture. That can make the road a little slick depending on how much they put down. Is the traction control and vdc the same?

06-08-2009, 12:40 PM	#11 (permalink)
CBRich A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,464 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 545	If you plan to purchase this car in areas with adverse weather you will definitely want some dedicated ice/snow tires mounted on an extra set of wheels.

06-08-2009, 12:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
xiven A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta Age: 44 Posts: 4,128 Drives: Cookie Monster Rep Power: 294	We rarely have bad weather like that here. its only when i go up to the mountains. I may just have to stop by my parents house on the way up and borrow one of their cars if need be. Here is what my car looked like coming back from one of my trips

06-08-2009, 01:03 PM	#14 (permalink)
xiven A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta Age: 44 Posts: 4,128 Drives: Cookie Monster Rep Power: 294	most likely. i think they are yoko avid a4 or something like that.

06-10-2009, 09:13 PM	#15 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	We're still talking about this? Everyone is saying pretty much the same thing.