Might be buying a Nismo..winter?

gcd312 · 07-15-2012, 02:14 AM

Thinking about buying a Nismo as daily driver, the only problem is I live in chicago so i'm worried about the winter. Does anyone use their Nismo as a daily driver in snow/winter? I know it must suck in the snow, being RWD and all but any advice would still be appreciated. Thanks!

Nikkolai · 07-15-2012, 08:08 AM

Yea, get a set of "Winter" wheels and slap on some blizzaks on them.

nick3237 · 07-15-2012, 09:07 AM

just buy a 4wd beater, you can probably get one for the cost of a decent set of snow tires and rims. plus you don't want to be driving it in all the salt and crap

guerillapres · 07-23-2012, 02:22 PM

Live in DC, fell in love with the nismo at first sight. By the time my brain caught up with me, it was in my garage with the factory tires. 2 months later, I got caught on the capital beltway in a snow storm without snow tires. With literally only 2" on the road, I almost didn't get it home. Out of the showroom w/ factory tires, it's got to be one of the worst snow handling cars in the history of death traps. Don't get me wrong, completely worth it for those sunny spring days, but you gotta come up with a plan for the snow. I just steal my wife's car.

quicksilverCC · 07-23-2012, 05:09 PM

I got caught in just a small dusting of snow on the roads here in PA this past winter. There were multiple hills I couldn't make it up and I had to park it in a parking lot and walk home. This car is definitely not good in snow. I ended up buying a cheap 99' Pathfinder to beat around when the snow comes and now I just DD that.

Davey · 07-23-2012, 05:16 PM

With the stock summer tires, in the snow... You will die. I don't know how else to put it.

Actually the stock tires are pretty bad just when it gets below 40 degrees, and if it's rainy, too... Take the bus. Or drive slow.

But those stock tires are not designed for cold temps and not at all intended for use in snow. You could put some cheap wheels & Blizzaks and do OK depending on where you're at but I see you're in Chicago; I'd recommend you buy a beater.

Tribalpinoy91 · 07-23-2012, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick3237

just buy a 4wd beater, you can probably get one for the cost of a decent set of snow tires and rims. plus you don't want to be driving it in all the salt and crap

Agreed.

homeryansta · 07-23-2012, 07:48 PM

Just to give you an idea. I had summer tires on my sentra and couldn't get up my drive way with an inch of snow. And no... my driveway is by no means steep. Any lowered car can go up on it without scratching. I cannot imagine the nightmare it would be with a Z.

Gauge · 07-23-2012, 07:54 PM

Can the stock nismo do well in the winter? No.

I have many MANY years of driving in the snow. I would definitely call myself an expect. I have driven RWD cars in the snow before. The Nismo cannot do this. It sucks. In even a quarter in of snow on the ground, it will slip and slide.

Do yourself a favor and get blizzaks or even better, get a POS winter beater.

forza370z · 07-23-2012, 08:25 PM

Get a winter beater is definitely the way to go even if you have a second set of wheels/tires for winter. I mean you CAN drive it in snow with a good set of winter tires without problems. But make sure you get paid for plowing the snow. And I guarantee you will have scratches on paint here and there. Not to mention the salt damage to your Nismo.

whoady4shoady · 07-23-2012, 09:49 PM

Just pick up the AWD conversion kit from Z1 motorsports after you buy it. If you have a buddy willing to help, you should be able to install it in one weekend.

forza370z · 07-23-2012, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoady4shoady

Just pick up the AWD conversion kit from Z1 motorsports after you buy it. If you have a buddy willing to help, you should be able to install it in one weekend.

AWD 370Z FTW!

ZMan8 · 07-23-2012, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcd312

Thinking about buying a Nismo as daily driver, the only problem is I live in chicago so i'm worried about the winter. Does anyone use their Nismo as a daily driver in snow/winter? I know it must suck in the snow, being RWD and all but any advice would still be appreciated. Thanks!

we have several 370z owners that dd their car year round in Chicago. if you want to ask them questions pm me and I'll point you in the right direction.

2011 Nismo#91 · 07-24-2012, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikkolai

Yea, get a set of "Winter" wheels and slap on some blizzaks on them.

This, and don't go with too wide tires either if you can. There is no reason you can't drive a RWD car in the snow, you just need to be aware that your not in a FWD or AWD car and adjust your driving accordingly.

birdmanx1 · 07-24-2012, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcd312

Thinking about buying a Nismo as daily driver, the only problem is I live in chicago so i'm worried about the winter. Does anyone use their Nismo as a daily driver in snow/winter? I know it must suck in the snow, being RWD and all but any advice would still be appreciated. Thanks!

Why risk crashing a brand new Nismo with the rough winters in Chicago? You'll save a lot of money purchasing it in the winter just to turn around and slam it against a pole. The Zs are NOT adequate for driving in rain, snow, sleet... May I suggest picking up a DD that would fare better during the winter and use the Z for better weather?

07-15-2012, 02:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
gcd312 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 18 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 12	Might be buying a Nismo..winter? Thinking about buying a Nismo as daily driver, the only problem is I live in chicago so i'm worried about the winter. Does anyone use their Nismo as a daily driver in snow/winter? I know it must suck in the snow, being RWD and all but any advice would still be appreciated. Thanks!

07-23-2012, 07:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
homeryansta Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Brooklyn Park, MN Posts: 424 Drives: 04 se-r spec v, 370z Rep Power: 14	Just to give you an idea. I had summer tires on my sentra and couldn't get up my drive way with an inch of snow. And no... my driveway is by no means steep. Any lowered car can go up on it without scratching. I cannot imagine the nightmare it would be with a Z. __________________

07-23-2012, 07:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
Gauge Track Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Madison WI Posts: 867 Drives: 2012 370Z Nismo PW Rep Power: 14	Can the stock nismo do well in the winter? No. I have many MANY years of driving in the snow. I would definitely call myself an expect. I have driven RWD cars in the snow before. The Nismo cannot do this. It sucks. In even a quarter in of snow on the ground, it will slip and slide. Do yourself a favor and get blizzaks or even better, get a POS winter beater. __________________ I am a demon bolt slayer.

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07-15-2012, 08:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
Nikkolai Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: DFW Posts: 238 Drives: Boss 302, Frontier Rep Power: 14	Yea, get a set of "Winter" wheels and slap on some blizzaks on them.

07-15-2012, 09:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
nick3237 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 59 Drives: 09 370Z Rep Power: 13	just buy a 4wd beater, you can probably get one for the cost of a decent set of snow tires and rims. plus you don't want to be driving it in all the salt and crap

07-23-2012, 02:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
guerillapres Base Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 2 Drives: 2010 Nismo Z34 Rep Power: 12	Live in DC, fell in love with the nismo at first sight. By the time my brain caught up with me, it was in my garage with the factory tires. 2 months later, I got caught on the capital beltway in a snow storm without snow tires. With literally only 2" on the road, I almost didn't get it home. Out of the showroom w/ factory tires, it's got to be one of the worst snow handling cars in the history of death traps. Don't get me wrong, completely worth it for those sunny spring days, but you gotta come up with a plan for the snow. I just steal my wife's car.

07-23-2012, 05:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
quicksilverCC Base Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 42 Drives: 370Z Nismo Rep Power: 13	I got caught in just a small dusting of snow on the roads here in PA this past winter. There were multiple hills I couldn't make it up and I had to park it in a parking lot and walk home. This car is definitely not good in snow. I ended up buying a cheap 99' Pathfinder to beat around when the snow comes and now I just DD that.

07-23-2012, 05:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
Davey A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,766 Drives: '15 NISMO 6MT Rep Power: 117171	With the stock summer tires, in the snow... You will die. I don't know how else to put it. Actually the stock tires are pretty bad just when it gets below 40 degrees, and if it's rainy, too... Take the bus. Or drive slow. But those stock tires are not designed for cold temps and not at all intended for use in snow. You could put some cheap wheels & Blizzaks and do OK depending on where you're at but I see you're in Chicago; I'd recommend you buy a beater.

07-23-2012, 08:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
forza370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: 403 Forbidden Posts: 2,512 Drives: 2009 NISMO 370Z Rep Power: 18	Get a winter beater is definitely the way to go even if you have a second set of wheels/tires for winter. I mean you CAN drive it in snow with a good set of winter tires without problems. But make sure you get paid for plowing the snow. And I guarantee you will have scratches on paint here and there. Not to mention the salt damage to your Nismo.

07-23-2012, 09:49 PM	#11 (permalink)
whoady4shoady A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 1,088 Drives: 09 Silver Nismo Rep Power: 17	Just pick up the AWD conversion kit from Z1 motorsports after you buy it. If you have a buddy willing to help, you should be able to install it in one weekend.