Where in South Jersey are you? I drove around ALL south jersey in snow today.. Z drives like a dream on the snow with Blizzaks. :tup:

I'm assuming you have summer tires. They are absolutely horrible. EVEN me (with years of RWD experience) spun out my brand new Z with 300 miles last year on Route 322. Yup, 8pm at night with a busy two way traffic I spun my Z 180 degrees. This year I put some thinner winter rims/ tires and wishing for more snow :tup:

I drive my Taurus on crappy weather days, and the aftermath of the salt on the roads.

Out of all the great reasons to have a 2nd car in my case, #1 comes down to this. People are stupid. If they're going to smash into one of my cars because they think 4wd makes them invincible, I'll be driving my Taurus. It's happened before, and I'm sure it will happen again.

I drive my Z when it's dry, and the salt has been washed away. I'm driving it today, but I'll be in the Taurus tomorrow with the threat of freezing rain/snow.

It makes me appreciate the Z even more to have to drive my Taurus now and then.

It's pretty easy to assume that if you're bitching about parking or renting storage and how much that costs, then you are more than likely making a payment...then consider depreciation, even with a large payment, and well, let's face it, insurance companies don't like to pay out...it's against their business model. If you wiped out a bare-base model Z, you'd count yourself lucky if they paid $22K...

That and you don't have a 2nd vehicle, and can't see the logic in protecting your investment by getting some much more suitable for winter driving on a number of levels.

No offense, of course. Also, I, along with others are just offering advice. If you don't want advice you don't want to hear, don't ask for it.... :)

I got it off Craigslist from this chick who lost her license due to 3 DUI's. It was actually in pretty decent condition. I checked the car fax. Just needed new brakes. And it drives like a dream and I'm beating the crap out of it everyday lol! Things to note it does 140,000 miles, the bumper has some damage and the driver side headlight is weaker. I dont know if it's the ballast or just the bulb. In any case I'm loving it and it loves the snow. And if expensive repairs do happen I'll just buy another one lol!

If you got a Jeep, you could just put in in 4 Low and drive through buildings.....:tup:

I'm keeping my car...I was really pissed for a couple days after the storm. I'm getting a used VW Passat to get me to and fro. I DD 150 a day. Cars 3 months old with over 10k. That's the reason for considering the Versa....fuel efficient and better than the Z in the snow. hahaha

We save our money and buy new 370 parts for the next year. If it is a nice day on Sundays i take it out of the garage and drive it around the city for 15 min, and then put it away, It keeps the baterry charged and helps the tires stay round. It run a lot better in the cold.

It was 50 F and sunny here yesterday. Drove 50 miles, then gave the Z it's first douche. Today I'm gonna wax it while it's in the garage.

Mine is grounded unti April. I have an Altima coupe for winter. The Z is just too pretty for salt and cinders and not safe enough in the snow and ice, even with winter tires, due to low clearance and rear wheel drive and the danger of some idiot driving carelessly in the snow and ice and hitting my beatiful new car. Pick up a scuffed up old Civic somewhere for $500 bucks and rest easy and be safe.

My insurance copverage (except for casualty and theft) is suspended on both my sportscars (Miata since 1996 and Z now, also) from 11/15 through 4/15. Never had a problem doing that.

Are you financing your Z? If so, how do you suspend coverage on it? Seems the bank would throw a fit and try and repo the car (at least, that's what I've been told)

We had a "nice" winter storm over the weekend. 8" of snow for us...I ventured out 3 times total since the storm happened Thursday night, twice with our Civic, once with my truck. No work today, they decided to stay closed...FWIW. Yes, we have salt/sand trucks and road clearing equipment....sadly, they do nothing more than a lane of highway and call it good...and even then...

I have to say that I can not imagine someone stupid enough to drive the Z in conditions like what we have here, or anything short of a cleared-to-pavement and dry roadway. Here we have 1-2" of ice formed by compression of vehicles running over the snow and salt/sand and sun melting it just enough to refreeze overnight. What's left is polished in places to near black-ice levels of slickness. On hte roads we have two tracks cutting groves in the ice that make your car do 4-wheel-steering between the channels, so your rotating a bit in both directions (and random left-to right as well) while trying to go straight...

But, with my Civic and my Truck - I don't worry about wrecking 40K worth of Z, or my insurance premiums going up because someone hit me, or the salt/sand eating paint/metal...in fact, I can come home, look in my garage, and see my perfectly clean, happy (though cold) Z sitting there, waiting for me to start her up in a few months.

Anyhow...smart thing to do would be to spend that $1500 for wheels and tires for the Z, and get a second vehicle to drive in the winter...

With a 500 dollar car, I guarantee you that you will neither "rest easy" nor "be safe":ugh2:

No. I've always been able to be a cash customer for my cars. I sell my current one myself and walk in to the dealership (or lately the Internet sales guy) with my checkbook in hand and no trade. I wind up getting excellent and simple offers. I realize this is unusual. I can also tailor my insurance coverage strictly to my own needs.

Good advice.

Sorry to disagree but I know of a number of them that will only bring $500 to $1,000 that are just a lot of years old, scuffed up a bit, stripped down models and with only maybe 80 or 90 thousand miles on them the dealers don't even want to take in on a trade. They are perfect, with front wheel drive, for typical northern winter days---major storms maybe not but fine to endure the cold and travel safely in few inches of snow, salt and cinders.

If you're concerned about other people causing an accident, then I suppose that's a legitimate reason to find a clunker and potentially protect your Z.

If you're referring to the Z as being unfit to safely drive in snow and ice, I have to strongly disagree. This car with snow tires handles better than any car I've previously owned with all season tires. I come from driving two Audi A4 Quattros and a Landrover Defender 90. The Z with snow tires, without a doubt, accelerates, brakes and corners better in wintery conditions than any of those previous cars. Until you guys have driven a Z with snow tires in those conditions, you just won't understand how well it handles things. I've been nothing but impressed with the winter rubber. AK can attest to this as well.

That explains it. I do the same wtih my M/C...

Liability in late fall - early spring. Full coverage during riding season.

My truck is old enough (and I drive it rarely enough) that anything more than liability is a waste of money.

Civic and Z have full coverage with high deductibles and low limits to make it cheaper, due to them both being financed. I'd drop the Z to comp only if I could during these few months.

Good luck man, that's all I can say! :) :tiphat:

use snow tires if you dont store the Z. Had a versa for a loaner the other day in the snow and a vette with snow tires in the next lane was doing fine

You live in SJ?

Here is my logic:

Seriously, how many times does it snow here that you absolutely cannot drive on the roads? Maybe 2-3 days during a -bad- season that happens once every 6 years or so?

Pretty much if you absolutely cannot take off work then it's a bad idea to get any RWD car, but if you do have a couple of days to throw around (that you will probably not have to use anyway) then go with it.

If not, you could always get an Evo/STi!