Would you drive on gravel?

Vaughanabe13

Yeah, to be more specific, I would only be driving <5 MPH on the gravel driveways, since I wouldn't have to worry about traffic. I can identify with the poster that said the sound of rocks hitting the panels is like rocks through your heart!

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2009 Nissan 370Z Touring, w/sport, 6MT, chicane yellow/black.

gurneyeagle

Sometimes, you just gotta do what you gotta do. Drive slow and you'll be fine. Stay far back from someone if you are following them.

It's not worth missing friends or stressing over this.

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Waiting on the Z35! SOLD - 2011 Gun Metallic Touring 7AT w Sports Pkg & Nav, Nismo Bumper and Rims, RC Grille, RC Brake Ducts, H&R Spacers, Painted Door Hdls, GTR Start Button, Nav By-Pass, EVO R Fog Light, CF Ducktail, CF Interior Trim

EazyD

Are you guys serious?????????

If you keep your wheels straight, the gravel will just hit the wheel wells.... just go slow.
Come on.

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Pearl White 2010 370Z Sport, Stillen CBE, tint, K&N drop-in filters, GT-R start button, Kenwood DNX-6980 with backup cam, LED bulbs, Raceseng shift knob.

Pauly

its not the speed or motion of your own car you should be concerned with when driving down the gravel roads man, its the d-bag who is flying toward you in the opposite direction who doesnt give two hoots about rocks hitting your car. especially huge jacked up four wheel drive trucks. wait, now i want a big jacked up four wheel drive truck just to drive through crap and not care!

TerribleONE

Have both! Best of both worlds! If the road is smooth and graded.. Just take it slow and you'll be fine! Also remember when pulling back on to the pavement to take it easy until the gravel leaves your tires!

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6MT

After the winter up here, you have no choice but to drive in gravel. It lasts until early May. Really sucks!

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Andrew

2009 370Z Sport/Touring 6MT sold
2013 Honda Civic Si coupe D/D

rebe945

No way . no how. find new friends or a car

BigT

I take the long way to work when in the Z as to avoid this same situation.

And, the stock tires pick up pebbles even in 15 degree weather. Even, when going 15mph. (reason why I take the long way)

Vbp6US

I would avoid it. The gravel can kick up and give you paint chips but to me, more importantly, the excess dust will find its way in crevices which would stay clean otherwise. I know because I used to drive my car (not a Z) through areas like what you described and it didn't end too well. It makes you lose the "new" car feeling and allows you to justify trashing it faster too, imo.

While I won't say find new friends, I would say consider getting a cheap pickup. Sounds like you could use it.

IDZRVIT

I wouldn't hesitate to drive my car up a gravel driveway. Why? Because it's just a Z! Now if it were an original AC Cobra, I would still drive on gravel but a bit slower.

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"America.... still builds rockets!"
Vette: 355 cid, 400 rwhp
'13 CTS-V Coupe: 6.2L LSA, 556HP

Augustus

All the time. It's a 370Z, not a Ferrari. You guys and your garage queen Z's

I live in the Midwest too and gravel roads are a fact of life around here. Sometimes it's a driveway, sometimes a section of a favorite paved road suddenly becomes gravel. Sometimes it's the only way to get to the party.

I've never noticed any problems with paint chips with any other cars from gravel roads, including a Solstice GXP that was lower than the Z. A gravel road will make a car dusty as hell, but thats the only "damage" I've ever experienced. Easily "fixed"; wash it!

Just take it easy; Don't peel out and spray rocks everywhere. Do not follow someone closely, as they can kick up rocks for quite a distance.

OTOH, I do avoid freshly tarred+chipped roads, as those suck because fresh tar will get thrown up onto the rocker panels and it's a PITA to remove.

mick

haha. my dad once told me, your car (370z) is like your 1/18th scale model toy cars, it never goes anywhere

brucelidat

I've driven it on some rocky turnouts and parking areas when I went to the Valley of Fire State park outside of Vegas. Made me nervous and I tried to avoid rocks that looked bigger than my tires are thick. Went slow and did fine, though I would definitely avoid it if I could.

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roplusbee

I have driven on gravel on base. Pretty unavoidable especially, if I didn't coordinate to go with someone to the designated meeting. I just go slow and take it easy. I hate going to the motorpool...............

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2007 350Z NISMO #0618: Zerolift | UPREV | F.I. | Greddy | Competition Clutch | Injector Dynamics | Aeromotive | Pioneer | JL

TheGreatOne

Not by choice but if I had to sure I would, super slow

It would just make my ears bleed the whole way.

My Z is my DD but I do try to avoid putting it in harms way when I can avoid it

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2017 SUBARU STI
2008 E60 M5 - SOLD
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