Would you drive on gravel?
 

I have a bit of a dilemma. I live in the midwest, close to a lot of rural areas, and I happen to have some friends/family that live out in farm areas. Typically I wouldn't have to do much gravel road driving to get to their place, but many of them have long, winding, gravel driveways. I'm too chicken to drive my Z to go see them because I feel like the gravel would be a paint nightmare. Am I just overreacting here? Does anyone else drive their Z on gravel on occasion?

haha no you arent overreacting. i dont think i would either

I wouldn't want to drive the Z on gravel too often, especially the sound-proof of the Z is so weak that you can hear the sand/rock hitting the panels very clearly thus you feel like the sand/rock is hitting your heart. :icon14:

If you have to drive on those kinds of roads often, put on the 3M shield on propet area of the Z, it can at least prevent the panels from getting scretches. :tiphat:

I honestly think you are ok...if you drive really slowly you shouldn't kick the rocks up especially since our tires don't have deep tread...

Haha...Our tires don't have deep tread...isn't that the truth...

Summer sport tires don't start out with too much tread, and certainly don't have much after we drive a while...

gravel road ? Can i borrow your car ?

Just go very slow if you have to.

i wouldnt' drive on gravel roads but if its just a driveway i wont drive on it either. :icon17:

i dont like dirty tires.

but you can get some 3M cleabra for the rocker and quarter..should be fine paint wise.

www.autopaintguard.com has pre-cut ones if you want to check them out. :)

amazon has rolls too. i just did a roll on my Z. going to redo it soon as i have enough stains and impact prints on them already.

I've got a farm, lots of gravel around here... I just go super slow until I hit the pavement. Definitely wanna close the windows when it's dry tho, or you'll be covered in dust!

I wouldn't. The Z isn't my off road vehicle.

not a chance....

No way. I drive my truck or my wife's CRV to see relatives with gravel driveways.

LOL....Its a CAR people.....if you arent driving it, why did you buy it. I live in the mountains. i drive on gravel, snow, dirt, whatever. If it gets dirty, wash it. It WILL get dings eventually no matter how or where you drive. Unless you are content just having it look pretty in your garage. i love my Z, dont get me wrong, but i plan on owning it a few years and then getting a new car. Maybe a new Z, although the lotus eliese is hot.
I also understand that some people have streached their budget to the max to buy a Z in the first place and are therefore babying the crap out of it. If this is the case, i think they are depriving themselves the joy of actully driving the car in fear of somehow damaging it. Get out on the road, punch it into gear, and slam your right foot to the ground. DRIVE IT!

yah, sorry you have to drive on gravel.

Good description! I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like this.

kenchan, its like the point i was trying to make was waaaaaaay over here...and you were aiming waaaaay over there lol. Man did you miss my point :)

But to each their own. i would rather enjoy every moment of my car and not obsess about gravel and dirt.

On a lighter note....just got the snow tires off....Man I missed the performance tires!

I have driven my Z on gravel, I just kept the speed ~15mph and there are no dings from rocks that i've found as a result of it.

Right on! I hate the looks of car bras...if I get rock chips, so be it. Better to get a little (repairable) paint damage once in a while than look like sh#t all the time. My car is a daily driver, not for concours. Besides, there is no way to avoid some pits, especially if you drive these crappy Sonoma County roads.

Just my $0.02.

Iv'e driven on gravel, it's not a big deal as long as you are going < 5mph.

for me this is where the daily driver comes in. i don't even drive my Z in the rain, let alone driving it on gravel :)

X2! i have winter tires for winter and summers for summer. Gravel roads i just go slower.
What i find funny is the average new 4x4 cost more then the Z and yet no one would think of NOT drving it on a sh1t road.

Well, that's why some used cars (Z) are in better shape than other used cars (Z) :)

no

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!

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

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

:iagree: X infinity!

Why do you think new car owners pay more for their cars? We get to do what we want and used car buyers can suck it

to me, people buy new cars because they want to get a car in perfect condition and are willing to pay more for them.

for used cars, if you look in the classified section in this forum, you will see that some sellers would indicate that the car has always been garaged, never driven in the rain, never abused, etc...

So new car buyers expect to get a car in perfect condition and used car buyers want to get a car in near perfect condition.

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!:driving:

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!

I agree. Yet you get some wackos out there expecting a perfect used car for little money (see my craiglist rant). I used to take care of my car, but then the difference between a perfect car and a very good car is very slim at the time of trade ins. So I just decided to stop caring.

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

shyt roads
 

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

I know what exactly you mean. I got killed on my last trade in too (probably happens everyone who trade in their cars), but unfortunately i can't change my behavior :)

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)

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.

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.

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.

:iagree:

well said! it's a high performance sports car have fun with it. don't get me wrong i take care of my car. since i took the hit on depreciation i'm getting my money's worth. i'm not saving it for the next guy. but slow down on gravel

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.