Would you drive on gravel?

Vaughanabe13 · 03-18-2012, 10:01 AM

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?

edub370 · 03-18-2012, 10:08 AM

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

alcheng · 03-18-2012, 10:09 AM

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.

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.

MattP725 · 03-18-2012, 10:20 AM

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...

Bucketlist2012 · 03-18-2012, 10:22 AM

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 ?

Spikuh · 03-18-2012, 10:24 AM

Just go very slow if you have to.

kenchan · 03-18-2012, 10:25 AM

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

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.

ZInferno0248 · 03-18-2012, 10:36 AM

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!

LakeShow · 03-18-2012, 10:51 AM

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

wheee! · 03-18-2012, 11:04 AM

not a chance....

PluckyPurcell · 03-18-2012, 11:18 AM

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

steve1ddd · 03-18-2012, 11:19 AM

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!

kenchan · 03-18-2012, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve1ddd

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.

intrigue · 03-18-2012, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alcheng

thus you feel like the sand/rock is hitting your heart.

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

steve1ddd · 03-18-2012, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

yah, sorry you have to drive on gravel.

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!

03-18-2012, 10:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
Vaughanabe13 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 387 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z M6 Rep Power: 13	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? __________________ 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring, w/sport, 6MT, chicane yellow/black.

03-18-2012, 10:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
edub370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: KCMO Posts: 3,458 Drives: 09 370z S/T 6MT Rep Power: 19	haha no you arent overreacting. i dont think i would either __________________ 09 370Z ST 6MT//Injen CAI//Greddy CBE//TP//TSW's//Swifts//Stillen lip//Whiteline sways 326whp/268tq

03-18-2012, 10:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
Bucketlist2012 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,424 Drives: 370Z Touring/Sport Rep Power: 16	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 ? __________________ 2009 Sport/Touring 370Z 1971 Z/28 with coil overs, rushforth's, willwoods, Hotchkis. 4 speed GMC Sierra1500

03-18-2012, 10:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
ZInferno0248 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 154 Drives: 2010 370Z Nismo SC'd Rep Power: 14	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! __________________ 2010 370Z Nismo, Silver / GTM Stage-1 SC / Custom Tune / GTM Oil Cooler / FI Resonated Test Pipes / FI CBE / Alpine HU / Focal's / JL AMP & Sub / AP Racing BBK / TTA TE-37's / RE-11's / KW V3's / SPC Camber Arms / Whiteline Sways

03-18-2012, 10:51 AM	#9 (permalink)
LakeShow A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: L.I., NY Posts: 5,307 Drives: Everything Rep Power: 25	I wouldn't. The Z isn't my off road vehicle. __________________ \|2013 Audi S4\|Ibis White/Black\|S-Tronic P+\| \|2013 370z\|PearlWhite/Persimmon\|Touring/Sport/Nav\|F.I. CBE 18" CF\| \|Sold\|2011 370z\|Gun Metallic\|Touring/Sport/Nav\|

03-18-2012, 10:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
alcheng A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Toronto Posts: 28,893 Drives: 2011 ZR PW w/Clutch Rep Power: 418352	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. 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.

03-18-2012, 10:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
MattP725 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: Toms River, NJ Posts: 1,904 Drives: 2010 40th Rep Power: 16	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...

03-18-2012, 10:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
Spikuh A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: The Ark Posts: 2,357 Drives: '09 370z Rep Power: 20	Just go very slow if you have to.

03-18-2012, 10:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	i wouldnt' drive on gravel roads but if its just a driveway i wont drive on it either. 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.

03-18-2012, 11:04 AM	#10 (permalink)
wheee! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mod Capital of Canada Age: 57 Posts: 7,354 Drives: cars. lots of cars. Rep Power: 40181	not a chance.... __________________ H&R / Stillen / Berk / HKS / Swift / Michelin / UpRev / SPC / Amuse Rep / Seibon / Fringe XVO / TWM / more... My Journal

03-18-2012, 11:18 AM	#11 (permalink)
PluckyPurcell Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: 353018 811254 Posts: 72 Drives: '11 Z Roadster GM M6 Rep Power: 13	No way. I drive my truck or my wife's CRV to see relatives with gravel driveways.

03-18-2012, 11:19 AM	#12 (permalink)
steve1ddd Base Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: denver Posts: 33 Drives: 09 370z touring Rep Power: 13	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!

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