Z in the rain and snow

Robert_Nash

I disagreement with your disagreement.

I lived through a decade of winter one year in Chicago when I had a (at the time brand new) 1973 Formula 400 Firebird. It, and cars like it have to be about the worst possible vehicle to have in snow....rear wheel drive; lot's of HP/Tqu and with more weight on the front end than the rear (where you need it for traction)...I survived it but I'd never do it again; at least not willingly.

Can a 370 be a year-round car even in the snow belt? Of course.

It won't be fun but it can be done - if you've got other options I'd use them

Rain is also something people should be mindful of...the tires on the Z
are WIDE tires and really only truly good in dry, summer conditions...it doesn't take much water for you to hydroplane right off the road and what's even worst is that you'll probably never know until your in the ditch so please folks, SLOW DOWN when it rains and arrive alive (and without need of a tow).

__________________
Robert
-My Basset Hound Is Smarter Than Your Honor Student and Barack Obama -

Mergnthwirker

I know whereof you speak! Big power plus less traction over drive wheels equals white-knuckle terror in some situations. BTDT. I also agree with your comment about wide tires and driving in rain.

But if the Z were my only car, I wouldn't hesitate to drive it all winter. It's better balanced than muscle cars of old, and with skinny tires you get a pretty good feel for what kind of traction you've got.

The opposite extreme are the AWD SUV's. When I go skiing every weekend in the winter, nearly all the cars I see upside-down in the ditches are SUV's.

I think it's safer to feel the limits and drive accordingly rather than falsely feel invulnerable until you discover you've overcome the laws of nature. I'm sure I drive my Z more carefully in the winter than I do my Audi S4 Avant because it constantly helps me be aware of the pavement conditions and traction.

YMMV

kannibul

As my Dad told me many years ago...

Just because you have 4 wheel drive, doesn't mean you stop any better.

A *LOT* of people don't "get it" when they get a 4WD vehicle...