If I decied to purchase a 350z........in May2003, it will have to be a year round driver.
In Nebraska we get about 15 inches of snow a year. I will plan on Blizzerk snow tires and maybe different rims. Also I will have vdc, lsd, traction control. I know that this car sits very low and you wont be able to plow through the snow. And after seeing one at a dealer last week I noticed the hatch area is VERY small, kind of unpractical for holding even a grocery trip.

I know it is give and take with a sports car, especially coming out of a 4x4 for the past 9 years, but i want a sports car.
Also in the track mode do you think rims monted on snow tires will be able to pass over the brembos?

Anyone who is going to have theirs as a year round driver, in snowy ares please post your response. Also anyone that has used Blizzark snow tires on a rear wheel driver let me know your thoughts on them. And please no"get a beater" for the winter.

Thanks Craig

 

get a beater...

seriously - the biggest issue is going to be paint damage to the front end. If they plow the roads any car can handle a little slush with the right tires. BUT - the front valance sits so low to the ground that if you get a dark color - after one winter its going to look like the starry night sky.

My advice - get good snow tires (not necc. Blizzaks) Dunlop Wintersport M2's come to mind. Get a Silverstone or Chrome. Get a clear bra for the front end. Don't tailgate in the winter

Enjoy the car.

 

one thing good about living in the desert is you can take FULL advantage of summer tires all year long.. how would you like to carve on long flat roads in january? heheh

it probably rains like 2 weeks out of the whole year. but when it rains it down pour.. but hey. that's what VSC is for! hehheeh.

 

What about the salt and corrosion issues that might come up?

 

well - thats the trade off of having a nice car in the winter months.
although living in NE for my whole life, I've never had alloys scarred pitted or otherwise damged by driving through the salty slush here for 3 months or more out of the year. Just wax both the car AND wheels before snow season starts and then clay and wax before summer. Should be fine.

 

Well.. If you wish to drive the car year round, I would replace the 4 tires & wheels. Get 4 GOOD snow tires.. The tires that come on the car are great but will be almost useless in snow. I used my original 1974 260Z year round and found I had to put 300 lbs of sandbags in the rear during the winter/snow months. The car was bad in the snow without the extra weight. The original Z's all rusted away from the salt used on the east coast. That's why almost none that were driven year rpund survive today.

I sure hope the body fit is much better on the 350Z.. While I'm keeping my GMC Yukon, I still plan to use my 350Z year round.. Also, the touring model has limited slip which will be a great help in the snow.. The original Z cars didn't have any help like that..

I just hope mine turns up before the snow,,, Hi..

Steve (k2we) Dobbs Ferry, NY

KY0/Touring/6MT/Side Air Bags/Mats

Ordered 2/12/02 #1 from my dealer...

 

Personally, I wouldn't subject a nice car like the Z to winter driving, unless it's the only way you can afford the car. Wash it EVERY time that it's exposed to salt.

I seem to remember reading that the ground clearance is 4 inches. You'll have a tough (or impossible) time driving in deep snow.

 

Sunny and 72.

Don't you wished down here in San Diego?

Sorry, had to rub it a little.

 

Ya, I had two sets of Blizzaks, they are not a great tire - way too soft, very noisy and pricey to boot. I even had a set go bad on me that was replaced, so I 'guessI 've had three sets!

I also had the dunlop wintersports on my Audi TT, and they are an incredible winter tire. I never got stuck, except once on really bad ice /freezing snow. I'm definitely going to buy them again. I also hear the graspiks (spelling?) are good too, but no personal experience with them.

 

Yep, my "Zee's" a daily driver...If I bought it, it was to use it!

 

Miami FTW! I love that I can drive the car anytime!!!

 

Why not drive year 'round? What's this corrosion stuff you mentioned?

 

I tried it when i first got it. BAD idea. I will never do it again. It was the wost winter i went threw, and it didnt even snow that bad.

 

Go for it! Just make sure you have the right tires.





p.s. I've gone through a couple of salty winters and still no rust or corrosion.

 

6 year old thread ftl.

 

This has got to be the OLDEST thread I've ever seen...

 

Why on earth would you bump a 5½ year old thread? Especially one asking such a rhetorical question.

 

Seriously now, wouldn't you have to search through pages and pages to find such an old thread?

 

Exactly. You'd have to go out of your way to dig up something this inane.

 

opened the door to the past. Sweet Jesus...the sky is falling! I do not drive the Z in the winter. Just a personal choice.