I store my o4 for the winter months. But I'm curious to know if people store it for the winter months or end up using snow tires? Also in the summer is it ok to leave it out in the sun or should i store it in the summer so the sun can't beat on it all day long.

 

The 350Z was designed to be driven in three season weather, and raced. Pristine cars are for car museums. Its just not me. I drive the Z in all weather with the exception of snow.

 

+1000

 

Spring, Summer and Fall FTW!

What's Winter?

 

I've been caught in the snow and except for hills and clearance issues you will be OK "IF" you have winter tires. The vast majority of Z owners don't even mess with snow and ice. LSD, TC, and VDC all help.

 

I store it in the winter, and usually drive it in the weekends during the spring/fall/summer seasons.
It's always good to keep it out of the sun (fading), mine is always garaged and never sits in the driveway.

 

Mine is a daily driver all-year round. In the winter snow tires do wonders... But if it get's too nasty and icey out I take the STI. But the Z sits outside all year too =[ The cadillac takes the spot in the garage.

 

If you are an experienced snow driver, get some good snow tires and just drive the car! After 7 to 10 years a car starts to need lots of stuff replaced weather you have 60,000 miles on it or 200,000 miles. At least my last car did. It never let me down or had much problems but after time lots of little things with rubber in them start to go like suspension stuff, axle boots, steering rack bushings, etc. Doesn't really matter too much on some of those items - age gets to them. I say just enjoy it. We are expecting 12" of snow today and I'm not concerned at all. A car is not an investment it's meant to be driven and enjoyed. I had 164,000 miles on my Ford Probe after owning it from brand new Feb 95 to Jan 05 when I traded it in for my Z and the Probe still looked brand new with 164,000 miles on it. I hope the Z goes many more miles than that. I put 22,000 on it a year now

In Wisconsin you may have a little more trouble than me. How good is your local plow crew? ;-)

 

I've only had my Z for two months, so I'm having a lot of trouble staying out of it. I don't drive it to work because I work at various construction sites and get really dirty. However when I get home and the roads are clear, I'm driving the Z.

 

Throw some Blizzaks on it and have some fun

Today, I'm working from home though.

 

There has been snow on the ground here for the past two weeks and we had a storm that started last night and is still going. I drove it today and it was great (I have snow tires)

 

Yeah I have a set of Blizzaks and this is my first winter ever driving a FWD car. In my opinion the tires aren't magic by any means so don't be fooled into thinking that it will drive like a 4wd F250, but if you are being sensible and the snow isn't too deep (i.e. the bottom of the car clears it) then the should get you from A to B in most cases. Of course, avoid hills if you can...RWD is RWD is RWD. Also keep the engine speed down...no need to be making all sorts of power in powder.

 

I drive my beater chrysler sebring...or right now my only car lol, but when i had my Z thats what i did. NOt only does the car not handle well in the snow but the winter months will really beat on the paint and overall car itself.

 

My Z is a warm garage right now....as over a foot of snow rolls through the area. Salty roads are a killer to the underbody, so, the Civic is the winter monster!

 

I drive my C4S cab all the time now and let the Z sit in the garage simply because it isnt as much fun to drive!!!! Worse I just bought the Z about 7 or 8 months ago..

 

I have snow tires for my Z, for the winter months. I have not had any problems getting around, but if the snow gets too bad, I just use the Volvo.

 

My Z is under a car cover in the garage, which is where is resides 90% of the time. I'm fully aware that my Z isnt a low production, ultra expensive, exotic sports car, but its treated that way for now. Hell my first car was a 1982 280zx total POS, that I swore was the baddest thing ever. Looking back its funny, and I'm sure that when I get my Z06 (or whatever ) in a couple years, I'll look back at the way I treated this $20,000 car and have a good laugh too.

 

As has been mentioned, the Z is not an ideal car in the snow, but if you're smart, careful and use snow tires, it's driveable in up to 3 or 4" of snow.

I live in Minnesota and have driven the car to work every single day this winter. I'm running Hankook W300 Icebear snow tires on 17" wheels with my stock 18" wheels stored in the garage. I experienced some slippage on a rather steep incline in deep snow on one occasion, but the TCS is a lifesaver and helps keep the rear end in line. I don't have VDC because it's a Roadster, but that would help, too.

I've lived in snowy areas all of my life and after 32 years of driving, have only run into a handful of situations with RWD that I had trouble with. I'm a more careful driver in the Z than I was with AWD/4WDs, mostly because I'm very aware that there's less grip during startup, and more potential to hang the rear end out. If there's more than 3 or 4" of snow, the Z stays garaged and I carpool with my wife in her SUV.

 

see the sig

 

Hindsight is 20/20.

I daily drive the Z, no matter the weather. I bought snow tires, costed me around $580, and I got the tires at wholesale and mounted/unmounted/ balanced etc for $50.

So for most it would cost well over $700 for four Blizzaks. This year I am going to save some money, and buy an old Jeep or Explorer for the winter (maybe and old Suby) and sell the snow tires. I could have had a pretty decent beater for $1000.