TWISTY: I hear u man..I am in the same position (well, in MD, but still, we do get some snow), and have only 1 car - cannot afford two cars quite frankly.

Even I've been debating whether or not to go for the Z. I think I can finally afford one - but by no means can I afford ending up in a situation where I'll have to abandon my Z due to accident or something (Pray to God that doesn't happen!) So, I have to be very wise with the selections I make in terms of tires, VDC or no VDC etc.

I've been on this forum for quite sometime now, and I THINK i've gathered good amount of information to make a sensible decision (hopefully by the end of March!! )

Some ppl have made excellent comments to your post. Especially Barmats (Barmats - you must've figured how paranoid I am, about drivin the Z in the snow - from my pms to you...anyways) and drivenCSZ and davidv (use the 'vice-versa' analogy to his reply).

But another very important thing that Barmats pointed out is this:

I wasn't very sure if I was good if I had the 'All Season/All Weather' tires thru the 12 months of the year and not worry about snow too much. But apparently, that's not the case. It's better to have a 'dedicated' set of snow tires - and switch em with the summer tires when the snow is gone.

I am not sure how much the mechanics charge to swap the tires (guys - any help?), but I am thinking it won't be too much.

OR, if you think you can't really maintain two sets of tires, just keep the stock on and use public transportation. That's what I think I'll be doing, considering the fact that we have just a few extreme snow days. Rest of the snow period, I think I'll be driving like a grandmom, if at all, that is.

The only other advice is, while making the car/tire selection, also keep in mind the hydroplaning thing. VDC 'assists' in handling, but tires matter too. Just a word of caution.

Go for the Z man!! I am tired of thinking soo much about it for soo long!

 

I'd recommend a dedicated SET of wheels and tires. Your rims will get scraped and gouged by the tire shop every time you switch tires. I bought a set of wheels/tires at Discount Tire Direct online and paid $1005 shipped (included mounting, balancing, hub-centric rings, lug nuts, wheel locks and 4 tire replacement warranty coupons, but no TPMS). The price would have been about $100 less without the replacement coupons. I went with 17" primarily because this size wheel and tire is significantly less expensive than the stock 18" size, and made up the overall diameter difference with a slightly taller sidewall/aspect ratio. To me, this was the most cost-effective way of doing it. If you live in a major city where they do a good job of clearing city streets after a snowfall, figure out how many days in a typical winter you can't drive a RWD car, and it will probably be very few. If you can manage alternative transportation on those few days, that's all you really need.

I was also worried that a beater would be a money-pit.

 

Wow thank you for all replies. yea i think i get that if i am going to get this car, two sets of wheels and tires is gonna be a must. sry to everybody for making yet another snow + Z thread, but truth is I'm probably gonna get this car no matter what, and i just wanted to hear some encouraging words about driving it in this weather

 

I drive mine daily, it sucks but I love the Z so I deal... lol

 

I live in IN and I've had my Z for 3 years and never wrecked it. I drove on the stock Potenzas for 2 years and then changed to Dunlop SP5000's. I had problems getting the car going in the snow with the stock tires but if you drive carefully you won't wreck it regardless of the tires. If you want to actually be able to drive it without worrying about getting it stuck you need to get some different tires.

 

Yep, get the car and enjoy it. I think it is just a big hassle to buy and insure a beater and deal with the piece of crap. I'm not paying $400 a month for the Z to sit in the garage.
Kalamazoo huh? I work down near St.Joe/Bridgman area and I've had absolutely no trouble this year even when we've been getting dumped on overnight and I still go in at 6:00 and some of the country roads are not plowed yet. Get the car, enjoy it, and don't look back or worry until you find it's not working out for you. You could always change your mind later. It does not matter what the weather is, the other guy will always get you no matter how good a driver you are. I got run off the road 2 days after New Years this year by a semi. No way out but off into a level ditch full of gravel and had to punch it and cut back in front of him so I did not end up under the trailer. I shaved off all the paint off my rear wheel well as I swiped a road marker reflector post on my way back on. Not snowing or wet that day! Just damn rotten luck. Can't just keep the car in the garage every time it's bad out or you are too attached to your car that day.

 

i live in st louis and have serious trouble driving in the snow. I am using the stock summer tires, and they are the worst of any car I've ever driven. I have trouble in an inch of snow, i'm not kidding. If there is any snow, i just park it and get a ride to work.

I've heard great things about the Blizzaks, so if you are thinkin about the Z, i'd make sure to get another set of "winter" tires

 

Thats the spirit. Just be sensible. You will when the weather is appropriate for the 350Z, and when it will be wise to keep the car parked.

 

Good decision, just be sure to get some winter tires and enjoy the Z!!!!!

 

Im in michigan and i asked a similiar question when i first bought my Z and everyone said to buy a beater for the winter and i have to say that was the best decision i could have made. Because the snow tires are a few hundred so a little extra for a winter car wasnt bad. I havent driven the Z all winter and i wouldnt recommend doing it. I remember one day there was a snow storm and my mom called me to ask where i was because she said she saw a 350z in a ditch on her way to work. Its just not safe.

 

It's perfectly fine to drive with snow tires. I don't know how you can handle not driving your Z for months at a time, I would just go nuts...

 

Me too...me too!!

Now I only hope I don't have to wait for like another two months to find a nice Z that fits my budget!

 

It's important to note that for everybody who says the Z is not safe or good in the snow, IT'S ONLY WHEN USING SUMMER TIRES IN SNOW! The only thing "wrong" with a Z in the snow are the stock summer tires.

Which is not to say the Z is an ideal winter vehicle, because it's not as sure-footed as 4WD or AWD. But with a full tank of gas over the back wheels (remember it's a big 20 gal tank), and good snow tires (not all-season), it does a pretty good job in up to 3-4" of snow. The ZR is my daily driver in Minnesota, and there have only been a couple of days I didn't drive it to work. It's a small price to pay for the pleasure of driving a vehicle like this.