I have a 300zx and live in MA, just dont drive it when we get hit hard.. other then that drive not like a moron and youll be fine. Winter tires on her will be good enough as long as you dont drive in a blizzard. I park my Z in the garage but since you have one and you know were going to get hit pretty hard, then throw the cover on her.

 

I'll drive mine year round unless the snow is too deep. Just bought a set of Dunlop Winter Sport M3 tires and if the need ever arises I'll slip on a set of chains.

 

well I am still planning on getting one and winter tires Im just gonna bye some rims, and put the winter tires on the stock rims.

 

There's no question the car will be able to drive in the winter, but is the rust and big possibility that you are someone else will wreck it, worth it? I am a TREMENDOUS winter driver, and I wouldn't drive the Z in the snow/ice.

 

Man I love people who start up topics asking questions about what they should do, when they already know the answer and just agree with whomever suggests the same, regardless of posts otherwise.

 

ya man!

 

Sounds like Zs are really fragile. All other cars on the road can somehow handle the salt for quite a while, year after year, yet the Z will just rust out from under itself. Amazing. In winter, just go to a touchless car wash once in a while and drive through really slowly when they blast your undercarriage with water. Salt gone!

I'm in MA and I drive the Z in winter with snow tires on it. It can be done. I used to own a Suby for years and realized that the amount of actual bad snow days where I have to drive in it is so small that I can just drive a Z year round and for those 3 days of the year, I'll borrow my wife's Rav4 or just stay home. For the guys from new England area, ask yourself, how many days of the year are you actually driving in bad snow conditions? Less than you think.

So whatever happens to all the other cars on the road that are RWD? Do they all just slide off the roads and crash? How did people manage before FWD? Have we become so lame?

As for people hitting you while you're out in snow, what's the difference if you're in a crap box vs. Z? You're still getting hit and you're still not paying for the repairs. Personally, I'd rather be in a better car like the Z, with air bags and such when I get hit than in a $500 dollar beater that will probably end up killing me in the process. I'll be dead but my Z will be safe

 

Just buy the damn Z. I've got a G and live in Boston. Last winter just for $hits and giggles I drove my G with the all season tires on the 19's. Wasn't bad at all. People make such a fuss about RWD and FWD and there are plenty of pros and cons. I think it is all contingent upon the driver.

 

As soon as salt and water touch your car, they begin to erode the metal. A simple blast of water won't remove the salt either.

Of course it can be done.

And I suggested he get the Z as well. I don't know Boston, but he mentioned winter days for 4 months, which would coincide with Toronto's weather.

I've driven many RWD car's on thick ice. Although I had no problems, the back end naturally spins easier (as there's less weight on the back). A FWD car has all the weight on the driving wheels, so it as good as can be on Ice. Nothing wrong with acknowledging something is better on ice. Does that mean I WANT a FWD car? no.


Well, look at the loss of value for one. If a brand new Z gets in an accident, it may get fixed, but the loss in the cars resale value will be much more than a 500 dollar beater. And you shouldn't be driving that fast in the winter to get killed in an accident anyways. Also, using your logic, people got by without airbags for 100 years... are pre-airbag cars instantly death traps now?

 

Lots of valid points. I think it has been said that no matter how slow I go, I can't prevent someone else from slamming into me. I still rather be in a Z with decent airbags and walk away than wreck a beater, break bones but save up $1000 on resale value. If someone is going to crash into me, I want all the protection I can get. I guess I value my safety more than how much my car will be sold for in a few years.

The salt thing is correct and you're right, what I said is not a perfect solution but it certainly helps. Blasting pressurized water at salt will get most of it off. Salt is water soluble. Is it perfect? No. Will it stop most of the damaging effects? Yes.

 

If you really think about it how many days a year is in Mass is it really hazardous driving conditions? Maybe 5-7 ? I drove mine year round last winter and only got stuck once (where a fwd car would have barged right out of).

That said, this winter I've bought myself a 98 civic as a winter beater. Is it any better in the snow? Probably not, but it keeps my Z in a nice warm garage all winter, while the same time the civic will get 10k miles put on it doing ski trips. It also keeps the Z away from plows and m******* drivers.

 

let's forget about car getting rusty, ppl slamming into you etc.

a good rwd driver will never worry or question on snow driving with a rwd vehicle. if you are really worried about it, you should just aim at any non-rwd cars.

IS350 is rwd only. if anything, you will need an IS250 AWD. about 35k msrp

C300 4 matic, 328xi are also on the similar boat

 

Im not the least bit worried, just wanted to hear from other members that drive it in the winter. I might keep my 02 Maxima as my winter beater instead of trading it in.

 

I go through a touch free car wash about once a week in my Maxima, I can only imagine how many times a week (or day ) when I get my Z

 

I plan on it Im just pissed the 08's are not being produced with the Daytona Blue color

 

My 'beater' is an '00 Maxima. It's not really a beater, as it is still in great shape after 114,000 miles.

 

Ya I only have 56,000 Miles on mine, which is a reason I want to sell it because they are going for around 13K around here. So to chop that off of 30k would be a help

 

I'm probably going to end up driving my Z this winter. Unless I get a cheap as crap beater. Next year hopefully my condo will have sold and I can get a little better beater. I'm not affraid of driving it in the snow as much as I just don't want the salt tearing my car up.

 

I don't get this whole salt thing. I understand its not good, but its not good for ANY car.

 

no it's not... but there's a little less concern when it's a 500 dollar car... no? You don't have to love your beater.