Hello fellow 350z enthusiasts!

I am 20 yrs old and love in MINNESOTA () I just bought my 350z about 2 months ago and with winter coming soon probably starts snowing in late October, I wanted some advice in driving my 350z in the Winter. Als

I plan on getting some winter tires and putting some sandbags in the trunk.

Any other ideas besides driving slow...

p.s its an auto... Couldnt find a stick for the price I bought this car for. around $12k

Also I have some ugly chrome rims on the car which came with them. Should I trade them for stockies in the winter? idkk help plz





PLEASE NO B-S just need advice.

 

I have lived in Rochester, Minnesota for nearly 9 months and found out that there are only two seasons exist there: Winter and Spring. You can get the best snow tires money could buy, but i do not think you would have fun time driving the car. Since I've only seen one winter, you probably would know it better. Do you think Z is even high enough for the amount of snow MN gets?

 

Search - no BS, really. Winter driving the Z is a popular subject here.

 

Driving in the snow is a well covered subject. I have nothing new to add.

 

Well, its my only car and I need to drive it to college and work and such.. but I am a great driver and I live in a city that usually has the roads plowed very early in the morning. I will get winter tires and put sand bags and get car washes on a regular basis. I've lived here all my life and I know where to drive and not to in the winter.. I'm just worried about spinning out anything i can do to prevent this??

 

Sand bags may be a poor idea.

The 350Z was not designed to drive in snow, but with snow tires you can make it work. The first snowfall go to an empty parking lot and practice. You will quickly discover the limitations of the Z.

Of course I have only 43 years of snow driving experience so what do I know.

 

Like I said I'm new here and still working the kinks of the site.. but Thanks for the advice.. but I'm sure some heavy weight in the back would help.. is rear will really a huge difference? Honestly.. 350z is a stiff ride but if I have snow tires, take slow turns and be careful im sure ill survive.. I only have an 8 mile comute to school and 5 mile comute to work.. I think ill be fine.....I hope..

 

is rear will really a huge difference?

What the hell is that?

 

Sorry..."Is rear wheel drive really a HUGE difference."

 

You might want to start reading all the other threads on this subject. We've been through it before and nothing has changed with the car, snow tires, etc. so there's really nothing new to add.

The bottom line is - don't think you can just drive carefully and get by, especially every day.

 

Dude you can find a good winter beater for the same price as a set of snow tires.

 

I don't think RWD is a huge difference, but then I drove RWD cars back when only RWD was available. Up until about 1990, virtually all cars were rear wheel drive. And guess what.....................we drove in the snow without difficulty by putting snow tires only on the rear of the car. You should use four snow tires today for better car control. I had a 1969 Chevelle SS396 and drove it without difficulty in the snow. That car had more power than the Z and probably didn't weigh any more. The biggest problem with the Z is the lack of ground clearance but if the roads have been plowed, that shouldn't be a problem. Just get snow tires, drive carefully and you should be ok.

 

its only sept. buy a cheap beater before the snow arrives or get rides from people since it's such a short commute for you.

 

Thank you KORNERCARVER you are by far the most help that I have gotten.. I hate forums everyone just talks shi* winter tires it is... and as far as the beater car I dont wanna have to pay insurance, Tabs, Plates, etc and worry about the car breaking down... My parents have an suv if it gets too bad.. ill survive thanks again KORNERCARVER piliteness goes a long way

 

Is it that time of the year again for the hundreds of winter driving threads?

 

Yeah your Rear Wheel Drive in the 60's 70's and 80's were also Tanks, and Did not have the Horsepower/Weight Ratio the 350z has. Nor did you have sport clutches, the snow tires have got better, and so have the drivetrains/suspensions, but Why risk hurting your baby, go buy a 800 dollar p.o.s and keep your beauty where she belongs.......The Kitchen and the Garage j/kin bout the Kitchen

 

I drive my Z year round (80 miles a day). I live in northern Indiana where we routinely get 80+ inches every year. I have winter wheels and a set of Michelin X-ice tires. It does great. I have the base Z so no limited slip or traction control. I pass 4x4's in ditches all of the time. Smart winter driving means adjusting your speed and movement to the road surface = easy on the throttle and brakes. I've been doing this for years and had no issues.

I did this with my RX-8 as well. Same results.

 

Comming soon here to, and i just don't know what to do. We only have the two Z's and one truck so one of us is stuck driving a Z year around.

 

Ok I'm going to get straight to the point right away.... Like sportbiketed said for the price of snow tires for the Z you can find a nice winter beater and be savin money on both the tires and most likely new wheels unless you plan on takin it in every spring to get the winter tires taken off and the summer tires put on. Two you'd be saving on insurance cost with the Z under storage insurance and you driving another car that is atleast 10 years older. With you being 20 yrs old you must be payin over 900 every six months with a clean record, with storage insurance you're only payin 250 every six months. Hell the Z handles like crap in the rain so I can't really imagine driving in the snow. I've hydroplaned my car really bad once, did a 720 on 35w but that's another story. My car has seen snow once but I was moving it from the front garage to the back and let me tell you it was a chore... I understand you do live in the city but even then there are days were the streets dont get that well done even with my SUV which weights twice as much as the Z and I was slidin over the place till I put it in 4wheel drive.

 

Tires make all the difference.