A&Q about 350Z
Q:
Live in PA was thinking of getting my 350z sometime soon. My question is, who has experience driving a Z in the snow? I am coming over from driving FWD cars( 06 Eclipse GT) and was wondering how the car handles in rough winter driving. thanks
A:
it doesn't. ;}
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
Mr W - I live in (Eastern) PA. I have no experience driving in snow or black ice or sleet or anything remotely similar. I also plan not to. I recommend that if you plan to own a 350z, budget for a "junker" to drive in foul whether.
'04 Black Touring
A:
DAVE W,
First you will have change the tires since they are Summer only. Then you will have to plan on staying on roads that have been plowed since you have no ground clearance to speak of and will never be able to get through snow of more that an inch or two. Best thing to do is what almost all of us do and that is to put the car away until the end of April and only drive it once in awhile when it is really nice out and there isn't any snow or ice on the payment.
Mspeasl
Central Illinois - Form member since 2/02
"Growing old may be mandatory, but growing up is optional"
03 Redline Touring 6sp "350Z" (Pre-Ordered 02/02) - Delivered 29 August 02
05 Satin Jade Pearl Chrysler 300C 6/04
A:
do not subject your Z to rough winter driving.
A:
hey look, it's making a snow angel!
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
why do you continue to advise drivers on winter driving?
A:
well, coming from somebody that DOES actually drive their car all year round id say its not as bad as you guys make it out to be. Ive driven on stock crap tenzas for 3 winters in NJ and while it wasnt necessary for me to drive everyday i would take it out when the conditions were clear and even when it was a bit wet out and never had problems as long as i drove smart. With that said if you need to get to work or something you'll no doubt need some good snow tires but after that and a bit of ground clearance issues its not bad.
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
A:
My Z stays in the garge. Winters vary here in Northern VA. Some years we got nothing and some years we get a lot.
I used to live in Michigan until I moved here in 1996. i know how to drive in the snow. So for "justinrhenry" to say: "front wheel drive vehicles are the best thing to have in snow. even better than most 4x4s." is just crap. I will put my WRX up against any front wheel drive in the snow. In fact it can even be somewhat deep snow.
It is not driving in snow or getting started moving in snow or even what kind of vehicle you drive in the snow...it is... LEARNING HOW TO STOP YOUR VEHICLE IN THE SNOW!
2005 350Z Touring Roadster - Super Black - 6speed
Borla Exhaust and K&N drop-in.
Other toys include:
2006 Subaru WRX Wagon
2002 Isuzu Axiom SUV
2002 H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic
2002 H-D custom Fat Boy
2001 Kawasaki Drifter 1500
A:
yea my housemate had a wrx, those things can handle anything...if only they didnt look like angry kitchen appliances on wheels, hahaa
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
A:
i didn't mention all wheel drive. there's a difference between all wheel and 4wheel.
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
This question comes up all the time on this forum, just do a search. Often from someone considering the purchase of the Z as a daily driver year round and wanting reassurance from others here on the board that they can do just that. You can do that in warmer climbs but frankly, in Michigan, it's a mistake. Especially if you have a schedule which dictates you be somewhere regularly regardless of an inch or two of snow on the streets or even worse, ice. If the roads are unplowed it will be a very interesting drive for you......Sooner or later you will be posting pix of your crashed Z or at the very least need a tow out of a ditch. Yeah, if you can wait for the snow plows to do their thing then you can probably get by at least for a while but chances are sooner or later you'll get caught in hazardous driving conditions. It's then you'll be asking questions here pertaining to parts, repairs and relaying close calls to us. Yes tires will help a bit, but around here, you need all the ground clearance, traction and control you can get when you have to get somewhere. All that potential for structural damage plus all the cosmetic abuse you car will take all winter.....Think about what I'm saying next time your stuck behind a salt truck......
it's Your call....good luck with your decision.
A:
ok, well im sick and tired of people posting reccomendations that obviously have no experience with driving in the winter. regardless of the fact that its a sports car and you shouldnt drive it in the winter and this and that...ive driven mine considerably over 3 winters on stock tires mind you, and have had no problems. Like the above post said, i wouldnt reccomend doing that if you have a job or a set schedule that cant be altered(i was in school and able to not drive everyday/bum a ride). HOWEVER, throwing a set of good snow tires ie. what everybody uses blizzaks, will pretty much remedy the situation in all but the most serious cases. I lived in central Jersey and sure over the past few years there were situations where i couldnt get out of my driveway but with a set of snows i would have felt verry comfortable and dont think i would i have had any problems driving everyday. the above post also stated about the abuse the car will take but hell...the Z sells for pretty much the average price of a new car nowadays, and people subject their same priced 4 door sedans to the same winter punishment. heres a quote from somebody on a different forum that ran snows, and theres a whole bunch more testimonials just gotta search a bit on my350z or wherever. Im happy that you guys run beaters in the winter, i wish i could, but thats not always the right answer. Yes theres ground clearance issues of course, thats a given...but dont say its impossible. I saw a video a while back of a guy cruising aroud at 40mph on unplowed, 6 inch probably, blizzard condition roads in maine? i think it was and he was doing just as well as any other car on the road. i tried to find it but couldnt, ill keep searching
"I ran blizzak LM22's on my Z last winter and was very impressed by their performance. Stock tires literally are undriveable in an inch of snow, while the blizzaks got me through 4-5 inches without issues"
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
A:
more testimonials...i could go on with more, but i think this proves my point enough and this was only after about 5 minutes of leisurely searching on my350z. I personally wouldnt reccomend somebody drive their Z in the winter if they easily had the means and ways to get a snow capable beater, that would be ideal, but i think the testimonials make a pretty good devil's advocate case that the Z can be a pretty reliable winter car WITH SNOWS. OEM's and the winter, anything on the streets over an inch and you're in serious trouble.
"took mine out today with mu Dunlop Wintersport M3's. Handled like a champ on the poorly plowed PenDot roads just north of Philly."
"Blizzak WS-50's. They make a HUGE difference. More or less, it feels about like the old Honda Accord did in the snow, which was fine."
"Next snow storm we got 8 inches in 6 hours. When I got out of work at midnight of course the roads were untouched. I made it home just fine. I actually saw Suv's in the ditch. My z actually gets around better in the snow that all of my previous FWD vehicles."
"I've driven my Z through two New England winters on Blizzak LM-22's, and I've had no problems so far. Along with good snow tires, you just need to apply some common sense. Avoid the deep snowdrifts, don't drive like an idiot, and you should be okay."
"Z with snow tires like the Blizzacks and I can say hands down:
Its the BEST SNOW CAR I have ever had!!!!
Seriously, it handled fine and I was able to enjoy it year round. I cant afford a good other car. Instead of worrying about a winter beater that may not start up, just drop some bucks into snow tires. You will not regret it.
I know in ohio we arent blizzard type winters but you have to remember that in dec of this past year we got nailed with almost 30 inches at one time. The Z never skipped a beat!!!"
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
Post Edited (Sep 12, 4:21pm)
A:
Be realistic, are you really going to get out of your driveway with even 6 to 8 inches of snow on the roads and you have to be some place important? you'll be staying in a lot if it's a sever winter.
Of course, to be honest I see a few corvettes and other high powered rear drive cars in winter.....it's entertaining to watch them try to negotiate heavy snow or even mild inclines and declines with packed snow.
Yup, there are quite a few posts about this. just as many for as against......it's your car.....if you think you can manage go ahead and do so. I suppose someone will pipe up and say they have been driving in winter with stock potenzas and VDC off to boot, it's the nature of the web I guess. I have my own business that sometime requires delivering or shooting jobs at all hours of the day and along with that, demanding schedules for delivery. Often times I find myself traveling in the middle of the night (2 or 3 am) on icy and unplowed streets. From my experience (35 years driving in Michigan) no way would any rear drive, low clearance vehicle make it no some of those trips. If you think that would be fun be my guest......For me, I made sure that I have a vehicle that really works for both good and bad weather. A poor weather car was part of my budget when considering the Z. My "beater" is a 2005 Kia Sportage which is a perfect counterpoint to my Z.....I love it for what the Z is not.
A:
well, that was part of my point exactly...good for you if you have a beater, im not telling anybody that its a better idea to drive the Z in bad weather, just simply saying that it can be done and done pretty well with the right tires.
"just as many for as against"???
...exactly what i was trying to explain as well, that it seems to me that everybody saying, "no dont do it" or "good luck crashing" or whatever, havent actually driven the Z in the winter or snow on snow tires. So how the hell would they know that it cant be driven in the winter? i posted all those testimonials, i didnt make them up. Find somebody that has blizzaks and drives in winter weather that says, "no, its a bad idea...dont do it" and ill say alright. but til then i havent seen anybody say that.
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
Post Edited (Sep 13, 3:49pm)
A:
i like the very last one...
"Z with snow tires like the Blizzacks and I can say hands down:
Its the BEST SNOW CAR I have ever had!!!!
this is an eye roller. i'm curious to know what other cars he's owned.
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
Hey Driven here's just one for you since you asked....and from a thread you actually started a while back to boot!
I got caught in an early snow storm late in 2002. I had the car about three months and had a hell of a time getting home. I spun out a few times and basically scared the crap out of myself until I parked the car in a parking lot and walked home about a mile.
I will never take the car out in the winter again unless it is a sunny day with no precipitation expected.
It was terrible in the snow (only about four inches fell that time) but I did not buy it to drive it in the winter. I have a 4x4 beater truck for that.
I recommend not driving it in the snow. You'll get an ulcer before you get home.
There are lots of others along these same lines. Just do a search and you'll see.
Justin:
I know, there are some pretty funny "testimonials" posted. Some make me laugh out loud actually.
My other car before my Z was an all wheel drive Eagle Talon with all weather tires. It saw me through 13 Michigan winters and 198,000 miles without any major mishaps or accidents. It was fantastic in snow but once it would bottom out you were stuck. Period. That exact thing happened to me late one night coming home from a shoot. The snow was about six inches and it had rained and then froze on top of the snow cover creating a thick crust. I got stuck because the car just didn't have ground clearance. The entire bottom of your car can create far more drag than the push-ability from four measly contact patches. A similar thing happened to a military vehicle we were shooting in sand a few years ago. The vehicle was an 8 wheel drive, all wheel steering prototype that sunk into the sand right up to it's hull. It took hours to free the beast and required two heavy duty military tow vehicles to free it with all wheels spinning. Do you think Blizzack tires would have made much difference? The tires mearly dug it deeper into the sand. I don't care if you have sandpaper drums on for tires, low clearance cars bottom out in deep snow and when they do you will be waiting for a tow or a spring thaw...whichever comes first. Yes, If you live in a metropolitan area, have a leisurely schedule and can drive when it's clear, chances are you can get by.....if that's all you want......just realize you will have occasion to make compromises, possibly at un~opportune times. Ultimately, you as an individual have to decide. For me, I hate compromises and I don't think it's cool driving around in a hot car encrusted with salt and sand working their way into my paint (as if the paint on the Z needs another reason to pop off) and underbody joints and always wondering if I can make it up the next hill or if you'll be stuck somewhere waiting for a tow or the plows. Sounds like a lot of fun doesn't it? My choice is the Z stays home on poor weather days...... shiny and clean waiting for spring. It's like getting to know your girl all over again.....but that's another story........anyway, your call on the winter thing, it's your car not mine.
A:
Pleae reread my post again!
"My other car before my Z was an all wheel drive Eagle Talon with all weather tires."
A:
"That exact thing happened to me late one night coming home from a shoot. The snow was about six inches and it had rained and then froze on top of the snow cover creating a thick crust. I got stuck because the car just didn't have ground clearance. "
are you talking about your Z in this quote?
I acknowledged ground clearance issues multiple times, thats a given. ive still yet to hear from somebody that has switched tires on the Z and said its still not driveable. Im not saying you can romp around in a foot of snow and not have a problem, but people are saying if theres a few inches on the ground you're gonna die, which simply isnt true if you switch to snow tires. Its not like the whole country gets blanketed with feet of snow all winter. if you're in a place that maybe only gets one bad storm a year and maybe a few inches here and there, im saying the Z can be a viable winter driver. bahh im done arguing this thread is dead, believe whatever you want about the Z's winter capabilities
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189
Post Edited (Sep 14, 2:00pm)
A:
DrivenZ, I've actually driven through snow that was at least two inchs deeper than the bottom of the car. My wife's front wheel drive family car got stuck where I in the Z didn't. The wife's car has high end all seasons on it. Your absolutly right about the tires. Good winter tires make all the difference. All season tires are a compromise for all seasons (they suck just as much in any season) compared anyone who has a summer and winter set. And just to be clear, the Z comes with summer ONLY tires, you'd have to be insane to drive it in snow without changing to the correct type of tire.
A:
I never actually said you will die if you drive your Z in a few inches of snow with winter tires......there is always the probability and it's somewhat lower with winter tires than stock. Getting stuck is another story.
Yes DrivenZ I'm speaking about my all wheel Drive Talon in the quote below.
"That exact thing happened to me late one night coming home from a shoot. The snow was about six inches and it had rained and then froze on top of the snow cover creating a thick crust. I got stuck because the car just didn't have ground clearance. "
Actually my all weather tires were great year round and the car never even wore them down after 25,000. The car had perfect geometry and alignment. So much so the mechanic who serviced it told me he had never seen that in any car he had ever serviced from Ferraris and Porsches to BMW. I actually sold the car this past summer (after 13 winters and 197,000 miles) to a friend who is going to redo it as a SCCA car. The tires needed replacement due to tire sidewall rot but not for loss of aggressive tread!
Frankly, around here most people put their sports cars away for the winter. If those tire addressed all the issues related to the conditions here I'm sure there would be many more sports cars on the street during bad weather but there aren't. Actually AWD and SUVs are very popular here. When the snow is heavy and wet (which is often around all the lakes here) or when the plows have piled frozen slush in troughs along each lane you simply will go no where (or lose control) when you bottom out, Blizzaks or whatever you have (not to mention what it's gonna do to your lower bumper). Please keep in mind, light powdery snow doesn't count as I can blow the stuff off my driveway with a leaf blower. You can easily push through that. The wet or hard frozen snow on the other hand is another story. If you bottom out on that it's over I don't care what you have for tires my friend.
Lets put it this way when the issue of recommending a car for everyday use in snow country: If you had a daughter, or son going off to school every day during the winter months, would you buy her/him a Z (assuming you could afford it) as a winter car? Of course not, the Z is terrible in the snow in stock form and made better by adding winter tires and a little weight in back (which hurts your ground clearance even more). Exactly how much better is debatable and is base on specific conditions. Still, the tires do not address the ground clearance issue at all..... so no, I can't recommend the car as a daily driver even though people will try to drive them in winter anyway. Hey people have been know to bugee jump and worse right? Like I said before it's your car and you can do with it whatever you wish. To me and a lot of others, there is a time and a place for a RWD sports car and a good snow storm is neither of those.
That's enough on this thread for me fellas, I think my point is a valid one that hasn't been adequately addressed and frankly, I have other things to attend to.....I'm not interested in a pissing contest.