[Paintslinger16]

It barely snows in Orange County, I am in Jefferson Tug hill region, 100 to 300 inches is our normal. Lots of water up here, Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence river

[gtfoxy]

Originally Posted by mrgoodwrench

So..I do understand that some people store their cars for the winter for their reasons - which is good for them - they put their money into the winter vehicle to drive. My wife is a teacher so she never drives in the poor weather due to the career choice that allows fo rsnow days. Unfortunately I chose Operations/Manufacturing, so just about every company I have worked for never shuts down unless the road are closed by our local/state governments - so snow is just snow...with the right tires there are no issues...with the wrong tires these cars will go nowhere...

I have been driving in NY since I got my drivers licence back in the days before front wheel drive cars were readily available - circa 1981 lol. Since then I have commuted 40 miles one way more regularly, regardless of weather, here in Orange County NY. I am currently fortunate to have a 2 mile commute now with plans on being in a warmer climate within the next 2 years - hence the new convertibles. I used to take our kids to work when it snowed and such.

I am sure there are others on here who do the same as I do - travel to/from work. Rather than buy a winter vehicle...my wife and I are the reverse - we have a summer vehicle that we use and store over the winter! It is all about what everyone's individual priorities/opportunities are. We love boating...so thats where we dump the extra $$$. Summer time fun - we call her - SKOOLS OUT.

I hope everyone enjoys their hobbies as much as we do - whatever they are!

Someone asked about the windshield cover - it is a heavy duty winter windshield cover from Cover King. It is water resistant and has a soft microfiber type material that lays against the windshield. Since I do drive in the winter months and I have to travel around our site during my shift to check on my team (2 different building ) it is handy to throw it on the car so I don't have to clean the windshield every time I move about the site.

I totally understand. I’ve had many DD’s from G2 Firebirds to 5spd fox bodies to a G body, to AWD DSM’s & everything in between. My 2 worst snow storm “experiences” were in an ‘86 626. Once I found myself uncontrollably being drug into a highway median with 5-8” of snow on the highway & had to have a friend winch me out. The other was I was driving along at very leisurely 45 & suddenly did a 180 & found myself staring at traffic that was behind me, including a suburban. Luckily I was able to downshift, counter steer, gun it & spin back around & straighten out. I was rattled a bit to say the least. Hell, the road wasn’t even that bad, but bad enough to induce a spin I had absolutely no control over.

A few years ago a lady close to me was on her way home from work in her 4x Explorer when she went off a rural road, into a ditch, hit a tree & was knocked unconscious. It was estimated she was doing maybe 35-40. She died from hypothermia before anyone found her vehicle. Had she stayed home with the forecast for bad weather she’d still be alive.

You can think you are the best driver in the world, but the reality is circumstances have greater influence than you can possibly imagine nor control. To think otherwise is naive & foolish.

[NYJets12]

Originally Posted by mrgoodwrench

So...been driving Camaro's as my daily driver since 2011 ('10/'14/'20). All had some type of All Season tire for the winter driving. Finally bought a set of spare rims on the cheap for $250 and mounted a set of good All Season tires for the winter to swap out. Always make it to work and have a blast.

This pic is from last Monday's storm (2/1/2021) when we got 18"+ over 30 hours with extreme drifting. This was the middle of the storm - we eventually closed a few hours later but only 5 of 55 employees came to work. I bust my employees chops when I make it in and they call out (most drive one form or another of Subies/All Wheel Drive SUVs or trucks). Winter Driving Skills - you either have them or you stay home!
BTW - have just hit 950 miles...another 550 to go before I can really jump on it and have some fun...ah the joys of living close to work and getting 2-3 weeks on a tank of gas!

You should get winter tires instead on all season for the winter especially in NY state. Front wheel drive and all season is fine but rear wheel drive I’d go with snow tires. When all they made were rear wheel drive cars I did rear tires only on the Camaro I do all 4 wheels.

[willzilla]

I'm a little south of you (new braunfels).. my car stays in garage when it gets cold out (thankfully rare) as I run summer tires all year. I didn't even trust driving my awd Subaru wrx in the cold in summer tires lol.

Sent from my GM1917 using Tapatalk

[mrgoodwrench]

GTFoxy - I do understand about work and the ability to be easily replaced - IBM let me go after 20 years, no matter how good my reviews were so my allegiance to who I work for extends to how I am treated. I had to figure out the next step...and I have improved my little lot in life in the 11 years that have passed.

We were on Rt 84 west one day and started seeing spin outs - the temp had gotten lower and the bridges were freezing over. I was always in the habit of coasting over bridges and taught my kids the same. A lady in a 4 Montero spun out in front of us and ended up in the breakdown lane at a 180 degrees, facing traffic. We stopped to check on her and she was frozen at the wheel - petrified in fear. I needed her to move to a safer spot before another spin out occurred as we were in that path. I ended up driving her car home with my wife following us.

While I do for the most part make it to work, I leave early and take my time. Like - a lot of time. I check the road conditions before and then usually stayed at work until the storm was over and the roads were clear...so that made it a little easier for me.

I have always told my employees when they are conflicted regarding a work vs personal decision to make sure to choose family first. Jobs will come and go but there is only one family. I try to enjoy every minute I am given...

[Big Lebowski]

Mine is still at the dealer since I bought her on Friday, and may be for atleast a few more weeks before I driver her home. Sigh. Once home, it’ll go on my lift until at-least mid March or April.

[MR's 2SS]

https://www.camaro6.com/forums/attac...ntid=1058717&s

tc=1&d=1613282318

Summer stuff that sits unused for months...
I can appreciate why guys would want to have a Camaro as a garage queen. The idea of what the salt is going to do pisses me off.
But I started driving in 1973. V-8s...Front engine rear drive. Nobody was garaging their cars or had multiple cars that I knew. You just drove your car and took care of it. I had 3 Vetts in the 70s. Only 1 sat in the garage. 1969 427 convertible. It was already special in 1977 and cosmetically perfect. It leaked and I was as likely to arrive home on a flatbed as under its own power. I drove the others in the snow. 70 Camaro, 72 GTO... all big v8 rear drivers. I dont actually remember putting snows on either.
But I dont remember a lot from the 70s!!
My wife is going to drive the Camaro every day and Ill have a lot of care taking to do. After many leased cars for her that we treated as the appliances they were... we finally have one Ill enjoy taking care of.
In a couple years well be south. And Im planning to have a lot more garage space there too..

[mrgoodwrench]

MR's 2SS,

Those are some nice toys - especially the boat. Congrats on the house build as well...that will be a sweet place to end up! All my cars have been DD's. I had an 85 Suburban to pull our 94 Bayliner. I would drive that in bad weather but its primary purpose was to pull the boat to the river in the spring and return home in the fall. When we upgraded to the Maxum, which we keep in winter storage near our club. We sold the Bayliner last summer and then sold the Suburban. I have the extra rims w/ an aggressive all season tread for the winter so I am good for the storms.

My wife is expecting to be retiring sometime soon - I am not as fortunate and will have many more years to go (12). When she pulls the trigger, I will then be looking to find, secure and then transfer to our facility in Jupiter, Fl. Hence the purchase of the His/Hers convertibles for the future.

I do like your comments regarding our vehicles as appliances - they are to be used but we will enjoy them while we use them...they are not really anything special (other than being ours) in terms of a limited edition or numbered car like a newer Z28 (the only car I would put into a garage) or ZL1.

In the meantime, We will continue to drive and enjoy the cars with a trip to the car wash after the snow to get rid of the salt...

[GroundhogSS]

Nice boats there. I saw yesterday where Mercury announced a 600 HP V12. Should be a killer. It steers by only turning the lower unit. Going to look funny when the boat is turning and the top of the motor is pointing straight ahead.

[zaimer]

Originally Posted by gtfoxy

No kidding.

Coming home today after a dusting last night in sub zero temps & turning onto my road the i4wd Highlander began to slide at 15mph turning a corner.

I highly doubt my Z would even be able to get moving under its own volition after sliding down my 2% grade driveway.

Some people just don’t understand the reality of a real winter.

But my car is a garage queen & Im a big wimp for not testing my luck on insanely slippery snow covered roads.

Yep, earlier this winter I was beginning to doubt the storing of Camaro (too early?) and then this hits . I don't think my Camaro would make it out of the driveway without a good struggle. There is no POSSIBLE way that I could drive it right now, if I had winter tires, perhaps maybe. I think another thing that people don't realize (especially those that don't have *real* winters is that salt actually DOES NOT WORK when the temperature drops so low. To some extent, it is basically this is how slick the roads are and you have to deal with it.

I had to run down to the Milwaukee area early morning this past Friday and the roads were pretty crappy. 2500 Duramax pulling a 23' dual axle... the rear end kicked out three times that I can remember. It was a bit unnerving going past the numerous trailers & semis in the ditch .

[Paintslinger16]

Honestly I guess, I am lucky enough not to have to drive this car in the winter.

One winter and the salt and sand that is forever trapped in the nooks and cranny's is all it takes to rust from the inside out.

Its my summer toy just like my Motorcycles used to be.


I can say that all the classic cars that got destroyed by salt and winter crashes didn't have to try to drive on 4 wide tires, wide is the worst for snow traction.


I even took my 33 x 12.50 MT's off my Jeep for winter they were skates in hard pack

[zaimer]

Originally Posted by Paintslinger16

Honestly I guess, I am lucky enough not to have to drive this car in the winter.

One winter and the salt and sand that is forever trapped in the nooks and cranny's is all it takes to rust from the inside out.

Its my summer toy just like my Motorcycles used to be.


I can say that all the classic cars that got destroyed by salt and winter crashes didn't have to try to drive on 4 wide tires, wide is the worst for snow traction.


I even took my 33 x 12.50 MT's off my Jeep for winter they were skates in hard pack

You have that exactly right! I feel that is another misconception that many have - big off-road wheels/tires have to be awesome in the winter. You couldn't be more wrong; in many instances there are actually way worse. My brother had one of those new F150 Black Widow editions, with big off-road wheels, lifted, etc. It was an ~$80K half ton truck...that was absolutely garbage in any type of snow. Actually, he coworkers had quite the jokes about his bad*ss truck and it's winter performance.

[gtfoxy]

Originally Posted by zaimer

Yep, earlier this winter I was beginning to doubt the storing of Camaro (too early?) and then this hits . I don't think my Camaro would make it out of the driveway without a good struggle. There is no POSSIBLE way that I could drive it right now, if I had winter tires, perhaps maybe. I think another thing that people don't realize (especially those that don't have *real* winters is that salt actually DOES NOT WORK when the temperature drops so low. To some extent, it is basically this is how slick the roads are and you have to deal with it.

I had to run down to the Milwaukee area early morning this past Friday and the roads were pretty crappy. 2500 Duramax pulling a 23' dual axle... the rear end kicked out three times that I can remember. It was a bit unnerving going past the numerous trailers & semis in the ditch .

There’s also a big difference between a metro area & a rural area that people seem to not grasp.

Metro’s are out plowing & treating at the first hint of snow. Here highways will get some love right away, but it can still be hit or miss.

Some rural roads out of town may not see a plow for days. The more snow, the longer the wait. About 15yrs ago we got a blizzard & 24” of snow. I was out snowmobiling on rural roads a week later that had not been touched & had fresh powder with zero tracks on them.

The road in front of my house will only see a plow if it’s over 3” & that might not be for at least a day or so. Less than that, never. So 2” eventually gets packed down to a hard pack that in below zero becomes solid ice. That’s what it’s like right now.

[zaimer]

Originally Posted by gtfoxy

There’s also a big difference between a metro area & a rural area that people seem to not grasp.

Metro’s are out plowing & treating at the first hint of snow. Here highways will get some love right away, but it can still be hit or miss.

Some rural roads out of town may not see a plow for days. The more snow, the longer the wait. About 15yrs ago we got a blizzard & 24” of snow. I was out snowmobiling on rural roads a week later that had not been touched & had fresh powder with zero tracks on them.

The road in front of my house will only see a plow if it’s over 3” & that might not be for at least a day or so. Less than that, never. So 2” eventually gets packed down to a hard pack that in below zero becomes solid ice. That’s what it’s like right now.

Yep! Other than the highways (once the sun finally melts it clear), very little pavement can be seen right now.