| Author | Message | ||
| James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member Username: Napolis Post Number: 764 Registered: 10-2002 |
When I was at the Goodwood Festival of speed in 98 it was raining as hard as I've ever seen it rain. The track was covered in mud as well. I was soaked and so was my MK-IV. The time for my run was approaching. I asked my wife what she thought as thunder and lighting split the sky. She looked over at the Chapparal pits and said: " If Hall can do it so can you." Smart girl. When my car arrived at JFK Us customs held it up until the Dept of Agircuture could inspedt it as it was covered in so much mud. It cleaned up pretty good... (Salt is different) Best Jim | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Junior Member Username: Psk Post Number: 236 Registered: 11-2002 |
Many years ago there was a story that did the rounds about heavy snow hitting the Saab factory and they had 1000's of cars sitting outside waiting to be transported to the dealers, etc. Anyway they could not get to these cars, and did not want to remove the snow due to the danger of damaging the paint, etc. So what did they do? ... they simply waited until the snow melted and then every single one of the cars started first time (according to the story) and off they went to their new owners. Thus what I am trying to say here is, snow does not hurt a car otherwise Saab would have a really, really big warehouse ... it is the salt and lime on the roads that is the damaging part. Thus a really good wash is required afterwards (before the lime hardens). My personal opinion: I would be very upset if my brand new Ferrari was left outside over night. I know of brand new Porsches broken into over night and special things stolen due to this ... thus IMO a $250,000 AUS car should not be left outside waiting for some low life to break into. Thus I do not think a company of prestege vehicles should leave them outside like Toyotas ... but this has nothing to do with the snow. Pete | ||
| Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Junior Member Username: Stickanddice Post Number: 142 Registered: 11-2002 |
James Glickenhaus has been known to drive a GT40 in the snow. Now there's a true enthusiast. Along with these cars comes significant responsability. If you drive it in the snow and neglect it, then you're doing the car a disfavor. If you drive it in whatever you please but maintain it properly and take precautions the car is properly taken care of, then who cares. Do a search on the work he's doing on his vintage Ferrari. If any of his cars was for sale and I was in the market for it I'd buy with no worries knowing full well he's enjoyed the car. As for the cars in the lot? Who cares as long as they make sure it's impeccable when delivered. It's not like the paint is going to fall off because some snow fell on it. Pretty resilient things, these cars... | ||
| Russ Turner (Snj5)
New member Username: Snj5 Post Number: 11 Registered: 2-2003 |
Drove the Mondial everyday except when roads were salted, and used judiciously, was just fine in the snow. In addition to being a fun hobby and work of art, they are also CARS.  This is reminiscent of hilarious discussions on the F-List occaisionally.  | ||
| Peter Cyr (Pete04222)
New member Username: Pete04222 Post Number: 29 Registered: 6-2002 |
I don't mind being caught in the rain, that is why I like the 308 better than a Harley, I can throw the top on. But if it is raining and I need to go somewhere, I will take the MB or the truck. Henry, you misunderstood my post. I drive the MB in all weather conditions. It has traction control and anti-lock brakes. It goes great. The 308 does not have these features and is best driven on clean dry roads. | ||
| Peter Cyr (Pete04222)
New member Username: Pete04222 Post Number: 28 Registered: 6-2002 |
The 308 for me is a toy and I treat it as such. I used to have a Harley and treat the F-car like I did the bike; except I am more comfortable if I get "caught" in the rain or cold. I can drive my 308 well into December, something I could never do with the Harley. I have 3 vehicles that have 4-wheel drive so why bother taking the 308 out in the snow? I used to have a Mustang GT as a daily driver and that thing sucked in the snow. 4" and I'm stuck in a parking lot. No thanks. And without the traction control and anti-lock brakes I can't imagine that the F-car would be better. I've got the big 4x4 diesel Ram for the snow and the 308 for the bright sun-shiney days. Not paranoid, just prepared. | ||
| Henryk (Henryk)
Member Username: Henryk Post Number: 532 Registered: 8-2001 |
DES: I never said I drove it in the snow. On that day, I was installing insulation above the rafters, and placed the Boxer outside.......then it snowed. I later put it back into the garage. I have driven my Ferrari in the snow.....got caught......NOT a good experience. This guy is paranoid, if he doesn't even take the MB out in the rain. I have been caught in the rain numerous times in my Ferraris, over the years.......WHAT is the problem?????????? What is so special about a MB? | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Advanced Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 2685 Registered: 8-2002 |
Henry, i think it's awesome that you drive your car in the snow- so would i; i just wouldn't feel comfortable with buying one after it sat in the snow... If it sat in the snow, what else was it subject to...? Peter, you can't get Ferrari snow tires...? | ||
| Henryk (Henryk)
Member Username: Henryk Post Number: 531 Registered: 8-2001 |
Peter: It seems to me that you are WAY to paranoid (don't even drive it in the rain)!!!!!!!! Your MB will depreciate regardless of use.......so enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Peter Cyr (Pete04222)
New member Username: Pete04222 Post Number: 27 Registered: 6-2002 |
Don't get me wrong. I live in Maine. My 308 went into the garage in December and it won't be out again until April. It will never look like Henry's car. I am not worried about snow on the car, it is the fact that the car sucks in the snow. I don't even drive my car in the rain. The only reason for this is that I want the 308 to look immacculate at all times and it is a pain to clean it after driving in the rain. We have a Mercedes that is worth way more than the 308 and we don't think twice about driving that through the slush. | ||
| Henryk (Henryk)
Member Username: Henryk Post Number: 530 Registered: 8-2001 |
Who cares????????????  | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Advanced Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 2678 Registered: 8-2002 |
Peter, i've been in up here, in the north east for my whole life- i'm totally used to the snow... Like you said, it's just water, but when it freezes and turns to ice, does that have any effect on the car's finish...? i can't imagine being ready to buy a new or even used Ferrari or other exotic from a dealer that let it sit out in the snow- don't get me wrong, once i get it, i'll be driving it in ANYTHING that falls from the sky, i don't care- but that's my doing; i want my car to be as pristine as possible before i buy it... | ||
| Peter Cyr (Pete04222)
New member Username: Pete04222 Post Number: 26 Registered: 6-2002 |
My thoughts, It would be great if we could all keep our cars in climate controlled facilities and never expose them to the outdoors. But they are cars. All snow is is water. I use water to wash my car; clean water does not affect the car's finish. I don't think the snow or cold affects a car drastically for a month or so. Worse is driving in the inclement weather. I agree with you there. Salt is used to make the roads safe for rubber, but does hell on the steel. But for storage the greatest killer is the sun and a cover of snow will actually protect the car's finish from the sun. I think a lot of it is cultural also, someone from the south who has never seen snow or cold might be more leery than someone from the north that accepts snow and cold as a fact of life. | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Advanced Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 2667 Registered: 8-2002 |
Ok... While i can easily accept someone driving their exotic in inclement and even nasty weather, i'm not so sure i would be happy purchasing a car from a dealer after it's been exposed to the elements for too long... At B of LI, every car in the lot has snow on top of it. Some of these cars belong to customers (i think the Diablo belongs to a customer) who are having their cars repaired or whatever, so they're left in the lot. With the huge heaping of snow we just had, all these cars have it piled all over them. Snow and ice, etc, etc, etc... Would any of you purchase a new or used vehicle from a dealership when that car had sat in a lot, being exposed to constant weather beating...? i know that can't be good for the paint or the "top", if the car is a spider (or spyder or targa or convertible or barchetta or...) like the 360 spider COVERED with freezing white stuff... Thoughts...? |