| Author |
Message |
John_Miles (John_miles)
New member
Username: John_miles
Post Number: 33
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 10:44 pm: | |
In the Seattle area, a $100 detail job is the quickest rainmaking spell this side of Hogwarts. But you only have to ask yourself, "Would I rather look at a clean Ferrari or drive a dirty one?"... and all doubts vanish. |
Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Intermediate Member
Username: Mlemus
Post Number: 1940
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 8:56 pm: | |
They make some stuff called Fog free for windows, has anyone tried it? |
89TCab (Jmg)
Member
Username: Jmg
Post Number: 363
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 8:51 pm: | |
Mine TCab is a daily driver and I live in Seattle. Plenty of rain experience to show that they don't melt and suffer no worse than any other car.
- JMG |
Ric Rainbolt (Ricrain)
Member
Username: Ricrain
Post Number: 467
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 8:50 pm: | |
My GTB was my only car for 22 months (and 16K miles). In Texas, we get some really nasty rainstorms. The only real problem was interior fogging. The A/C would tend to freeze up if it was 50-60F outside, and I'd loose the ability to keep the fog off the windshield.
Once, I didn't fully shut the door when I got out on a day when it was pouring rain. The car had about 1.25 inches of standing water in the driver's floorboard when I came out later that day. Uggh. |
PSk (Psk)
Junior Member
Username: Psk
Post Number: 125
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 8:32 pm: | |
250GTOs in the snow at the Monte Carlo Rally ... gezz they used to rally them!!!. I know that rallies in the old days are not like modern rallies, but ... but ...
Nick Mason (in his book 'Into the Red') states that he used to drive his kids to school in his GTO, even in the snow ... I doubt very much that that happens to many of them nowadays. Good on Nick, he still remembers that it is a car, and er, designed to be driven ... not to be looked at like a trophy.
Pete |
James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Member
Username: Napolis
Post Number: 535
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 5:59 pm: | |
I've driven them in the rain sleet and snow. I remember one race where it rained so hard the tires in the pit started to float. When my MK-IV returned from Goodwood in 98 (Wetwood) it had so much mud on it that customs held it up for inspection by the Agracultural Inspectors because it was covered in "Foreign soil"
Pictures of P4's racing in the rain at SPA and 250GTO's in the snow at the Monte Carlo Rally are the one's I remember... |
JPM (John_308qv)
Junior Member
Username: John_308qv
Post Number: 89
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 5:53 pm: | |
It rains in Italy, yes? |
Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Intermediate Member
Username: Mlemus
Post Number: 1924
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 5:34 pm: | |
it's my daily. |
PSk (Psk)
Junior Member
Username: Psk
Post Number: 123
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 5:21 pm: | |
Remember these cars were daily drivers for many when new, infact are still daily drivers for some.
Also if it was a problem, I am sure that the owners manual would mention it ... and they would not have sold many!
More important to be careful with the throttle and brakes ... and aquaplaning ...
Pete |
Mark (Markg)
Member
Username: Markg
Post Number: 382
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 9:57 am: | |
Verell / Tony ex-DEC!? I work at CXO3 since '92!
God how I miss my VMS system.... |
Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Member
Username: Mitch_alsup
Post Number: 335
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 9:40 am: | |
Just last weekend, We were at TWS racing in the rain, drizzle, and sleet.
The only way water can cause the belts to jump a tooth is that if the water was solid ice of the proper size shape and stiffness; and then got ingested near the front of the engine at exactly the right time. The probability of this is larger than the number of Ferraris on the road. Don't worry about it. |
Ken A (Zff)
New member
Username: Zff
Post Number: 6
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 5:37 am: | |
I avoid driving my car in the rain mainly because I can't stand to see it get dirty.
When I first got my car, I was so anxious to drive it that I drove through a heavy tropical downpour (I live in Hawaii). Other than the wipers not being able to move water away fast enough, it didn't seem to mind one bit.
|
Randall Booth (Randall)
Junior Member
Username: Randall
Post Number: 69
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 1:47 am: | |
The 308 I bought has no wipers and I've driven it in the rain without any problems. Rain X is amazing stuff. |
Lee Pierce (Leepierce)
New member
Username: Leepierce
Post Number: 15
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 12:00 am: | |
I've only had my '78 308 for 2 weeks (my first Ferrari!), and I've already been out in the rain twice. The only problem is a small leak in the driver door, right at the top of the pillar between the windshield and the driver door window. Sometimes it leaks and sometimes it doesn't. The car sat for 2 years so it may be a dried rubber seal; I haven't noticed any cracks or obvious problems.
On a related note, I'm really ambivalent about driving in the rain and poor weather. I know I want a driver's car, not a "garage queen", but I haven't decided how much I want to "baby" it just yet, or the extent to which I want to keep it refurbished and/or original. Will this thing rust out if I keep it too wet? There's only a few small rusty areas on the paint now, not bad for 25 years old. I may start a related thread on this topic to get others' thoughts...
BTW, when I was a work that day, it started snowing, and I had to drive it home in a "driving" snow. I rinsed it off really well in the driveway in 30-degree weather, then dried it once I got it in the garage. Is this being too anal, or just cautious? |
Tony Mongillo (Tonym)
New member
Username: Tonym
Post Number: 15
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 8:09 am: | |
Peter,
My wife and I drove our QV from CT to Burlington, VT last summer in what turned out to be a torrential rainstorm for over an hour. No leaks, wipers did their job, defroster kept the windows clear. My biggest concern was aquaplaning on new Michelins, but the concern was unfounded. The car handled beautifully through the whole messy adventure.
Verell,
As an aside, I was at DEC from 73 to 93. We were on our way to Burlington for a reunion with the folks that worked at the BTO plant.
Tony |
Peter Sedlak (Peters)
Junior Member
Username: Peters
Post Number: 65
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 1:30 pm: | |
Yes, the belts do have the covers |
Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member
Username: Verell
Post Number: 547
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 12:37 pm: | |
Peter,
I ditto Matt & Dave. My car is a daily driver from 1 April into early October. It's even been caught in a couple of late April snowstorms!(Thank goodness they didn't bother to salt the roads for them!)
Don't your belts have the aluminum covers? The small amount of belt around the timing pulleys that's exposed by the covers won't pick up enough water to worry about.
The clutch vents are protected by the wheel well covers from any major splashing. They're also oriented so that water splashing up from below won't be likely to get far enough inside to soak the clutch down.
There's a big difference between road water splashing up from below, & water coming down thru the vent louvers. Ferrari designed for this sort of a thing. What they didn't design for is a detergent solution under pressure being waved around at all angles while you attempt to clean the engine's nooks & crannys.
I also wouldnt rev the engine up much above 5,000 RPM or so while the belts might be wet. |
Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Intermediate Member
Username: Mlemus
Post Number: 1865
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 10:59 am: | |
My 308 is a daily driver and I have been in the rain several times. No big deal except you need to be extra careful on bumps to not ground the car due to the ride height. Don't worry about it. |
Dave328GTB (Hardtop)
Member
Username: Hardtop
Post Number: 423
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 10:53 am: | |
I have been caught in rain a number of times in 308's, 328's, and 348's. I have even been caught in hail twice (common in these parts). Never any problems other than car needing a cleaning. They don't hydro plane anymore than other cars. Rain is fine, that's why they come with wipers!
Dave |
Peter Sedlak (Peters)
Junior Member
Username: Peters
Post Number: 56
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 10:32 am: | |
I have concern diving my car in the rain. With the timing belts exposed (and the slot in the clutch casing)I have reviewed posts that state that water has the potential to cause a belt to 'jump teeth'. I do not go out of my way to drive in the rain, but it happens once in a while. Whats the real scoop? |