Rx8 Winter?
08-12-2008, 07:02 PM
#3
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In light snow, you should be ok with a good set of all-season tires unless you don't mind spending some green to buy a set of winter tires.
You should NOT be driving a rx8 in heavy snow.....
You should NOT be driving a rx8 in heavy snow.....
08-12-2008, 09:18 PM
#6
I drove a Jeep 4x4 my first 2 years and garaged the 8.
Big mistake.
Last winter, I bought 17" MOMO Winter Wheels, and had Hankook iPike W409s (not IceBears) mounted.
Those snow tires are the BOMB DIGGITY. We had a terrible, snowy winter, and the car was absolutely secure in some of the craziest snow storms ever. If I didn't experience how well the car handled from the drivers seat, I would not have believed it.
The 8 is a champ in the snow with an aggressive snow tire (iPike, Blizzak, . Make sure to get a deep and aggressive tread if you live in the snow belt - not a tame tread 'winter sport' tread like the IceBear or some Pirellis or Continentals have.
Big mistake.
Last winter, I bought 17" MOMO Winter Wheels, and had Hankook iPike W409s (not IceBears) mounted.
Those snow tires are the BOMB DIGGITY. We had a terrible, snowy winter, and the car was absolutely secure in some of the craziest snow storms ever. If I didn't experience how well the car handled from the drivers seat, I would not have believed it.
The 8 is a champ in the snow with an aggressive snow tire (iPike, Blizzak, . Make sure to get a deep and aggressive tread if you live in the snow belt - not a tame tread 'winter sport' tread like the IceBear or some Pirellis or Continentals have.
08-13-2008, 12:24 AM
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Dont listen to the winter naysayers, they either live in the warmer states, or are scared of the white stuff and have only driven 4x4's in it.
Like RotoRocket says, the RX8 is a champ in the snow.
I bought my RX8 in January, test drove it in the winter, had 4 brand new 225/45/18 (would have prefered narrower) LM25 Blizzaks on it.
This was the worst winter since 1972 in Montreal, and the RX8 felt solid, handled great and felt safe.
Dont go off roading in the snow, but even in several feet of powder on highways or city streets, the RX8 will be fine.
Those that say its too low... it isnt at stock height. Hell, it has quite a bit of clearance IMO.
Like RotoRocket says, the RX8 is a champ in the snow.
I bought my RX8 in January, test drove it in the winter, had 4 brand new 225/45/18 (would have prefered narrower) LM25 Blizzaks on it.
This was the worst winter since 1972 in Montreal, and the RX8 felt solid, handled great and felt safe.
Dont go off roading in the snow, but even in several feet of powder on highways or city streets, the RX8 will be fine.
Those that say its too low... it isnt at stock height. Hell, it has quite a bit of clearance IMO.
08-13-2008, 01:12 PM
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I've driven in the snow here in MD. Yea you will be nervous with ice and snow mix but just don't speed like in the summer. You will be find but just find a good set of tires and worst comes to worst dont drive on bad days. Good luck.
08-13-2008, 01:17 PM
#11
It's still a little early in the year for this annual topic, isn't it? 
I garage my 8 in winter. I start it every week to ten days and warm it up. Otherwise it stays covered.
Not because it's not a driveable car in winter. Others have posted that with the right tires and a little care, it's a fine winter car.
I don't drive it in winter because of the road salt and sand they use in my area. I ruined my '80 RX-7 driving it in winter. Corrosion set in after the first winter. You can't always wash it when you want to when it's very cold, and even if you do, the salt works it's way into every nook and cranny. Grit used on the road will pit your windshield and any front-facing surface, especially when you are in traffic at speeds above 40mph...even when there's no snow at the moment.
I plan on keeping my 8 for a long time. Driving a car in winter in an area with road salt and/or sand will have detrimental effects in the mid to long-term.
I garage my 8 in winter. I start it every week to ten days and warm it up. Otherwise it stays covered.
Not because it's not a driveable car in winter. Others have posted that with the right tires and a little care, it's a fine winter car.
I don't drive it in winter because of the road salt and sand they use in my area. I ruined my '80 RX-7 driving it in winter. Corrosion set in after the first winter. You can't always wash it when you want to when it's very cold, and even if you do, the salt works it's way into every nook and cranny. Grit used on the road will pit your windshield and any front-facing surface, especially when you are in traffic at speeds above 40mph...even when there's no snow at the moment.
I plan on keeping my 8 for a long time. Driving a car in winter in an area with road salt and/or sand will have detrimental effects in the mid to long-term.
08-13-2008, 02:13 PM
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where do you live? just think that it will not snow everyday....so, i believe you still can drive your car when it's not snowing, but even if it's snowing, you drive it when it stops. nobody want to go out when snow storm, but jsut drive carefully in snow, you will be fine
steven
steven
08-13-2008, 02:20 PM
#13
You could probably be fine in the winter. I'm a scared one, I keep mine in the garage and bought a (beater) 91 Dodge Dakota to get me by for the winter months. I live in South Dakota and sometimes the winter gets fairly rough up here. I still think I could probably do it because most of the time the plows have the snow off by the time i go to work anyways, but I dont chance it.
08-13-2008, 02:50 PM
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Pls enlighten us this winter.
08-13-2008, 03:04 PM
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Who the hell said WITHOUT winter tires or chains ?
However, several was probably a poor choice of words.
I did drive around last winter in a blizzard and there was over 20" of snow on the ground.
I was plowing the snow, but as mentioned... it was powder, not heavy wet snow.
I'll definatly take pictures this winter and enlighten you if you want
I walked outside on more than one occasion last winter to find (or not find) my RX8 COMPLETELY covered in snow. Shoveled it out and drove away to work.
However, several was probably a poor choice of words.
I did drive around last winter in a blizzard and there was over 20" of snow on the ground.
I was plowing the snow, but as mentioned... it was powder, not heavy wet snow.
I'll definatly take pictures this winter and enlighten you if you want
I walked outside on more than one occasion last winter to find (or not find) my RX8 COMPLETELY covered in snow. Shoveled it out and drove away to work.
08-13-2008, 03:13 PM
#16
Another thing to consider is that even if you are the world's greatest driver in snow, everybody else isn't.
You're much more likely to get hit in winter, unfortunately.
Around here (Rocky Mountains), it seems like everyone forgets how to drive at the first snowfall.
We also have a lot of warm-weather transplants from the southern part of the country who are not used to driving on ice or snow. It's as if nice cars have targets painted on them, for the other drivers with no winter driving skills.
You're much more likely to get hit in winter, unfortunately.
Around here (Rocky Mountains), it seems like everyone forgets how to drive at the first snowfall.
We also have a lot of warm-weather transplants from the southern part of the country who are not used to driving on ice or snow. It's as if nice cars have targets painted on them, for the other drivers with no winter driving skills.
08-13-2008, 03:36 PM
#17
I am not one to believe salt does anywhere near the damage to today's cars that it did to even cars of the 90s.
Electro bonding of zinc oxide to the metal areas of the car pretty much assures you that you can rely on the 100,000 mile/10 year corrosion warranty the manufacturers all provide.
In fact the whole chassis is dunked in a chemical bath that has some pretty long lasting and amazing protective effects against oxidation, even in extreme conditions.
They've gotten so good with this technology, rust and oxidation will be a rarity on the cars we've been driving since 2000.
I wouldn't drive a Ferrari F430 in winter, and probably not a Corvette ZR1, but almost any production vehicle will not be harmed by road salt.
IMO.
Electro bonding of zinc oxide to the metal areas of the car pretty much assures you that you can rely on the 100,000 mile/10 year corrosion warranty the manufacturers all provide.
In fact the whole chassis is dunked in a chemical bath that has some pretty long lasting and amazing protective effects against oxidation, even in extreme conditions.
They've gotten so good with this technology, rust and oxidation will be a rarity on the cars we've been driving since 2000.
I wouldn't drive a Ferrari F430 in winter, and probably not a Corvette ZR1, but almost any production vehicle will not be harmed by road salt.
IMO.
08-13-2008, 03:57 PM
#18
^Even if you discount salt damage (and I'm not willing to take the chance with my car), the grit damage is still there. Sand on the freeway will damage your finish and glass.
Some cities use sand exclusively, where salt is prohibitively expensive.
My 8 stays snug for three months every year and I take my Explorer, thank you.
Some cities use sand exclusively, where salt is prohibitively expensive.
My 8 stays snug for three months every year and I take my Explorer, thank you.
08-13-2008, 04:29 PM
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I've driven my 8 through two winters (the first including 3 blizzzards but most situations were a foot of snow or under with most streets plowed regularly) without much hassle on Khumo high performance all-seasons. Like Jethro said, its usually the other drivers you need to watch out for around here (a lot being out of town during the winter). Having come from snow-free Texas, the first winter was a little tricky but by the end of the season I sure was having a blast. I eventually started looking for reasons to run up to the corner store or whatever after hours when most people were off the road to be able to take the tail happy 8 out in the snow. I could pull off amazing drifting feats but would only be going 10 mph or so. With decent tires the 8 is actually quite manageable (due to the very controllable steering, great feedback, and soft stock suspension) and the DSC will to a decent job of keeping you in line when you drive sensible and for the conditions. Around here you just have to pick the right roads and avoid the known trouble spots or steep grades.
08-13-2008, 06:11 PM
#23
^Even if you discount salt damage (and I'm not willing to take the chance with my car), the grit damage is still there. Sand on the freeway will damage your finish and glass.
Some cities use sand exclusively, where salt is prohibitively expensive.
My 8 stays snug for three months every year and I take my Explorer, thank you.
Some cities use sand exclusively, where salt is prohibitively expensive.
My 8 stays snug for three months every year and I take my Explorer, thank you.
But my 8 is my daily driver, and I only put maybe 11k miles on it a year as it is.
08-14-2008, 11:14 AM
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Literally the day I bought my 8, there was one of the biggest blizzards Long Island had had in years. Thankfully, thanks to this forum, before the car was delivered, I had Blizzack ws-50's mounted to some kazera 17 inch rims. Honestly, I was always shocked at how well my 8 did in the winter. I live on a steep, and I mean steep hill, and the 8 was seriously the only car that could get up my driveway. The only car thats better is my WRX Sti with snows, and thats not even a fare compro, as its an AWD car with 5.5 inches of grown clearance. Now, after over a year and a half without the 8, one of the main reasons Im looking into to buying a used one is because of the all weather drivability, and because I miss revving to 8 grand!
08-14-2008, 12:52 PM
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Snow or not , from DEC 15 to Mar 15 my car is put away . I have a 2 other cars to drive during stingy *** winter time. It give me something to look forward to in spring . Plus I don't have to look at my car all dirty with snow .