Jacob Rosselot

How do third gens handle in the winter? Is it worth driving in the winter? How much rust would form if driven in a michigan winter? I have heard they can do a 180 on wet pavement.

Frozer!!!

iTrader: (11)

They cant handle for **** in the snow lmao. And the corrosion romt he salt hurts bad. But it is fun to do doughnuts in a parking lot

Black85sport

I drove an 85 sport coupe for 1 winter, and an 86 firebird v6 for almost 2 winters.

It sucks driving one when there is any snow accumulation at all, but as long as you don't drive like a dumbass, take your time, and kind of plan your route, its not too bad.

I had 140 lbs worth of sandbags in the back of the 85, and none in the 86. As long as you take your time, you should be alright.

BlkBird408

I drove my 89 as a daily driver for 6 years and yes I agree with what was said above they dont handle worth crap in the winter. Definently gonna need some good tires and extra weight.

92RS(real slow)

As long as you have good tires, and keep your foot of the gas it will be okay but salt does hurt the cars

Al Hasse

I drove mine from Washington to Tennessee over Christmas vacation a few years back and chased a snowstorm the whole way. I had absolutely no problem with traction or handling. The only problem I did have was a stuck open thermostat through Utah in the sub-freezing weather, so the heater didn't work real well. Like mentioned above, have good tires and easy on the throttle. As for Michigan winters (I graduated high school and learned to drive there) and all other states that use salt to melt the ice, yes it can rust your car, just keep it as clean as possible.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

my car is not worth a damn in the snow, its not even very good in rain for that matter, with a light coating of snow on the ground, i can back out of my garage and as soon as the wheels touch the snow they will start spinning. you can actually get out of the car, go inside make a cup of coffee, and return and it would still be there spinning away...

leeperryracing

both my thirdgens were never meant to be daily drivers let alone winter sleds..they suck at that, which is why i have a celica for that...FWD works better in the winter.

rwdtech

what year?


it will be a lot worse with that open differential in your RS. dont try driving in the snow...

ntomsheck

iTrader: (1)

Yes they can do a 180 when the pavement is wet. I was driving around in an empty parking lot a long time ago, and unfortunately I went when it was wet. Lo and behold as soon as the rear tires broke loose through a turn, I was facing the opposite side. Just be very light on the pedal though and you shouldn't have a problem.

Salt is a real pain though. Before I bought mine, she was driven through the snow and ice 2 or 3 years in a row (possibly 4) and my floorpans payed for it. There are spots where they are rusted through.

eschevyrda

its not worth it dont do it to yourself.these cars werent meant for snow .they still handle like crap even in the rain. no matter if you have good tires or not,and the salt just awfull.

MaineIrocer86

Dont do it..car handles like crap...they have a mind of there own...I found that out the hard way

A RUSSH

I wouldn't recommend it if you can avoid it.

4 snowtires on narrow steelies and gentle skillfull driving will help but the salt is going kill the car unless you oil spray it and wash it often. Big businesses up here in salt land.
Even then unless you coat everything, you still are risking
rust. I pressure washed the car at least once a day
everyday during winter.

I drove my 90 IROC as a daily driver for 6 Canadian winters oil spraying it 7 times and I'm still cleaning up the oil spray residue 9 years later.
I changed out the 4 tires every 2nd year to cope with the snow (they were pretty much toast after 2 summers and a winter anyway) LOL.

firebirdjosh

iTrader: (1)

No way. If you spin your front tires on a FWD vehicle you lose all traction and therefore all steering. RWD with good tires is far better.

A RUSSH

I disagree. Pulling is away better then pushing in snow.

Spinning front will pull car left or right sometimes but stop gas and you have immeadiate steering again.

Rear drive spinning will slew rear left or right with posi.
Stop gas and rear will continue to slide without steering correction as well.
For inexperienced drivers front drive better in low traction
situations.

rwdtech

indeed

Dizturbed One

My car was downright scary in the rain. So little traction I could spin into 3rd gear, and I have a 6 banger. I had some pretty decent looking BFG's on the car.

Then I went and got some new all-weather performance tires (it's the daily driver) and wow. Whole different car. It's great in the rain now, never had a problem in snow either.

BUT

If I lived somewhere where they salted the roads... I would never drive my car during the winter. I don't have a speck of rust, and I don't want none. I don't want to have to bust my ***** again trying to find another 92 with T-tops and a good body. If I ever visit the snow in my car, I always pressure wash the undercarriage when I get home.

Dizturbed One

and you guys are right, FWD is way better in the snow

i'd probably by a $500 FWD beater if I lived anywhere where the winters were harsh.

A RUSSH

Whatcha gotta realize about living in a place where it snows is that it costs to store the good ride (still need insurance, plates etc.) and then you need to acquire a reliable winter beater plus insurance, plates etc.

I for one didn't have the $$ back then to both but I still wanted the IROC sooo you drive it and do what you can to minimize the damage.

MaineIrocer86

living in snow county definetly sucks becasue it kills your car..even worse trying to find a camaro with no rust is next to impossible...unless u want to pay $$ for it.....

Vaneat-91RS

My 91 RS is my daily driver. I live in WA where it rains just a little. Never had a problem in the wet. All season goodyear performance tires all I have used for the last 4 years (yes, I got 4 years out of a set of tires). Good drivers know how to drive appropriately in different conditions. If you drive the same in the rain or snow as on the dry, then absolutely you will break the tires loose in inclement weather. They are a sports car after all. I don't drive too much in the snow, but have made a couple hairy trips (both of a couple hours in length) with just all seasons without problems. A light foot and taking your time work wonders. Give yourself lots of room around the car, and plan what your going to do before you get there. I'm usually more concerned about the other whiteknucklers out there than myself.

Firebat

iTrader: (7)

A manual isn't too bad, just push in the clutch and you're in neutral and you just have way more control. An auto seems like its more tricky and it takes more reaction time to move to neutral. No way I'd want to drive an auto in winter, no matter what kind of vehicle it is.

Al Hasse

My 92 RS is also a daily driver and its taken a couple of scary trips also. I usually do pretty well being careful and watchig out for the other drivers. I normally carry a set of chains for the winter, but rarely put them on the car. I learned to drive in the Midwest (Michigan) and did well with all-season radials on the car. To me, it seems more difficult to drive here in Western Washington when it snows (which is rare) than in the Midwest. Since the winters don't get as cold, the snow doesn't pack, it just turns to slush as you drive over it, then you lose most of your traction. I had no trouble driving over packed snow when I lived in Michigan using all-season radials (prior to my 3rd gen days).

Vaneat-91RS

Al, I'm trying 4 winter only tires this years (studless) to see if that helps a bit. WA snow is bad cause it isn't cold enough so it often has a sheet of water on top--very nasty stuff.

Al Hasse

Vaneat, I tried a set of 4 studless winter tires (I don't believe in studded tires) last season, but wasn't satisfied with them. Perhaps it was the tire, a supposed "performance snow tire" from Michelin (Arctic Alpin). Maybe good for snow, but not the wet stuff. They routinely broke traction, especially on inclines, from stop signs & lights (even with my V6). I ended up selling the tires with the wheels they were mounted on. Good luck with the tire you choose.

thebandit92

Living in England its winter most of the year although we don't really get much snow but i have never had too much problem on wet or snow but lets face it f bodies and american cars in general just don,t handle well anyway wet or dry.

Rebel 92 F-bird

Ummm............WHAT? I think they handle great myself, although I do not have a stock suspension.

MaineIrocer86

if your going to drive in the winter...definitely at least get a good set of studded snow tires.

SpeedMetalT/A

Last winter I had been driving a 88 camaro sport coupe and it was horrible in the snow. I was over at this girls house and I didnt even know it had snowed until I went outside and there was a few inches of snow on the ground and the car had no traction at all.I could actually feel that the tires were not grabbing anything as I drove home,but as long as you stay off the gas going up hills and into turns you'll be good.

SpeedMetalT/A

My car has a stock suspension and it out handles many other cars.I know people who drive imports and have after market suspension parts in there cars and still can't stay with me through turns.I wasnt quite sure what Rebel 92 F-bird was talking about either.

subliminal

iTrader: (1)

Actually youre wrong, F bodies are one of the best handling production cars you can buy atleast on dry pavement. And Ive also heard from alot of people third gens handle even better than 4th gens. If you want a car that handles good in snow and rain go buy FWD honda.

92purplehaze

iTrader: (8)

ahh.. good old southern california where the cars are rust free and the roads are dry (most of the time)

MetalliCamaroRS

iTrader: (15)

Not really appearance and detailing related to begin with, but now it's turning into winter driving stories, etc.


Questions or comments, PM me. Thanks.