I drive mine every day. The majority of my drive is interstate and there's a covered garage at work. Only one twisty bit right out of my home running under a freeway and if it's in bad shape I stay home.

In winter I use the wash bay at the nearby car wash as often as possible. I didn't get to clay bar the car before winter set in here so I will likely have that taken care of (along with a good hard wax) when I get mine detailed before my Xmas tour of the South. Anyway, my Osnabrück paint job's held up better than any of my Detroit ones

Watch for stone chips and treat them as soon as you spot them. I've only had a few on the front bumper and hood. Considering how torn up the freeways are in my area, it's a miracle I haven't had a lot more problems. I might break down and get a bra, but when I had one on my Ford Probe GT years ago, I got one hella rusty hood tip.

OTOH I might get an outdoor cover for when I'm parked at home, more to avoid causing damage clearing snow and ice from the car and problems with the rubber door seals. BTW we probably should have all changed them out with fresh rubber by now. A good set of all weather tires are also a must. Watch the tread depth in the rear; if it gets anywhere near low you will experience a lot more wheel slippage in wet or snowy conditions.

 

I agree with you, but if you are referring to the rubber around the top of the window seals, have you had a proper look at how they interconnect? It is a pricey and time consuming process to replace that rubber, I looked into it for aesthetic reasons and decided to wait until I actually needed to do it....

 

If I don't drive its because I'm on my Triumph. So needless to say my crossfire is rolling a set of ContiwinterContacts on 18 inch wheels now. It will be my first winter in this car, and any RWD for that matter, but I think I will be fine. I live close to where I work, and they are very good about clearing the road that I live on. And if it gets REALLY bad I can work from home, and just go in when it clears up.

 

Regarding rust with cars driven in the cold and snow, then stored in a heated garage. In the past twenty years none of the cars that I have stored in a heated garage, after driving in winter weather, have developed rust.

 

The Crossfire is my daily driver. Because of the rear wheel drive it's not as easy to handle as a 4x4, or a front wheel driven car on show, or ice. But if you have good winter tyres and some experience with rear wheel driven cars in winter i don't see any problems.

 

Here in Boston we had a freak snowstorm a few days before Halloween, anywhere from 4-36" depending on where you were. My Xfire was a stinking sled. It was a danger on the road. Next week I'll be putting her in storage and pulling out the ol' Honda Accord for the winter. I want my hot little coupe to last a LONG time, so she's tucking in for the winter.

Good luck with YOUR winters.


-2008 Oyster Gold Metallic Coupe, purchased July 2011

 

Yep every day. Having said that this will be my first winter here in Vancouver, BC, Canada so........

 

I have a winter beater, but I still drive the XF daily unless snow is in the forecast.

 

Crossfire is a daily driver; granted my round trip commute is a mile and half & winters here in VA are nothing like New England or Chicago. we just sold my winter car an 01 Audi A6 wagon - so my wife and I will have to car pool - that aught to be fun - haven't done that in 20 years - wonder if she still loves me enough??? we'll see

 

I broke my no snow rule today. Most of my street has melted and the main roads are clear. It has been two weeks since I have been able to drive the '6 and I couldn't stand it any longer.

 

welcome to the dark side

 

I drove mine to work yesterday, no snow. They have great heaters on them and warm up fast.

 

I am with you, Larry. Sometimes when it is 20 degrees with no snow on the ground, it is more convenient to take the cross b/c the large SUV takes forever to warm up its cavernous interior...

 

Plus there is that fun factor

 

You got it, Molly was driving yesterday and I had her 'get on it' in first and the snow tires left some rubber down, it scared the hell out of her, but I think she liked it

She is getting more used to the stick, my plan is to have her comfortable enough with it to run the Dragon...

 

I drove my 04 every day, but once a year somebody would run into it!

The other drivers' all said the same thing, "I didn't see you." So in 08 I bought a new one, which is red. Then last January I decided that because of the parts supply problems I would save it for later. Now I drive it every other month or so.

I am looking forward to having it as my retirement car.

John