Hello Everyone! I am soon to be the proud owner of a slightly used Crossfire. But I'm having trouble making up my mind about which car to get, and if I should keep my old car as a winter beater.

I'm curious what other SRT owners in the north east do in the winter. I live between Cleveland, OH and Pittsburgh, PA, and the winters here can get a bit dicey. I've always driven sporty cars year round, but some are much worse than others. My old Mustang almost killed me, but my Stealth was never a problem.

So, do any of you northern SRT owners drive your cars in the snow? Is the traction control enough to make it manageable? Or should I keep my old car as a winter car, so I don't die on my 27 mile drive to work?

Or if I'm planning to drive it in the snow, should I just get the Limited with a manual tranny for better control?

Thanks for your experience,
Tom

 

I drive my beater in the snow. The SRT6 is a rare car and I value it too much to drive it in the snow. Keep the beater.

 

I am from West Virginia, but now live in Michigan. Personally, I would not drive a Crossfire in the winter if at all possible.
If you must, you should probably get a winter wheel/tire setup (most likely 18" wheels w/snow tires all around, just be careful about brake clearance as the SRT6 has huge brakes).
These cars are VERY low and have huge wheels (as I'm sure you've noticed). I don't think a Limited w/a manual trans is going to do much better in inclement weather than a SRT6.
If you can have a 'winter beater' of sorts, I would recommend keeping it. Others though, drive their Crossfires all year round.

Good luck.

 

Anyone with winter tires/wheels want to chime in?

 

i am in the same general (between Cleveland and Pittsburgh) area and i won't be driving the SRT at all past November 1st. i have two Jeeps that i will go stormtroopin' in until April 1st.

my dad drove the SRT last winter and didn't have much trouble, but he lives in Toledo and doesn't get near as much snow as we do here. he did mention a little lack of traction with the Pilot Sports in the ice but he managed not to destroy the car over the winter.

 

I drove my '04 coupe year round here in southern Indiana, the car had Conti - all seasons on it and it didn't do to bad in the snow. But the SRT stay's in the garage all winter long, too rare of a bird to take a chance of stacking it up.

 

My car was driven in the snow (Chrysler corporate lease car) and it's taken me months to get it back to near-new condition. Keep your beater, or you can get a different beater for about $2,000 - $2,500 bucks. Well worth it in the long run! I drive my beater truck as a daily driver and winter car. DON'T DO IT!!

 

Thanks guys!!

Well, I did it. I purchased a brand spanking new 2005 black SRT-6 yesterday. What a blast!

I also decided to keep my old car as a winter beater. In fact, I have to go back to the dealership Saturday and get my old car. I left it there and drove the SRT home. I've got a permanent ear-to-ear grin on my face now.

 

Good thinkin'. Hope you enjoy.

 

I drove mine all last winter without any problems. I am now looking for a beater for this winter, not because of my driving but all the a******* I encounter out on the roads.

Melspank
srt-6

 

Tom2112, congrats on you SRT6 purchase, and on your winter beater decision.
You have to contend with "Lake Effect" snow in your area so I wouldn't even dream of taking my XF out in winter if I were you.
If you have no problem "hangin" with a couple of "lesser" examples of the breed, I'm sure RickZ and I would enjoy meeting up with you at Quaker Steak and Lube sometime. Maybe we can even get Fritzauf to swing by.
I think our cars would be a welcome addition to one of their weekly car shows. (Do you happen to know what nights are best)?

Mike

 

Mike, I don't know when they do their car cruises. I'll have to ask around. But I'm always up for a night at the Lube for some wings and beverages. Where are RickZ and Fritzauf from?