would you drive your car in the winter?

 

Yes.

 

I drove my old FD through 2 winters and wish I never did. In my experience more stuff broke over the winter. I did the right thing this winter and bought a $700 AWD beater.

 

I drove my 87 t2 last winter, and it wasn't worth it. *** end is all over the place, you get salt creating rust. This year around, i've boughten myself a 97 sunfire 5spd, that I like to call my beater.

 

simple answer is yes - as long as you remember it's winter and make the appropriate adjustments to your driving. be extra careful (and mindful of others around you) and there shouldn't be any MORE of a problem than your driving anything short of Audi or Subaru or ... [insert your AWD car of choice here]. you'll have to judge your own discipline, experience and judgment to make the call for yourself though.

i used to drive my Rx-7 in the winters - EVERY winter - and it did just fine. my MR2 Turbo was a tad more tricky, but i suspect if i had equipped it with dedicated winter tires, things may have been better.

 

Hell yeah I'll drive my '05 Ford Explorer AWD in the winter, but not my '83 RX7

 

Yes I will, as long as the roads aren't salty or snow covered...... Although I did get caught in snow last week on the way home from work:


The roads were only lightly snow covered. My FD did just fine. Just have to be smart and drive a bit slower! Having said that I won't take it out of the garage if it is already snowing, why risk it if you don't have to? That is why I have my '97 Honda Civic.

 

I know I wouldn't

 

If you do decide to use your car in the winter, there are some simple ways to get it to perform in the snow.
1. If you can't afford snow tires, deflating your existing tires by a few lbs. can give more traction.
2. Sandbags, or some other type of weight in the rear also helps with traction.
Most importantly give yourself some practice sessions before taking on the hills.

 

I would not if unless you have to. If you have any other transpotation use it. My opinion anyway.

 

DSM?

Anyways

I NEVER subject my rx-7's to winter. Why would I?

DSM's are cheap, plentiful, decent on gas and all wheel drive. The heaters work great and they're tough enough to smash through snowbanks without worrying too much about the consequences.

 

I do not. I also have only summer tires for my FD so I'd need a change in tires to just have a chance.

It's annoying though my inspection always comes due in February.

 

Just let the inspection go. They changed the law in PA now, so you get a sticker for when the car was inspected. It no longer has to match the registration sticker. So just get the inspection done in April or May.

 

I don't anymore, but have in the past.

A lot of people will tell you that the car is dangerous to drive in the snow, it's uncontrollable, it's stupid to do so, etc. etc. Those people need to learn how to drive. As long as how you drive the car is adjusted for the weather conditions (and this applies to all weather conditions, not just winter) then you will do fine.

However the reason I don't drive any rustable car I care about in the winter is twofold:

1. SALT and RUST! Just a few winters will show you how nasty this stuff is to the underbody. Rust treatments help a lot if done EVERY YEAR but no matter what you do, salt will get into the cracks and between panels and will eat away at the car.

2. Other drivers. Everyone else sucks at driving. It seems they can't handle a little snow and are constantly sliding everywhere and into each other. I don't want them hitting my RX-7.

So I just drive my Insight as a daily driver and exclusively in the winter. It's aluminum, it won't rust.

 

I have a 2nd gen as a year round DD. My 1st gen is garaged during the winter, may occasionally go out on sunny days. Link below will show why. If I owned a 3rd gen, it would be parked in the winter.

My toy. https://www.rx7club.com/build-threads-293/unvieling-12a-bp-widebody-462184/

 

nope, I lucked out and got a 97 impreza. it doesn't look like much now but will be painted and swapped in the spring/summer while I'm enjoying my 7.

 

i'd personally never take an fd out in the snow/salt and crap....

if i actually owned one...

that being said, i don't even take my mx out in the winter...and its not nearly as rare or worth anything. Its just horrible in the snow and i'm keeping it in mint shape...

 

If you must drive an RX-7 in the snow, be aware you will be doing it a disservice. I have driven my FD and FCs in the winter. Just put snow tires on it it at least and be careful. I now drive a beater white (for camoflauge) FC that got totalled and I repaired the damaged areas.I put snow tires on it and it does fine.

 

my ideal set up is a 7 for daily and when winter comes (colorado snow tends to get high) i'll drive an old rusted 4x4 truck like a blazer or something.
they sell for pretty cheap so whats a few bills to save your 7 from any unneeded risks?

although, snow in parking lots does make for some nice low speed drifting with out wear on the tires

 

I drive my FC in the winter. Pittsburgh winters aren't to bad. If it get rough I'll just grab my parents GMC Envoy or Subaru Legacy.

 

i might this winter, i'll just slap some snow tires on it and give it hell.

 

I agree with the idea of, never trust any other driver on the road..... ever. They are all morons. Learn your car, learn yourself, know what to do and when to not. that is what driving sports cars is all about, pushin yourself and your car to the limits. I have lived in Minesota, Washington, and Virginia and um... You can tell who gets more snow. But the choices of wether to drive or not are on you. I have driven my Porsche 944 for years in the snow, will i drive my FC..... hell no.

 

the DD and winterwhip of fury

 

see sig. it's driven every single day.

 

My 7 is in the garage for the winter. I would never drive my beautiful FD in the Canadian winter...NO way!! If you have such a rear and unique car like that, then protect it and treat it like a valuable Monet painting.

People today seem to have little value for nice things. We should all have something in our lives that we cherish.

Cheers