Fly2High
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2019
- Threads
- 74
- Messages
- 1,216
- Reaction score
- 634
- Location
- Long Island
- First Name
- Frank
- Vehicle(s)
- 2019 Mustang GT PP2
Spartan1,Oh I agree, it can be done, didn't mean to imply it couldn't. I live 5 minutes from Flat Rock, my wife is a Ford employee, so we have a million of these cars around here. People do drive them in the winter, leave them parked in their driveways, etc.
It pains me seeing one covered in snow and plowing through slush, even though you can, why would you want to? You lose all the performance aspects, and the car looks trashed covered in salt and grime. Performance and looks are why we drive them, isn't it?
Anyway, interesting debate, no right or wrong answer.
Could not agree with you more. agree with your comments too.
I agree that it pains me to see my car or any other nice car covered in snow or outside. Just put an order in for a car cover much like I did for my beloved '86 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z. It makes taking the snow off much easier. I will NEVER drive any car or SUV with snow on it. God forbid it comes off and causes an accident. Besides, I think it is illegal to do so, at least by me.
I tend to like endurance or F1. I prefer motorsports that do drive in nearly any condition. For me, being able to eek out the most from whatever you have is fun too. It is not just driving the fastest or taking turns at crazy rates of speed. Some days, it is just being able to drive in poor conditions is enough. There are challenges in snow or bad weather that can be fun too. Best part in winter is that speeds tend to be slower and there is less damage should something go wrong. It is why the BRZ is such a fun car even though it doesn't have the performance of a Mustang.
A coworker and I purchased cars at the same time. He too like speed and handling but went for an M2 Comp. I said, once you get use to all the bells and whistles, all the comfort and plushness, you can never go back. I think the same is true with the Mustang. i think once you experience the performance of today's Mustang, it is hard to drive anything else. Maybe the same is true about poor conditions. Maybe we all want to drive like it is dry and warm out but cannot. Some just don't. Others see and appreciate the challenges in those conditions and make the best of it.
I think some of us LOVE to get the looks of, they are crazy to drive THAT in the snow too!!
Also, I have a squeegee style snow broom that I zip tied a microfiber towel over the blade. no chance that will scratch the paint. I will never use any brush on a car again.
In winter, I use 1 gallon of water and two caps of ONR to wash the car whenever it gets dirty. That is at least once a week. Crazy? YES!! But at least the car is clean in winter. Quick Detailer lives in the trunk with some microfiber towels. Good for immediate removal of bird droppings, spilled coffee, or any other things that people do on other people's car.
What I get at is that even though this is a daily that is parked outside, I think I can speak for all us daily drivers, we still love our car and treat it with as much respect as possible.
Finances are another aspect too.
I have NEVER had the money for a second car so I cannot fathom having that kind of spare cash for a second car just for the winter. I completely respect those who can or grew up in a house where they had a weekend car in the garage. I never did.
I also do not have garage space to park a second car.
With my experiences and finances, I do not have the option to have a second car. I can only do the best with what I have.
This is why it sort of feels like bragging when people say they have all this stuff. It simply isn't possible for all of us. For many who have purchased a Mustang (which we all must be grateful to otherwise we may not have the choice to buy one) it is our only car.
It just sounds like bragging. I would love to have the choice but I do not. Have done the best I can with what I have.
What would all those who have a second car do if they could only afford one car? Can they still only drive it 6-8 months a year? What would you do the rest? Remember you do not have much cash. Taking the train, bus or taxi might not be an option.
On the other side, maybe I will be a little happier knowing that all those guys who have their Mustangs tucked away for the winter cringe and wish they were driving theirs when they see me driving mine all winter long. I am sure it is not just sorrow that you feel for the car but there must be some desire to drive their own too in there..
Just to turn this story around to the other season of hell, what do you guys do in the summer?
For those who do not have a garage but live in hot climates, do you leave it outside and bake in the sun, fade and have all those issues related to high heat and too much sun?
I have a red car than in the sun belt would probably turn pink in a few years from sun exposure. A cover is the best I could do on Long Island.
What do you do to protect it from the summer heat?
You do drive it in the summer? The rubber and black and all those red or dark colors do fade with time.
Is your garage air conditioned or does it sit in the garage like a turkey in an oven baking? A garage can get hot too. Rubber and plastics do not like heat.
Do you not drive it when it is too hot and sunny out too?
Do you have the luck of a parking garage at work to protect it? OOps, sorry. You probably have a second car so you would not be driving it to work anyway. Where do you drive it? Is it ever outside of a garage?
Do you ever park it for any length of time or is it just driven for a little and then put back in its garage?
For those who swap spots in the garage based on the season, does your car live outside in the summer or are you fortunate also with multicar garage as well? That must mean you have a rather good income too. Got a position for me?
What about bird poop? Do you clean it as soon as it happens? Not many birds in winter around here. Then, on the west coast, you have all that pollution which imbeds it into the car. I had a writeup from Meguiars that told me specific things on car care based on location. Smog does ruin paint.
I had a buddy who use to live on Long Beach, NY. The sand use to get blown up onto the streets from the beach. Anyone live by the water? The blowing sand can scratch and etch a paintjob real good. At least sand and salt form winter are only applied and really a problem if and when it snows and when and where I drive it. For me, main roads tend to be clear within 24 hours and there isn't much sand around.
Of course, I can PPF the car or save for a paintjob but use Imron for the paint!. That stuff is aircraft paint and can take a sledgehammer and not chip. Panel will dent before the paint will break/crack.
I guess those who have a garage, extra cash and a spare car are living the good life. I wish, someday to join you.
The only difference might be is that I just might have 2 Mustangs instead of one. One for the daily and the other for the weekend.
Here's to praying.
I am not sure which is worse. Sun or snow. Neither is probably best. What is worse than a car getting old is a car not driven and appreciated. Please drive them long and often. Keep them in good condition.
All we can do is the best with what we have, treat them with as much respect as possible and keep them running for as long as possible. I think we all can agree to that.
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