Does anyone else take their E9 out in the snow?
- Thread starter scottevest
- Start date
Yeah keep telling yourself that...
“ITD monitors the weather to determine when to use which applications on our roads to keep them safe. ITD uses anti-icing applications such as liquid salt brine and magnesium chloride before the storm hits to prevent ice from forming. During the storm, ITD plows the roads and applies de-icing solutions such as solid salt to burn through the snow on the road.”
I only take it out once every two weeks or so when the roads have been cleared for several days. My car is meant to be driven and was never intended to stay in the garage. If Rust happens I will take care of it. I cannot take this car to my grave.
The '73 I owned back in the mid to late '70's was my daily driver in NC and PA. winter had Icy roads in NC and snowy roads/salt in PA. Reluctantly sold the car and bought a '73 SL450 (for the same purpose) in about 1980 because the CS had started to rust and have paint bubbles in the front and rear fenders.
The current '74 hasn't 'seen' water since I've owned it, and a de-humidifier in it's primary garage keeps the humidity below 60%. I expect it to have that kind of deprived life as long as I own it!
The current '74 hasn't 'seen' water since I've owned it, and a de-humidifier in it's primary garage keeps the humidity below 60%. I expect it to have that kind of deprived life as long as I own it!
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The climate here is VERY dry, very little humidity which helps. I had the car for over 7 years and drove it lots, but not in the winter since I didn't have snow tires, which i do now, but never shied away from rain or car washes, and it didn't seem to rust much in that time period.
I hope that my last mini restoration buys me another 7-10 years, then I move to a frame off if I can afford to do it, but until then, I hope to drive it and take care of it.
Philippe db
Well-Known Member
I respect my car to much to take these kind of risks.
I wouldn't do it personally. I generally have a vehicle I drive through the winter, and others that I bring out after the chemicals are dissipated through around thanksgiving. But the black car on the white roads do make pretty pictures. Thanks for posting!
I too respect my car, but also love it too much not to use it occasionally. I also respect my body, for the most part, at least in principal, but often do things that feel good in the moment that I shouldn't do. But I get and respect your point.
I looked at several coupes before I found mine. Previous to my ownership, it had lived it's whole life in California and Arizona (previous owner had it in Tucson for 10 years). Except for a small spot on the transmission tunnel (from condensation dripping from the air conditioner), the car had no rust. I want to keep it that way. I haven't washed the car with water in probably ten years.
So no, I would never ever, ever, ever drive it in the snow. Ever!
So no, I would never ever, ever, ever drive it in the snow. Ever!
love! when was that taken? how does the car look now?
I suspect that it is rusted by now... proving the point not to drive in the snow?
Most definitely. That kind of usage guarantees complete restoration with serious rust issues, but with E9’s, a lot less caused rust.
What Vince found as a rust free coupe is one in a ‘million’. The rest, or most were seriously rusted.
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I tried a couple of hundered meters
No salt but maybe some cow pats...
No salt but maybe some cow pats...
I went over the mountains in Colorado in June 2014. Snow on the mountains but not on the roads.
https://e9coupe.com/forum/threads/happy-holidays-at-10000-ft-in-the-rockies.30430/
https://e9coupe.com/forum/threads/happy-holidays-at-10000-ft-in-the-rockies.30430/
Philippe db
Well-Known Member
“Probably the two worst rust buckets of the 70’s” as someone rather unkindly described my cars:
I would never drive them in snow (doesn’t snow here much anyway) or rain, or even on wet roads. I think this is the only way to avoid rust issues.
Yeah lots of people say “they are meant to be driven and not treated as garage queens”..... However I actually enjoy the ‘taking care of them’ part just as much as the driving.
I would never drive them in snow (doesn’t snow here much anyway) or rain, or even on wet roads. I think this is the only way to avoid rust issues.
Yeah lots of people say “they are meant to be driven and not treated as garage queens”..... However I actually enjoy the ‘taking care of them’ part just as much as the driving.
My understanding: the rust started on the open freight cars shipping the shells from Karmann to the factory. Then off loaded and parked out back until needed.
30,000 cars over approx. seven years comes to 4,285 cars a year. Or 82 a week. Even on the antiquated production lines of the 70s that's not many cars. So some shells might have sat for weeks. Others will know better.
Automotive myth? Let the games begin.
PS: Scott, you have a really beautiful coupe. I especially like the clear lenses against the Black. I live in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, one of the few states that does NOT require front license plates. So when I look at your front I am seriously distracted by your MY BABY plate. Perhaps I am spoiled, but in my opinion the front grill formation is a design triumph. Just a thought. And if I am out of line I apologize and please say so. I just could not help my self.
Steve