350Z for winter driving?

[goldtna]

I'm debating getting a 350Z as an all season car. I know most people only drive this thing in the summers, but how realistic is it to consider driving it in the winter?

One of the biggest thing to consider is Ground Clearance:It's hard to find ground clearance spec for 350Z but I found one source saying it is 4.7" but another source says it's 3.5"

I know it depends on the tires you have on there but what is the stock ground clearance?

2nd question is: what is the biggest tire I can practically fit in there to maximize ground clearance?

Anyone with experience driving it in winter?

[R350]

I'm debating getting a 350Z as an all season car. I know most people only drive this thing in the summers, but how realistic is it to consider driving it in the winter?

One of the biggest thing to consider is Ground Clearance:It's hard to find ground clearance spec for 350Z but I found one source saying it is 4.7" but another source says it's 3.5"

I know it depends on the tires you have on there but what is the stock ground clearance?

2nd question is: what is the biggest tire I can practically fit in there to maximize ground clearance?

Anyone with experience driving it in winter?

really bad in the snow.

[andy_fairplay]

Yeah Know all too well about it in the snow IT SUCKS!

The only thing I can say is wash it every week or so so the salt doesn't eat the undercarriage away.

[Isr]

The Z is horrible in the snow... I guess maybe if you get studded tires and such it might be bearable..but in my experience if a snow flake falls 100 miles away it will go sideways up a slight incline

[Mr. Z33]

I must agree that my 350 sucks in the snow!! After getn stuck last year, Im very hesitant to take it out. It sucks not being able to go any where when it snows, but the good thing for me is that here in Tennessee it hardly snows

[BusyBadger]

There seem to be a lot of snow fearing folk here in the Z community. I certainly don't go out looking for crap weather to drive in but I've had gotten caught out in a couple of quick winter storms and my Z actually handled quite well. Good all-season tires, VDC on and ABS made it a fine traveler when the snow was between 2-3 inches, though the roads were in considerably better condition. That being said I'd never recommend a Z as a primary vehicle in an area that gets as much snow on a regular basis as the area you in does, GoldTNA. If you want a car that's similar I'd recommend looking at a G35X.

***Tangent Warning***

Driving in the snow is a confidence & experience thing. I've lived in Boston, Chicago and Germany so I've had plenty of practice with snow and rwd. I find so many people now that seem to think that rwd in the snow equals an instant crash and potential suicide. The prevalence of fwd (and now awd) on the market has allowed people to become more complacent and sloppy in their driving practices. Let's face it kids, if it were really that bad none of us would be here as all of our parents would have died driving rwd cars in winters many years past.

but the good thing for me is that here in Tennessee it hardly snows

Where you live in Tennessee it hardly snows.

[sluggoZ]

Buy the top of the line snow tires.....& take it easy driving!

[Mr. Z33]

Where you live in Tennessee it hardly snows.

True! Unlike you being in the tri-cities area, I hardly see any in the valley

[goldtna]

Thanks for the feedback.

I would definitely get a good set of winter tires. I am not too worried about traction or even RWD control in the winter. Where I am from, there is snow on the ground for 5 months out of the year so I get plenty of snow driving practice.

What I am worried about though is ground clearance. Snow/ice scraping the under carriage or ripping the front lip off or damaging the front bumper would be a big bummer. Anyone with those kinds of bad experiences?