Poll: Drive your MM in winter or store it? [Archive]

BillyGman

11-07-2004, 05:46 PM

Bluerauder

11-07-2004, 05:50 PM

Evidently I'm not the only one parking my MM for the winter. How many of you in the road salt areas are parking yours?
I drive mine year round ... but VDOT gets the roads cleared pretty well and fast. If not, I just take the day off to play and shovel snow.

Paul T. Casey

11-07-2004, 05:55 PM

Although I try not to, I end up out in the salt a few times a year. I am lucky in the fact that I get to Alabama each year in mid- January, and try not to return until spring. However, if the snow is flying, and I'm at home, I leave the Marauder. I made the mistake of trying to drive it in a storm once. Nearest description I can give is place one of those 3 wheeled furniture casters under each tire. Now, try to drive. At any rate, if the roads are wet, I usually end up at the car wash several times a week. I fork over the extra 2 bucks for the undercarriage wash, and if the owner is there, I bribe him to run it twice.

Bradley G

11-07-2004, 05:58 PM

I try an drive her everyday I'm on the right side of the sod!;) salt washes off!! It's effectiveness is nil in the cold.

jgc61sr2002

11-07-2004, 06:05 PM

My Marauder is stored in the garage. :D It's never out in snow.

BillyGman

11-07-2004, 06:05 PM

. I made the mistake of trying to drive it in a storm once. Nearest description I can give is place one of those 3 wheeled furniture casters under each tire. Now, try to drive.Yep, that's how it was for me to when I drove in last year's first snowstorm w/the factory tires on. The car was terrible in just 2' of snow just as suspected it would be. But I remember that on the very next day we got some ore of the white stuff, and in the middle of that snowstorm I mounted the four snowtires and wheels that I had purchased, and it was such a drastic improvement that I actually went looking for the biggest hills I can find!!! At any rate, if the roads are wet, I usually end up at the car wash several times a week. That's what's very challenging for me to avoid. The automatic carwashes in the winter time. It's difficult to wash it by hand when the water is freezing to the car before you can dry it off. And there aren't any heated self-serve bays around where I live to wash it at. I've just learned of a one of those "touchless" automatic carwashes that's only a 20 minute ride for me, so I think I'll be going there this winter to avoid having the paint scratched.

jgc61sr2002

11-07-2004, 06:38 PM

That's what's very challenging for me to avoid. The automatic carwashes in the winter time. It's difficult to wash it by hand when the water is freezing to the car before you can dry it off. And there aren't any heated self-serve bays around where I live to wash it at. I've just learned of a one of those "touchless" automatic carwashes that's only a 20 minute ride for me, so I think I'll be going there this winter to avoid having the paint scratched.

The lazer carwashes are the best. :up:

MERCMAN

11-07-2004, 07:13 PM

NEVER drive it in an inclement weather. Mine has only been in rain one time, and that was MV2. I think they might have medication for this, but I am a natural man, no plugs, no rugs, no drugs :lol:

MarauderMark

11-07-2004, 07:16 PM

It is our everyday cruiser i have not choice unlees theres snow then forget it.i'll find something else to use ..

Krytin

11-07-2004, 07:20 PM

If I could afford to park it and drive something else when the weather turns nasty, I most certainly would! Then again, I do like driving it! Mines a daily driver - the worst storms to hit Long Island (at least during the last two years) haven't been able to keep me home or keep me from getting home, and I only use the stock tires!

Seneca

11-07-2004, 07:26 PM

I'll be driving mine all winter.. Ya know something bad .. My g/f lives upstate NY I wanna go up there for x/mas.. Maybe i'll catch a flight.. My Marauders my only car.. Other then that I have a harley softtail.. not much on snow though.. LOL!.. ;)

beemer

11-07-2004, 07:30 PM

No snow or salt for my Marauder. Used Taurus/Sables are cheap and plentiful and make excellent daily drivers........plus the added advantage of front wheel drive during the winter months. In the close to two years I've owned my Marauder, it has only seen rain twice, both times during the annual CVN STAP trip.

It takes some serious willpower on my part to treat her as I do as she is such fun to drive.....so now when she does get taken out it's a real treat.

I have always been very anal retentive about rusty cars.

Best,

Paul :D

BillyGman

11-07-2004, 07:36 PM

yep, my Marauder is now my only car also since I sold my 73 Vette to get the $$ for the Supercharger. I figured that I can have two cars that were both in the 13 second bracket, ot one car that was well into the 12 second bracket. So I decided on the latter, and the rest is history.:D

Driving in the snow w/the factory stock tires didn't prevent me from getting home the one time that I did last year, but it was a royal pain in the behind as far as I'm concerned. Having a challenging experience is one thing when I'm out joy riding, but having such a challenge while driving back and forth to work in the daily weekday traffic while the white stuff is coming down is another story. I didn't appreciate having to hear motorists in line at a traffic light behind me laying on their horns because my Marauder took so long just to get moving once the light turned green!!! The snow tires put an end to that, and also got me up any hill that I needed to get the car up w/out having to take alternate routes which were longer just to avoid the bigger hills which is what i had to do w/the factory stock tires.

Zim Hosein

11-07-2004, 07:37 PM

It's the daily driver so it'll see use year round, but unless it's an emergency, the car will avoid the snow and salt :)

bigslim

11-07-2004, 07:43 PM

As mercman said, I try not to even drive it in the rain. I check the weather everyday before I drive it. Since I have this one it has never seen rain. I have not had to do a wash on it yet.

BillyGman

11-07-2004, 07:58 PM

I check the weather everyday before I drive it. Since I have this one it has never seen rain. I have not had to do a wash on it yet.Uhmm, you haven't washed it yet? How many miles do you have on it? I think it's really cool if you don't have to drive it in the winter like I do mine, but I'm surprised you haven't washed it yet. :confused: You must not drive it a whole lot.

stevengerard

11-07-2004, 08:10 PM

Evidently I'm not the only one parking my MM for the winter. How many of you in the road salt areas are parking yours?

Super Charged DOUGHNUTS in the winter - can't wait.!

Deebar

11-07-2004, 08:20 PM

Snow and salt-NO WAY!! Got rained on once :depress: Needless to say, the black queen will be wintering in my garage.

Joe Walsh

11-07-2004, 08:31 PM

Bought mine in December '02 and ONE week later drove home from Philly (Xmas at my sister's house) right after a sleet/snow storm. Salt was everywhere! When I got under the car to clean it up really well in the spring all the zinc chromate fittings (power steering hose ends, etc.) were toast! That's the last time I drove my MM on salty roads.

Ken

11-07-2004, 08:36 PM

Just wipe the dust off.

I suspect that mine will be parked shortly, has been the past two years. Until this spring, mine only saw rain on trips.

Ken

BillyGman

11-07-2004, 08:37 PM

Super Charged DOUGHNUTS in the winter - can't wait.!
Now that's what I'm talkin' about!! :2thumbs: :banana2: :banana2:

BillyGman

11-07-2004, 08:41 PM

Just wipe the dust off.

KenYep, that California duster does work great. I have one too. But maybe it also has to do w/the fact that Slim's current Marauder isn't Black. All is I know is that having a Black Marauder, and driving it daily, requires more than a california duster for me, even if it doesn't rain. But anyway, to my surprise it looks like there's actually more people that have participated in this poll who drive their marauders in the snow than those who don't. But it's early yet in the life of this poll.

2003DOHC

11-07-2004, 08:58 PM

These are excellent for removing dust.

www.kozak.com

bigslim

11-07-2004, 09:13 PM

Yep, that California duster does work great. I have one too. But maybe it also has to do w/the fact that Slim's current Marauder isn't Black. All is I know is that having a Black Marauder, and driving it daily, requires more than a california duster for me, even if it doesn't rain. But anyway, to my surprise it looks like there's actually more people that have participated in this poll who drive their marauders in the snow than those who don't. But it's early yet in the life of this poll.
When I had the black one I still used the duster. As long as you keep a good coat of wax on it it works wonders. I dust it off, then use a soft damp towel to wipe it.

bigslim

11-07-2004, 09:15 PM

Uhmm, you haven't washed it yet? How many miles do you have on it? I think it's really cool if you don't have to drive it in the winter like I do mine, but I'm surprised you haven't washed it yet. :confused: You must not drive it a whole lot.
The most I have to do is get a bucket of clear water and wipe it down. I try not to use soap on it unless it is really nessesary.

BillyGman

11-07-2004, 09:38 PM

I try not to use soap unless it is really nessesary.
Unfortunately there's a guy who I work with who can probably say the same thing about his bathing habits!!! :shake: But that's another story.

bigslim

11-07-2004, 10:10 PM

Unfortunately there's a guy who I work with who can probably say the same thing about his bathing habits!!! :shake: But that's another story. :lol: I've worked with a couple of those folks before.

JGaignat

11-07-2004, 10:35 PM

I'll be taking the chrome rims off soon and putting on the winter skins....It's my daily driver. Here in KC, the orange construction barrell capital of the world, we get a couple good snow storms a year in a good winter. I have the most trouble getting in and out of my neighborhood. It will visit the carwash many many times this winter. I also put the good mats in the trunk and bring out my winter Wal-Mart mats.

Bigdogjim

11-07-2004, 10:39 PM

Not my daily driver:)

I have an F-150 and a fleet of E-350's :):):)

I have driven it in the winter if the roads are clear.

After 2 million+ miles of bus driving I figure I don't need to prove anything about winter driving to anyone:)

My Marauder is not garaged but, I have some "top secret" wax I'll share after the test are over.

MARAUDER S/C #5

11-08-2004, 05:43 AM

Park/store! :cool:

jonroe

11-08-2004, 05:54 AM

I have no choice. The MM is my daily driver but USUALLY the weather here in Northern VA isn't too bad with not too many episodes a year. I will be working car washes and my cold hands as much as possible. My pristine 93 TBird SC gets the garage and is never driven in rain, snow, or cold!

When I had a new car in Minnesota (yikes) in 1982 I remember washing it by hand in the driveway in November in 17 degree weather with buckets of hot water. I could barely dry it off before the water froze. Needless to say, I moved!

Jon

ADE 1000

11-08-2004, 07:02 AM

The Marauder is my winter car. And with snow tires this year, hopefully it will serve its purpose well.

Ideally, I would like to buy a beater and keep the Marauder out of the salt. Perhaps next year.

TechHeavy

11-08-2004, 07:35 AM

When I had the black one I still used the duster. As long as you keep a good coat of wax on it it works wonders. I dust it off, then use a soft damp towel to wipe it.
I do the exact same thing with my black one Bigslim! I've only had to wash it once, (though I've only had it a couple months). I don't drive it in the rain, (they rib me at work about it, saying, "Well, It's gonna rain tonight... Dave drove his pick-up"). I watch the forecast every morning...
I'm certainly not going to drive it in the winter! I kept my '94 GMC pick-up for that very purpose. The MM will stay in the garage, covered till late spring, (when I'm sure all the salt is washed away). I'm deathly afraid of the salt. Living in Michigan, (and I know you Northeast guys know what I'm talking about) I see the effects of salt on cars every day. It's horrific! I'm planning on keeping my MM a long time! No way am I getting salt on it.
Question:
You guys driving in the snow... are you getting your MMs Zeibart rust protected? Undercarriage too?? Just curious... If you're not, maybe you should consider it.

Lou

11-08-2004, 08:28 AM

My 04MM is my dailey driver so I don't have much choice other than stay home or drive it on Chicago's salted streets. I bought mine in May so I havn't driven it in snow yet. I can hardly wait..................:help:

Dr Caleb

11-08-2004, 09:28 AM

I parked the Marauder and CV last year, as I had a company truck to abuse.

It snowed a couple weeks ago, and I've been driving the CV. Saturday, I went to start her, and it wouldn't !!!! Replaced all sorts of stuff (had to drive the MM to get parts). Got her started, but she wouldn't stay running!! So I was going to drive the MM today, but highway travel wasn't advised so I used my sisters Focus cause she has the day off.

If the CV is is too bad shape to fix, I'll sell her for scrap and buy winter rims/tires for the MM and drive her this winter. I really hate to, but I might have no choice.

MN6

11-08-2004, 09:46 AM

I was fortunate enough to find some last minute storage space for the MM - She is packed away for the winter, even has a 99 Vette as company. Now if I can sell my 330 hp 2 Stroke Snowmobile Race Engine, Dennis will be getting a call for SC/Trans Upgrade. :D

ncmm

11-08-2004, 10:44 AM

Evidently I'm not the only one parking my MM for the winter. How many of you in the road salt areas are parking yours?
:confused: hmmmm. . .let's see. . .my MM or my Bullitt Mustang. . .:depress:

I think the Bullitt stays indoors unless the roads are passable.:burnout:

Mike Poore

11-08-2004, 10:52 AM

If the CV is is too bad shape to fix, I'll sell her for scrap and buy winter rims/tires for the MM and drive her this winter. I really hate to, but I might have no choice.
Checked the fuel filter? :twocents:

GarageMahal

11-08-2004, 11:47 AM

I drive my MM with snow tires all winter long and love it. However I do take the plow truck to work anytime we get more than 4" of snow overnight.

The truck is not as much fun to drive but I figure I don't have to worry about anyone hitting me. Although they might leave a clean spot I would have to cover up.

jta

jfclancy

11-08-2004, 12:01 PM

Evidently I'm not the only one parking my MM for the winter. How many of you in the road salt areas are parking yours?

Well here in NORTH Texas, as far as I know they use sand, not salt. SO far I drive mine everyday but with almost 30,000 on it , it has not seen any snow yet. MOVE SOUTH !

Joe CLancy :beer: :beer:

O's Fan Rich

11-08-2004, 12:05 PM

so, This year it will not see the crappy roads!!

Dr Caleb

11-08-2004, 12:12 PM

Checked the fuel filter? :twocents:

I haven't actually checked it, because the car is in the middle of a puddle at the end of my parking spot.

I know I had bad battery terminals, so that's what I replaced first. Then the starter relay. That's when she started. I let her warm up, no problem. Then started her again a couple hours later, and she wouldn't stay running, and refused to even crank after that. :mad2:

I'll have her taken to a garage on the weekend, after payday. I think the starter (although I replaced it less than 50,000km ago), or the fuel filter. Can't be the pump, cause I hear it running just fine . . .

Supposed to be nice and warm today, so I should be able to drive the MM tomorrow (with the stock tires).

But thanks for the :twocents:! Advice is always welcome!

Cobra25

11-08-2004, 12:23 PM

I'll be driving mine this winter!

BillyGman

11-08-2004, 12:26 PM

I'll be driving mine this winter!
LOL. :D well maybe this poll has become just a bit skewed now.

MSR7878

11-08-2004, 12:40 PM

120 miles round trip everyday, snow, sleet, rain, doesn't matter. (on OEM wheels and tires) No significant problems last year. Even drove to Rapid City SD from Hartford in January of this year and returned via Omaha for a total of over 3000 miles, with 1200 of them in at least 12" of snow.

rayjay

11-08-2004, 05:51 PM

Mines a daily driver, can't justify parking her with that big payment. Here they use a combo of salt/sand. The sand actually does more damage than the salt. I bought the appearance protection package. Hopefully that will keep the MM looking good. After 4 years of winters here, the paint started falling off my Focus. Thats why it went bye bye a year early. The speed parts I could easily remove were sold to pay for my MM winter wheel/tires.

QWK SVT

11-08-2004, 06:17 PM

My MM is my daily driver. Having said that, I have someone else to commute with, so their Windstar will see a lot of winter duty, while my car sits in the garage, keeping the Lightning company...

I still plan to get winter tires, for the odd occasion, where I may have to venture out in the snow.

QWK SVT

11-08-2004, 06:19 PM

Unfortunately there's a guy who I work with who can probably say the same thing about his bathing habits!!! :shake: But that's another story.
We have one of those, here, too! We call him the weatherman... Only 20% chance of showers:lol:

LNYTUNS

11-08-2004, 06:48 PM

Parked/Covered all winter. With a payment like that I can't see driving it and getting it messed up. Bought it for a collection and it will stay that way. Got a 86 GM for $250 for the Wisconsin winters. And an 88 GM for backup to the 86 in case she needs work or dies. :banana:

2003DOHC

11-08-2004, 07:10 PM

Parked/covered all winter. 2001 Ranger for winter driving. I intend to keep the MM for a very long time and Wisconsin winters will destroy a car in no time!

Black 04

11-08-2004, 08:35 PM

My Marauder does not see any rain and it will be going to sleep for the winter.
I even wipe down the frame and the wheel wells after I take her out. :cool4:

The old Honda will have to deal with the winters.

SeaKingDriver

11-08-2004, 10:43 PM

Gotta drive it in winter to drive it at all in Edmonton. First snow was on September 9th. Fortunately, there's always my 'beater' - an '86 Mercury Grand Marquis in pristine condition (270,000 km on it) to use on the worst days. When the sun shines and the pavement is visible, the MM will come out to play.

Bobby Clobber

11-09-2004, 07:57 AM

Park it , drive the Tercel.It's the other idiots on the road I worry about,I can't imagine some a-hole taking off the side of the MM because they can't drive in bad weather.

I've had 4 CV's in the past that I drove all winter, but I refuse to take that chance with this rig. :bigcry:

GordonB

11-09-2004, 08:44 PM

OK,
You all got me here. I must confess. I have to drive 2 MMs in the soup and the slop. 1 will have a full set of Snow Tires. How do I vote TWICE? I voted ONCE so far.
Sorry, cn't drive my Vette in the Snow. Gotta draw the line somewhere!!!
GordonB

HotrodMerc

11-09-2004, 09:35 PM

We get almost zero snow here, and they don't use salt, but probably worse and also of little real benefit, they spread sand, so we can all get sand-blasted vehicles for a few weeks after the 1 or 2 days of snow. But I'm not driving it anyway until get Zaino on it, which i want to do so i can drive it, just too many other irons in the furnace.

jgc61sr2002

11-09-2004, 09:38 PM

DEFYANT

11-09-2004, 10:00 PM

On long Island the spread a mixture of sand and salt. Twice as bad. :(
Iknow all about the piss poor driving on the roads of LINY! Just look at the condition of most of them. I'll be driving the MM up for the holidays and am not looking forward to it, The roads are like the lunar surface!

Anyway, we will be driving the MM in the bad weather when we absolutly must. I will try to use the company car as much as possible.;)

Wags

11-10-2004, 05:33 AM

This will be my 3rd winter driving the Marauder. With the snows on, I've had no problems in the snow. I change them out 1st snow, and leave them on until April.

Wags

Mike Poore

11-10-2004, 05:53 AM

FiveO

11-10-2004, 06:08 AM

Mines being stored for the winter.

Being put away this Sunday.

:(

Oh well....save on some miles!

jaywish

11-10-2004, 03:05 PM

I'll put a different set of rims with snows on the Marauder, park her in the garage and hope the wagon doesn't break down in bad weather.

Also, if business demands a nice car the Marauder will have to venture out. The Wagon just doesn't impress many people.

Also you have to watch those car washes. They charge an extra buck or $2 to wash the bottom. You have to get down on the ground and check. Just because the light goes on and says "bottom being washed" doesn't mean they actually wash the bottom. 3 times the local wash on Saw Mill River Rd didn't wash the bottom. Always had some excuse that the system had just broken down. Had to demand a refund for the extra cash each time. After the 3rd time I never went back. I learn slow, but I learn.

Jay

Mike Poore

11-10-2004, 03:35 PM

Also you have to watch those car washes. They charge an extra buck or $2 to wash the bottom. Jay
I was once told they re-cycle some of the water in those wash things, which means to me, there's a high calcium/salt content in the "clean" rinse water. Isn't that sh** going to get forced into areas in your undercarriage that salt spray would normally NOT go?:eek:

Slowpoke

11-10-2004, 03:45 PM

I am way too lazy to actually read all the responses in this thread, but I 'voted' for driving on roads. Some people drive in the winter but don't get snow - that shoulda been a choice!

I've had the MM for 2 winters and although I do not put on a lot of miles in the winter (or summer or spring for that matter) it does seem to handle just fine. Of course, I am a seasoned Chicago driver and know how to drive.

423REED

11-10-2004, 03:57 PM

This sounds like an intersting poll. I'm sure that most people here will NOT be driving their Marauders in the winter IF they live in one of the northern parts of the country that gets significant snowfall. I'm one of those who does drive the Marauder in the snow, and it will be interesting to see how many other people will be also. I know there has to be atleast 20 or 21 Marauder owners on this board who drive them in the snow, since that's how many jumped in on that snowtire and wheel package group buy last year.
This will be my first winter with my 2004 Marauder. I hope the ABS brakes, traction control and the traction-lok axle help. But I'm still a little apprehensive. It's the first time I've driven a RWD car in the winter since I made the mistake (twice) of driving my old 1987 Mustang GT convertible in the snow with the dam Gatorback tires and no ABS brakes!!!!! That was a horrible nightmare. But seriously, I've been driving RWD and FWD cars since 1965, and in a lot worse winters then we get in Chicago lately. My wife has the SHO with the FWD/ABS. She drives very moderately and safely. My Marauder has to be a daily driver, but The "L" shaped Condo building I live in has underground parking with a car wash rack at each end. Nirvana!
_________________________
2004 MARAUDER 300A - DTR
1994 TAURUS SHO - DK GREEN

dwasson

11-11-2004, 11:05 PM

My car will be gong into the garage next week. I use a Car Capsule (http://www.carcapsule.com/) to protect it even in the garage. Here's a picture of my car in the bubble.

BillyGman

11-12-2004, 12:00 AM

My car will be gong into the garage next week. I use a Car Capsule (http://www.carcapsule.com/) to protect it even in the garage. Here's a picture of my car in the bubble.
Is that for real? I've never seen anything like that. Must be pretty good for the car, as long is kept inside out of the moisture, uh?

dwasson

11-12-2004, 07:34 AM

Is that for real? I've never seen anything like that. Must be pretty good for the car, as long is kept inside out of the moisture, uh?

It's pretty cool. There is a fan that keeps it inflated and a filter over the fan intake that keeps the dust out. There is also an optional battery charger. I left my windows open and after 4 months put away in the Car Capsule the car drove off with no musty smell and as clean as it was when I parked it. I like it a lot.