Personally I drive my 5.0 right through the winter, even here where we (allegedly) get 100+ inches of snow over the course of the winter.
Winter here doesn't stand a chance against my Blizzaks.
Winter here doesn't stand a chance against my Blizzaks.
PNW LSC
Member
It just gets wet here, so no issues driving, but I still prefer to keep it in the garage unless the weather is clear. I've got other vehicles that are better suited to winter duty anyway.
I put mine away. I can not tell you how much of a difference it makes by not driving it. I set out to buy a used 94-95 coupe earlier this year and I was disgusted by the amount of mustangs that had been driven in the winter and what it had done to them... the term rustang definitely applied. My car is spotless underneath because it stays off of the salt covered roads. I always suggest getting a winter beater over driving the mustang year round if at all possible.
I suspect that if the question were "what would you like to do with your mustang over the winter", that just about everyone who gets snow and/or ice in the winter would have chosen that option. However, for some of us that just simply isn't possible or practical.killercanary said:I always suggest getting a winter beater over driving the mustang year round if at all possible.
Though being as my 95 is a basket case anyways (v6 VIN, inaccurate odometer, spotty past), I don't see any reason to worry greatly about its preservation. I do what I can to keep it running (its been paid off for years now) and just hit the car wash (with under-carriage rinse) anytime I fuel up in the winter when there is salt on the roads.
Besides, I find that the 95 with the fold-down rear seat is a very nice way to carry two guys (including me) with skis and ski equipment in the winter
PNW LSC
Member
I put mine away. I can not tell you how much of a difference it makes by not driving it. I set out to buy a used 94-95 coupe earlier this year and I was disgusted by the amount of mustangs that had been driven in the winter and what it had done to them... the term rustang definitely applied. My car is spotless underneath because it stays off of the salt covered roads. I always suggest getting a winter beater over driving the mustang year round if at all possible.
Luckily our roads don't get salted. However, that's also a reason to not drive the Mustang in winter, it gets too damn slippery.
SoCal is lucky to even get rain. It's been a pleasant 90* this weekend, though the smoke from the fires hasn't helped the air quality.
j_lutter31
Member
on packed snow (ice) I can put the mustang in drive....get out and watch the tires turn...there just isnt enough weight in the back end..
Bosko5.0
Active Member
SoCal is lucky to even get rain. It's been a pleasant 90* this weekend, though the smoke from the fires hasn't helped the air quality.
Pops Fun
10 Year Member
Hi
In the winter it spends a lot of time in the garage.... on nice days I take it out for a spin. This year will be different!! It will be in pieces.....my brother a great painter will have it!!
In the winter it spends a lot of time in the garage.... on nice days I take it out for a spin. This year will be different!! It will be in pieces.....my brother a great painter will have it!!
Husky44
10 Year Member
The vert is hybernating comfortably in it's garage-tent, with the wheels and tires removed (mainly because I haven't bought another set yet, and I need them on the 67), battery removed, block heater plugged in. I'll wake it up in April.
I store it for 3 reasons:
1) I bought it for a summer driver in the first place
2) It's only got seasonal registration, which means I don't have to fool with emissions testing, but it's got to be parked from 1 NOV-31 MAR
3) Snow covered roads+light rearend+Nitto drag radials=not going anwhere anyway.
I am surprised though at the number of stangs, particularly late models, I see driving all year up here. My son parks his 06 for the winter, and has a $3k Exploder that he drives in the winter. You could probably make it go with studs, but that doesn't protect you from all the other knuckleheads with studs, 4x4, and an invincible attitude.
I store it for 3 reasons:
1) I bought it for a summer driver in the first place
2) It's only got seasonal registration, which means I don't have to fool with emissions testing, but it's got to be parked from 1 NOV-31 MAR
3) Snow covered roads+light rearend+Nitto drag radials=not going anwhere anyway.
I am surprised though at the number of stangs, particularly late models, I see driving all year up here. My son parks his 06 for the winter, and has a $3k Exploder that he drives in the winter. You could probably make it go with studs, but that doesn't protect you from all the other knuckleheads with studs, 4x4, and an invincible attitude.
earleys94gt
Active Member
Mine gets put up in September or early November. Its not "officially" up right now b/c have yet to fill it up w/ gas and put the cover over it and take the battery out but I'll be doing that this week.
Driving anything up here in the winter time for an extended period of time is a rust death sentence. They use A LOT of salt on the roads in the winter time. The next day after a big storm after the roads have dried off they have a white haze over them from all the dried on salt.
Driving anything up here in the winter time for an extended period of time is a rust death sentence. They use A LOT of salt on the roads in the winter time. The next day after a big storm after the roads have dried off they have a white haze over them from all the dried on salt.
Zero_chance
Founding Member
This will be the first time out of six mustangs and ten years of driving them that Ive owned another vehicle that is going to be my dedicated winter vehicle. 00 Merc Mountaineer with the 5.0 and full time AWD. Im actually looking forward to snow for a change. I have a car cover for the stang but with two jobs totalling 74 hours a week, I havent even had time to wash it, move it to its hibernation spot and cover it. I need to because it wont be long before the snow starts flying. I had a relatively clean under carriage when I bought it thankfully and to keep it that way, I used Eastwoods Rust Encapsulator to seal the undercarriage and prevent any further rust creep from the occasional nickel and dime sized spots under there.
I drive mine year round, but wash it frequently. Also, I drive my wife to work in her car as often as possible since she works 12 hour shifts at the hospital. That keeps it off the street a few days a week.
BlackVert
15 Year Member
i used to drive mine year round, but the gas mileage is about half what my camry gets, and the seats and paint are so bad and the fact that the radio doesn't work very well make it so that i don't really have much desire to get into it. so it is going to sit this winter.
This thread kicked my butt into gear b/c I officially put the Mustang up for the winter today. The temps are getting very cold and its only a matter of time before it snows and I still needed to fill it up before I put it up for the winter and I did not want to do that after the first snow fall b/c of the salt dumped on the roads. So this afternoon I filled it up, put some stabil in it and pulled the battery out to keep it inside for the winter. So its all tucked away now for the long winter and covered up.
Now its just a long winters wait and then some new mods and track times in 2009
Now its just a long winters wait and then some new mods and track times in 2009
Husky44
10 Year Member
Now its just a long winters wait
You need to find something that makes your winters go by more quickly...It's snowmachine season!!!
Me and my M8 are headed out tomorrow morning for the first ride of the year! Truth be told, the 95 is what holds me through during the long summers wait between snowmachine seasons!
Zero_chance
Founding Member
This thread kicked my butt into gear b/c I officially put the Mustang up for the winter today. The temps are getting very cold and its only a matter of time before it snows and I still needed to fill it up before I put it up for the winter and I did not want to do that after the first snow fall b/c of the salt dumped on the roads. So this afternoon I filled it up, put some stabil in it and pulled the battery out to keep it inside for the winter. So its all tucked away now for the long winter and covered up.
Now its just a long winters wait and then some new mods and track times in 2009
Same here for me. I read the post last night and then got on it today. Swapped from the Saleens back to the stock wheels, pumped up the tire pressure to prevent flat spots, topped off the tank, added Stabil and Seafoam (maybe a little overkill but Seafoam fights off moisture and will clean her out in the spring) pulled the battery, pulled the K+N and stuffed the filter housing with rags to prevent any critters from getting up toward the mass air and building nests. Also stuffed both tail pipes with rags, saw it on several sites that had winter storage tips. Then I threw the new car cover on. Another tip I saw is throwing some of that mouse poison D-Con under the car to rule out any critter activity in the area. Not sure if Im going to though, might be a little bit of overkill. Not to mention the cars kept in a different state....
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