Winter is Coming!

[01Y87]

Anyone here from Wisconsin? Well, I just got a new job up there. Its going to be my first winter in 15 years and the first for the Camaro. For those of you who keep your cars super clean, how do you deal with northern winters? The roads are going to be filthy and salt everywhere and its going to be near zero temperatures probably. My apartment does have a 1-car garage but they have serious restrictions on car "repairing" etc on the grounds. I'd rather not go to the full service car washes because that'll run up serious bucks over time. High Pressure power-sprays aren't too good for the paint or clearcoat, are they?

One thing I was thinking of is taking my bucket to the self-service power spray and using that spray for the rinse....but they have "no hand washing" signs up all over Or, is there some kind of pressure washer that i can buy at home depot or somewhere and keep it in the garage? I wont have any electric outlet though. I do have a front end bra cover which will help keep the front bumper paint in good shape.

[raroZ28]

This is my first year with the camaro as well. However, I'm going to be storing mine. The autowashes WILL run up bucks over time. The wash I work at is $6 for the cheapest wash. Well worth it, but expensive theless.

I run mine through all the time because I don't pay, and I get all polishes, waxes, and underbody, which to me is important in the winter.

There really isn't anything you can do to keep it clean if you don't use an autowash. Either store it, or keep washing it every couple days. It's the only way to keep the underbody clean and free from salt. Also, high pressure isn't bad for the paint... At least I don't think it is. The guns we use are set to 700 PSI I believe.

[Joe K. 99 Zeee!!]

I hand wash mine when I can, but when winter rolls around, you really don't have much of a choice. Since this is my only car it has to stay out in all conditions. I try to run it through a wash about once a week. Make sure it has a nice coat of polish before the weather gets cold. I use Zaino and absolutely love it.

Not all car wash places are equal, so look around. I tend to avoid "touchless" washes and ones with nylon brushes. Don't go for the cheapest places either. I try to use the ones with the cloth pads as long as they change them out regularly. In NJ I'm paying around $7.50 for exterior only. After a salt and snow I get the underbody spray and maybe clear coat protectant before it snows.

It's not as good as handwashing, but it sure as heck is better than nothing!

[01Y87]

Well mine's going to be a daily driver as well. Question for the Zaino Pro's - does the high pressure spray type car washes strip the zaino protection?

When I wash it by hand, I can dry it off afterward with a white towel and the towel is not dirty at all. But I have used those high pressure spray before and when i dry off the towel always picks up dirt. The car is not truly clean.

[Joe K. 99 Zeee!!]

While I can't say for sure that Zaino protection isn't diminished by car washes, I can tell you that the car shines beutifully even after several months.

[PUREPWR]

This winter i will be storing my car. However i keep her out last winter. I did something crazy to wash her. I screwed 2 hoses together and i hooked one up to my kitchen sink and used that water. It worked great. I would recomend it. O yea i would then pull the car into the garage and dry her off.

[SFC AL]

I am going to store mine.. that is why I kept my POS cavalier.. so I wouldn't have to drive the vert in the winter.


AL

[Black97]

Yeah my wife and myself, we both will store our babies for the winter.

The joke of it all is ,that the "winter beater" we use is almost more worth (according to the books) than both of the cars stored, together.

[N20LT4Bird]

I come from the school of thought that a winter rat is always cheaper. If you buy a 500 dollar beater and let it rot away to nothing, its still cheaper than having to deal with restoring your f-body after a few winters take their toll. Theres not much you can do, at least if your in an area that uses salt. The car is going to rust, unless you wash it constantly and then for the cost of the washes, you might as well bought the winter rat and not bother with the worry of wrecking your investment. My $.02

[95z28]

I come from the school of thought that a winter rat is always cheaper. If you buy a 500 dollar beater and let it rot away to nothing, its still cheaper than having to deal with restoring your f-body after a few winters take their toll. Theres not much you can do, at least if your in an area that uses salt. The car is going to rust, unless you wash it constantly and then for the cost of the washes, you might as well bought the winter rat and not bother with the worry of wrecking your investment. My $.02

Also For the price of some snow tires, you can get a car that will make it through the snow

I drove my car last winter, wasnt that bad but i wont do it again . . . Just gota wash it as often as possible (luckily i work at a car wash so it got done atleast 2 times a week ) and i never drove if it was in the act of snowing, just incase.