The increasing cold is sending shivers down the spine for most members in the Northern Hemisphere and we wouldn’t just attribute that to the cold. It is nearing the end of driving season and for some the driving season may have already ended. This is the time to jack the car up and crawl under the car pondering the question of what to do over the coming weeks of cold, snow and ice. Some of us will probably just slap on some snow tires and do an oil change before proceeding to drive the car, yet others will dutifully indulge in the ritual of winter storage preparation and then there are those who will park it away, only to bring the car out on the nicer winter days when the snow is scarce and sunshine plentiful. Luckiest though are owners and members who live in sunny climes where winter is a faraway distant cyclical event that affects people in another world.
Whatever the case may be, the time is right to indulge in vehicle maintenance. If you plan on driving the car and live in an area where you will frequently see temperatures drop below zero, it may be best for you to think about a more winter-friendly engine oil. Shin-Etsu grease on all the rubber seals (doors, trunk and hood) to prevent them from cracking as well as coating the CV boots with silicone spray, a nice coat of wax and detail in order to protect the paint from the elements are also par for the course. The most important thing though for those considering driving the car is to check on tire pressure frequently and also ensure they have the right tires for the occasion. The RS-3s and the Star Specs won’t do you any good and it is highly recommended that you invest in a set of dedicated snow tires (they will also come in handy if you decide to ice race or do a winter rally).
For those parking the car until the leaves sprout again, it is recommended that you go through a few more steps before parking the car away for good. Our Vintage S2000 Owners group has a wonderful thread on winter storage tips that is a must-read for everyone who owns an S2000. While performing each and every one of the 29 steps may not really be necessary, one might find it very beneficial to peruse the thread and ferret out the steps they intend to follow. One personal recommendation is to always hook up the battery to a trickle charger so as to ensure your battery lasts longer.
If you plan to drive your car on the nicer days in winter, ensure you check your tires and be doubly sure that you have restored full insurance on the car before you head out. Be sure to gradually bring the car up to speed and be as gentle as possible with all your inputs. It may also be a good idea to find an empty parking lot where you can learn how differently the car responds in inclement weather versus dry conditions or contact your local sanctioning body to see what kind of winter events they have planned.
Do tell us, how many of you have followed these steps to store the S2000 in the past? Do you store the car for the winter or do you find winter to be absolutely perfect to drive top-down like our member laurensdejong? Park or ride, we hope you have fun and enjoy the winter season.
Images courtesy of laurensdejong and Mocky
Related Links:
S2KI – Winter Storage Tips
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on Oct 28th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Luckily the winters are snow free in my city and the daytime highs oftentimes in the 70′sF, perfect for top down driving.
But our summers can kill with the heat of the sun, so daytimes are often top up. Go figure.
on Oct 28th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
I live in Georgia and I drive year-round. Rain, shine, or snow and I’ve driven in it. Surprisingly, I have not experienced any squirrelyness when dealing with the inclement weather, and that even includes a few morning commutes with icy roads.
Although, it would be nice to be in the position to have another car so i could keep the s2000 out of commission during the winter and not even chance it.
on Oct 28th, 2011 at 9:23 pm
a timely article, but up here in canada, mine goes away. I can also recommend a product we have called rust check for those who drive in the salt and winter. Its a oily type spray can that i use on all exposed undersurface bolts and into all body panels that are easily accessed.
almost time for the winter’s hibernation!
darcy
on Oct 31st, 2011 at 6:36 am
i too do think winter is a perfect time to drive with the top down.
on Oct 31st, 2011 at 2:38 pm
I drive mine year round here in PA its tricky to say the least but some days it can be fun. Only regrets are salt
and a high milage s2000 from driving year round!
on Oct 31st, 2011 at 8:43 pm
In my experience (had an AP1 for 5 years, and am going into year two with my ’07 AP2), the S is WAY more fun to drive in the winter than the summer. With a good set of winter tires and VSA off, it’s a blast to fling around, and entirely controllable (well, at least for those who are experienced navigating snow and ice covered roads in a manual RWD vehicle). The heater is so good, even at -30 Celsius the car stays toasty warm at a couple of notches below the maximum setting. Here in Calgary, winter is a six-month ordeal…which is a lot easier to bear DRIVING rather than LOOKING at the S.
on Nov 1st, 2011 at 6:24 am
Like some of the others, I’m a year-round, top down kind of person. Snow? It’s rain that doesn’t get in as quickly and that means the top isn’t necessary. The heater is plenty enough to keep me warm.
on Nov 1st, 2011 at 8:01 pm
A few weeks more and I think it’ll be time to store the S for the winter. This will be my second year storing the car away for the winter; following the guidelines cited worked out well for me, the only differences being that I remove all tires and have the car supported on axle stands. With the battery removed and stored, I simply trickle charge it in the spring…then with one crank of the engine in the spring, I’m good to go! Keeping the top up but unlatched is recommended.
on Nov 3rd, 2011 at 10:42 am
Luckily, I live in Hawaii and the temperature stays at a constant mid 70 degrees throughout the entire year. However, during the winter it begins to rain a lot more so there is a lot less time to drive with the top down. It seems like it would be fun to try and drive with the top down in colder weather. If only it could snow in Hawaii.
on Nov 3rd, 2011 at 11:36 am
Hi, My name is Brian and I’d like to speak with you about your blog, please email me at your earliest convenience.
on Nov 4th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
My God! Those are the smallest snow tires I have ever seen. LOL
on Nov 7th, 2011 at 9:41 am
interesting never considered putting car on all spares. good idea really. i wonder what the handling would be like on those lol
on Nov 7th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
In utah we get many driveable winter days, so I dont full store. I dont drive on wet snow run off days either.
on Nov 7th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
ahhh… Picked up the S in July. Live in Mass and just dealt with a huge storm already.. and dont have a winter beater yet.. what to do.. what to do…
on Nov 8th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Just parked my 2002 where a friend of mine works and brought out my 2001 XC70. They trade about six (6) months each in storage and back on the road. The S2K is stored with spring/fall tires on AP1 rims, 17″ with summer tires in the basement.
on Dec 2nd, 2011 at 4:58 pm
Getting ready to put mine into winter storage this weekend. Thank you so much for publishing the link to the list; that was invaluable! I’ve saved and will definitely use it in future years! I’ve debated keeping her readily available for some winter fun (separation anxiety is hard) but the car is native to Texas and has never seen a real Iowa winter or snow yet so I’ve decided to keep it that way.