I am looking for some feedback and advice on whether this car will be suitable for this type of weather. Should I plan on a 8 month driving year? or will this car be able to "handle" the winter season that Toronto has to offer? Your comments are appreciated.

 

This will be my first winter so I can't give you personal feedback but judging from comments from xviper and a few other Calgarians they seem to survive the winter

Winter in Vancouver isn't as bad but we do have a lot of tall hills and mountains. I'll let you know how it goes in March. If I end up driving an 03 well you know how it went

 

I live in montreal and i will never use my s2000 in winter... But last winter was kind of cold with almost no snow so we never know. But i think im gonna rent a car for the winter since snow+ salt+ sand = not good for the paint...

I wish i was in florida to drive my baby all the year...

 

You knew I couldn't resist replying to this thread, didn't ya? I have gone through 2 winters now with this car. I have a hardtop but my first winter I went with just the soft top and brushing the snow off the car scratched my plastic window pretty bad but it all buffed out very nicely. I do NOT have any extra rust proofing on the car. This, along with pretty much all modern cars, come with very impressive rust protection right from the factory. The under side of my car look no worse that ones I've seen that have only been driven in rain. I DO however, have the 3M film protection on most of the forward facing painted surfaces. As long as you put a good protective shine, be it a good wax or a product like "Zaino", the paint can withstand the harsh road grime amazingly well. After 2 winters, my car cleans up each spring like new. You will also need a block heater on those sub-zero days when the car has been parked outside for hours. Dedicated snow tires are a MUST. I have a separate set of after market wheels with Goodrich Winter Slaloms on the front and Blizzaks on the back, both types in stock sizes. Even if you don't get significant snow, it is not just for snow that you would get snow tires. When the temperature takes a nose dive, the OEM S02s simply are too hard to grip the pavement and be safe. You could probably get by but you would have to drive very caustiously.
You are lucky in that you have only 4 months in which you need to consider parking the car. If I didn't drive mine in winter, it would be parked for 6 months some years. What a waste!
A word of caution: If you have only ever driven FWD in winter, this car takes a bit of getting used to. Even with snow tires, the back end can get very "tail happy" if you don't exercise care and the sufficient instinctive corrections as "counter measures" to impending skids. These winter RWD driving skills must be learned to the point where you no longer need to "think" about them.
Here are some pics:
In winter's full glory...............


When it gets bad, it gets really bad....................


But it all cleans up nicely with a little help from Zaino...............

 

I am looking forward to skating around this winter with xviper and woodson. Calgary's winter is a big pain, and I don't think i can go 7+ months with the S sitting in the garage.

 

they're fun in snow

 

The car pulls MUCH STRONGER when it's sucking on below freezing air temps. Great fun.

 

RWD + snow = fun.
BUT, get the 3M, snow tires, and windshield insurance.