Winterize

Should you drive the 2016 Corvette Stingray in the snow?

No.

Okay…Maybe I should give a bit more information. The 2016 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is an incredible ride, just as the new model has always been. Walking out to the ride before my drive to work, I truly questioned my choices and decision of this morning. It was our first big snow of the year and I was driving a pure muscle car to work.

Now, you can drive this car in the snow. There is even a winter mode built into the traction control. But all that tech means nothing when you are driving on high-performance street tires, which I was. So with 4 inches of snow on the ground, ice on the roads, I made the call and started scraping the fresh powder off.

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The looks from my neighbors driving by as I was getting the ride ready should have been a clue that this would be an interesting drive. Once on the road, passed the sheets of ice coating my neighborhood roads, I was able to keep moving forward in a controlled fashion fairly easily. But the Corvette is not a skinny ride, and heading down a snow packed road with lines barely visible driving with more concentration than I have ever put into my morning drive, I found that not only did I own my lane, I owned the whole road.

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I would be lying if I said I did not enjoy the looks, enjoy the drive and pure fascination of this counter-culture idea of driving a Corvette in the snow, but then came the reality. As a minivan passed me, I gripped the steering wheel harder as it started to drift into my space. I look over at the driver and here he was, gawking down at what he was seeing, drifting towards me.

Happening multiple times over the drive, I found my nerves high and comfort low, as more people wanted to take in this idiot (me) driving in the snow on the way to work.

I wish I could put something profound in this experience, sharing how the ride changed my life, but I can truly say I cared more about not getting hit in this slippery ride than anything else.

So should you drive the 2016 Corvette Stingray in the snow? Well, in an open space and open roads, why not. But otherwise, keep it at home and avoid the white knuckling that comes from others gawking at your idiocy.