UMich97

Did a quick search and didn't see any topics on this, so sorry if I missed them.....

I'm curious if anyone lives on a dirt road and curious what it's like as a Stang owner who loves his Mustangs. I'm looking at buying a house on a dirt road (about 1/4 to 1/2 mile of dirt road) and wondering if it is manageable, or if I'll grow to hate it. Anyone with experience living on dirt roads have any thoughts?

Oh, and I live in Michigan, so we get some snow in the winter.

Blue Notch

Get used to having a dirt car. I've lived on a dirt road for nearly eleven years and it's seriously hell. Not all dirt roads in my experience have been too bad, but the one I'm stuck on is full of ruts, holes, and what not. When it's dry, the clouds of dust billow into the sky like there's a forest fire, and when it's wet it's all mud. Luckily for the past few years I've been able to use a paved road behind my house, but I have to drive through my neighbor's yard to reach it. You also can't go more than 20-25mph unless you want rocks chips stripping the paint off your car.
Here's a video with snow melt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1jU_SbaTkA (I've seen way worse)

Good luck.

poopile

I live about 1/2 mile down a dirt/gravel road. I just bought my 05 GT a month ago. I traded my 4x4 Dodge for it. (Life's short and I wanted a muscle car again) It's white and it's impossible to keep it clean. I go to town, wash it, and cruise around awhile and enjoy my clean Mustang. Then I go home and hit it with the duster I keep in my trunk. That's all you can do.

eighty6gt

Dirt roads are serious fun, you just have to be careful when it's been raining for a while and heavy traffic makes giant ruts. Drive around those.

MustangGuy

Are you serious?

CaliforniaSpecial631

Don't do it. Dirt roads are hell.

UMich97

Hey Nathan....the road this house is on isn't quite as bad as your video, but it did look similar.

I took my Dad's Explorer down the road the other day, it was partially snow covered (which actually wasn't much different than a paved snow covered road) and the rest was a mix of gravel with some holes filled with water.

I drove down some dirt roads last summer and when it was dry and sunny didn't seem to get my car overly dirty in one trip up and back, but I did have to go about 10mph as even at that speed I could hear the stones tapping against the car. I was thinking if I did buy the house on the dirt road, that I would have to get some of that clear 3M protective vinyl to cover the "high traffic" areas where stones might hit.

Steve....if your question was for me...Yes, I'm serious.

Oh, the dilemma. Love the house, but concerned about the road.

Glenn

Thats what I was going to suggest was a ca. duster. When you leave the house and just after you get off the dirt road pull over and dust it...... then dust it again when you get home.

antdog

Wouldn't dust like that scratch paint even with a California duster?

eighty6gt

Yep.

It's winter now, all the dirt roads are blocked.

I'm hoping to add a Roushcharger this spring to help get through the mud!

Glenn

I don't think so ifin its all protected with a good coat of wax.