Am I the only mustang owner who doesn't drive their 5.0 when the mercury drops below the 40 degree mark? Or when its a nasty rainy day. I hate to drive the car in cold temps unless I am going far enough to warm up the drive train and rid the oil of any condensation.

 

I used to drive mine when it dipped down into the 20's on occasion, as long as it was dry, but not anymore. It doesn't leave the garage when the temps are below 40. Fortunately here in Tennessee it doesn't stay cold for long periods of time and it usually doesn't sit for more than a few weeks at a time.

 

They run better when it's colder. It's like you gain free horsepower. ?

 

I agree with your logic in that colder denser air is able to support the combustion of more fuel resulting in increased horsepower, but max performance summer tires do not like cold temperatures and traction fades fast as you approach freezing. I am not against driving these cars in cold temperatures, but for me it is a safety issue due to the tires that I run. I don't want to buy another set of wheels/tires use to drive it in cold weather.

 

I wouldn't say I don't drive mine when the temp is below 50, but I do not take it out in the rain or snow. I put it away when first sign of snow is in the forecast or the DPW starts salting roads (Nov/Dec). I usually take it back out after the snow melts and we have a good rain storm to wash the roads (late April/early May).

 

My first new mustang was a 1968 convertible, lived in the northeast back then and the mustang was my only car. The salt on the roads ate holes in the body and bubbled paint in about three years. I feel for the guys who still have to do that.

 

A lot of us northern folks park em for the winter.

 

Parked and waiting for spring!

 

Fair enough.

 

I'm quite sure you're not the only one my friend. And, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it if that's the way you want to drive your Mustang. I get it as I have a non-Mustang in the garage that is driven the same way. I don't purposely take it out in the rain, but if I get caught in the rain it's fine. It doesn't come out of it's lair when it's freezing outside because of the other no-driving knuckleheads on the road these days. They have trouble driving in perfect conditions, but in bad weather.....have mercy.

 

I guess I need a picture of mine with the police interceptor wheels and snow tires, all covered in a foot of snow again.... Drive mine daily, rain sleet or snow. Snow tires are a wonderful Derulo thing. I have so much fun in the winter. Advancetrac off means a whole lot of driving sideways.
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I never take mine out in inclement weather but sometimes the weather on vacations doesn't cooperate. These are not winter vacations either. It snows out west in September as we have found out on several trips. Alberta, Colorado, and Utah respectively just a week or two after Labor Day.