To winter or not to winter, that is the question.

superhatchsuperhatch Moderator
in General Civic Wagon Discussion
So I literally flew all the way across the country to by my wagon. I've been on quite an adventure, and I'm learning a lot more about wagons this time around. Part of that is because I picked up an RT and I -need- to learn that much more. Initially I was really excited about having a 200 +/-hp awd civic when winter rolled around...but then I thought about how much it would suck 2-3 years from now when it starts to rust...considering it's totally rust free right now.

So, my question is this:

Enjoy winter driving + awd but rust out a super clean wagon?

or

Store it for the winters and make it a summer only car?

My dilemma is that if I'm not going to drive it in the winter...whats the point of having an RT!?

Comments

  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    dont rust it out! buy another beater RT and keep this one for summer. RT still comes in handy in the rain, dirt roads, etc.. :mrgreen:

    or just pressure wash it every time you go out in the snow/salt..? that could get tiring after a while...
  • Dash-N-CarsDash-N-Cars Senior Wagonist
    True, I'm sure you can find plenty of rust bucket RT's around. Hell there is a colony of them in the NW :wink:
  • Eagle BeagleEagle Beagle familEE
    or just pressure wash
    how about that infamous rust treatment after that...jeeezzz...
  • CharbCharb Administrator
    You're retarded if you don't drive it in the winter. Period.

    You can still take time to wash the shit off. But there's no point in having an RT and not driving it in the conditions. I don't care how nice and clean it is. Hands down this is the only reason I like wagons- 4wd in the snow. I had a FWD auto as a commuter when I lived in Phoenix. Because my hatchback kept being stolen :x

    If you seriously don't have more fun rallying the shit out of your car in the snow, than you have ever had in one of your FWD Honda's, then you can garage it. But you're gonna have fun... you're gonna have a lot of fun!
  • superhatchsuperhatch Moderator
    Driving it in the snow is kind of the conclusion I came to last night while thinking about it some more.

    I'm going to look into a Rust Check application before winter, then follow some strict wash guidelines.
  • ColeCole Wagonist
    Glad you are gonna use it in the winter! I was looking for a clean one for the same reason, planed on taking care of it during the winter with regular baths. Plus, if any rust does form you can take car of it in the spring and it will be pretty cheap compared to having to fix extensive amounts of rust.

    Or if you feel the need to not have such a nice RT you can sell it to me! :mrgreen:
  • The_HeadThe_Head familEE
    I don't know how the Wisconsin winters are but here, we have a day or 2 where it will get near or above freezing every so often. That's when I go to the car wash and hit the undercarriage good with the pressure washer.

    My wagon already has a few rust spots, and I bought it specifically to be a winter beater. My truck hates the winter.
  • SikocivicSikocivic Wagonist
    It is not possible to wash all the salt out of the car if you drive it in the winter. IT WILL RUST. I live in MN and we know rust. Rustproofing and regular washing will slow the rust down but WILL NOT STOP IT. If you went through all that time and money to get a rust free car, why would you destroy it by driving it in the winter? Its your car, do what you want but don't kid yourself into thinking you can keep it rust free.
  • superhatchsuperhatch Moderator
    Sikocivic wrote:
    its your car, do what you want but don't kid yourself into thinking you can keep it rust free.

    I don't think I'll be able to keep it rust free, but I think (after some extensive reading) I can keep the rust to a very minimum over 2 years of driving it. I'm selling my 02 Si, and building a house soon, and my plan includes a newer used car in 2 years or so (probably a new Si sedan). I figure I should be able to get two good years out of the wagon with very little rust.
  • broodybroody New Wagonist
    4wd is made for snow, use it in winter. I have a 1987 RT, I live in Canada, not so badly rusted yet. Just rust proof it and put some grease on the usual rust spots.
    There are some nice summer cars like crx, integra, old toyota mr2, etc.
  • ragenasianragenasian Moderator
    Just know where the dirt tends to build up and make sure those are always clean. I would take the plastic side skirts off and clean those and rust proof and reinstall. I bought a rust proofing kit from Eastwood which contained wax, rust neutralizer, rubberized undercoating, and a long wand to spray it into different parts of the car. I think you can stop rust from forming if you take the proper steps before exposing your car to the elements. Granted it will be hard to do and require work on your part but I believe it can be done. My car has rusted out but the metal has been replaced and the parts coated.

    If the car is rust free and you want to keep it that way, enjoy it in the summer and get you a beater for the winter. The car is a blast to drive in the snow but mint wagons are hard to find, rusty ones are not.
  • wagofresh2deathwagofresh2death Band Wagon
    I bought my wagon with the intentions of using it in the bad weather so my little integra can stay clean/ rust free/ avoid high centering/ scraping up my lip in snow..... Now that I have it though, I had to get a crx to keep the wagon safe :D
  • quartersquarters Council Member
    Avoid pressure washing in winter at all costs. many many years in freezing Canadian winters have taught me something about how to postpone rust, and not pressure washing is one of them.

    pressure washing forces water into places where it freezes, expands and leaving more spots where junk builds up. I have stopped washing my cars in winter all together. i have formed a theory that pressure washing actually causes more rust than it prevents. if you live somewhere that uses a lot of salt on the roads then there is nothing you can do, it will rust no matter what. all you can do is move. where i live has stopped using salt and just use gravel. oh and get mud flaps.

    only pressure wash in winter if you can wash it, and drive it straight into a heated garage where it can dry completely without freezing. freeze/thaw cycles wreak havoc.
  • clarkw23clarkw23 Band Wagon
    Drive in winter. period. Not a choice! Get it undercoated, heat your garage and wash it regularly. FYI those electrical diode rust inhibitor things are crap, and DO NOT work. at all. My dad wasted 800 bones on one of those and then watched his truck rust away.
  • wantawagonwantawagon Band Wagon
    Just a note on a heated garage with winter crud all over your car:
    salt is more active at those temps...wash before heating.
  • broodybroody New Wagonist
    My car stay outside and I never wash it (or maybe twice a winter), it won't suffer more, unless you clean it every single time you take it out.
  • FejFej Wagonist
    RT4WD + Snow = Win

    I guess I'm lucky for never having to give this any thought, almost never snows on the coast and when I go inland California doesn't salt the roads they use crushed scoria.
  • chaos_cascadechaos_cascade Band Wagon
    Petition your rep to switch from salting the roads to alternative means. :D I'd undercoat it then drive the hell out of it. The beauty of a reasonably price car is you can thoroughly enjoy it. There are two awd wagons near me for sale right now for less then $1,300 without rust. :wink: garage your Ferrari drive your Honda...hell in winter you can out run a Ferrari on a good awd day. :lol:
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