Admittedly, I recently used this pic on another (older) thread, but I like it and it sort of sums up what this thread is about, so hell with it, I’m a usin’ it agin:

What I’m driving now…and what I plan on driving pretty damn soon:
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...MG_1807PSd.jpg

When I got my Box (June ’06) I swore I wouldn’t drive it from the first Fall/Winter snow eliciting the spreading of salt until winter’s end, to include a good hard rain to wash away that road salt. This was a purchase I wasn’t even sure I could justify financially. (I didn’t even think about a 911---I just couldn’t reasonably afford it.) So I was determined to take care of it. While I still want to do that, I have softened my stance a little, for three reasons:

1) I’ve come to believe that it’s not really in the best interest of the car to sit totally idle for that long, at least not unless you (unlike me) want do a whole laundry list of things to prepare the car for its hibernation;

2) If the roads are dry, I don’t really think driving on them is a big deal, even with a little dry salt on them. (I think it’s the salt dissolved in water/slush that works itself way into the nooks ‘n’ crannies and causes eventual problems---take a look at the driver’s side rear wheel well of the Camry); and last but certainly not least,

3) I just don’t want to go that long without driving her.

That’s my compromise position, and I’m stickin’ with it!

Unfortunately, dry salt in the presence of just humidity will start the oxidation process. It's not as aggressive as salty water, but it's still doing it's job. If you do drive the car in the winter in areas that salt is used on the roads, at least wash the car frequently. Make sure to wash off the suspension parts as aluminum oxidizes too. Try to get the underside of the engine and as much of the gas tank as you can as well. These are some of the areas where it sneaks up on you.

Ugggh!! Spoke too soon,

Snow, snow and more snow forcasted for this Easter weekend and the next week with lows in the 20s.

Man... I hate Chicago winters :(