Using your F-body as an SUV...

[JusFlyinBy]

So yesterday as I was driving through deep mud pits (Picture that GMC Pick Up commercial on the contruction site scaled down [img]tongue.gif[/img] ), it hit me that I treat this car more like an SUV then a damn Firebird.

- My rear seats are always folded down since im constantly carrying random crap, including and most often my snowboard and g/f's skis that I neglect to wipe the snow and mud off of before tossing in.
- I drive it all thru the winter through large snow mounds that caused my front plate to rip off last week.
- I have large, serious tread snowtires on the car.
- Ive gone thru my share of farm fields for different reasons and was questioned time and time again why the hell is grass comming out of my ground kit.
- I treat it as a rally car with the foot to the floor on gravel.
- Ive been looking into a hitch latley to mount on the car to tow my bike.
- Its very common for my tires to rub in to the wheel wells when hitting bumps because of the car being loaded with passengers/stuff.
- I gun for giant puddles.

Maybe Im missing my old truck, but its just latley I dont care anymore. The value in these things drop so fast, that I just decided to drive it 'till it blows up since Im graduating college this may. Yet, I still park 10 spaces away from the nearest car. Give it a wash and the car still looks great, check out the pic.

So anyway, I know the majority of you treasure your cars, but Im just curious to see if anyone else just beats the hell out of their car, lol.

Bored in class,
- Chris [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ February 07, 2005, 07:52 PM: Message edited by: JusFlyinBy ]

[Loochy88]

you are hereby banished from here, unless you can clean up your act and take care of your beautiful firebird. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[shock_core]

eh, i beat the **** out of my old 96 Firebird, but this new camaro i got, i treat her like a baby

[Everglades W68]

My Firebird hauls lumber and all sorts of camping gear for Cub Scouts.

Back in 2001, I took my Firebird on a long trek across the Everglades and Corkscrew Swamp on an unpaved road. It was mile after mile of unpaved torture -- very slowly - as I cursed myself for bringing a sports car into a swamp road.

You can see the road on most maps - look for Tamiami Trail / US 41 - the southernmost east-west road in mainland Florida that cuts across the bottom of the state. Along the west half of the state, a mostly unpaved road goes south of US 41. A sign on the western entrance recommends the road is for SUVs only.

I entered it from the east. It starts out OK and gradually gets worse and worse.

Lots and lots of gators and critters on the narrow road. This is the area where the Florida Panther is making its last stand. Giant craters (way too big to be called potholes) everywhere. The road often is skinny with just enough room for the vehicle between the trees and bushes. There is water everywhere. The road is just barely - and not always - above the level of the swamp water.

That adventure is what prompted me to pick the first part of my name here.

[JusFlyinBy]

Originally posted by Loochy88:
you are hereby banished from here, unless you can clean up your act and take care of your beautiful firebird. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

No damnit! Im driving it till it craps the bed, and Im going to make sure it goes out with a bang! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Nice Everglades, lol.... Did you make it out without any body damage? If so, good driving. :D Id be kicking myself in the *** too if my car was as nice as yours and have to be taking it down that road. But latley, I say bring it on.

I added something I forgot about to my list too...

[Everglades W68]

My car was a total mudball when I left the Loop Road. No damage as far I have ever been able to tell.

I was listening worriedly - during the long trek for sounds that might indicate damage. I got out many times and checked things out also.

I took the car to Marco Island and washed it down twice - that removed most of the mud.

...and then there was the other time when I took my car to an old bombing range. Lots of dust but no ordnance encounters. The bottom picture, below, shows a little of the dust, but the late afternoon sun hides how really dusty the car was:

http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/gladesw68/page7.html

[ February 07, 2005, 11:55 PM: Message edited by: Everglades W68 ]

[00firebird]

the background here is sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...303_2_full.jpg
thats like my dream place.

[Everglades W68]

Originally posted by 00firebird:
the background here is sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...303_2_full.jpg
thats like my dream place.

That's the entrance to where I live.

[V8 Killer]

woah...paradise..

[majeskyb]

Originally posted by Everglades W68:
My Firebird hauls lumber and all sorts of camping gear for Cub Scouts.

Back in 2001, I took my Firebird on a long trek across the Everglades and Corkscrew Swamp on an unpaved road. It was mile after mile of unpaved torture -- very slowly - as I cursed myself for bringing a sports car into a swamp road.

You can see the road on most maps - look for Tamiami Trail / US 41 - the southernmost east-west road in mainland Florida that cuts across the bottom of the state. Along the west half of the state, a mostly unpaved road goes south of US 41. A sign on the western entrance recommends the road is for SUVs only.

I entered it from the east. It starts out OK and gradually gets worse and worse.

Lots and lots of gators and critters on the narrow road. This is the area where the Florida Panther is making its last stand. Giant craters (way too big to be called potholes) everywhere. The road often is skinny with just enough room for the vehicle between the trees and bushes. There is water everywhere. The road is just barely - and not always - above the level of the swamp water.

That adventure is what prompted me to pick the first part of my name here.

Man, why didn't you just take 75 across the state? So much easier, and at least there are fences to keep the wildlife out of the road.

[nikon]

damn, I treat my SUV better than you treat your car

[Earnhardt132000]

If I ever see your car on the side of the road all muddy and stuff, I'll steal the stock ground effects and anything else that could be useful :D . Where do you go offroading around Rochester?

[Everglades W68]

Originally posted by majeskyb:
Man, why didn't you just take 75 across the state? So much easier, and at least there are fences to keep the wildlife out of the road.

The trip into the Everglades was the whole point - it it is a very interesting area. Some parts look very desolate and barren. Others parts are dense jungle. I had a great time - it just is not the best place to drive an F body. :D

[JusFlyinBy]

Originally posted by Earnhardt132000:
If I ever see your car on the side of the road all muddy and stuff, I'll steal the stock ground effects and anything else that could be useful :D . Where do you go offroading around Rochester?

How'd you know I was in Rochester? Basically driving around the roads in Rochester is offroading. But seriously, its mostly when Im home in Amsterdam because I just go to school out here. The last "offroading" was in Gore Mountains far back parking lot. It was ridiculously bad. Im talking huge mud roosts, giant puddles, and my speedo reading 30 when im really doing about 5 to just make it thru. Also I take it thru the trail on some property we own through the woods, and often drive it to my cousins house in the boonies on his seasonal rally mud road. Ive followed powerline trails tons of times also, looking for new places to ride the dirtbike.

Their is no mud on the car since it rained yesterday, but in the winter, youll be looking for this around Rochester. [img]tongue.gif[/img] The only thing that makes this car look good imo is my ground effects, so leave'em alone! :D

[Earnhardt132000]

I knew you were in Rochester because you go to RIT, I'm thinking about going there myself. You can come out to the west side and find a lotta places to off-road if you're in the mood, but most are only big enough to fit my 4-wheeler through.

I wish the snow would just decide to stay or melt...