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Most people don't drive these cars in winter, or even in bad weather. I care too much about mine to get it pelted by gravel, and corroded by magnesium chloride(de-icer). That's why it looks brand new. TR6's are not made for driving on snow or icy roads. Doing that in my estimation, is not exactly too smart. My soft top gives more than adequate protection for spring, summer, and fall. I had the chance to pick up the factory hardtop when I first bought the car, for about $800 dollars, and now I wish I did, but have never found a reason to be bothered with getting a hardtop since that time. I can't imagine how a person could enjoy putting so much time and attention into a British sports car and then taking it out on bad roads to beat the heck out of it. Takes all kinds I guess.
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I think you're a bit off the mark here. I live in New Jersey, and we get some decent winter weather here, as well as a boatload of salt, sand, and gravel dumped on the roads. Although I'll admit that I don't drive my car in the sleet, snow, and rain, I also do enjoy taking it out on those cold winter days when the raods are dry and the weather clear. On those days I really wish I had a hard top, as I find the soft top to be drafty and it doesn't insulate worth a darn. Just because I drive my car occasionally in the months of December, January and February I'd hardly say I was being irresponsible or uncaring toward it. Also, to say that these cars were not built for that kind of weather, what do you think people were driving routinely 30 years ago, when these cars were all over the roads? I know alot of people my parents age that were driving small sports cars as daily drivers back in those days, and doing just fine. If you know how to drive in the snow, you can drive a small rear drive sports car without to much trouble, provided it doesn't get to deep. I grew up driving high horsepower rear drive muscle cars in every kind of weather imaginable, and I've never gotten one stuck or gotten in an accident. Sure, they are not ideal winter vehicles, but driving smart and developing your skills can more than make up for any vehicle's not having 4WD, ABS, or traction control.
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First of all, there's not a rear wheel drive car ever made that handles slippery roads as well as a 4WD. I know, because I have a Jeep. As for your statement that there was a time when everyone had rear wheel drive cars for winter....there was also a time when everyone used a horse and a buggy, so I fail to see any point to your statement. Considering "those days," since everyone had poor traction, everyone had to be more careful. That made it safer just by that one fact. Leaving that where it might be, no amount of "awareness" will totally make up for technological superiority, like 4WD, ABS, or airbags. There was a time when cars didn't have seatbelts either...so following your logic, if you drove safely, you wouldn't need them???? If you want to expose your TR6 to rust, corrosion, salt, gravel, magnesium chloride, and the other regular hazards of winter..go right ahead. I respect my car, and the work I've done on it too much to risk having it destroyed by driving it in those kind of conditions. I also value my safety enough to park my Triumph and head for the Jeep when weather and road conditions warrant it.