I'm driving along Route 23 on my way to work, its a very busy 2 lane highway, and there was construction this morning on a 1/2 mile stretch like usual because they have to make turn lanes for a new school being built in the area. Well there was a cement truck waiting to turn left as traffic in the oncoming lane was driving by. So I stopped behind some Grand Am that was in the line of cars. A little back story....

Its been snowing on and off for a few weeks here in northern Illinois, and the salt trucks have been laying a crap load of gravel/salt mix on every damn square inch of every road. So slipping and sliding with my traction constrol on, and driving normally , make it almost impossible for me to go flying like a pinball along the roads. Anyway, back to the story....

So I'm waiting there, kinda still waking up, when suddenly a loud screeching noise is coming from behind me. A lady in a POS Geo Metro wasn't paying attention or something and slammed on the brakes....well she was skidding like crazy back and forth trying to stay in her lane. Right then it went slow motion and I thought, "Oh hell no! First a Dodge Ram now a Geo! Leave me with some dignity Lord!!!" I was praying she would turn into the shoulder to avoid me, but no there was no clue of that happening. I started pulling up as close as I could to the Grand Am in front of me, and the driver of the Grand Am noticed what was going on through his rear view mirror and jerked violently forward to give me more space to pull up. He gave me a few more feet....a few more feet that saved my Bonnie. Other Pontiac owners have a sixth sence for this stuff I think.

I hate winter, I hate the Chicago area wheather, I hate GEO'*, and I hate salt.

I know how you feel. Actually my nemesis is I let my wife leave the driveway with the car and she comes back with more damage. I swear this car is getting beat up left right and center. Add children to the mix and believe me the dignity still lies with a clean one two punch from another car. I had perfect leather seats now I have a rip in the passenger side and they are all messed up. I had perfect interior trim well that’* a joke now. I have plans so I’m not wining but there is alot more dignity in having your car smashed by another than having it d over years of debilitating use. I am curious about salt and Bonneville’*. How do they hold up rust wise in the salt belts?

Ty

My local mechanic (the one who repaired my front end after the dodge hit it) said as long as I give it a good rinse once a week for all of winter, I'll be fine. He said the addition of zinc and other chemicals to car metals in the 90'* was very defensive against rust and salt. Plus the only part I'm really worried about is the rear wheel wells, the front is all plastic. But I believe him, so I wash my Bonnie once a week.

WOW, you are lucky man, close call. I think ur bonny talked to the grand am and said "GET THE HELL OUTA THE WAY" hehehe well im glad the GEO didint hit you that would be an insult... stay safe broda!

Ya, getting hit by a GEO is a low blow. I mean, I got reared by a Firebird. That and the Bonneville are the only cars I would remotely want to be hit by. Geo would be at the bottom of the list, next to Ford.

Salt really sucks! :( I have been getting my underneath "oiled" every 2 years and as you can see it'* in pretty darn nice shape....the real problem is salt and crap getting up underneath the plastic ground effects and rotting out. My bonnie stays in the garage whenever it can in the winter, and when drivin' on salted roads I go to a drive thru carwash the has a bottom blaster, before putting her back in the garage, thats imperative! washing what you can't see is the key to longevity and for a cupla extra bucks well worth it.

I keep telling Andy.....you wanna see a pissed off women....Hit my Bonnie!!! I am at the point where Im the only one I trust driving my car...
Thank God she didnt hit ya!!!!

Other than the drive through car wash...blasting the bottom, where else on the car do you have to manually remove the salt(if at all?). Your in the same area as I am basically...so just a blast once a week?

Yeah once a week is good. Hell all day today it has pretty much been a blizzard. I went to classes, took a buddy home, drove up town to get some paint, got food, and took it to the carwash. Thats the 2nd time this week! I really try to get in the wheel wells and almost lay on the ground to get the underbody.

Once a week minimum, if you drive it daily, or whenever you feel the need to wash her really, If doing it by hand, spray up into the wheel wells real good and under the front and back.
You can not duplicate the ol' bottom blaster tho.....when you are driving into one, go slow and take the benifit of the blaster, but not too slow as its timed. ESSO usually have the best ones I've found.
Remember to get her oiled next year....