Goldcruzer

Hey guys, new member here. I bought a '99 stang back in CA and drove it out east to CT. The model I purchased is the standard v6 coupe 3.8 liter (manual) without a rear window defroster. I've read that nixing the deforster was a money saving option when sold to Soutchwest customers (stupid). As you can imagine, it's been pretty tough to see out the back from November to March, or 1/3 of the year that I use it as a commuter car.

After two hairy winters out here I finally invested in some Blizzaks to make it less sketchy then it's been, but I still cannot see a damn thing out the back window each day without that defroster. Combine that with the low peripheral visibility (blind spots, anyone?) and the whitewashed blanket of slush that covers my windshield each time an opposing vehicle passes me on the road, and it's still less than ideal.

I know my mustang will never be winter made vehicle, but is there anything I can do to my girl besides slapping some winter shoes on her and calling it a day?

Are there special snow wiper blades anyone can recommend?

Is there an aftermarket rear window defroster kit I can order/have installed? Or can you recommend a de-icing compound that I can manually spray it with each morning?

Have any of you had any luck with these **** panoramic rear view mirrors for increasing visibility? http://www.andysautosport.com/ford/1...a00000120.html

Lastly, I've heard that throwing 2 100lb sacks of sand in the trunk will help give her a bit more traction. Does that sound right?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

-Ray

massguy54

Tough care to drive here in New England with the rear wheel drive I park mine.Can you get a cheap winter car that has everything on it already but not a great car

NYstang

The sand bit will help- so will keeping the gas tank at 1/2 or better.

get some rain-X or michelin dedicated winter wipers.

Otherwise, drive carefully. I used mine for years in the snow, and then drove RWD cars for a few years after that until this ytear. nver been stuck

REMINGTON RAY

RAIN-X all your windows. You will be amazed at how your visibility increases. As for the defroster, why don't you try going to a salvage yard and looking at stealing the parts off of a wreck to convert yours? Shouldn't be all that hard, but I don't know mustangs too well, it might be a pain in the ****.

Daehawk

Other than RainX or deicer I dont do anything special. In fact I need to buy new windshield fluid.

yiannisthegreek

Hey there...

I can tell you that although driving the "stang" in the winter can be a challenge, its really not all that bad.

I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and we already have like 3 ft. of snow up here and temperatures ranging from anywhere between 0C and like -25C (not sure what that is in Fahrenheit).

With regard to winterizing... A good set of wiper blades is always a good idea, good tires (obviously) and if needed you could always put some sandbags or saltbags in the trunk for a little extra weight over the rear axle. Also... depending on your temperatures where you live you MAY want to look into getting a "block heater" installed. You know what that is right? LOL...

With regard to your rear window... You can buy a small mountable interior defroster likely from your local auto parts store. Here is one that is for sale up here at Canadian Tire just to show you an example...


http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/12...l#.Updm_sTENMk


I hope this helps...

mustangman02232

Something wrong with the mirrors? I never look out the back window,

dawson1112

MFING "COLD" is what that is in Fahrenheit...

yiannisthegreek

LOL... It sure is my friend... It sure IS!!!