Ecole

I purchased an 06 Lexus GS300AWD in August 05, and circumstances force me to sell my car, as it is too expensive (car was $52K, I paid $47.5K).

I was considering an 05 C230 Kompressor and test drove one a year and a half ago, and really loved it - had the manual transmission.

Just wondering how you all like you C230's, have there been any major problems and how the car was in the snow. I live in Mass, and I purchased my Lexus because it had AWD. I have an SUV (wife drives) if really needed, but may be caught at work (40 mile commute each way) when it snows on occasion. With snow tires, was it okay??

14cue

it rarely snows here but when it does it only lasts about 2 days max, a month ago it snowed, had about 2 inches or so and i couldnt even pull out of my alley on a small little hill, car wouldnt even budge at all! thank god the snow all melted away the following day. other than that. i love the car!

tifosiv122

I bought a set of 16's and snow tires for my coupe...did me no good, I ended up buying a truck for the snow, the car was useless.

Erik

diamondblak05

don't get it if you're planning on driving in the snow. the stock wheels will do you no good in light snow at all. even worst, in 2"+ snow, forget about it. just leave it in the garage until the snow melts. i can't even go up my driveway most of the times. also, i've got stuck so many times in the snow...even with dedicated all-season tires. next winter, i'm planning on buying snow tires for sure.

razorfish228

You would be wasting your money if this is your primary transportation in snow. You definitely need Blizzak snow tires if you plan on using this car in light snow. You also have to take into account the lower stance that our cars have unless you by a C-class with AWD.

dmatre

My '03 (not as low as the '05s, 06s) with Dunlop WinterSport M2s goes through 2-4" of snow with no problems at all. You can't drive like a moron, but it goes well enough that taking a 'snow day' is out of the question.

With a lower stance, you may get to the point where you're snow-plowing with the nose, meaning that you're not going to be going anywhere that day.

c230 o5

at snow my car starts doing donuts by itslef, our cars are not meant for the snow, its a summer car

tifosiv122

I honestly think the auto's have an easier time. With a stick, when it snows you need to turn traction control off to get moving...when you do, only one rear tire spins. If you don't, you start to slip, the rpms drop (trac control) and you stall. It's a lose-lose situation. For auto drivers, just keep your foot on the gas, you don't have to worry about stalling.

Erik

wingless

Prior to reading the responses, I was prepared to add my voice to the chorus of praise for the winter snow performance.

So, as the lone voice of dissention, I am very satisfied with the snow performance. I have LM-25 Blizzaks on ASA ST-4 wheels.

Unlike the LM-22 Blizzaks, I find these to provide very good response on dry performance.

No problem with stable and predictable snow / ice performance. With the lower clearance, it is not possible to plow through snow banks.

Do NOT accept the compromise of all-season tires. Go with summer-only and winter-only mounted sets.

Outland

Uh, Erik, you do know that when you do a burnout, the car leaves two black streaks on the pavement, don't you?

What do think happens in the snow? ESP off only silencs the torque reduction program, the simulated posi still works. I thankfully have a winter vehicle, but I also have a set of 16's and snows I put on in the winter, and the car is just fine with this setup in the snow.

tifosiv122

I agree but for whatever reason I would only get one wheel to spin and I would slide side-ways...

Erik

Jkw

I have the same set up on my C230 sedan, & I'm very happy w/ the snow and dry road proformance. But if I were in a snow belt I think I would go with the AWD.

Good Luck,
Jkw

Outland

You only slide when BOTH wheels are spinning.

BabyBenz6spd

I usually turn off ESP when I am driving in snowy weathers (w/ Blizzaks LM-22), otherwise ESP is distracting me from driving too much. It's impossible to go up a hill with ESP on. I really wish "ESP OFF" is really "ESP OFF".

Outland

No you don't. If you turn it all off, you drop to one wheel drive, and you have a whole lot more "oh ****" moments in turns when its slippery. Frankly, youre doing yourself a disservice by turning it off all the time in snow. Once the vehicle has moved off the blocks, there's no reason to keep it off.

tifosiv122

Isn't that what I've been saying? Only one wheel is moving? I'm so confused...eh, it doesn't even matter, I couldn't go anywhere with my car so I got a truck...I can't even fit anything less then 18s with my brakes now so it really doesn't matter.

Erik

morph860

I turn mine off in the snow too...cant even get out of a parking spot with it on...im in Connecticut....SUCKS in the snow.

k_lundquist

I'm in Connecticut too. I still have the Michelin Z rated tires that came with the car, which are definitely no good in the snow. Basically if you don’t want the car to leave you stranded you’ve gotta leave where ever you are at the first sign of snow.

I have a dedicated beater, but there have been a few occasions where I did drive the C230 to work and it did start to snow. I kept an 80 lb. bag of dry concrete in the back ($30 from Home Depot) which really does help. At the very least it would put enough weight over the rear where I could get the car moving in about 2’’ of snow and work from home the rest of the day.

seahunter

I live in Montreal Canada, if you live in Boston you know that montreal has bad winters. I drove the c230K for three winters..I don't think I will EVER buy a rear weel drive car again.....I now drive a 2006 C280 4 matic.

tonewheel

Chicago. 2004.5 C230SS. 6 speed.

Change to my winter wheels/tires on November 1st and take 'em off on April 1st. Dunlop Winter Sport M2's. (No staggered setup for winter...running 16's all around.) FABULOUS traction in any snow depth, and after 2 winter seasons, the tires look brand new with absoutely no perceptible signs of tread wear.

MattB

One of my friends has a W202 C280 and she just leaves it at home when it snows.

wingless

Each person needs to arrive at an appropriate solution. For them, using all-season tires and parking the vehicle during bad weather works.

For others, a set of summer-only and winter-only tires, combined with using the vehicle regardless of conditions, is the appropriate solution.