C320 Coupe in winter
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 258
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From: Philadelphia, PA/Naples, FL
C320 Coupe
C320 Coupe in winter
yes, i saw someone else previously posted about how well the c230 works in the snow, but i am completley lost when it comes to driving a car in the snow - i learned to drive in a place with NO changes in weather hah.
i'm originally from naples, fl in south florida, but i go to college up in philadelphia and i may take my car with me back to school in the fall this year. so, um, what the hell do i do haha?
i don't know anything about the type of tires i should get or what other appendages i could outfit my car with so i don't end up in a ditch... or am i just overexaggerating driving in wintry conditions and my car will be fine? any help would be appreciated, thanks.
i'm originally from naples, fl in south florida, but i go to college up in philadelphia and i may take my car with me back to school in the fall this year. so, um, what the hell do i do haha?
i don't know anything about the type of tires i should get or what other appendages i could outfit my car with so i don't end up in a ditch... or am i just overexaggerating driving in wintry conditions and my car will be fine? any help would be appreciated, thanks.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
ESP on, start in 2nd gear gets you best traction if you don't want to get winter tires. I've driven through 3 winters now and all you really need to do is take it easy, give youself PLENTY of space between the car in front of you and brake easy/gas easy.
Best way to practice taking off and stopping, to get a feel for it, is go to a BIG empty parking lot and have fun! Learn how to control skids, control your turns, learn how to apply brakes and gas.
Best way to practice taking off and stopping, to get a feel for it, is go to a BIG empty parking lot and have fun! Learn how to control skids, control your turns, learn how to apply brakes and gas.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
Originally posted by Jkw
Even with ESP on and starting off in 2nd gear, you will need Snow Tires.
Even with ESP on and starting off in 2nd gear, you will need Snow Tires.
but I still make it with all seasons that have good snow traction
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 469
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From: Jersey
2004.5 C 230
I've got no ESP and no 2nd gear start option on my w202 but I still make it with all seasons that have good snow traction
Jkw
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 258
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From: Philadelphia, PA/Naples, FL
C320 Coupe
yeah, sometimes, just sometimes, i briefly wonder why i moved from south forida to philadelphia for school because the weather is so much better down here...then i come back down from philly to visit home and i'm dying to return to philly haha (ex. this summer 
) . i can take the weather, the city is totally worth it.
) . i can take the weather, the city is totally worth it.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 687
Likes: 1
C320 Coupe
A set of all-season tires, such as Pirelli PZero Nero A/S or ContiExtreme Contacts should be sufficient. True snow tires will add an added degree of safety with some inconvience. I'd recommend 3rd gear lanches on really slipery surfaces.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 258
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From: Philadelphia, PA/Naples, FL
C320 Coupe
TNblkc230wz, thanks for the further advice. randomly fyi, you're the first person i've talked to who also has a c320 coupe. i've only seen 1 other one in my town too.
Super Member
Joined: May 2004
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05 CLK 320
Well I guess one main problem i had with my old 01 C240 was the handling in the snow. Every time it snowed, I was scared for my life. In multiple instances, I had virtually no control on the direction the car was going in the snow, only thing that worked were the brakes. In one case when I was going down a small hill I lost complete steering control of the car in snow. The car refused to turn even a bit when I completely turned the steering wheel. It was a pretty scary situation. The tires were pretty new.
I guess this is why a 4matic is offered as an option. Just make sure to keep enough braking distance in snow.
I guess this is why a 4matic is offered as an option. Just make sure to keep enough braking distance in snow.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 687
Likes: 1
C320 Coupe
I love my C320 coupe. There are at least three of them in Memphis as my dealer got three of them at the launch, but to the best of my knowledge, mine is the only C320 6sp in town.
We don't get much snow here but I did ok on the light ice with the summer Pilot Sports. I do have a set of PZero Nero A/S on order though. I've never used anything but A/S tires on any car even in Washington State, Illinios and Montana.
We don't get much snow here but I did ok on the light ice with the summer Pilot Sports. I do have a set of PZero Nero A/S on order though. I've never used anything but A/S tires on any car even in Washington State, Illinios and Montana.
Banned
Joined: May 2004
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From: Dewey Beach, Delaware
Missing my beloved Benz
my thoughts
I am pretty close to phila myself and understand the area. I also am going to college in center city. I usually park my car when I arrive at school in the fall and then take the bus the entire time I'm at school. Its cheap, and don't need to worry about parking from point A to point B. As for winter wires, all seasons are plenty enough for this area. You do not need to buy extra set because we don't get much snow. From time to time, snow does hit but the city removes it pretty quick. I live in delaware, and have communted in the past. No problems and here I am still with my 2001 C240, three and a half years later.
I also, when I'm bored, take a road trip south to Florida. My family has a house there and love to party. hehe
I also, when I'm bored, take a road trip south to Florida. My family has a house there and love to party. hehe
Banned
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 389
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From: Dewey Beach, Delaware
Missing my beloved Benz
More thoughts
Funny story: I pre-order my car back in 2000 just as the new 01 body design was released to the USA. When my car arrived, I was questionable to my car and its traction, especially in ice storms we had back then. I, if I heard that there was snow in the forecast, would put my 200 and 300 pound dumbbell weights in the trunk to weigh it down. I heard, back before I got into Benz’s and still was learning how to drive, that cars who were rear wheel drive should be weighed down for traction in snow. So, on average, I would transfer my weights almost two to three times a week. FUN FUN FUN
Now I’m lazy and just say heck with it. LoL Driving in my benz, just after it snowed, is pretty fun. Everyone is staying in and its all white outside. Pure Baby.
Sincerely,
James
Now I’m lazy and just say heck with it. LoL Driving in my benz, just after it snowed, is pretty fun. Everyone is staying in and its all white outside. Pure Baby.
Sincerely,
James
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 258
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From: Philadelphia, PA/Naples, FL
C320 Coupe
nicedeboy, that's cool.....what school in philly btw? and where in south florida? haha, funny coincidences.
i'm still debating taking the car up there b/c it's so expensive to park and what not - i'm not sure i want to dump it on the streets of west philadlephia, and some areas i know you can't park all night because of street sweepers. to park at the nearest parking garage is like $1000 i think, and that's a lot of money to dump into parking a car i am only bringing for joy rides to NYC or what not instead of just normally taking the train. we'll see. thanks for the advice though.
i'm still debating taking the car up there b/c it's so expensive to park and what not - i'm not sure i want to dump it on the streets of west philadlephia, and some areas i know you can't park all night because of street sweepers. to park at the nearest parking garage is like $1000 i think, and that's a lot of money to dump into parking a car i am only bringing for joy rides to NYC or what not instead of just normally taking the train. we'll see. thanks for the advice though.
Member
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Central VA, USA
'01 ML430, '03 C320 Coupe MT, '14 GL450
You will get nowhere in snow / ice with the summer high performance tires on the coupe. I have not driven our Coupe in winter yet, but our SLK had similar tires, and they were absolutely useless in the snow, as one would expect. If you get a lot of snow, you will have to get at least all season tires, or else leave the car parked. Rear wheel drive vehicles are also much worse in the snow that front wheel, since the drive wheels have much less weight on them. Front wheeled vehicles have the weight of the engine over the drive wheels.
BTW, this is all stuff I learned from experience. I did not see snow until I was 24, having been born and bred in places where it simply doesn't snow.
Whatever you try and do, follow the advise and go find yourself a large empty parking lot without any curbs and lamp poles at the first nice snow, and get a feel for how the car handles in the snow. And as always, your biggest problem is going to be your fellow road users. Especially the idiots in big SUVs who think that the laws of physics don't apply to them - just check out which cars end up in ditches...
BTW, this is all stuff I learned from experience. I did not see snow until I was 24, having been born and bred in places where it simply doesn't snow.
Whatever you try and do, follow the advise and go find yourself a large empty parking lot without any curbs and lamp poles at the first nice snow, and get a feel for how the car handles in the snow. And as always, your biggest problem is going to be your fellow road users. Especially the idiots in big SUVs who think that the laws of physics don't apply to them - just check out which cars end up in ditches...
Banned
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 389
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From: Dewey Beach, Delaware
Missing my beloved Benz
me again
I grew up with snow all my life. While I was a child, my family lived in Michigan. You haven't seen snow until you lived there. It snowed from halloween until late spring. When you saw one inch, you were doomed. It would come down, and down. But in lower elevations like Phila, Delaware, etc.... snow isn't a problem!
Banned
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 389
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From: Dewey Beach, Delaware
Missing my beloved Benz
me again
The major issues, for some winters here, is ice. When ice occurs, you really have no more traction with snow tires then you do with all season tires. Ice is ICE people. When you drive to NYC and DC, you would be driving on i-95 and the NJ turnpike, i-295, etc. All of which are highly salted due to the amount of people who travel them. So as what I said earlier, if some people would read it, snow isn't an issue!
Super Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 911
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From: Rhode Island
Debadged 6-Speed '05 C320 Sports Coupe
There are many tire options available. Each is a compromise. For example, a summer-only tire is useless when the flakes fly, but provide the best traction in warm weather. This is contrasted to a winter-only tire, which provides the maximum amount of traction in poor winter weather, as contrasted to all other choices. An all-season tire provides average performance in both summer and winter.
So, for those who find average performance acceptable, then all-season tires are the best choice. For those who desire maximum performance, two sets of tires / wheels are used, one with summer-only, one with winter-only. That approach provides the best probability to get from A to B without incident.
So, for those who find average performance acceptable, then all-season tires are the best choice. For those who desire maximum performance, two sets of tires / wheels are used, one with summer-only, one with winter-only. That approach provides the best probability to get from A to B without incident.
