Everyday car though snow?
 

Odd topic, I know. I'm not planning to buy a C just yet, but when I do I'm sure I might have moved out of SoCal(too expensive here) and on to somewhere else where there will more than likely be snow. Being from SoCal, I don't know a whole lot about driving in the snow, but to the point: Is this a car I could drive year round even in snow conditions? I wouldn't go for a C300 4-Matic, simply because I can't get the AMG "18's. I'd think that ESP and the weight of the car alone should be enough to keep things in check in poor weather conditions.

Not if you have the 18" wheels with the summer tires, you will not get very far in the snow.

Right, but I'm sure I could get decent snow/all weather tires in "17 + "18.

with proper winter snow tires (not all seasons) you should be ok in snow, in a rear wheel drive car. however i wouldn't get snow tires for the staggered widths.. in fact, you'd be better off with narrower and taller profile tires to help with cutting through snow as opposed to fatter widths which are less effective in pushing thru snow effectively

Snow driving
 

<< Being from SoCal, I don't know a whole lot about driving in the snow, but to the point: Is this a car I could drive year round even in snow conditions? I wouldn't go for a C300 4-Matic, simply because I can't get the AMG "18's. I'd think that ESP and the weight of the car alone should be enough to keep things in check in poor weather conditions.>>

Having driven all of my MBs in snow, I'll tell you right now that you aren't going to get very far with the crappy Continental tires on snow and 18s will make it worse. I don't know whether you are talking about N. Dakota or Washington, of course. In my case, I have a spare set of 16" wheels for my C320 with Nokian WR winter tires which do well in slippery conditions. Bridgestone Blizzaks are also very good. We are talking about 6-700 dollars just for the tires plus whichever wheels you choose. And you must mount four snow tires, not two.

My 17" AMG Monoblocks have had S0-3s on them and now RE050A PP summer tires neither of which can be driven in snow at all. And my mounted snow tires will not fit the 204 hubs so I have to start all over.

Not sure where you are planning and how much snow per year. In Canada a 4-Matic is the logic way to go. My W202 with all seasons fishtailed and actually quite scary to drive in winter. I have a set of winter tires for my current ride but RWD it is better but can't compare with AWD. My next ride is sure to be AWD.

If there are lots of snow get a 4-Matic. You can get a set of 18" staggered at dealer for summer and keep the stock 17" for winter tires.

How much snow? New England snow or not as much?

Moderate to heavy snow and definitely get dedicated winter/snow tires, especially since you're a beginner.

For sure this would be the obvious scenario. I might be better off getting an Audi, but then there's no MB to be enjoyed. :confused: You'd think that w/ allof these technological advances in traction control, etc., you'd think driving RWD would be just as good as AWD in inclement weather(especially w/ all they testing the do in Sweden). O well.

As far as where I'd relocate, I'd consider the following(keep in mind I've done quite a bit of traveling, but only during the summer): N. Carolina, Texas, Atlanta, Arizona, and New Mexico,

You should just get a C300 4Matic and put on your own wheels. This has been something I am wonder btw: is it possible to just get 4 AMG 18" wheels and put them on a C300 4Matic. Since the only reason the 4Matic can't have them is because they are staggered, but can't you just order 2 sets of the same size for a 4Matic car?

I have a C240 4Matic and live in northern NJ where we get some snow. This was my first winter with the car, and I can say that with all season tires that the car came with (Michelins) it was fantastic in the snow. I had a Suburu Legacy before this car so the Mercedes had large shoes to fill as far as snow performance went. It performed admirably and even when I would try to get the car to slide a little in an empty parking lot, the 4Matic and the ESP kept the car on a steady course.

The only place you'd have to worry about snow would be North Carolina and even then it's not too bad there.

Oh maybe you don't need an AWD after all. These places are mild relative to Canada and New England. Should be fine with RWD.

Personally, I could never see myself living on the East coast, can't take the cold weather and I know it's even harder on cars. Aside from that, I like Colorado and Washington(state), but I don't know that my career path includes those two states as places of work.

I live in New England and would not hesitate to use the 350 as a winter car without 4matic. But for about 2 weeks of the winter it would be helpful to have another car for giant storms

a neighbor of mine has a late model M5 and drove it allw inter with all seasons on it or something NOT winter tires even when we got 40 inches in 24 hours he was on the road with it the next day in inches of slush and snow and it did fine

can't wait to move to Austin! :p:

i know this is a w240 forum,

but i just have one question to ask,

I have a 06 c230 sport with 17" factory wheel

I had been stucked in the snow for a few times last winter,

and now I'm thinking to get snow tires for winter

So am I able to put 16" wheel with snow tires onto the car?

PS I'm in NYC

Winter
 

The car would be fine if you get snow tires. You do not need all wheel drive.

TEAShea
from Nebraska

I know people in Vermont didn't put snow tires on until mid January this year lol

we only got 2 snow storms really - I'm loving global warming :)

I've mounted up my Dunlop WinterSport M2's for the past 2 years, and had only 1 small snowfall to drive them in.

Unless your job would require travel through the mountains (mine does), I wouldn't spend money on a set of snow tires - the entire region shuts down at the first snowflake, so there's no need to drive anywhere.