Standing Water
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 648
Likes: 1
From: Seattle
C-300, XC70, Wrangler
Standing Water
Not because I intended it, but last evening heading north out of Olympia on I-5 and doing about 65 mph I hit a pool of water I couldn't see before hitting it.
It was fairly deep. The spray covered my whole windshield. Only the spray from the semi ahead on my right allowed me to see where I was until the wipers reacted. That's driving blind, eh?
The car stayed true on the road, the speed slowed a bit, about 4 mph before I hit the brakes. No veering off the road, no sudden hydroplaning. This car has 16K miles on it and was extremely stable under those conditions.
Okay, I slowed a bit after that until I had a better view of the road ahead. The rest of the drive was very wet, but I had better views of the pavement, so I could react better. There was one other stretch of road that was partly water covered, and I moved to an insde lane for that).
As you can tell, we are in the rainy season: that's usually from October through July or so ....
It was fairly deep. The spray covered my whole windshield. Only the spray from the semi ahead on my right allowed me to see where I was until the wipers reacted. That's driving blind, eh?
The car stayed true on the road, the speed slowed a bit, about 4 mph before I hit the brakes. No veering off the road, no sudden hydroplaning. This car has 16K miles on it and was extremely stable under those conditions.
Okay, I slowed a bit after that until I had a better view of the road ahead. The rest of the drive was very wet, but I had better views of the pavement, so I could react better. There was one other stretch of road that was partly water covered, and I moved to an insde lane for that).
As you can tell, we are in the rainy season: that's usually from October through July or so ....
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 7
absolutely true - I drove through some high water last week (NYC metro) in my 3004M, I was scared as hell, but the car was like a tank going through it. After I got home, I used a leaf blower in the garage to push away leaves and any water from the front of the engine compartment.
Much different experience then driving my previous Honda, where if you hit even a deep puddle you'd have to yank the steering wheel to true the car up.
Much different experience then driving my previous Honda, where if you hit even a deep puddle you'd have to yank the steering wheel to true the car up.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 766
Likes: 173
From: Walnut Creek, CA
325Ci, 325Cic, C300
Same experience here. I hit a puddle going 65-70, and I was surprised the wheel didn't pull. Like has been said the Hondas and Acura I had in the past would always pull that I almost expected it from the Benz.
Pretty cool.
Regards,
Paolo
Pretty cool.
Regards,
Paolo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,914
Likes: 5
LOADED 08' C350 & 14' GLK-350 Diamond White (P1, MM, AMG Pkg, Ln Trkng, Htd Sts, Keylss Go)
I AGREE - SUPER Stability in Intense Storms driving 70 MPH in standing water
Over a year ago, right after I got the car, I had to drive from Santa barbara to Newport Beach in an intense down pour, where i basically followed the center of the storm cell, all the way down the 101 freeway...
i was raining so hard, that I say the average car was driving 50 mph at 12 am at night....
I was able to cruise 70 mph, through inches of water on the highway, with no stability issues whatsoever...
i hydroplaned a few times, but didnt even worry and just took my foot off the gas, until the car eventually resurfaced itself... then went back to 70mph...
the car is a tank in the rain
to your mother
i was raining so hard, that I say the average car was driving 50 mph at 12 am at night....
I was able to cruise 70 mph, through inches of water on the highway, with no stability issues whatsoever...
i hydroplaned a few times, but didnt even worry and just took my foot off the gas, until the car eventually resurfaced itself... then went back to 70mph...
the car is a tank in the rain
to your mother
