C300 2008
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,113
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From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
I don't think Indiana has anything over Michigan when it comes to getting snow....Great Lakes, you know....Blizzak WS60 transform the car...my rwd C300 did fine in deep snow with those tires, but had been awful with the OE Conti's before I swapped. The only part of the car which touches the ground are the tires!! 4MATIC won't do much if the tires aren't great. Conversely, tires such as the Blizzaks with unique compound and tread, take rwd and make it VERY capable...check out Tire Rack...I got 17" rims at $99 each which look like MB OE and did not use the staggered setup for the winter tires.
BTW, the whole discussion on fwd vs rwd has to do with weight transfer. It can actually depend if you're going up or down hill! For flat surfaces (Indiana!) with reasonable driving (not shifting weight rearward excessively), fwd wins because more weight is on the driving wheels.
BTW, the whole discussion on fwd vs rwd has to do with weight transfer. It can actually depend if you're going up or down hill! For flat surfaces (Indiana!) with reasonable driving (not shifting weight rearward excessively), fwd wins because more weight is on the driving wheels.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 442
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From: Davenport IA
C350
<<lol @ all the toronto ppl being the experts on snow driving...>>>
lol, we tha experts here
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Super Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 794
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From: Toronto, Hong Kong
E63S || C63 || E550 Coupe || Cayenne ||
I don't think anybody would, but I was just comparing that if he had run his 18" rims in the winter than the it might have been better to have bought the 4matic from the very start since 18" winter tires can easily cover the $2200 difference of the c300 and c300 4matic (assuming he has 18" and his c300 is auto)
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 811
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From: Toronto, ON
2011 E350 4Matic Wagon, 2013 C350 4Matic Sedan
Patrickkc -- I don't believe that having 4matic precludes the need for proper winter tyres. Just because the car can put down power a little more effectively does not mean that it has any better ability to steer or stop. So the ~$2000 for winter tyres and rims are still a necessary expenditure.
Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 75
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From: Toronto
2009 C300 4Matic
Top of the line tires or not, 4Matic or RWD, doesn't make a difference. Any cheap winter tire will provide better traction/stopping/safety than all seasons in winter for a good 30,000 KMs. In fact some provinces in Canada have made it a law to have Winter tires from Nov 15 to Apr 15.
I have driven all wheel drives, FWD and RWD and winter tires make a huge differences.
Also what's deal with winter already, look forward to summer and let's discuss this topic in October.
I have driven all wheel drives, FWD and RWD and winter tires make a huge differences.
Also what's deal with winter already, look forward to summer and let's discuss this topic in October.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Toronto, ON
2011 E350 4Matic Wagon, 2013 C350 4Matic Sedan
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Read the name
C300 4matic Sport, CBR 954
well to get back to the original question, i suppose its possible to add it but i doubt any dealer will install it for u and it would cost a hell of alot, in ur case the best thing to do is get some really good tires and some chains, of course next time it would be wise to do ur homework on a car before u buy, could of saved ya some hassel 
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
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C230 2009 , E320 1996, C230 Coupe 2002
HAHAHA your from Indiana and you think you need a 4-matic?
I live in Canada Saskatchewan, one of the place with the most heaviest snowfalls. Slapped on some good winter tires and that all I needed for my RWD. The traction control on the w204s is amazing, and I think you will be fine with a good set of winter tires.
All i did for the winter was buy a set of 17s from tire rack for 400$ then a set of blizzak tires and I was quite good for winter, even against other AWDs
Last edited by aranu; May 24, 2009 at 06:02 AM.
