The way to All Wheel Drive
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 68
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From: Illinois
was 1999 C230K then 2003 C32 AMG NOW 2016 AMG GLE63
The way to All Wheel Drive
Back in the day I had an '88 BMW325iX and it was the coolest little car I had ever had. The best part was that it was All Wheel Drive, which meant I was not afraid of any bad weather, and switching to snow tires was optional below a couple of inches. The down side was it was horribly under powered, and I didn't have the resources to do much about it.
So Fast Forward through several other German steeds to my current C32. It's got the power, and it's a blast to drive, but I drive it year round. But snow tires are a REQUIREMENT not an option, and even with them, traction sucks. Thankfully the C32 also has phenominal traction control, because it doesen't even have a LSD.
Audi and BMW both make performance models with all wheel drive, but MB seems to think AWD is only for old ladies living up north. What gives? My dream car would be an AMG C63 4Matic, but sadly they don't make it...
So Fast Forward through several other German steeds to my current C32. It's got the power, and it's a blast to drive, but I drive it year round. But snow tires are a REQUIREMENT not an option, and even with them, traction sucks. Thankfully the C32 also has phenominal traction control, because it doesen't even have a LSD.
Audi and BMW both make performance models with all wheel drive, but MB seems to think AWD is only for old ladies living up north. What gives? My dream car would be an AMG C63 4Matic, but sadly they don't make it...
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Phoenix AZ & Cayucos CA
’27 AMG SL55(ordered), ‘23 EQS 580 SUV, ‘19 AMG E53 Cpe, ‘48 Willys Jeepster
I'd buy a c63 4Matic wagon tomorrow if they offered one in the states.
Had to take the C55 in the snow once when the wife's Quattro TT torched an ignition coil and I won't do that again.
As for the wagon bit, my rent-a-racer Hyundai i30CW wagon easily takes my 29er mountain bike, something my C55 with the folding seats won't.
Had to take the C55 in the snow once when the wife's Quattro TT torched an ignition coil and I won't do that again.
As for the wagon bit, my rent-a-racer Hyundai i30CW wagon easily takes my 29er mountain bike, something my C55 with the folding seats won't.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 261
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From: Wappingers Falls NY
1996 S420 2006 C55AMG 2002Mustang GT
haha when we got a like 4-5 inches of snow a few weeks back i had taken the AMG out..... bad idea. i felt like Jeremy Clarkson, i live on top of a hill and i was just gunning it screaming power and the car slowly went up the hill sidewaysish... so lesson learned there
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 876
Likes: 81
From: Phoenix AZ & Cayucos CA
’27 AMG SL55(ordered), ‘23 EQS 580 SUV, ‘19 AMG E53 Cpe, ‘48 Willys Jeepster
I know the feeling. It once took me 5 minutes to get up the driveway to the Holiday Inn in Fishkill in a Hertz Mustang with summer tires. The snowplow behind me was not impressed.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: NY
2014 E350 4Matic
You are lucky, I didn't have my snows on for that storm and at 1/8 inch of snow I had to call a tow truck (couldn't get up or down the small hill). It took us one hour to get me 1 mile to my house since the snow worsened and many stuck cars, including an 18-wheeler, blocked our way for a while.
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: bay area, california
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
thank you for the comparison OP, i enjoyed the insight on the differences in handling. i'm going to respectfully disagree on AWD in an AMG though. AMG i believe makes themselves in a category of their own in the european sports car market. you can't compare a 6.2 liter RWD monster to anything else to come out of europe in it's class. not the bmw M models or the audi S models. i don't think AMG would want to try and cut into Audi's market with an AWD sports car, that just calls for millions of dollars worth of marketing and trying to put themselves ahead of audi which we already are as far as a performance car goes.
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Atlanta Metro
Current: C217 V12TT AMG Previously: C55 AMG, SL65 AMG
The M3, M5, M6 don't come in Xdrive, but I believe the RS4 comes with quattro?
There's three very distinct things that MB is doing to keep their cars in the luxury category, to the unfortunate dismay of us few enthusiasts
1) All cars have premium features, aka you won't find cloth seats
2) No AWD in performance cars
3) No manual trans in performance cars
There's three very distinct things that MB is doing to keep their cars in the luxury category, to the unfortunate dismay of us few enthusiasts
1) All cars have premium features, aka you won't find cloth seats
2) No AWD in performance cars
3) No manual trans in performance cars
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,136
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From: GA
2016 Chevrolet SS, 2006 Cadillac STS-V
The manual transmission would be the only thing that would interest me. AWD is just something else to break, leak, and make the car a ***** to work on (RWD is more fun anyway). I won't own another vehicle with cloth seats.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 876
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From: Phoenix AZ & Cayucos CA
’27 AMG SL55(ordered), ‘23 EQS 580 SUV, ‘19 AMG E53 Cpe, ‘48 Willys Jeepster
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: seattle
1990 300ce supercharged and intercooled
I have been contemplating picking up a c240 4matic wagon and dropping a 55 motor in. Do a full AMG package with the w209 front end. I think that would be about perfect. Good size function and power and 4 matic. You can get the cars cheap and the engine cheap swap the oil pan with a 4matic one and drop it in.
.
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Joined: May 2009
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From: Canada
eclectic assortment of cars
I have drive my RWD AMGs (C43 and now C55) through the past several winters on dedicated winter tires. I have never had any problems, except when the tire tread depth was at or below 50%, and one shouldn't be using those anyway. I don't drive it along country roads, but mainly in the city streets that are plowed. That said, they don't always plow the residential areas. I've been stuck once or twice. Unless it's super deep snow and you don't have sensible tires, I don't see what the fuss is about. There are plenty of people that drive RWD cars in the winter here, Mustangs, Camaros, 3 series, 5 series, C class, E Class, CLS you name it - you just have to be prepared. Is the traction comparable to AWD - no, especially not off the line - but all other times, it's fine. You don't need to be racing other cars in poor weather anyway, right?
I wanted a small, luxury German sports sedan with a V8, so that limits one's choices. If I was smarter I should probably be in an S4, but it just doesn't tug the heartstrings like an AMG, and not as much power or torque either - the differnece of which subjectively I suspect would be amplified by the AWD. And the Audi V8s are pricey to fix, the first time I read about the timing chain issues and the requirement to get the motor out, I decided to stay away.
I wanted a small, luxury German sports sedan with a V8, so that limits one's choices. If I was smarter I should probably be in an S4, but it just doesn't tug the heartstrings like an AMG, and not as much power or torque either - the differnece of which subjectively I suspect would be amplified by the AWD. And the Audi V8s are pricey to fix, the first time I read about the timing chain issues and the requirement to get the motor out, I decided to stay away.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 68
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From: Illinois
was 1999 C230K then 2003 C32 AMG NOW 2016 AMG GLE63
I get that there might be reasons the marketing department might quash the idea, and yes, I run winter tires and get around OK, but I want what I want, OK? As far as I am concerned EVERY car should be AWD. When you get surprised by that early snow and you still have your summer tires on because it was 60 degrees last weekend, that's when AWD matters.
I use my car for my job, and if I can't get to where I need to go in the car I have to drive the 10mpg 4wd truck, and that sucks.
I use my car for my job, and if I can't get to where I need to go in the car I have to drive the 10mpg 4wd truck, and that sucks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 125
From: Atlanta Metro
Current: C217 V12TT AMG Previously: C55 AMG, SL65 AMG
I get that there might be reasons the marketing department might quash the idea, and yes, I run winter tires and get around OK, but I want what I want, OK? As far as I am concerned EVERY car should be AWD. When you get surprised by that early snow and you still have your summer tires on because it was 60 degrees last weekend, that's when AWD matters.
I use my car for my job, and if I can't get to where I need to go in the car I have to drive the 10mpg 4wd truck, and that sucks.
I use my car for my job, and if I can't get to where I need to go in the car I have to drive the 10mpg 4wd truck, and that sucks.
Why should every car be AWD for the snow? It doesn't snow much in the lower 1/3 of this country. In fact, all my life I've lived in Georgia and Florida, so why does AWD matter?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 68
Likes: 2
From: Illinois
was 1999 C230K then 2003 C32 AMG NOW 2016 AMG GLE63
Because it's not just for snow, it's for wet streets, it's for dirt or rock roads you really shouldn't have driven your mercedes down... It's even for dry streets and getting all of your power to the ground without wasting any with wheelspin.
I completely get that I am in a minority and there are some that will disagree with me just because I am thinking differently than they do, but a man can dream...
I completely get that I am in a minority and there are some that will disagree with me just because I am thinking differently than they do, but a man can dream...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,510
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From: bay area, california
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Because it's not just for snow, it's for wet streets, it's for dirt or rock roads you really shouldn't have driven your mercedes down... It's even for dry streets and getting all of your power to the ground without wasting any with wheelspin.
I completely get that I am in a minority and there are some that will disagree with me just because I am thinking differently than they do, but a man can dream...
I completely get that I am in a minority and there are some that will disagree with me just because I am thinking differently than they do, but a man can dream...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 27
From: North NJ
2002 C32 AMG, 2013 GLK 350/4, 2015 E63S AMG Wagon
Because it's not just for snow, it's for wet streets, it's for dirt or rock roads you really shouldn't have driven your mercedes down... It's even for dry streets and getting all of your power to the ground without wasting any with wheelspin.
I completely get that I am in a minority and there are some that will disagree with me just because I am thinking differently than they do, but a man can dream...
I completely get that I am in a minority and there are some that will disagree with me just because I am thinking differently than they do, but a man can dream...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 6
From: GA
2016 Chevrolet SS, 2006 Cadillac STS-V
Because it's not just for snow, it's for wet streets, it's for dirt or rock roads you really shouldn't have driven your mercedes down... It's even for dry streets and getting all of your power to the ground without wasting any with wheelspin.
I completely get that I am in a minority and there are some that will disagree with me just because I am thinking differently than they do, but a man can dream...
I completely get that I am in a minority and there are some that will disagree with me just because I am thinking differently than they do, but a man can dream...
