E 320 vs E350 4matic in inclement weather
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
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1953 300 Adenauer, 1971 300 SEL 6.3, 1975 600, 1978 450 6.9
Thanks all....
...I appreciate your comments.
I'm not sure that I'd be driving my 320 (or 350 4matic) at 70mph (over the normal speed limit) in heavy rain when others are driving at 30mph with their emergency flashers on. All the electronic nannies and modern tires are only so good - they can't overcome the laws of physics.
One such law is that traction is reduced in rain as there is a layer of water between the tarmac and the tires....
I'm not sure that I'd be driving my 320 (or 350 4matic) at 70mph (over the normal speed limit) in heavy rain when others are driving at 30mph with their emergency flashers on. All the electronic nannies and modern tires are only so good - they can't overcome the laws of physics.
One such law is that traction is reduced in rain as there is a layer of water between the tarmac and the tires....
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,252
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From: Blaine, WA
07 E320 Bluetec
...I appreciate your comments.
I'm not sure that I'd be driving my 320 (or 350 4matic) at 70mph (over the normal speed limit) in heavy rain when others are driving at 30mph with their emergency flashers on. All the electronic nannies and modern tires are only so good - they can't overcome the laws of physics.
One such law is that traction is reduced in rain as there is a layer of water between the tarmac and the tires....
I'm not sure that I'd be driving my 320 (or 350 4matic) at 70mph (over the normal speed limit) in heavy rain when others are driving at 30mph with their emergency flashers on. All the electronic nannies and modern tires are only so good - they can't overcome the laws of physics.
One such law is that traction is reduced in rain as there is a layer of water between the tarmac and the tires....
Professional driver on an open circuit
Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 234
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2006 E320 CDI
You will do fine with an E320 CDI, if you...
Yep - I searched before I posted.
I'm in the market for either a 350 4matic or a 320. The 320 intrigues me because the possibilities of stellar (for this size car) "gas" mileage.
That said, my last cars all have been AWD (R32, RL, Audi S6) and with the proper winter tires have been like mountain goats - virtually unstoppable.
My last MB (a 450 SEL) was very bad in the snow (although tire technology has gotten much better since then too) but I figure that the new electronic wizardry, combined with proper tires should make the 320 pretty decent in all but the worst of weather.
Unfortunately, in theory (although it has never happened,) my job may require me to get on the roads (DC metro, NoVA, MD 'burbs) before the first snowplow has hit the roads. A few years ago I had a GTI as a daily driver and had no issues - except that I vowed never to buy a FWD car again.
Should I get the 320 or will the 4matic give me vastly improved traction? This will be my year round daily driver.
Discuss....
I'm in the market for either a 350 4matic or a 320. The 320 intrigues me because the possibilities of stellar (for this size car) "gas" mileage.
That said, my last cars all have been AWD (R32, RL, Audi S6) and with the proper winter tires have been like mountain goats - virtually unstoppable.
My last MB (a 450 SEL) was very bad in the snow (although tire technology has gotten much better since then too) but I figure that the new electronic wizardry, combined with proper tires should make the 320 pretty decent in all but the worst of weather.
Unfortunately, in theory (although it has never happened,) my job may require me to get on the roads (DC metro, NoVA, MD 'burbs) before the first snowplow has hit the roads. A few years ago I had a GTI as a daily driver and had no issues - except that I vowed never to buy a FWD car again.
Should I get the 320 or will the 4matic give me vastly improved traction? This will be my year round daily driver.
Discuss....
Short answer is that you will do better with an AWD or FWD car and snow tires, but you will do almost as well with a RWD car with traction control and a good (need not be great) set of snow tires. I personally think that you will do better with a RWD car and snow tires than you will with an AWD or FWD car and just all-seasons...especially worn all-seasons. I have only been stopped once with our old and heavy LS400 (RWD) once I put on snow tires...and no one short of a tall 4WD truck was getting through that drift until I cleared it.
