Thought'd I'd see what your experiences here are.

I scored my S600 from Bruse (He, has many names) this past November and it'll be my daily driver here in Sunny CT for ~ 18-22k / yr - rain or shine.

Coming out of 10yrs in quattros (with snows!), this will be a huge change for me.

But... prior to 'those', I was *strictly* Mr. RWD - ran snows on all my RWD cars, typically Hakk 10's or NRW's or Blizzcrap's (hated those) or the like. - and loved it.

Realistically, when it snows - if it's on way to work I simply wait for the roads to be cleared and all the idiots to be out of the way. If it's while @ work, I just go home early. I'm lucky like that - I never really 'need' to be somewhere, I can work around it.

Prior to quattro, I LOVED my RWD's in the snow - nothing like a good 4wheeldrift I say. Quattro is a game changer tho, thought I'd hate it b/c you couldn't 'hang' it out... nope. Quattro is the cat's @$$, with snows and some experience you are your own WRC Champion.

Back in RWD now, hoping it'll work out OK. Figure EDL will 'almost' work as good as a real locking diff, and the 'start in 2nd' Convenience mode will help... wish there were a 'start in 3rd' "Winter" feature like Volvos tho.

I figure tho that torque is going to be the enemy.

I went with Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme's, 245/18's all around - they came very highly regarded, and in receiving them they sure do look the part:



Now, winter '11-'12 thus far has BLESSED US here in CT with NO SNOW... woot! So I've not gotten to try it out yet. The tires in the DRY however are really damn good - waaaaaaay better than I expected, no sidewall squirm and not too much 'howl' @ speed. And they're said to wear like iron. Course, going from 275 to 245 in the rear I need to be exxxxxtra judicious in throttle application 8-/. Tho, they don't bake up as badly as I figured they would!

So... what say youeses? Who's winter'd their S600 here? Please, share your experiences - would love to hear them.

 

lol i had to.

anyways back to topic, im leaving the desert here and headed to the mountains (tx to seattle,wa) in a few months, first thing on the list are vreddys!!!

but the real question is: does it drift good in the snow?? haha no im joking.

 

Well I'm willing to bet that guy named Howard (the 2003 S600 with a 5 page thread ) does

 

Hmmmm, I should open 'this' up to any W220'ers...

...while I'd love to hear specifically from S600 guys - if you rock your W220 in the snow let's here of your experience as well please / thanks!

 

Ahh, that's better. I plan to when these Michelin Primacy's all-seasons wear out. The S500 does a very good job on its all-seasons, even uphill.

 

I know of several people that have S600 as their winter beaters. One of them actually has a W220 S600 for the winter and a W221 S65 for the summer.

 

Yes, CarboyS, I do.

I'd like to use my S600 as daily drive. So I'm going to put winter tires soon.

Thanks.

Howard

 

Not a chance, I can't even get it out of the driveway in snow, the wheels just spin. People in VA don't know how to deal with even minimal amounts of snow so even if I was comfortable with the car out in it I'm more concerned about someone else bending it due to their own stupidity.

On the few days it snows the wife plays chauffeur on my runs to the office. Luckily I only live 2 miles from it so there's not much inconvenience.

 

I bow down to you and your 18 THOUSAND posts!

Bruce

 

No need for the snows here in SoCal. Californians have NO IDEA how to drive in snow. I tried it once coming back from the Ps house in Boise and ended up spinning out of control across oncoming lanes and into the culvert on the other side.

We don't know from snow here.

Keith

 

LoL... too funny.

So, then... 'this' may have posed somewhat of an issue for you there then???:




I'm 'hoping' the Merc will do just fine... my history is my (hopeful) precedent! (entirely Just Not Right considering the near-priceless bodywork on that car):



In the meantime, be sure I'm doing a massive "_thank_you_ for no snow!" dance here in NE CT thus far this season (said as he knocks woodrow soas to not hugely jinx hisself!!!)...

 

First thing I ever do when a good amount of snow covers the roads is go out for a drive. Nothing like purposely sending yourself into a four wheel drift or spin to learn how to recover from it.

 

amen broham!

same here - well - historically

esp mit my quattro's - flakes fall / GRAB KEYS

dunno I'll exactly be sprinting for 'those' opps here now... but... I'll surely try to finagle some properly beckon'd opposite lock WOT time in der biturbo12 just fer shiggles.

now, srsly... 18k posts!?!?!?! Incredulous! 8-)

Bruse... so, yer stalkin MOI??? UNICORN!!!!!!

 

lolol seriously?? id poop bricks if i saw that all on the car v

 

Sooooo, THREE of you here use your W220's in the snow?

Come on guys, this forum is suuuuuuuch a SNORE. Doesn't have to be this way, shame really.

Love to hear more of your experiences... wake the eff up! 8-)

 

Keith,

An other example for snow.

I live in London, Ontario. Half year is winter and have to deal with snow and salt on the road.
Last year the first snow dumped nearly 1 meter here.
Every morning, after each snow, we need dig our car out. If you are lucky you got your own out. If not, find it and do it again, .


By the way, today a big snowstorm is beating hard.

Thanks.

Howard

 

Well Sarg, mine comes into the garage for the winter.

But I have to say, that driving ANY high HP car in the snow, without a true LSD is asking for it, IMHO.

Heck, I roll mine out every other week for a GOOD warm up, and spins on my VERY level driveway.

Good luck, but if it was me, a $1-2K Ford escort would be in your future.

 

I'm in the Chicago suburbs and do drive my S600 around in the snow, although some of the launches at some intersections need to be finessed. That being said, I also have an E500 4-MATIC that I got for my wife which serves as backup for anything that might prove too challenging for the S600. If there is a conflict where the two of us need separate cars in foul weather, I make sure she has the 4-MATIC.

Between its suspension raising feature and the 4-matic system, the E500 is a tank that will get around in extreme snowfalls. I recall last winter when we had 20" dumped on us, effectively shutting down the City (and the S600). That thing got past pickup trucks that were stuck in our subdivision streets. I can only assume the W220 4-MATIC system is just as good and always wished ///AMG would build a fortified 4-MATIC transmission in a sedan with one of their beastly engines. I do try to avoid ICE at all costs no matter which vehicle. Prior to this, I had a C32 AMG and my wife's Trans Am WS-6, which we also used in the snow regularly.

I found the tire choice makes a HUGE difference. I've never been a dedicated snow tire fan, so I've been running with the Continental Extreme DWS (Dry Wet Snow) high(er) performance A/S tires and have been exceptionally pleased with their grip, durable wear, and price point (especially given how often we go through rear tires).

Honestly, I'm not as worried about my getting around as I am worried about some other person sliding through an intersection and smashing into me. I'm in the insurance and financial planning business, so as I drive around (regardless of weather) I always wonder in the back of my mind "do they have enough insurance coverage to pay for my car if they hit me"; it's a terrible curse. I'm also fortunate enough to have a work schedule that I dictate, so I can always wait-out going into my office, leave early, or not go in at all if the weather is particularly bad. I also allow the staff to leave early/arrive late if they think their safety during their commute is going to be comprimised. Nothing we do is worth being killed or injured.

 

Can not help keep driving it as I love it so much.

Sorry, but don't want to compromise safety and comfortable buying ford to handle winter or have a fuel economy one to handle city driving.
Just want to drive whenever we need the luxury. Plus it need to serve me, not I serve it.

Believe me dedicated winter tires make it happen.

Thanks.


Well said and you are a nice guy.

Lol you worry about other's insurance coverage. Hope everybody get decent policy to have us covered. Even someone would smash me I'd like to be in a Benz.

By the way, my AWD XC70 with x-ice winter tires is none-stoppable if I want to go. Seldom has ABS kicking in even brake hard on white road. Equip your 4Matic with winter tires it will get even safer.

Thanks.

Howard

 

Thanks! I can honestly say my C32 saved my life in a bad accident (walked away from it after spinning out and careening into a jersey wall at 60+mph on the highway one rainy night, not a scratch on me, although a little sore the next few days), hence the switch to Mercedes for all our vehicels.

 

My S600 (sport) is my daily driver (in Vancouver we do not get a lot of snow but three winters ago we had snow on the ground for six weeks) and I have had only one problem in the snow when I got high centered on a side street. With traction control, ABS and good tires one just has to drive according to the conditions. The only thing I have to be slightly careful of is the chin spoiler.

 

Not saying it can't be done my friend, just saying it is NOT the best choice, IMHO.

I once had to drive a one wheel drive mustang, 5 speed, convertable throught the winter. Put some blizakks in the rear, and cheap skinnies up front. It got me to work everyday, but I would not want to do that again I can assure you. With two small kids that need me, I like a little safer path these days. Just sayin.

Good luck to all my fellow S NUTS

 

I'm on Chicago as well, although I have not driven any 600s I have had a couple 500s and I have driven a couple of times a cl65 but in summer.
As far as all of my 500s that would be a Clk, S class, Cls (wife's), and now S550 are all just fine with winters on. Granted not an aWD but still manageable. I always use Nokian WRs, this year decided to try firestone winter force, much cheaper, expecting snow today so we will see how they do.
So even though a cl65 has monster power it is still very smooth when taking it easy on gas, I would think that on 600 will be the same. So pop winters on and feather that throttle and you'll be fine.

 

I just put the Conti's DWS on my Audi, and I can say that I REALLY like these tires in Bad weather. Tirerack had them on sale to boot.

235/40/17 were $130 a tire plus $8 shipping each. Hard to beat them for the price, IMHO.

 

I have summer tires all around, so when it snow's I just leave the car parked as I can't drive it even starting in 4th...

I take the FWD car out and whip it like a maniac.