dunderhi

The lease on my Audi is up in two months and I have a couple of options to consider:

1) Replace it with a smaller run-about maybe an A4, 3 series, or C-class to be used primarily in foul weather and trips into the city (bad roads). ~ $20k (lease cost)
2) Don't replace it, and buy a second set of wheels and snow tires and drive the SL everyday. ~ $2-3k
3) Don't replace it, and swap out my summer tires for all seasons, and avoid the snow. ~ $1.5k
4) Don't replace it, and keep the summer tires on and commute with the wife in the GL when it's cold outside. Free, but it will cost some freedom.

Opinions? Does anyone drive their SL in the snow?

IngenereAMG

Why don't you just buy the A6 and use it as you have in the past. I don't think that the SL will make a great snow car.

Artyi

It's gonna be my first snow session with SL, because I bought it just 2 months ago. I have already put new rims and tires for winter, so I'll give you my first impression in about two months...

I think i made a right decission, because i'm driving 10 miles a day... Only city.

djamer

My 2 cents..

Keep the SL off the snow roads, and icy conditions regardless of what tires/rims u put on it. The car will be fine, be extra cautious of retarded drivers especially in winter months. Here in VA/DC area drivers who have no respect for others. With snowy conditions, more accidents happen, and the more wear/tear on your car with salt ridden roads, snow debris, etc. I would recommend getting a reliable front wheel drive or AWD car for winter months, and drive the SL on the sunny cold days even in weather. That's my plan..

Good luck

dunderhi

2 votes no
1 vote snow

Thanks for the feedback. The A6 is going no matter what, because there's no Nav sys and it will be out of warranty soon. I guess, I've ruled out the summer only & all season tires options, so it's down to snow tires or a third car.

mjr24

DO NOT buy this car to go in the snow. It weighs 4k pounds and is rear wheel drive. I live in Chicago and Wisconsin and know what a real winter is. Let's put it this way....if there is even HALF an inch on the ground, I do not leave the house AT ALL. Seriously. Hell, I even have to have food delivered or I'd die.

If you get 4k pounds sliding on the snow or ice, you aren't getting that car to stop until you crash into something.....it's a miracle I didn't have that happen this winter. I personally felt it was too risky to risk that in such a nice car. The times I did drive it in the snow (it started snowing after I left with the car), it's didn't do well at all....slid everywhere. The torque sucks if you get stuck in the snow, too......because the wheels spin and spin (even with the traction control off).

Franz

Are you serious about it? It will be my first winter with the SL and I often go snowboarding in alps so in about 3 weeks I will put on 17 wheels with snow tires and will have snow chains in the trunk for real snow situation. I have just bought the snowboard rack....do you guess the car will have more problem than an E class or SL class or CLk? I don't think so because all mercedes are heavy and with rear traction.....does someone drove the car in snow situation with snow tires??

djamer

Franz,

Having owned a CLK and driving it in snowy wintery conditions, I would not recommend it.

jmf003

With a good set of winter tires you can drive just about anything in the snow. When I was younger I had a rwd GMC pickup truck that, after swapping out the useless OEM tires, made it safely through almost a dozen Michigan winters. It was heavier than an SL with a much heavier front-end weight bias and a solid rear axle that went airborne over bumps.

That said, I like my SL too much to drive it on snow and ice. I do drive it during the winter but only on dry days.

SL2003driver

It will be fine in the snow if you run dedicated winter tires. Read an article on it in a magazine. Just need the tires with the snow emblem and a lot of sipes and you need the snows on all 4 wheels. 17" with 45 series tires are the best.

Franz

It's exactly what I will do 4 snow tires with 255/45/17 and trak chain to add to rear tires in case of big snow going uphill

SL2003driver

I bought the Dunlop dedicated snows with the mountain and snow flake emblem. They were rated excellant in the snow and all the reviews that I read stated that the muscle cars made it through light to medium snow levels like a SUV 4wheel drive. It's all about the tires and the tire composition and siping. 4 wheel drive does no good if you don't have the right tires. Now the salt on the roads is not good for any vehicle but if you wash you SL and keep it as clean as possible and make sure you wash the bottom every time then it should not be a problem. Mercedes uses zinc covered metal as well as wax treatment so I doubt there will be a problem with rust for many years of driving.

dunderhi

Thanks for all of the feedback. The GL will be the snow car most of the time, so I decided to go with a set of snow tires for the piece on mind and more room in the driveway. I ordered a similar set-up to Franz's. Dunlop Winter Sport M3 255/45VR-17 with Rial DF17-8 wheels.

gqmagic

I would'nt drive an SL in the snow.
I don't even drive my SL in the rain.
Did you have the GL when you first posted the question?

dunderhi

I had the GL when I posted the question; it was part of option #4. The challenge occurs when there is foul weather and my wife or I need to drive to separate business locations. The SL will be my daily commuter when I turn in the Audi. So far I have driven the SL quite a few times in the rain without any problems, but I am concerned about controlling SL's power in snow/ice conditions. If it turns out to be out of control, I'll fall back to option #1 and lease an AWD.

Goyard

You obviously were not using snow tires.

I say drive it in the snow. I live in NYC and I do, just change the tires!

[5th]Nick

I put Vredestein Winters on my SL and i had no problem whatsoever, just be easy on the throttle

dunderhi

The wheels arrived and I put them on this afternoon. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions/opinions.

1) Close-up shot
2) Far shot
3) GL shot which was the inspiration for my wheel choice.

SL2003driver

They look great. My New Dunlop M3 winters should be here the end of November. Let us know how you like the 255/45/17's versus your 18's? Also how you like the Dunlops

dunderhi

I'm not much of a tire expert, so after about 40 miles all I can say is that they a quieter than the Michelin Pilot Sports. I figure I need to drive them a bit easy for the first hundred or two miles before I really hit the gas & the curves.

SLcharger

I have had the doubtfull experience of driving my SL in a snow storm, and even though i had winter tyres fitted, it was awfull. Those wide tyres get no grip, no traction, esp constantly interwening when braking, etc. It was like bambi on ice.

DONT DO IT.

SL2003driver

Come on man look at what you are driving. 600+ HP. What size brand, winter tires were you using with your AMG 600+ HP sled??

SLcharger

[quote=SL2003driver;2499705]Come on man look at what you are driving. 600+ HP. What size brand, winter tires were you using with your AMG 600+ HP sled??[/quote]

So what, even a big motor runs smoth if you hit the throttle gently.

It is Conti winter tyres.

Franz

SL Charger you have more than 600 hp and 19 or 20 tires....it's really different than 245 cv and 17 tires and in case of snowstorm I think is better to add snowchains

tomd

I tried it. Even with snows, the car will NOT handle even the smallest hill. Not worth the aggravation. Last year I bought a Honda Pilot for winter driving. I still drive the SL550 in winter, but the roads have to be clear and dry.