Girly question about Mercs

[darmstadt]

The new CLA and A class are 4wd and anything that says 4matic otherwise (practically) all reasonably sized saloons are RWD. Frau D. wants me to buy a Merc again as she uses the star at the front to judge where the front of the car is...

[Paddy]

When I used to have a Merc the star used to get nicked

[Mich the Tester]

I am too lazy to google this, and reckon one of you lot will know this.

Are all Mercedes rear wheel drive?

If any models aren't, which ones are they?

A/B class is front wheel drive, M and G class are 4wd, all others rear wheel drive except the '4matic' variants which are 4 wheel drive.

[Mich the Tester]

I just hate the aggro in ice or snow, and I resented having to spend so much money on winter tyres when I drove a BMW.

OH thank you for that very comprehensive reply!

It's OK in ice or snow these days what with the traction control and ABS and all the other clever gubbins, and the tyres are much better than in the past. It's perhaps a matter of personal preference but one big advantage with big mercs in slippery conditions is that they slip very gradually and predictably, so it's usually quite easy to correct. Personally I don't have a bleeding clue what a FWD or 4WD car is going to do in a slippery bend so I'm not that happy with them.

[sasguru]

I just hate the aggro in ice or snow, and I resented having to spend so much money on winter tyres when I drove a BMW.

OH thank you for that very comprehensive reply!

4WD is not a panacea for ice and snow. Can help dig you out if you're stuck.
But winter tyres are far more effective, especially for what matters: stopping distance.
I don't see why they should be expensive - I've got a set I paid £600 for.
I swap them out every summer and you end up with two sets of tyres that last twice as long.

[MaryPoppins]

4WD is not a panacea for ice and snow. Can help dig you out if you're stuck.
But winter tyres are far more effective, especially for what matters: stopping distance.
I don't see why they should be expensive - I've got a set I paid £600 for.
I swap them out every summer and you end up with two sets of tyres that last twice as long.

Just to clarify, I'm not after a 4wd particularly.

I just very definitely do not want a RWD.

You make a good point about the tyres though sas, yeah.

I think I'm probably going to go for a volvo.

[Old Hack]

Just to clarify, I'm not after a 4wd particularly.

I just very definitely do not want a RWD.

You make a good point about the tyres though sas, yeah.

I think I'm probably going to go for a volvo.

Sas is quite correct, but don't do a d000hg, and only put them on the front

In all seriousness, I leased a BMW 330i touring, and couldn't get out of the hamlet in the snow. I swapped it for a FWD Audi, and that was fine in the snow. But nothing beats winter tyres and 4wd.

The new CLA is tiny in the back, so I'd not recommend that. Which Volvo would you want to go for? They're canning the C30, which leaves the V40 and V50, I guess.

[Mich the Tester]

Which Volvo would you want to go for? They're canning the C30, which leaves the V40 and V50, I guess.

Do they deliver them with that fish on the back or is that an add-on extra?

[Old Hack]

Do they deliver them with that fish on the back or is that an add-on extra?

The Polestar S60 comes with a devil

[SimonMac]

Just to clarify, I'm not after a 4wd particularly.

I just very definitely do not want a RWD.

You make a good point about the tyres though sas, yeah.

I think I'm probably going to go for a volvo.

Why not have a look at the Subaru Legacy, I'm on the process of buying one if I can find one I like and Portseven has just got one, nice and roomy, AWD but doesn't look like an soft roader, and pretty decent MPG