Need Help Whether to go for an Slk or not

sudeepr · 10-11-2008

Hello Everyone,

I am currently looking for a used car and i have my eyes on 2006 SLK 350. The car looks absolutely fantastic. Considering that it would be my everyday car, i wanted to know how it performs in harsh winters like snow/ Ice. The fact is i have never been in snow and this would be my first winter. I wanted to know what you people suggest?. Shld i go for this car or am i better off sticking to an other AWD vehicle.

Thanks

peacemf · 10-11-2008

where do you live? (so that ppl can get a picture of what kinda of winter you are on about

sudeepr · 10-11-2008

I am in Northen Illinois close to chicago .. I have recently moved here and hrd that the winters are pretty terrible.

DansSlk · 10-11-2008

Well its not the best of cars in snow because its RWD but i consider the SLK driveable in most situations.

mtiede · 10-11-2008

I had the slk 320 and the slk 350 through 7 winters or so. No real problem. However, I have a separate set of wheels and snow tires for the winter. As far as I could tell, I got around just as good as everybody else. Maybe better than some. But of course, I try to drive carefully in the winter. It is funny that the "C/S" was originally "W/S" meaning the W was for Winter and the S was for Summer. But I liked driving with S in the Winter more. Just seemed to give me more control somehow.

In my view, if you aren't driving off road or pushing a plow, you don't need AWD.

(of course, I haven't driven an AWD in winter either

)

coolio · 10-14-2008

this is a very good car... if you can afford it... get it! :-)

sudeepr · 10-15-2008

Thanks Guys for the replies..It looks like it should be fine with the winter tires. Its just the people i have spoken to gasp! whenever i say a rwd in snow. well anyways, your replies make me happy and give me the green signal to go for the car.

**Dolebludger** · 10-15-2008

For what it is worth, I refuse to drive FWD in snow, and greatly prefer RWD over FWD. To me, the slick surface snow brings amplifies the tendency of FWD cars to torque steer, and they feel directionally unstable to me.

Of course, the best vehicles for snow are all wheel drive or (better yet) true four wheel drive.

**Driller** · 10-15-2008

I've run Blizzaks on both my '99 SLK 230 & '05 SLK55 with no problems. In blizzard conditions I'll defer to our RAV4, but for overall winter driving (snow packed roads & -25C), the SLK's have never left me stuck.

**Dolebludger** · 10-16-2008

Yes, to clarify, for snow my first choice would be a true four wheel drive, like a Jeep or a Hummer (yuk). My second choice would be an all wheel drive, like a Subaru or a RAV-4. (My adult daughter who lives in the Colorado mountians just bought a new Subaru, on my recommendation.) My third choice would be a RWD with proper tires. And, by far, my last choice would be a FWD vehicle. I live in Oklahoma, where we sometimes do have significant snow (not as much as Colorado). There are four cars in my garage, and all are RWD.

mtiede · 10-16-2008

I've had several front wheel drive cars through the Buffalo winters and they did very well. In fact, I kind of like how they pulled through the snow rather than plowing through. Excellent for straight line driving. Either has its disadvantages when going around curves...

Someone once said "Which gives more control? Putting the horse in front of the carriage and pulling or putting the horse behind the carriage and pushing?"

10-11-2008	#1 (permalink)
sudeepr SLK World Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Need Help Whether to go for an Slk or not Hello Everyone, I am currently looking for a used car and i have my eyes on 2006 SLK 350. The car looks absolutely fantastic. Considering that it would be my everyday car, i wanted to know how it performs in harsh winters like snow/ Ice. The fact is i have never been in snow and this would be my first winter. I wanted to know what you people suggest?. Shld i go for this car or am i better off sticking to an other AWD vehicle. Thanks

10-11-2008	#4 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,752 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 221 Times in 173 Posts	Well its not the best of cars in snow because its RWD but i consider the SLK driveable in most situations. __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

10-15-2008	#8 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 546 Country: Thanks: 39 Thanked 76 Times in 51 Posts	For what it is worth, I refuse to drive FWD in snow, and greatly prefer RWD over FWD. To me, the slick surface snow brings amplifies the tendency of FWD cars to torque steer, and they feel directionally unstable to me. Of course, the best vehicles for snow are all wheel drive or (better yet) true four wheel drive. __________________ The SLK -- What the SL was supposed to be.

10-16-2008	#10 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 546 Country: Thanks: 39 Thanked 76 Times in 51 Posts	Yes, to clarify, for snow my first choice would be a true four wheel drive, like a Jeep or a Hummer (yuk). My second choice would be an all wheel drive, like a Subaru or a RAV-4. (My adult daughter who lives in the Colorado mountians just bought a new Subaru, on my recommendation.) My third choice would be a RWD with proper tires. And, by far, my last choice would be a FWD vehicle. I live in Oklahoma, where we sometimes do have significant snow (not as much as Colorado). There are four cars in my garage, and all are RWD. __________________ The SLK -- What the SL was supposed to be.

10-11-2008	#2 (permalink)
peacemf SLK World Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	where do you live? (so that ppl can get a picture of what kinda of winter you are on about

10-11-2008	#3 (permalink)
sudeepr SLK World Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I am in Northen Illinois close to chicago .. I have recently moved here and hrd that the winters are pretty terrible.

10-11-2008	#5 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,642 Thanks: 100 Thanked 55 Times in 45 Posts	I had the slk 320 and the slk 350 through 7 winters or so. No real problem. However, I have a separate set of wheels and snow tires for the winter. As far as I could tell, I got around just as good as everybody else. Maybe better than some. But of course, I try to drive carefully in the winter. It is funny that the "C/S" was originally "W/S" meaning the W was for Winter and the S was for Summer. But I liked driving with S in the Winter more. Just seemed to give me more control somehow. In my view, if you aren't driving off road or pushing a plow, you don't need AWD. (of course, I haven't driven an AWD in winter either )

10-14-2008	#6 (permalink)
coolio SLK World Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6 Country: Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	this is a very good car... if you can afford it... get it! :-)

10-15-2008	#7 (permalink)
sudeepr SLK World Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Guys for the replies..It looks like it should be fine with the winter tires. Its just the people i have spoken to gasp! whenever i say a rwd in snow. well anyways, your replies make me happy and give me the green signal to go for the car.

10-15-2008	#9 (permalink)
Driller SLK World Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calgary, Alberta Vehicle: 2005 SLK 55 Posts: 88 Country: Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I've run Blizzaks on both my '99 SLK 230 & '05 SLK55 with no problems. In blizzard conditions I'll defer to our RAV4, but for overall winter driving (snow packed roads & -25C), the SLK's have never left me stuck.

10-16-2008	#11 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,642 Thanks: 100 Thanked 55 Times in 45 Posts	I've had several front wheel drive cars through the Buffalo winters and they did very well. In fact, I kind of like how they pulled through the snow rather than plowing through. Excellent for straight line driving. Either has its disadvantages when going around curves... Someone once said "Which gives more control? Putting the horse in front of the carriage and pulling or putting the horse behind the carriage and pushing?"

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