Bad day on the road

[Mercy1]

Spent best part of seven hours behind the wheel of the Merc yesterday - four motorways, the A34 and a few B roads. God, UK roads are appalling, even without the potholes, and the Merc being a Sport shuddered my body at every bump, drain, undulation, ridge etc etc. Felt like I'd been in a tumble dryer - why do people put up with this sort of rock'n'roll ride I mused!!!
Didn't help that it rained stair-rods from beginning to end and and in the pitch black of our unlit mways I was driving more or less blind passing juggernauts, and the flooded bits were truly scary.
Felt sorry for a young fella on a small motorbike who had the misfortune to hit a flood at the same time as an HGV (not on the mway). The wall of water that hit him almost knocked him off, boy was he shaken. Made me feel my ride wasn't so bad after all.
To top it all, the grit spreaders were out on the M27 even though I wasn't aware there was any frost forecast and the temperature was 6 degrees and pouring.
So there it was in front of me - the gritter in the centre lane. To cap a sh*tty day day on the road, I got the car sandblasted for good measure!! Not happy, but home safe, that's the main thing I suppose. Think I'm going to have a look at an XC60. Got to be a better way of getting around...!! lol.

 

[PXW]

Sorry to hear of your bad day. The gritter was probably OK - most of them now spread a sort of salty slush rather than hard grit, but no idea why they were out on such a warm night. Got me wondering though - if you do meet an old-fashioned grit sprayer, are you better off to pass it slowly, reducing the speed of impact of any individual piece of grit, but exposing the car to rather more of them, or to blast by, reducing the number of grit strikes but increasing their impact?

 

[crockers]

Having driven the W204 in both Sport and Elegance modes - I would opt for the Elegance ride everytime...but prefer the look of the Sport..

 

[Mercy1]

Sorry to hear of your bad day. The gritter was probably OK - most of them now spread a sort of salty slush rather than hard grit, but no idea why they were out on such a warm night. Got me wondering though - if you do meet an old-fashioned grit sprayer, are you better off to pass it slowly, reducing the speed of impact of any individual piece of grit, but exposing the car to rather more of them, or to blast by, reducing the number of grit strikes but increasing their impact?

This thought crossed my mind too as I got closer. No escape as the gritter was sitting in the centre lane spraying both sides. In the end, I edged closer until I was in the middle of the spray and then put my foot down to get past quickly. This morning's examination showed tiny pits on front and bonnet, but not serious unless you are detailer.

Having driven the W204 in both Sport and Elegance modes - I would opt for the Elegance ride everytime...but prefer the look of the Sport..

I think I'm with you on that, but I only have yours truly to blame for letting the heart rule the head!!

 

[Blackman]

UK roads are HEAVEN compared to some roads in other European countries...

 

[A210AMG]

You could always swap the larger alloys for smaller ones...

I'm like you though looks for me.....

 

[horgantrevor]

dont come to ireland you we dont have roads just a lot of potholes joined together and a bit of dirt

and try paying our road tax c240 v6 2.4L 900EURO
C36 AMG 3.6L 1524EURO

 

[Rory]

Think I'm going to have a look at an XC60. Got to be a better way of getting around...!! lol.

For just the same reasons as you, plus the RWD in slippy weather issue, I'm pretty set in my mind that my next car will be a mid-size SUV. My current thought is the Honda CRV diesel, now they've added an auto version, but it is very slight "girly"! I do like the new VW Touareg, but I just don't need anything that big.

 

[Mercy1]

For just the same reasons as you, plus the RWD in slippy weather issue, I'm pretty set in my mind that my next car will be a mid-size SUV. My current thought is the Honda CRV diesel, now they've added an auto version, but it is very slight "girly"! I do like the new VW Touareg, but I just don't need anything that big.

Well, I traded in my ML 320 because it was ridiculously big (needed a stepladder to wash the roof!). On balance, I wish I had kept it and put up with the exasperation of parking. I just thought that the C350 would give me a similar package in a more compact car - because every feature (the engine, gearbox, high spec etc) were exactly the same, improved even. I just didn't realise how much I would miss the airy space and would get bounced around so much (my mistake!)
Looked at other options. Yes, To-rag is definitely too big, CRVs, Ravs, and Audis etc a bit dull and soft, new X3 sounds good (but it IS a BMW!), Merc don't do a comparable size, so the XC60 sounds a good option if I can bring myself to drive a Volvo (uggh!). Now owned by the Chinese for God's sake, where will that take them guys? (I was also surprised to discover that the XC60 is not much smaller than the ML, but it does sound a comfy ride)
Oh, what to do...decisions, decisions, lol!

 

[Cabe]

Is it really going to get that cold tonight the spreaders have to go out? Brrrr

I travel from Fareham to Newbury and have to put up with the A34 and the M27 on a daily basis, I feel your pain (if not in my back, <3 Elegance suspension). Although I frequently use the back roads past Marwell down into Fareham.

Would I swap them for the M25, M40, or M6? Nope.



Not a chance.