C63 AMG on wet, wintry roads?

[AndrewD]

Hello, first post so please be gentle

I'm considering a C63 estate for my wife as an everyday family car. She drove one at a dealer yesterday and loved it, but is concerned about its practicality in the depths of winter in rural Bucks. It's obviously powerful and RWD and she doesn't want to be constantly worried about putting it into a hedge. We are a family of petrolheads, actually the amg would be our least powerful car but the others don't get used for school runs or dog carrying on cold January mornings.

I'm keen to get the car but I do see her point. I guess.

Any real world experiences would be gratefully received!

 

[developer]

Hello Andrew and welcome.

The issue isn't AMG related, it's RWD traction related. Any car can be made to go slowly if required. There are winter tyre fans on here but they're not ideal for the country lanes.

Couldn't you/she get a 4x4 as the winter runaround, considering the rural location?

 

[akhan48]

I'm a fan of winter tyres, infact I use them all year round now! But I don't live in a rural area so I'm not sure how good they would be on untreated/country lanes

 

[tasn1]

Hi AndrewD, I had the same problem with the MRS...tell her never to touch the magic button (ESC)!

 

[@MARK]

Any car can be made to go slowly if required.

I am afraid that is the answer

Just because the car has lots of power on tap does not mean it has to be used.

In that same way that it's not an excuse for driving at 100mph past a school, taking it easy and slow in bad weather is all in the hands of the driver.

If you want to help, how about sending here on a car control course (skid pan training)?

 

[mika]

winter tyres on a c63 make a dramatic difference
they are ideal for winter conditions sub 7degrees , snow etc
my car is my day car so it gets all types of conditions/tasks
as the guys have already said its how you drive it

my wife is totally comfortable in mine and doesnt really accept its the beast i think it is
she says she just doesnt press the accelerator very hard...she also says she prefers sport mode as its a bit livelier

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

Hi, I have a CL600 but use a small Suzuki 4x4 in winter (I live in Scotland) Winter tyres are good but but not ideal, you can pick up a cheap 4 x 4, even a VW golf.

 

[Simon_M]

ML450CDI should be the answer.

 

[amgmaster]

Hello, first post so please be gentle

I'm considering a C63 estate for my wife as an everyday family car. She drove one at a dealer yesterday and loved it, but is concerned about its practicality in the depths of winter in rural Bucks. It's obviously powerful and RWD and she doesn't want to be constantly worried about putting it into a hedge. We are a family of petrolheads, actually the amg would be our least powerful car but the others don't get used for school runs or dog carrying on cold January mornings.

I'm keen to get the car but I do see her point. I guess.

Any real world experiences would be gratefully received!

just get 1 with a lsd i found it did'nt slip as much in the damp conditions.
did you have a blast in it?
what do you think of it?

 

[scumbag]

Play her this, then go buy one and don't worry about it.



it was around the -2c when this was filmed.


And its a buffoon driving, fists of ham, feet of stone etc etc

 

[Dieselman]

Hello, first post so please be gentle

I'm considering a C63 estate for my wife as an everyday family car. She drove one at a dealer yesterday and loved it, but is concerned about its practicality in the depths of winter in rural Bucks. It's obviously powerful and RWD and she doesn't want to be constantly worried about putting it into a hedge. We are a family of petrolheads, actually the amg would be our least powerful car but the others don't get used for school runs or dog carrying on cold January mornings.

Not looking for another Wife are you? She says this looks like a better deal than 2 Camels.

 

[A210AMG]

You don't have to drive it quick?

A 2cv could be more dangerous if you don't slow down for a bends??

If this is the least powerful car in the fleet your wife should be used to RWD? and power??

If your still not keen how about the RS4 or similar if you want a quick estate? If you can find one also the R63 R class?

 

[Harrythedog]

How many days out of 365 are the roads icy, make your decision on that. A few days cautiousl driving shouldn't affect your decision.

 

[Dieselman]

A 2cv could be more dangerous if you don't slow down for a bends??

Not so due to the 2CV being FWD and running on skinny tyres. A C63 is not good in snow.

 

[A210AMG]

Any car with wide rubber and rwd will be bad in the snow. As mentioned how many days a year is this? hardly a deal breaker. Spare set of wheels with winter tyres would transform this.

Sounds like if the OP is concerned a RR sport supercharged could be the way, should be ok through puddles outside school also

I agree 2cv not best example as that would actually be very good in the snow

 

[AndrewD]

Thanks guys and sorry been travelling so not responded earlier.

I've not driven one yet, that's happening on Saturday.

My wife is happy with powerful cars, I think she's just wondering if everyday self-restraint with the loud pedal will be frustrating. Winter tyres are a good point though.

 

[storm4x4]

sorry to jump in so late guys, but todays wet weather in buckinghamshire was a great laugh. i've never driven my C in the rain before today and i'm glad to say that the traction control is (in my eyes) perfect. Many times i've had the pedal mashed and the car would launch perfectly smooth. no slipping, no sliding,... got to admit i felt very safe driving her in the rain. but will not be doing it too often (i love the car too much)

 

[Bathurst]

Have you not considered an ML63 AMG? 4Wd with all the usual AMG performance.

 

[robtt]

In Germany everyone has winter tyres, you see M3,AMG the lot driving about in snow conditions etc.Otherwise Merc etc would be producing nothing but 4x4 cars. We have winter tyres on my wife's Alfa and it is sound as a pound even in four to six inches virgin snow and we live in very rural,very hilly, North Yorkshire

 

[storm4x4]

Have you not considered an ML63 AMG? 4Wd with all the usual AMG performance.

i did actually, but the build quality is pathetic. I'll stick to borrowing my brothers R or G if it gets too slippery