Winter is coming - same old questions

[pete harrison]

Living in the north east it is inevitable that I will be driving in the snow at some point, but hopefully not for a few months yet !

Unfortunately and somewhat begrudgingly I had to include my Vauxhall Corsa Limited Edition in order to get the deal I wanted on my E63 but I am already thinking I might need a replacement (but I am hoping you will tell me that I don't).

I have owned a number of high powered rear wheel drive cars in the past and these have had varying abilities managing the winter white stuff. How does the E63 cope ?

 

[whitenemesis]

Very well, when shod with the correct tyres.

 

[Sanke]

Personally I'd weigh up the cost of four winter tyres and or wheels against a cheap run around that you'd be happy dumping half way up a blocked hill in the snow.

Hence.... I'm buying a Toyota Aygo as a drive and survive winter run about.

Steve

 

[st13phil]

Personally I'd weigh up the cost of four winter tyres and or wheels against a cheap run around that you'd be happy dumping half way up a blocked hill in the snow.

^ This.

Without winter tyres on the car you'll be going absolutely nowhere in an E63 in snow.

I priced up a set of winter wheels and tyres for mine last year (circa £2.5k!) and concluded that if it looked like the weather was going to get really bad, I'd buy a sh!tbox small hatch and sell it on again in the spring.

Fortunately we had a mild winter so I drove through it in my E-Class, but I'll keep an eye on the forecast and be prepared to do the same this winter. In fact, I might just do it anyway to keep the salt off the '63.

 

[Felstmiester]

Cheap run around. Especially when you've spent out on winter tyres for yours and someone else smashes in to you in there cheap run around.

 

[PenelopePitstop]

My C63 was doing well on winter tyres, and they costed £488 new for set of 4. I will be selling them closer to winter season when there's more interest.

 

[BIRMA]

I normally SORN what I call my 'summer car' about October as I don't like that gritty stuff they put on the roads these days and I save a few quid on the outrageous £500 road tax.
I put winter tyres on what I call my winter car about November although down here in the South it rarely gets snow bound but winter tyres are all about grip/braking in cold conditions so I put them on for self preservation more than anything.
I do recall many years ago when we had that sudden frozen rain followed by snow incident my Subaru SVX was the only thing moving with big BMW's and Mercs I might add floundering with no grip whatsoever stuck all along the roads whilst i sailed serenely by with a smug look on my face.

 

[FastLaneJB]

I have to say I had a 330d a few years back when there was a lot of snow and even with normal tires didn't really have much of a problem. Though that was when I lived in Norwich where everything is flat... I do remember going up a small hill and the rear swung around to a 45 odd degree angle. Drifting up a straight small little hill got me some looks of course but I made it vs the people that had rear wheel drive and didn't turn their traction control off (Pretty much all of them).

As I can work from home if needed or hire a car and expense it I just won't bother with winter tires as for me there's no need. Depends where in the country you live but in general have any of you considered just hiring a car if you need to get somewhere and there's snow? In general it might only be for a few days in the winter that you might need to do that which surely ends up cheaper than buying a winter run around or winter tires for an AMG. Though if we end up snowed in for 2 months my maths might be a little off

You run the risk of being caught out of course but just putting it out there as an option some of you might not have considered.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Reminds me to check whether logs for the fire are cheaper if bought well in advance.

 

[pete harrison]

have any of you considered just hiring a car if you need to get somewhere and there's snow? In general it might only be for a few days in the winter that you might need to do that which surely ends up cheaper than buying a winter run around or winter tires for an AMG. Though if we end up snowed in for 2 months my maths might be a little off

I have had a look into a hire car, but it is only of benefit providing there is advance notice of bad winter weather. I am also looking at whether it is worth buying a very cheap new car and keeping it long term.

I live four miles from where I work so taxi or walking are also alternatives.

 

[merc85]

my dads w126 380se was fine in the snow, ive not driven a 2000- Mercedes in snow so this year/early next i may find out how good/poor the s211 if i let it brave the elements lol

 

[daveenty]

My drive is on a downhill slope from the garage and, in the event of snow, I can get out but can't get back in again with the summer tyres on. The last time I attempted this, the car went sideways and smashed the driver's mirror on a wall, which cost me over £600 to replace. (Jaguar at the time) I saw it happening and was holding the brake so all four wheels were locked but it made no difference.

Alternatively, I could spend an hour clearing the snow, but difficult if it's coming down hard and practically impossible if it's frozen underneath it.

I decided that the logical thing to do was to buy a winter car. It cost me £1,600 initially, and in the last 12 months or so I've got round to doing most of the little jobs on it, some mechanical, some just cosmetic, but the first job was to replace the tyres with a set of winters which I use all year round as I don't really do the miles.

So, for under £2,500 I now drive around in this (Sellers picture from last year): -

Probably a bit more than a set of winters on the Mercedes, though I'm not bothered about salt/slush/grit on this one, and when I want to change it I'll still get something back for it hopefully. It starts, goes and stops in all conditions. The leather interior is soft and comfy so it's like driving your favourite armchair around. The performance is certainly not the best, and the fuel puts consumption makes the Merc look like a hybrid, but it's fun and reliable and saves me (or usually others) damaging the Merc in slippery conditions.

Prior to this I had a Subaru Outback which did the same job and, to this day, I still have no idea why I sold it.

 

[tec]

My C63 was doing well on winter tyres, and they costed £488 new for set of 4. I will be selling them closer to winter season when there's more interest.

I paid £70 for a full set of barely used winter tyres in June which was an amazing bargain.

I tried to sell a set of alloy wheels and winter tyres left over from my previous car about the same time and they did not sell despite a very low price, so I will also wait until November when there should be more interest.

 

[paulb64]

Its all about the tyres and the tread pattern they have for me, hence I think winters are the thing to have.
I picked up a cheap set of used wheels and very low mileage winter tyres for my E55 and have used them through the last two winters.

To be fair it wasn't much of a winter last year, but I nearly got caught out in Aberdeenshire in early May this year.
Thankfully I still had the winter wheels on when I drove into a snow storm. Driving cross country roads I had no problems in spite of completely white roads - even managed to overtake an incompetent driver or undertyred 4x4 who was holding me up...

A cheap and cheerful run around is a decent option, but still useless in snow unless it has appropriate rubber on it.

 

[nickjonesn4]

good call on the budget 4x4

moving to scotland next year and always fancied a disco

Land Rover Discovery 2.5 Tdi GS 5dr

 

[C60three]

I have some part worn Winterconti tyres for sale
2x 255 35 18
2x 225 40 18
around 7mm tread. No damage or punctures please let me know if you are interested?

 

[pete harrison]

Living in the north east it is inevitable that I will be driving in the snow at some point, but hopefully not for a few months yet !

Unfortunately and somewhat begrudgingly I had to include my Vauxhall Corsa Limited Edition in order to get the deal I wanted on my E63 but I am already thinking I might need a replacement (but I am hoping you will tell me that I don't).

I have owned a number of high powered rear wheel drive cars in the past and these have had varying abilities managing the winter white stuff. How does the E63 cope ?

So what was the outcome ?

I bought a second car, partly as a winter car and partly as a runabout because I like having two cars - especially when one does not start or has a flat tyre when I go to work at 05:30.

I spent much of the past two weeks looking for a cheap hack and have come to the following conclusions. £500 is not enough so the range was increased to £1000 to £2000, but even at this price it is still hard to find a car I am happy to park on my drive - let alone it being questionable if it would start in the depths of winter. My thoughts are that people change their cars at either 3 years old prior to an M.O.T. being required or when they develop expensive faults a few years later. I appreciate there are loads of good older cars on the road but I think these are the ones people want to keep.

So having got sick to death of inspecting / driving unpleasant and often unsafe cars I have gone back to 'Plan 'A' and bought another Vauxhall Corsa (pre-loved), and it has even come with a personal registration plate that did not add to the price of the car :bannana:

 

[Sanke]

I bought another car too. And please have a laugh at my expense.... Toyota Aygo, no Road tax, no increase on insurance, 4yrs remaining warranty and 3yrs service thrown in.

Steve

 

[fabes]

I have some part worn Winterconti tyres for sale
2x 255 35 18
2x 225 40 18
around 7mm tread. No damage or punctures please let me know if you are interested?

Oooh....?

You have a PM

 

[PenelopePitstop]

There seems to be more C63 owners, maybe someone is interested in cheap winter tyres. I have to get rid of them very soon and I'm open to offers.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/clas...er-tyres-18-inch-slkr172-c-class-204-etc.html