4motion of cla 45 and the snow
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I wouldn't consider any sports tuned car to be good in snow, much less a M/AMG/RS car. They're really just high end luxury sports sedans. In fact, even a Lancer Evo and Impreza STI aren't all that good unless the snow has already been plowed and packed down. The CLA45 is probably better in the wet/slush than any other AMG just because it's front/AWD and significantly less powerful and torquey, but I would hesitate to use it there.
And that's not even counting the salt damage. I'm hesitant to even use the CLA45 with the stock summers in the wet.
And to back up what Mike T is saying, all AWD systems are pretty much the same in terms of the fact that two wheels tend to run and power can be split to all wheels (well, other than some SUVs and hypercars). AWD has become the grabbag term for all drive systems that aren't just FWD or RWD.
And that's not even counting the salt damage. I'm hesitant to even use the CLA45 with the stock summers in the wet.
And to back up what Mike T is saying, all AWD systems are pretty much the same in terms of the fact that two wheels tend to run and power can be split to all wheels (well, other than some SUVs and hypercars). AWD has become the grabbag term for all drive systems that aren't just FWD or RWD.
oups... sorry for the mistake with 4motion et 4matic...
I had 2 subaru sti and 2 audi a4 in the past. Right now, I have a glk350. Except of the ground clearance, I prefer the subaru and audi in the snow. I live out in the country and never had any problems so far. Even in 12in+ of snow.
So my question is more if I have the two wheels of the front spinning on ice/snow, does the back one will ''help'' like any other AWD vehicle or vice-versa or if only one wheel is slipping?
Does my question make more sense now?
I had 2 subaru sti and 2 audi a4 in the past. Right now, I have a glk350. Except of the ground clearance, I prefer the subaru and audi in the snow. I live out in the country and never had any problems so far. Even in 12in+ of snow.
So my question is more if I have the two wheels of the front spinning on ice/snow, does the back one will ''help'' like any other AWD vehicle or vice-versa or if only one wheel is slipping?
Does my question make more sense now?
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I agree with mike t about having a performance vehicle in the snow during the winter months. With too much power and torque it might affect traction. And with addition of winter tires they could only do so much.
I don't see the problem. I've tried a prorsche panamera 4s and a nissan gtr in snow without any problems...
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You'd best be asking Mercedes exactly how their AWD system works. But it should be like all others. Meaning it is FWD most of the time and will send power to the back when the front(s) starts loosing traction or there's too much power being sent to the front.
With regards to driving in the snow, it all depends on your driving abilities. You can drive a Mustang in the snow if you know the car's driving dynamics and limits, and feather the throttle. I agree with the preference of a Subaru or Audi over a GLK in the snow. I chose a PT Cruiser over a Grand Cherokee in the snow because I knew the Cruiser better than the Cherokee and if I slid sideways I was less scared of flipping or popping a tire loose in the Cruiser. The only problem with the Cruiser is the ground clearance. But in general, a lower powered engine is going to be easier to drive than something that produces a lot of power and torque.
In the end, winter tires, out of all the other things that matter in snow driving (FWD/RWD, power, torque, clearance, etc), are going to be the biggest difference maker.
At least that's what I've gathered from driving flat, hills, and mountains covered in snow in Washington, Oregon, Virginia, and West Virginia. Quebec may be different.
Oh, and in West Virginia, it is only safe to drive in the snow if there is no other driver on the road with you within a one kilometer radius.
With regards to driving in the snow, it all depends on your driving abilities. You can drive a Mustang in the snow if you know the car's driving dynamics and limits, and feather the throttle. I agree with the preference of a Subaru or Audi over a GLK in the snow. I chose a PT Cruiser over a Grand Cherokee in the snow because I knew the Cruiser better than the Cherokee and if I slid sideways I was less scared of flipping or popping a tire loose in the Cruiser. The only problem with the Cruiser is the ground clearance. But in general, a lower powered engine is going to be easier to drive than something that produces a lot of power and torque.
In the end, winter tires, out of all the other things that matter in snow driving (FWD/RWD, power, torque, clearance, etc), are going to be the biggest difference maker.
At least that's what I've gathered from driving flat, hills, and mountains covered in snow in Washington, Oregon, Virginia, and West Virginia. Quebec may be different.
Oh, and in West Virginia, it is only safe to drive in the snow if there is no other driver on the road with you within a one kilometer radius.
The default drive even in the AMG, as I understand it, is 100% FWD, with slip detection making a viscous coupling send up to 50% of the power to go to the rear. That would make it an inherently less stable car to drive in the snow than one with a 50-50% default torque split. In fact it's just like the cheap systems on VW and Honda "AWD" cars and SUVs.
The low ground clearance is an issue. But I don't think traction will be.
With winter tires and a torque vectoring AWD you should be able to get traction if you drive reasonably.
If you look at it this way. Subaru WRX STi. Lots of power. AWD. Even though the AWD system is different. They do great in the snow.
I have a lowered Subaru that is modified with a lip and snow tires. We had a pretty good dumping last year and I never got stuck. You have to know how to use some momentum.
I don't think that the AMG would have an issue. It is higher than my Subaru and weights about the same. The one thing would be, I don't know how the dual clutch would work. If there is a ton of snow, I would keep it in manual mode and maybe turn sport on so it can detect no traction to the rear wheels better.
I don't think that the AMG would have an issue. It is higher than my Subaru and weights about the same. The one thing would be, I don't know how the dual clutch would work. If there is a ton of snow, I would keep it in manual mode and maybe turn sport on so it can detect no traction to the rear wheels better.
Everyone, does any one of you live in a true northern climate?
Put 4 brand new Blizzaks or any other top line winter tire on your car. Drop out of 18 or 19 inch rims to 17 for the winter, DRIVE SENSIBLY, you cannot accelerate or corner as if it is summer time and the streets are dry and VIOLA! You can drive the CLA 45 in the snow. I am coming from a modified Legacy GT with over 300 HP and no traction control, 2005 MY. No problems what soever, but then again, born and raised to live through Montreal winters, learned to drive for real, RWD cars, only 2 snow tires on rear wheels. I am waiting on my CLA 45 with ZERO concern for winter driving.
Put 4 brand new Blizzaks or any other top line winter tire on your car. Drop out of 18 or 19 inch rims to 17 for the winter, DRIVE SENSIBLY, you cannot accelerate or corner as if it is summer time and the streets are dry and VIOLA! You can drive the CLA 45 in the snow. I am coming from a modified Legacy GT with over 300 HP and no traction control, 2005 MY. No problems what soever, but then again, born and raised to live through Montreal winters, learned to drive for real, RWD cars, only 2 snow tires on rear wheels. I am waiting on my CLA 45 with ZERO concern for winter driving.
the best way to learn is to throw on a set of winters, wait for the first snow fall, and find a big parking lot that hasn't been cleared of snow and go crazy with drifting. It's fun and a great way to learn how your car reacts to better prepare you.
Driving a CLA45 AMG in winter will be LOADS of fun.
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It also really depends on how well plowed the roads are. I mean, it doesn't matter what kind of snow tires/chains you have on, if there's a foot on the road you're not getting through it. And if you push your way through you engine will overheat in a minute. If it's plowed then it really depends on how you drive. I know people who buy snow tires and chains and they still crash all the time because they have a lead foot. I just have stock all seasons and no chains and still do fine in inclement weather in the Appalachians.
Although I have no plans on driving the CLA in the snow. Not only would I not want to risk any little scrap with a curb (and the thousands of dollars to fix that) but I don't want the salt corrosion.
Although I have no plans on driving the CLA in the snow. Not only would I not want to risk any little scrap with a curb (and the thousands of dollars to fix that) but I don't want the salt corrosion.
I will let you know tomorrow as I am picking up my car, and my winter tires are not going to be in Canada for another 10 days, and its snowing in Calgary
I feel my lancer evo is better than my STI. In snow mode gives the torque to the front wheels and very stable due to the limited slip front and rear differential. I had a WRX which didn't have LSD in the front which was more of a handfull. The DSC tries to mimic the LSD but doesn't work as well and wears the brakes.
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