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Old 05-26-2008, 09:57 PM
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babymog babymog is offline
Loose Cannon - No Balls
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Northeast Indiana
Posts: 10,765
FWD is typically front-heavy, the reason we see so many of them stuffed backwards in snowbanks in the winter.

Most M-B sedans and wagons are closer to 48/52 weight distribution, and are well balanced. Once you start on any grade, the weight shifts to the rear, as it does accelerating, which is why when we sold Volvo and Mercedes, we kept a SAAB around with the same tires as the Volvo (RWD) for a hill-climbing comparison, the Volvo RWD car always won.

Tires are a factor, the driver is a big factor. Buy winter tires. The low-end torque is a big issue also, my 190D Turbo would spin wildly on wet pavement on takeoff as it tended to build full boost almost right away and really cut loose. Defeat the boost by plugging the overboost protection line and she'll probably be fine.
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