I can attest to the poor snow and ice performance with a turbodiesel
of any type and the 220D, for similar reasons. The 220D auto has a
fluid coupling with fixed slip, so it transmits too much torque to
the rear wheels. A turbo typically spins up and adds power without
direct control by the driver, with the result again that there is
too much torque being applied to the rear wheels.
Good tires make all the difference. My old Volvo TD would spin on
wet pavement, let alone ice or snow when I got it, and after 50,000
miles the tires looked exactly like they did when I got it -- super
hard 80,000 mile tires. No traction. I replaced them with
Firestone LH-30s, and it became a decent car in ice and snow.
Sadly, those tires are no longer available, they've been "improved"
by tires with less traction and poorer balance!
Peter
I disagree. I drove my SDL nearly every day for seven or eight years
in every kind of condition. With blizzaks, it would go anywhere
within reason. It is obviously a turbodiesel. I also drove a 123
300D one winter and it was great too. It is all about tires. I
don't even remember what was on the 300TD, but those tires were
nothing special. Just some off brand tire that was on it when I got
the car. It was a turbodiesel also. In those years I averaged over
50k per year on the SDL or TD, and drove several other vehicles too.
Turbodiesel or Diesel, MBs handle well in snow with good tires and
in most cases, weight in the trunk. I'd still prefer a 110 200D
2.4 for winter driving. (based on 42 yrs experience driving MBs
and lotsa other stuff in winter conditions.)
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