At last 4wd comes to the UK
 

Well it's been a long time coming but at long last we have a choice (rather than just Audi) if you want a saloon or estate with 4wd.

BMW launched X drive for some of its 3 series models this year and now it has been announced that the new MB C Class will be the first ever to offer 4 wheel drive in the UK.

About time if you ask me, MB and BMW cars I've owned have been frankly dangerous in the snow

There are even rumours that the new C63 AMG will be 4 wheel drive, the most recent E63 AMG is 4wd in left hand drive format and posts a 0-60mph time of about 3.5seconds:eek:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/de...class-revealed

But don't 4-wd cars attract more tax?

Do they? I didn't think so.

No

BMW did a 4wd car yonks ago

Which one was that then?

They've done a few ix models over the years
Nothing recent afaik

Should I add nothing recent for the uk market

I'd still be interested to know which 4wd saloon cars BMW offered for sale in the UK yonks ago

I hope they are switchable 4wd as rwd ftw

The e30 325 ix was available in the uk in the mid 80s
With a list price of 17k apparently
Not sure on the e34 ix because apparently they made less that 10,000
But there are some over here , official or imports , I don't know

bmw 4wd has arrived ..but in diesel form only :(

Dont I don't think the fact it's diesel is such u bad thing
The torque and power range of a diesel is probably better suited to 4wd
It would be a nice feature on the m cars but I think it would be a little foolish to come back to the uk market with 4wd and offer it on the top end models only

I think the cost was a little prohibitive before , coupled with some reliability and recall issues that made it disappear from the uk the last time round

I'd still get RWD; if you want AWD, go for an Audi.

Doesn't seem to be much selection, every new interesting model doesn't seem to have it. Not sure how I feel about propshaft going through a modified sump, sounds like recipe for oil starvation if you fling it about.

Someone here ordered the 335d xdrive; I should think that goes well - sub 5s to 60 isn't bad.

None of the M and AMG stuff except for a 2 litre model? M550d x drive would be interesting.

John, the new e63 amg in lhd format is 4wd. Now that the platform for the new c class has been designed to allow 4wd in rhd I have a hunch that the new c class amg will be 4wd. Now that should be interesting, twin turbo charged v8 producing well over 450 bhp and 4wd!

You should see the 0-60mph numbers the 4wd e63 amg puts down, they're frankly unbelievable, proper supercar territory.

EFA

;)

Actually you're right ;-)

Trouble with Subarus is the narrow powerband or weak engines, poor economy for the performance, no good auto gearboxes, poor ride quality, poor refinement, poorinteriors, poor equipment. They used to be cheap for their performance compared to other cars. The things that remain are long travel suspension and great traction.

Indeed, well said.
I remember back in 1998 when I first got mine, not much could touch it with regards to performance vs price.

Both were official, just did not sell in great volumes back then.

Well it's looking promising. I must say a near 500 BHP, 4wd, C63 AMG estate would tick lots of boxes.


http://www.pistonheads.com/news/defa...?storyId=28946

Are these 4wd systems any good?

Thats what winter tyres (or snow socks if you can't be bothered messing around with a spare pair of wheels) are for. Mrs Z3 was awesome last winter with winter tyres on the back!

As Duck alludes, it will make fook all difference in the snow without the right tyres. I had a B7 RS4 and it was only marginally better than my current 2012 M3 in snow.
Tyres tyres tyres... Zzzzzz

I have a mate who just ordered a 320d in AWD. Apparently it only adds another 50 kg. I did wonder how they squeezed the running gear in and messing with the sump seems a compromise.

AWD is so rarely needed by most drivers though. I know my mate couldn't get the back end out if he tried.

I do miss the AWD in my old R32 even if it is was very front biased; it was fun to activate on wet corners. A Golf needs AWD much more than a 3 series though.

Can anyone find many examples of RWD cars on road legal tyres that will pull more than 0.5g sustained acceleration? I find about 150 BHP per driven wheel is nice for me (average driver amongst enthusiasts I would say) in the dry, 100 wet, 60 snow. All are an equal challenge for traction from road legal speeds and out of bends requiring you to consider the road surface carefully.

So I still really like AWD for performance or snow, regardless of tyres. FWD/RWD will struggle to push through deep snow even on the right tyres, AWD will usually do it and the limit becomes visibility due to ground clearance because you throw snow over the windscreen and the wipers lock, but the Subaru in these conditions will still find forward drive.

Ive got the 335d xdrive..actually my wifes car. It now has 18" wheels with michelin alpin fitted.

Its fast enough and with 600 miles on the clock im getting 50mpg when I take it to work. Compares with 44mpg for the old 120d, 34 for the xtrail and petrol skoda vrs, 42 for my e class merc cab, 28 on my old subaru wrx ppp and 46 on an a3 2tdi.

I couldnt think of a better car for the performance, economy and 4wd ability.....which should be good enough in the snow we have here.

Have you really pushed it yet? How is the AWD? Is it a Haldex type system or Torsen (or something else?!)? I should think your car on Winters is a proper "do it all" car!

I've convinced the wife an M135i (ordered this week) is quite good on fuel. I fear I may get told off once it arrives ;-)