Is AWD / 4MATIC a must in rainy areas?

dukehoops02

I live in Northern California - where it can rain pretty hard in the winter months - and am considering a Mercedes ML350. To date, I've only driven FWD cards. Is RWD an unsafe option (presumably poor traction in the rain) - or does included traction control compensate enough? FWIW, the car weighs 4800 lbs.

ray80

dukehoops02 said:

Is RWD an unsafe option (presumably poor traction in the rain) - or does included traction control compensate enough? FWIW, the car weighs 4800 lbs.

I only drove RWD vehicles for my first 18 years or so of driving, including considerable snow and ice here in New England. I would not consider RWD as undsafe. Good tires and reasonable driving habits and RWD would be fine.

kyfdx

It's definitely not necessary... Rain traction is all about the tires, not the driven wheels, and as you noted, you have stability control.

I'd be more worried about resale on a RWD SUV... If 95% of the ML in stock at your dealer are AWD, then yours will be a tough sell, when the time comes.