I'd appreciate your thoughts on the pros and cons of 4Matic in the 2004 E320 sedan.
Years ago, when I lived in the Northeastern part of the country, I had an Audi 4000 Quattro. That car was perfect for the driving conditions I often found myself in. Lots of hills and lots of snow.
I now live in Chicago and have been driving a BMW 5 series for the past six years. I cannot think of an occasion when I wished that I had all wheel drive in that car -- which is a good thing because it wasn't an option on that particular model.
I am now in the market for a 2004 E320. I've only had one brief opportunity to drive the vehicle and while not as quick or nimble as my current ride, the E320 seemed to have reasonable acceleration, braking and handling in general.
So far so good.
I'm considering 4Matic and am wondering what penalty (other than purchase price), if any, I'll pay in interior room, reliability (more stuff to break), acceleration or other handling characteristics.
If the E320 is as balanced as the 2001 BMW 5 series and the traction control system is solid, then it may be that the 4Matic would be a waste of money for me.
Your comments would be greatly appreciated.
-- Rich