M37/56x sport in snow

[hakalugi]

Hi All,

First post.

The M37x/56x Sport is on my short list. I'm not interested in a benz E-class. the bmw 535 x drive doesn't appear to be as strong a value, the 550 xdrive is pricey, and the A6 3.0(supercharged) is ok, but also higher sticker and less room for haggle it seems, and the S6 is too pricey.

So, 2013, you can get the M37/56 with X (awd) and S (sport) together which i want. I want the paddle shifters (i use my current momo steering wheel shifters all the time), upgraded wheels/shocks/brakes and seats of the Sport package. I require the AWD (i've come from land cruiser and subaru's) and i'm on call all the time and weather is no excuse (in mid-atlantic US).

I've test driven the M37x-S and it was very nice. The near equivalent gas mileage of the 5.6 has me interested in it (along with a few perks of the 56, easier to find (required) tech package, and included sonar).

So my question is, I assume that the 20" Sport rims and low profile all season tires and "RWD until you need it AWD" on the M56x-S may not be quite as capable a snow machine as my subaru XT Outback or an A6 with quattro, but will it cut it? Assuming nothing > 4" unplowed or just packed snow, is this a worthy four season machine? have you driven your Sport.

I've never owned an Infinity, nothing against the marque, and I have no desire to upstage anyone (lol again, i'm coming from a great 2.5T outback) so I have no burning desire for a german car, and the Lexus models are either too small (IS) too big (LS) or no awd with the sport (GS Fsport RWD only). We keep our cars an average of 8 years (last 4 have been 7.5 to 8.5 yrs each), so this is a long term commitment I'm looking for. What I do want is quality, value, performance, awd, reliability, and inspiring design. I think I'm onto something with the M__-x Sports but need to know if it will cut the mustard/snow when i need it to do so. Thanks.

[Ilya]

I live in upstate NY and my X with good tires is a tank. Simple as that. I have 19" wheels with 245 series tires...so they aren't 'winter tires' by any stretch of the imagination...however they are rated very well across the board for all the seasons (Continental ExtremeContact DWS).

[ColoJoe]

Hi hakalugi,
Welcome to the forum.
I went from an A6 Quattro to a 2009 M45X. The Audi is slightly better in snow, but not much. In both cars I used snow tires (Bridgestone Blizzak), which made a huge difference. Here in Colorado at 9,000 feet elevation we get some spring snowstorms approaching 2 feet, wet and sloppy, and the M has never hesitated. The key is to drive gently - with all that power it's easy to break the tires free, even with traction control.

[hakalugi]

Ilya, thanks, good to know. I did note that with "AWD sport" package includes different tires than the non-AWD sport package, in the factory spec sheets.

I see is on the AWD Sport package they specifically call out "all season performance tires" in 245/40R20 (vs. just "summer performance tires" in the non AWD Sport package)

I drive to Hunter mountain every few years for some early season skiing, very pretty country up there.

[hakalugi]

Hi hakalugi,
Welcome to the forum.
I went from an A6 Quattro to a 2009 M45X. The Audi is slightly better in snow, but not much. In both cars I used snow tires (Bridgestone Blizzak), which made a huge difference. Here in Colorado at 9,000 feet elevation we get some spring snowstorms approaching 2 feet, wet and sloppy, and the M has never hesitated. The key is to drive gently - with all that power it's easy to break the tires free, even with traction control.

Thanks Joe. good to know, i'm familiar with the spring storms, over the years I've made a habit of flying out to Summit county for a multi-site lift ticket, or hit vail for the bowls. I love it in CO and it can definitely dump in the spring. I see plenty of Subies out there. Nice to know you're cautiously trucking along in your M.

-Hakalugi

[mazz]

i drove my 2006 m35 for 100k got stuck once in parking lot, plowed in, in green bay and that was two wheel drive.. my current m35x from 2008 has 75k never stuck i drive all over the mid west and live in northern illinois..... stopping is tougher that going on most days and that is a function of slower driving and better tires i think!