Used Cars: Need some advise, wheel drive cars, rear wheel drive cars

Question
Hi Jay,

I am planning to buy a used Mercedes car(1998-2000-C class 230/280). I did some research in the internet(including the Kelly book customer review etc), they said MB was a great car and longer life than the others. I just realized this car is a rear wheel drive and I lived in Toledo, Ohio where the snow and weather very bad in winter time. It almost the same like Chicago or Ann Arbor Michigan. Do you think MB do not make front-wheel drive or All wheel drive? Does a rear wheel car could not use in winter? Right now all my cars are a front wheel.

Which one is a better one, an automatic or manual transmission?

Please let me know and thank you for your time.

Dave  

Answer
Dave,
Well best of my knowledge, at least on the older Mercedes, they do not make front wheel drive cars, or all wheel drive cars.  Now for what it is worth, I am not that familiar with Mercedes in regards to all of their products, I know that they have a good product, regardless of what they make, they are all really good cars in the whole spectrum of specifications that matter.
I would have a hard time recommending one of these cars for where you live, the rear wheel drive cars just dont handle the snow near as well as front wheel, or all wheel drive cars do.
In general, a manual transmission is more reliable, and longer lasting.  Now if you are talking about a Mercedes, they make pretty good automatic, so I would choose automatic over 5 speed for those.