 After owning two Audi A4's and a BMW I thought I would explore the "competition" in the auto world.  I too was "lured" in with the "fantastic deal" and appropriate trade-in on a 2010 C300 4-Matic Sport that I had purchased in late November 2009.  I live in Minnesota (which this year has had a lot of snow.  So far, I must say that the handling in snow is not what I had expected from a all- wheel drive car. It does not compare at all to the A4 Quattro (much more sure-footed)or my BMW for that matter. MB's back end swerves out (and not at a fast speed!) when turning or cornering in snowy conditions.  So far the final verdict is still out, but right now,not very impressed with Mercedes handling.