Audi A4 or Mercedes C-Class?

[clbj]

We have a 2yo and are expecting a baby in August, and have decided we finally need to get a car (we live in central london so have resisted so far). It would be used daily for DH's hour long commute, and then very regularly for weekends out of london to visit friends and family. We were thinking of a Prius, but have been told that it's not great space wise for 2 kids and all the clutter they come with (particularly its narrow boot?) so were wondering between and Audi A4 estate and Mercedes C-class estate. Any views/advice/alternatives much appreciated.

The Mercedes is rear wheel drive - in bad weather this is tricky to handle. In snow forget it.

I have an Audi - albeit the quattro version, but I would always choose it over the Mercedes.

Both cars offer good space and both exude quality

The Audi isn't that great in snow either. But the boot is massive.

Rear wheel drive is only tricky to handle if you drive like the accelerator pedal is an on/off switch.

It's fine in snow if you have proper tyres; Porsche did a test with winter tyres on a Cayman vs a Cayenne on 'summer' tyres going up a snowy/icy slope - the rear-drive Cayman made it, the 4WD Cayenne didn't.

Out of those two I'd go for a Merc, but mostly because it's not an Audi. Alternatives, obviously there's the BMW 3-series Touring (only available in deadly rear wheel suicide drive); I quite like the Honda Accord, nice enough inside and the 2.2 diesel engine is a good performer; Subaru Legacy is likely to be my next pick, but if you were after the economy of a Prius it may prove a bit thirsty.

Watching with interest - same dilema!

PS my parents drive a c class and they're very happy with it. Our friends had an Audi whic cost them ££££ to repair and in the end they had to sell it when it was just five years old. So I'm veering towards c-class. But I do like the look of Audis, and I know my friends were probably just unlucky.