View Full Version : Anyone consider buying a C32/C55 AMG when buying their S4??
...Mark...
10-26-2008, 01:08 PM
Just curious.. I'm in the market for a 4 door, auto, family ride, and these cars are going after the same market as the S4. The C32 ran from 02-04 and is a blown 6 making 349/332 The C55 (05 and 06) has a V8 making 349/376. Under 5 seconds in the 0-60 and low 13's in the 1320.
Discuss..
sammyrusso
10-26-2008, 01:17 PM
Drove c32 long time ago...great car...with pulley intake exhaust makes apprx 400hp...very cheap to make a lil more fun...and smooth ride
I considered one for a heartbeat, but it got crossed off my list quickly because they're all AT's and I don't have much desire to own a Mercedes. If you want to mod and make more power fairly easily they're great, beyond that they're a pretty mediocre car all around.
...Mark...
10-26-2008, 02:54 PM
I considered one for a heartbeat, but it got crossed off my list quickly because they're all AT's and I don't have much desire to own a Mercedes. If you want to mod and make more power fairly easily they're great, beyond that they're a pretty mediocre car all around.
I want an auto because traffic here in Atlanta blows..
BTW have you driven one? The are far from mediocre.. If anything i would say that the audi is more "medocre" partially due to the fact that is has awd to keep you out of trouble..
zachf88
10-26-2008, 03:32 PM
never drove a c32, but my brother has owned 2 C55s. Amazing cars! It sounds great when you cut the resonator off and put in a straight-pipe (or x-pipe)
Swanky
10-26-2008, 04:10 PM
Just curious.. I'm in the market for a 4 door, auto, family ride
you mine as well just get the chrysler 300C SRT8
http://www.news-blogs.com/_images/auto/chrysler_300c_srt-8_2006.jpg
...Mark...
10-26-2008, 04:25 PM
you mine as well just get the chrysler 300C SRT8
http://www.news-blogs.com/_images/auto/chrysler_300c_srt-8_2006.jpg
Too big, exterior styling sucks, interior styling sucks more, and all they are good for is straight line performance...
All i have driven since day one has been manual sportscars, but now that i have a kid w/ another one the way i have made the shift from sportcars to sporty sedans. I have a commute that is 15 miles to the office but meanwhile it takes me 45 minutes each way to do it.. I have been doing the stop and go in a 6 speed manual for over a year and it has gotten really old.. One of the things that attracted me to the S4 was the paddle shift auto. If i have to resign myself to the fact that i have to drive an auto, atleast i can drive a paddle shift one and have fun on some back roads on occasion. Hence the C32/C55 being an auto is a nonissue..
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2996116&postcount=31
J.the W.
10-26-2008, 04:50 PM
I was thinking about the Mercedes c43. Its got an AMG V8 that's mod friendly. The only problem was that it was and is really hard to find one with less than 65k.
Beelzeebub
10-26-2008, 05:24 PM
c55 ftw! you want a big burly v8 not some hyperactive v6. I have the tip on my s4. Like u, i learned to drive and grew up on cars with stick shift. But after experiences like yours, at some point i switched to an auto too.
Too big, exterior styling sucks, interior styling sucks more, and all they are good for is straight line performance...
All i have driven since day one has been manual sportscars, but now that i have a kid w/ another one the way i have made the shift from sportcars to sporty sedans. I have a commute that is 15 miles to the office but meanwhile it takes me 45 minutes each way to do it.. I have been doing the stop and go in a 6 speed manual for over a year and it has gotten really old.. One of the things that attracted me to the S4 was the paddle shift auto. If i have to resign myself to the fact that i have to drive an auto, atleast i can drive a paddle shift one and have fun on some back roads on occasion. Hence the C32/C55 being an auto is a nonissue..
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2996116&postcount=31
Yes, I have driven a C55 (2 weeks ago and twice before that), have you? And have you driven an SRT-8? Because around a track my money would be on the SRT-8 hands down and IMO they handle better than the Benz. On top of all that the Benz has a really stiff ride even though it's not much of a handler. Both cars have pretty intrusive eletronics when trying to drive them hard. One thing I will say is the AT on the Benz is better than the S4, but it's still a slush box rather than some of the nicer dual clutch type gearboxes of recent times.
Don't get me wrong, it's a nice car, but it's not very different from the Chrysler you just impuned (mostly good in a straight line). I wonder why that is...[;)]
zachf88
10-26-2008, 06:24 PM
The c43 was an AMAZING car! My brother says it's wayy better than his C55's! (My dad had one a while back!)
GameBreaker
10-27-2008, 08:54 AM
I also looked at C32/C55s when I was first looking to buy. I also drove a couple 300 SRT8s, so here is a quick rundown for you.
Both Benzes are great cars, but the interior and the V8 sound are just a lot better on the C55. They also have the larger wheels, dual exhaust, and updated body with the CLK front end. C32s are great and are even better for modding, but it is really hard to find one with decent miles, as well as they are known for having some issues due to the belts on the supercharger and some transmission issues. The C55 would be a better bet out of the two, but just remember that all performance sedans have a decent $$$ hit for service, and mercedes is well known for this.
As for the SRT8, the only negative thing I can really say about the car itself is that the interior isn't the best, but it is a great car and it can be found for a pretty good price. The reality is that it is a Chrysler, and they don't have the best track record for build quality. Finally, the biggest issue of all. Chrysler is currently on a death spiral and in talks with GM for a merger. If that happens, there is a good chance the brand will get killed off, while GM keeps the best designs to use for themselves.
Ok, here's the conclusion. It's basically up to you what you prefer. For me it was very close between the S4 and the C55, but after looking at the reliability, and winter driving the S4 came out the easy winner.[race]
I actually test drove the C55 AMG and was considering it. With RWD it was crazy fast. I was less impressed with the S4's butt dyno results, but the overall appearance of the DTM and interior won me over. I was never a huge fan of how the C55 looked.
D.C. Designs
10-27-2008, 11:07 AM
firend has a modded c32 and it's super fast running 12.5 1/4 and looking sweet will got some picks soon :0)
b6onboost
10-27-2008, 01:34 PM
I would take a C55 AMG over an S4 (if the S4 was auto and I didn't really need AWD).
...Mark...
10-27-2008, 02:00 PM
Yes, I have driven a C55 (2 weeks ago and twice before that), have you? And have you driven an SRT-8? Because around a track my money would be on the SRT-8 hands down and IMO they handle better than the Benz. On top of all that the Benz has a really stiff ride even though it's not much of a handler. Both cars have pretty intrusive eletronics when trying to drive them hard. One thing I will say is the AT on the Benz is better than the S4, but it's still a slush box rather than some of the nicer dual clutch type gearboxes of recent times.
Don't get me wrong, it's a nice car, but it's not very different from the Chrysler you just impuned (mostly good in a straight line). I wonder why that is...[;)]
Drove C32 a while back and was impressed. The one thing that i don't like about the car is that there a tons of soccer moms rolling around in lesser C class models here in Atlanta so froma visual standpoint, the car would look just like any other C class which i am not a fan of. I have never driven an SRT8 300 but i have driven a buddies Super Bee which is the same thing. Car felt way to big and i was not comfortable throwing a car that big into a turn at speed. I found myself drifting into oncoming traffic on occasion. I was not comfortable driving it at all..
...Mark...
10-27-2008, 02:02 PM
Ok, here's the conclusion. It's basically up to you what you prefer. For me it was very close between the S4 and the C55, but after looking at the reliability, and winter driving the S4 came out the easy winner.[race]
I'm in Atlanta so winter driving is a nonissue, and no matter what i pick up i will get a 2 year warranty on it.
...Mark...
10-27-2008, 02:03 PM
Just go for the C63
You gonna give me $50k for the price difference.[rolleyes]
MisanoRS4
10-27-2008, 02:40 PM
c55's are crazy fast a modded one was hanging with me one night. White one dumped on LM's would be my vote.
c4racer
10-27-2008, 03:18 PM
I considered them. I drove the C32, but never got around to the C55. They are pretty hard to find. I also looked at the E55. Prices on E55's are getting down there, I would be far more inclined to go that route vs. the AMG C-class. Yes - it is bigger but not by much, and the HP difference is staggering. You can find E55's well below $40K now, sometimes even with a warrantee.
I was impressed with the C32 - seemed like a really well put together car. Interior is better than your average C class. And I like the folding seats (standard). I might have gone that route, but I really prefer manuals so I moved on the E46 M3 or S4. The added utility of the wagon and AWD plus 4 doors sold me on the S4.
Oh - I drove a few of the SRT-8 cars. I wasn't impressed at all. Cheapo interior. don't bother. Real luxury cars are such a bargain right now you just can't go wrong. Hell - you might even find a pretty nice deal on a RS6....
Buyers market!!
likewater
10-27-2008, 03:32 PM
Just curious.. I'm in the market for a 4 door, auto, family ride, and these cars are going after the same market as the S4. The C32 ran from 02-04 and is a blown 6 making 349/332 The C55 (05 and 06) has a V8 making 349/376. Under 5 seconds in the 0-60 and low 13's in the 1320.
Discuss..
Here's some toilet reading for you.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0308_sports_car_comparison/index.html
ieatfishburitos
10-27-2008, 04:12 PM
All the women I know with a Mercedes really like them! They love the styling and elegance.
skunkoncrunk
10-27-2008, 11:24 PM
I love the new "C" styling.
Stormin
10-27-2008, 11:30 PM
I would take a C55 AMG over an S4 (if the S4 was auto and I didn't really need AWD).
I would not. I got rid of one to get my S4... I don't miss the Merc at all.
...Mark...
10-28-2008, 06:20 AM
I would not. I got rid of one to get my S4... I don't miss the Merc at all.
You can't say something like that and then bail on the thread.
You are the only one here who has spent a fair amount of time in both cars. Please elaborate. [:)]