248SPG

Guys and Gals,

I am soon to be replacing my Scoob with something a little more "Grown up" and less "Boy racerish" (Not my words I am afraid I love my Scoob)

So I have been looking at other cars. I have had a look at a few C32 AMG's and wondered if any guys here had any experience with them and could give me an impartial view so to speak????

I am generally after views of what they are like to live with (Good and Bad points). I know they dont have the point to point handling of a scoob and from my reaserch they are roughly the same in cost of ownership.

By the way if it helps I currently drive a MY99 Turbo with a Scooby Sport De-Cat.

Anyway any points welcome..........

Steve

falkster

Great cars!!! A friend of mine has one. Great looks, great perf and cracking depreciation. Not like the E55 amg that drops like a rock

248SPG

Cheers Falkster just the sought of thing i was after.

Cheers again

Steve

CraigH

There was a similar question asked a little while back. Someone who apparently was an MB "technician" said they were fairly unreliable. Probably scaremongering but may be worth delving a bit deeper.

Personally I'd love one - v understated and v quick - 0-100 in 10.5ish secs iirc.

Mark Miwurdz

One of Stephen Sutcliffes's (ex Autocar) all-time favourites. They had one on long term test and you should be able to get a back copy - have a look at their website.

Cheers
Kav

MadMark

Very fast - I remember Autocar being stunned when they reeled off the figures - 0-60 in 4.9 seconds and 0-100 in 10.8 seconds!!!!
- Only thing they ever complained about was the violent kickdown .......

MeatballTurbo

Lad at work has a C36AMG. That car is an animal for such a large brick. Absolutley awsome machine. Anything that should be covered with wood veneer is carbon fibre. Looks very sedate until he floors it, and the back squats down.

SJJ84

What age car are you looking at? The older ones were pretty good, but the newer ones aren't built to the same quality.

PompeyP1

I had also wondered about these. Not sure about the automatic though. They do seem to hold their value well and there are very few around. My boss has a bog standard C-class though and has nothing but trouble with it.

248SPJ - my reasons are the same for looking around at something German (and dull?). C32, S6 or M5??? See other thread ref M5.

Paul

m3matt

You sure those times are right? Check this link out that compares
a C43 AMG with some other stuff:

http://bcw3design.com/m3/m3_32_perf.htm

I used to have a bug-eye E320 and that was fantastic (genuine AMG wheels, suspension etc) - I would go for an E over a C any day.

Or, you could go for a nice 5-series BMW, I nearly got one a couple of weeks ago but couldn't find the 'right' one, lots of rubbish about. In the end I went for an M3 Evo which is nice and understated and goes like the starship enterprise with the borg on its ***

Matt

CraigH

C32s eat C43s for brekkie - supercharged AMG lump, not N/A like the C43

248SPG

Not really a BMW fan I am afraid. The only BMW I would buy is an M3 but there seems to be too many of them around here and the C32 is a little more "stealthy"

cheers for all the comments guys. Anyone else with an opinion??

dtriggs

I have a C43. The C32 has around 360bhp against my C43's 306bhp, so yes C32 is faster, but I have driven one and the difference is marginal. Having had Turbocharged Scoobies for years it was great to get a NA car with no lag.

On the C43 most parts are pretty standard Merc bits - the only major worry is the Brakes which are AMG specials and cost a fortune to replace. I dont know if the C32 is the same.

248SPG

I have been looking at 52/02 plates with upto about 25K on the clock so far.
They are looking to be prices anywhere upto about 28K though.

SJJ84

The quality seems to have dropped off over the last few years. Not sure on the reliability of the C32 engine, but it's little things that start to annoy after a while. Lots of rattles, creaks and squeaks. Will still be under warrenty at that age and mercedes seem to be pretty good at putting things right without much fuss.

PompeyP1

Sorry to repeat myself but doesn't the auto box take something away from the driving experience???

Paul

Tiggs

a good auto no more detracts from the car than power steering or abs

oreA

I had a C32 for about 6 months, it was a black 02 model.

Very quick, but doesn't feel it. It does quick with no drama!

Reliability - no problem.

Little niggles - electric headrest motor needed replacement, heated seat pad needed replacement. Constant ticking from dash (rev dependant) never resolved by dealer. That's about it.

After 6 months somebody ploughed down the side of the car - they took out the front wheel, front wheel arch, drivers door, rear door, rear wheel arch. B'stards did it in a car park & did a runner.

I lost my no claims, then got caught speeding in a pesky loan car whilst my car was being repaired. The repairs were crap - bad paint job & wheels sprayed a different colour to the original. They had 3 attempts at repair. The car was coming up for a major service & was due new tyres, so I cut my losses & sold the car. Bought for £30k, part ex'd for £24k. My first part ex offer was £20k!!!

But I've fond memories of the car and miss it still. It was just becoming too expensive to justify. The accident made the car seem fallible.

I would recommend one though - but don't expect to have 'Scooby-type' fun in one, it is just far too civilised despite 354bhp & 450NM.

Got any specific Q's? Just ask.

Mmmmm

Very nice, great car, as said above Autocar loved thiers.

Test in AMS 1/2003

Motorart V 6
Hubraum 3199 ccm
Aufladung Kompressor
PS - UMin 354 PS - 6100/Min
Nm - UMin 450 Nm - 4400/Min
Motorlage/Antrieb Frontmotor/Heck
Gänge/Schaltung 5/Automatik
Gewicht 1655 kg
0 - 80 km/h 3,7 s
0 - 100 km/h 5,0 s
0 - 120 km/h 6,7 s
0 - 140 km/h 8,9 s
0 - 160 km/h 11,1 s
0 - 180 km/h 13,9 s
0 - 200 km/h 16,9 s

The auto box is very good , smooth quick changes and a progressive kick down allowing you to just flex a little to change down one gear or a harder push for two or three gears, the over ride feature is pretty good with buttons on the back of the steering wheel, it has a very slight delay but not too bad (better then the porsche Tip), on track I use manual mode and let the car change it’s self up as it hits the red line at 6100 rpm (mines 5.5l), this way there is virtually no delay and then just manually change down for the next corner.

On these acceleration runs you can see there is no delay you can notice in the up changes, the C32 is just the same.

http://www.geocities.com/mrjumjum/0-100mphBadLaunch.wmv

Deep Singh

Sorry to hear about the car OreA
I bought mine about 6 months ago. 2002 Silver jobbie. Test drove an M3 also but decided against it in favour of Benz because
1) More head/legroom
2) Bigger boot
3) More comfortable
4) Hated the noise of the M3 engine
5) Fancied a auto box!

M3 is a fantastic car but I fancied something a bit more easy going.
The AMG has about 350 BHP and similar torque. Its supercharged and not turbo charged as someone mentioned so NO lag. In kickdown its a beast,100mph comes up sharpish and it keeps pulling!!
Lots of toys also,standard kit is high ie electric heated memory seats,rain sensitive wipers,cruise, BOSE sound system and much more. Mine came with Satnav and Parktronic.
All in all very pleased with the car. I would buy an AMG again.
If you want a very focused drivers car its not for you. If you want a very civilised,comfortable understated car that will keep up with Scoobs/M3S/911s in a straight line then its the one.
Hope that helps
Deep

oreA

I agree with everything Deep Singh has said (& thanks for the sympathy).

Make sure you get one with Comand (Sat Nav etc), 'cos that was one of the probs I had selling mine, since I didn't have it.

whiper

Hvae you had a look at a E55 AMG - about same money and quicker if anything

huck

hi,

i got my c32 estate about a month ago. fantastic performance, well built etc. very civilised, no comparison in terms of purpose cf. the M3. deep summed it up very well.

extremely quick and pretty spacious for my needs - me, wife, 1 year old and another on the way.

understated in the extreme - depending on your outlook either a good/bad thing. i personally like the Q-car factor a lot.

fuel economy is pretty good imho, about 17-19 in town and 23-28 on the motorway ( lower figure at about 85ish, latter at about 60 ). my current average is about 21mpg.

extremely well-specced but don't skimp - make sure you get the COMAND satnav, phone too if possible as it's very cool and works well ( have to have a 6210/6310 nokia though which doesn't bother me )

no issues at all with the autobox - absolutely great and makes for relaxed driving but when you need it, it does the job extremely well.

hth.