[Uber-V]

To all V owners and potential V buyers:



Just curious if anyone considered or drove a C32 AMG. It is very much a different car but in some ways quite similar. Price is definately close and 0 to 60 is very close. Next week I have the opportunity to drive one at Buttonwillow, CA at the track for a weekend. I am a V owner but I also appreciate other makes/models. I did not seriously consider a C32 before buying the V for a variety of reasons. The AMG cars are pretty sweet - I certianly wouldn't kick an E55 out of the garage (as long as I didn't have to make the payments).



There have been a lot of comparisons with BMW and M cars but not much with the AMG Benzes. Any opinions from anyone who drove one - owns one?

 

[Cal]

It's a nice car. I've been in a 2002 CL55, and it was certainly swank, but at 120k not something I plan on purchasing any time soon. The interior was s500 quality and it had a little oomph with the V8, but the tiptronic was fairly dogged imo.

When I priced up the 32 with similar featuers to the V it came to a whopping $58.9k. With only 349hp and a v6...I'd say it doesn't really come close. I am not familiar enough with AMG and the MB superchargers to know what you can do in terms of aftermarket modifications to boost hp, but I have a feeling it's quite expensive, if available. The 0-60 may be due to a ~400lb differential in curb weight, a good deal coming from engine size I am sure.

For a daily driver the Benz is probably perfectly fine, but I would never consider putting it head to head against a V with even $1k worth of work into it. Plus it looks like a C class.

Just my 2 pennies.

 

[CVP33]

I considered a new C32 or a used E55 or M5. Also looked at new Corvettes (C5's) and was very disappointed with the quality. Very happy about my choice.

 

[JEM]

The C32 is a nice enough car, it's smaller than the V and somewhat more expensive and of course you can't get a manual transmission.

Mercedes can't quite get over the sport-sedan hump; for some reason they seem to think they don't need a limited-slip differential, which means that in track use or in hard driving over lumpy roads they will always be less capable and less 'tidy' (that is, a lot more jerking and thumping from the traction control, etc.) than cars like the CTS-V and the M5 that do have one.

 

[VCONVERT]

I had considered an E 500, BMW 545i or a used M5 - couldn't come close to an E55 with the blown engine - even a used one. Besides you can't get a manual transmission in the Benz (E55 or E500). And from the reviews I've read the V is a better handler than the E55. I test drove an M5 and it is an awesome car but there's nothing like American muscle. I'm very happy with my choice of an '05 V - now on order.

 

[globed70]

If you come accross an E55, CL55, or similar AMG with supercharged V8, leave them alone in a straight line... you will be looking at their exhaust. Even if you dump some $ into your V, the computer control launch algorithms get those thing off the line so quick you'd still be look at their exhaust for quite some time.

 

[Z06CTSV]

I also shopped the AMG and the BMW M cars. I believe these are excellent sport sedans, the price was definitelytheir downfall. I also have to look at it from a pratical side. My daughters a Volleyball player and she would never fit in the back of a baby Benz or M3. And I always buy American or at least built in America, just the way I was raised. Three strikes, there out. And I love my V. Good Luck.


Joe

 

[Cal]

It makes sense that a 50k car wouldn't touch an 85k+ or 120k+ car stock. But the HP differential even between the CL and the V is only ~95 horse. That's around 8k in mods, tops. Don't be such a wet blanket globed, later this summer I hope to be dusting down the AMGs, and they are plentiful on the NJ shore.

Can you imagine what a V with 30k into it would do? You'd be running low 10s.

- C.

 

[gothicaleigh]

If you come accross an E55, CL55, or similar AMG with supercharged V8, leave them alone in a straight line... you will be looking at their exhaust. Even if you dump some $ into your V, the computer control launch algorithms get those thing off the line so quick you'd still be look at their exhaust for quite some time.

2003 E55 AMG
$76,720 Base MSRP
3,857lbs.
5.4L Supercharged V8
469hp
516 ft. lbs. of torque
0-60 in 4.5 seconds
1/4 mile in 12.4 @ 116mph

2005 CL65 AMG
$175,000+ Base MSRP
4,741lbs.
6.0L Twin Turbo V12
604hp
712 ft. lbs. of torque
0-60 in 4.2 seconds (est.)
1/4 mile unknown

2003 SL55 AMG
$113,250 Base MSRP
4,235lbs.
5.4L Supercharged V8
493hp
516 ft. lbs. of torque
0-60 in 4.5 seconds
1/4 mile in 12.55 @ 116 mph

Yep, the AMGs will toast a CTS-V. But honestly, how often will you encounter one, much less one inclined to race?
They're not in the same class and the difference in price could buy you another nice car on top of the V.

Sure you could mod the V to the same level of performance, but why? Leave it alone and creep by them when they hit their electronic limiter at 155mph (that's what every one of them is set at). Be sure to congratulate them for trying though...

 

[globed70]

It makes sense that a 50k car wouldn't touch an 85k+ or 120k+ car stock. But the HP differential even between the CL and the V is only ~95 horse. That's around 8k in mods, tops. Don't be such a wet blanket globed, later this summer I hope to be dusting down the AMGs, and they are plentiful on the NJ shore.

Can you imagine what a V with 30k into it would do? You'd be running low 10s.

- C.

Sorry Cal, not trying to be a downer... but those E55 and CL55s get off the line so well, it's scary. Being an ex-Viper guy, it's still scary. Just the same, I could care less... I certainly could have bought one. I guess the point is alot of guys (not all) who buy high priced exotics really don't push them in the corners, and a significantly cheaper E55 would provide them with the same thrills with alot less hassle. Where on the shore are you? I used to hang around LBI and Point Pleasant.

 

[Krzys]

I do not belive AMG products, even qualify as sport-sedans. They tend to be great dragsters (like American muscle cars of old), but they are mediocre handlers. If you look at the reviews and comparos of C32 AMG (against M3 and S4), the MB product always come last. Same story applies to the vaunted E55 AMG: great straight line acceleration and that's it. They are very fast luxury cars. The only skill required is the ability to press the gas pedal. I hear that the new C55 AMG is better, but I will have to see it to believe it.The V is a very different car. Anything that can chalenge M5 and M3 at the track is a serious effort. Let's leave luxury sprints to MB.

 

[Cal]

Sorry Cal, not trying to be a downer... but those E55 and CL55s get off the line so well, it's scary. Being an ex-Viper guy, it's still scary. Just the same, I could care less... I certainly could have bought one. I guess the point is alot of guys (not all) who buy high priced exotics really don't push them in the corners, and a significantly cheaper E55 would provide them with the same thrills with alot less hassle. Where on the shore are you? I used to hang around LBI and Point Pleasant.

About 10 minutes from LBI, exit 67 on the Parkway.

Strange, riding in the CL55 it definitely didn't feel as quick as a 'Vette or even the V, maybe my friend never really got on it or didn't have certain features engaged, etc. I don't follow MB so I don't know what hp he was running in his 2002.

Hopefully I'll see some AMGs at the tracks this summer to see what they really drive like.

 

[MotorMouth]

My brother had a C32 and while it was a sweet car it was very small inside. We are both on the XXL side and our shoulders would touch. So we were always playing elbow tag with each other like a couple of 8 year olds. You had to have the seatback reclined a lot so when you looked left all you see is the B pillar. Car looked nice in silver but you always felt like a weenie in a C class when you saw an E55. Once the blower had a head of steam it was fun in a straight line but it was nowhere as fun as the V with its awesome yankee V8 sound and ample grunt at any RPM. The V is just plain fun to drive.

The C32 had to be rapped pretty hard to get its power and once on was nice but somehow the V just feels more powerful no matter what RPM and for my style............that is just fine. Although the transmission shifts fast it still is an automatic. In my opinion nothing beats a manual for a real sports car and I am suprised the Krauts don't offer one. The Mercedes doesnt touch the V for driving feel, braking and handling. The AMG's are not even close in this area.

 

[Uber-V]

MotorMouth,

Nice to hear from someone who actually drove one. I will spend 3 days driving a C32 for a few hundred miles next weekend - highway and track. I am a GM V8 guy but I also like the German car handling. So far I've found the CTS-V to be the best of both. Thanks for your opinion.

 

[peccles]

The upcoming 2005 C55 will have 360HP/375ft-lbs in a normally aspirated 5.5L V-8. Plus it
gets the interior upgrade for the C class in '05. At $52K, it will be much more of a competitor
to the CTS-V.

 

[JBsZ06]

E55 vs. CTS V series..

Chosing between the two would most probably be best served by whether you want an automatic or a six speed manual..

Both great cars but the choice for me would be the CTS V series..

Awesome car!

 

[argoldst]

I have a 2002 clk55. I love it. The ONLY downside to it was the handling and no manual

My lease is up in August and I am deciding between a e55 or a v.

So far, I am leaning toward a v. A lot less money and the car seems to be more fun.

You just can't have much fun in an automatic car

 

[globed70]

I agree with most of you.... driving fun is best served by a V. The only thing the E55 has going for it is massive straight line ability from launch to high speeds. But when you get into the twisties, the extra power means little. Mercedes has done a wonderful job of creating high power musclecars for those with a few $$$. More than a few supercar owners will have to get used to being humiliated on the street from these AMG engined cars. Amazing they are putting out full warranteed cars with 470-600+ hp. $79k for a basic E55 is not a bad deal when you consider that it likely puts out closer to 500hp and has $ electronics to put it to the ground. Unfortunately, like Porsche, even the basic options add massive $$$ to your bill, easily pushed to $95k (which makes the V an even better deal since you get alot of nifty crap for the base price).

 

[Rob Ketcham]

I have 7000 miles on my V and 70000 miles on my C43 AMG. The V handles better, has better brakes and all the new electronic goodies that 6 years has brought along. It also rides better.
The C43 is a wonderful car and a sleeper like the V. It has done battle with blown Porches and S4s and never let me down. I haven't had the V on the track but I am convinced that it will seriously outperform the C43 there. I did check out the C32 before choosing the V, but for me there was no comparison. I like a V8 and a little more room than the C32 offered. And the C32 is really pricy (as was my C43), but at that time the only other choice was a M series and I wasn't ready for that ever again. (I had a wonderful E30 M3 when Ms were Ms.)
I have also been thinking from my experience with the C43 which needed a new transmission and front suspension parts and some other stuff along the way that those cars are not only expensive to buy, but the quality is not going up, as with Cadillac, but going down.
Rob