AMG C43, any good?

Judge - It's solid.

I hope CMY can chime in on this one.

 

If you can find one with the Starmark 100,000 mile warranty and pick one up with around 60k on it, you shouldn't be too bad off. As you can tell, I've been looking at them too. Slap a blower on it and it would take a while to get bored.

 

In general, it is another post 1995 piece of junk.

I purchased one in red for my sister. The list of things that went wrong is absurdly long. Here are a few:

1.) Replace transmission
2.) Replace gas tank sensor
3.) Repair sunroof, 5 times within a 24 month period
4.) Squeaks and rattles galore from the dash.

 

Erik, my MB guru tells me that the 1987 to 1992 or so 420 SELs are the best way to go. Same body as the 560 SEL, but without the rear hydraulics which can go bad on you.

These cars and the 500E up until 1993 appear to be the way to go.

Actually, screw it, buy a 1999 Lexus 400 or a 2000/2001 430, if you can find one.

Dale

 

The 500E should do the ticket. Car is on the small side, but a hot rod.

Here's one I'm looking at in Houston. Green is not my favorite, but...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4601590959&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

 

My good friend (Flyin' Dutchman on this board) had one for a couple of years.. VERY solid car that was a ton of fun. It took a lot of abuse, never had any problems and was only a car length behind a 355 in a stoplight race.

The only visible wear and tear I saw was the white-rimmed steering wheel.. we managed to shut down the tranny during a particularily spirited romp on Mulholland one day but didn't do any permanent damage.

 

Oh, the C43 is a great car. I put a lot of miles on a 2002 (or was it a 2003?). But I wouldn't have one that is out of warranty. Too bad.

Dale

 

The C43 was only 97-00. You may want to look at an E55 as well, only slightly more than the C43. The 2000 model C43 is a very very rare car, only 25 were shipped here and one was wrecked about a month ago, so even fewer. It has the tiptronic style gear box and the one that was wrecked had been for sale for 37k, quite a premium over the 17-18k average for 97 or 98. I read benzworld.org, so maybe head over there and read about some of the issues.

 

I have had 2 C43's (one silver and one black which I traded to my Dad and he still drives daily!). They are fabulous cars. I have never had any issues with either of them. I sold the silver because it got keyed and needed a full repaint. I bought a black one immediately and later I traded to my Dad for a new Boxster S he had a while ago. He drives that car all the time and loves it. For a guy that can buy and drive anything he wants (and owns tons of other Benz's and other high end cars) I thing it says a lot. I would say to get the solid black interior as the 2 tone wears and gets dirty. They are great values now the way I see it. I paid a bit under $50k for each when they were new.

Anyway, best of luck!!!

 

Didnt the C36 come with a factory supercharger? 276 horsepower if im not mistaken.

 

Yes, the C36 had a supercharger bolted onto a 6 cylinder. The C43 has an NA V8 that makes 302 hp.

 

I'm afraid not. The C36 is a 3.6litre tuned and enlarged version of the base M104 3.2Litre Twincam 24valver. Normally aspirated. 276bhp/280bhp.

C43 is NA too and 302bhp V8.

 

Erik.....

You can't go wrong with a C43.....I prefer the C36 however....simply because it does not have the expensive and problematic electronic transmission of the later C43 and the 6 cylinder weights less then the V8.....so the car feels crisper and lighter over the front end when handling it in the corners...etc..

 

My apologies. Was the C32 supercharged? I thought one of the AMG C-Classes had a blower.

 

The C32 (new body style) was supercharged. C55 is not, but it would be a pretty wild ride if it was!

 

I'm tooting my own horn here, but you could go with a 1996 C36 and bypass the transmission troubles associated with the (then new) 5 speed automatic. The gas tank sending units (that's plural on purpose) go out and yes it will squeak and rattle, but it's mechanically solid.

 

I had a C43 for two years, I have to say I beat the snot out of the car, we even used it as pace car for the open track challenge. It was one of the most well made cars I'd ever owned, nothing broke on the car. Everything in even the interior was working perfect. Although not as nice to drive, quality wise this was a better car than both my E36 and E46 M3's.

THE last car to be built that well was the 210 E55, the rest of the stuff MBZ makes is garbage now. Although they do makes very respectable rwhp numbers now a days.

 

"My apologies. Was the C32 supercharged? I thought one of the AMG C-Classes had a blower"

The C230 was supercharged in 2000, but it was only the 2.3L I4 and not an AMG. I had one - great car, no problems, traded in at 99K miles. Not as tight as my 1997 C230, but still nice car to me.

Signed
Low-End Benz Boy ;>)