Aren't the "AMG 43 style rims" the exact same rims as the 19" 5 spokes available on the C450? At least in all of the pics of the C43 and E43 I've seen, that's what I thought there were If not, can you post a pic of the rims you're referencing?

And the C43 Coupe has 362hp the same as the C450, where did you get that "it will have some more horses"? Assuming the sedan would have the same, so no more horses at all.

In all actuality, you might not need to be as disappointed as you thought...bc 75% of the **** you said might be wrong, so it's only the badges and the 9G that are different

I actually had that happen to me on the test drive pulling around a bus. It was more of a jerk, thought it might have been too much throttle in S+ since I wasn't used to it.

I took delivery of my car a few days ago. I've put 700KM on it over the weekend.

So far, I don't hate the transmission, but having driven the ZF 8 speed extensively that Audi and BMW uses, this transmission is a bit lacking.
Shifts aren't smooth enough at part throttle but excellent when getting on it.
This is all in manual mode though... I haven't driven much in auto. If i shift when the little indicator comes on (2000rpm) at about 30% throttle it's not smooth. If I wait until closer to 2700rpm it's fine.

So far I'm enjoying the car as it is and I'm quite happy with it.

I think it comes down to
Leasing? Get this now.
Buying to keep it? Save yourself some money.
Buying with intent to sell it in a couple years? Wait for the the 43.

From what I gathered from the GM where I got my C450, the newer C43 will indeed have the new 9g tran, some new AMG style badging on the back and on the grill like the 63's, a few new options in rims...stock rims will be the 450 rims that honestly I haven't seen in person for the exception of the cars at the auto show because all the 450's my dealer had in stock had the 5 star AMG rims which I ended up taking because of the 18in size driving over NYC potholes. The jump in horsepower will be on the E43, not the C43, which will be 396 he says.

lol, he offered me to get my car rebadged when the 43's get released which I wont be doing.

Tons of pics of the new badging on the C43 in one of the other threads on here, and while it's still unofficial for the sedan, I agree that I think it will get the 9G. Interested to see the new rims options if those materialize as well...I didn't really love any of the current options so I settled and went with the 19 black multi spokes as a best available (Columbus potholes are pretty terrible as well so it ought to be a treat driving through those on 19s haha).

Yessiree, Sean...........I'm with you. A slight bummer that we're getting the same obsolete-after-one-model-year treatment as the C400 4matic, but I think we can work with it. Thus, currently debating a couple plans in my own head. Let's start with the H&R springs to bring me down a little over an inch. I have stock 18s, which are fine for me, except a smidge too much fender well gap. Debadge? Maybe, maybe not. How 'bout an ECU upgrade, possibly with a twist?

MmHmm. That might be even better, that is, using the traditional/original MB and AMG badging structures of the mid-2000s, where numbers represented displacement. For instance, in the 550/55 models of a decade ago, E/S/CLS550s represent 5.4 V-8s; AMGs the more powerful, supercharged versions. Nowadays the #s seem more representative of the expected power outputs of those displacements. Fine. I get it.

My plan? Go on up to RennTECH not far from me, get the ECU upgrade to 402hp/454 lb. ft., then try to sell my old-school badging proposal to them. If they buy it, they can stake out the claim for all of us C450 owners to not be a C450 RennTECH..............but a C45 RennTECH.

How unique would that badge be on the streets, ay?

Personally I like the sound of that 45 much better ; they can keep their damn 43s. Not to mention I could just take the 0 off my frickin self and make my own C45........but that might be a wee bit too ghetto. You got me there; I'd be the only hoodrat with a C45, but I digress.

So, if any of you RennTECH folks are reading this, please consider. We 450s need a home. Those punks @ MB done abandoned us, senselessly giving a 2.0TT 4-banger a higher number than the 3.0TT V-6.

I think they've been having too may joint corporate meetings with their Infiniti allies and their silly Q and QX badges. Yeah, used to have a beloved G35.......and I should get over it, right? (Shut up)

Quote from Mercedes-Benz USA at 1:22: "It's a full-fledged AMG model."

I read in various articles claiming the 340i and the 2017 S4 won't have the dual clutch tranny whereas we have a 7G DCT on our C450 and the C43 is getting the 9G DCT. I for one prefer dual clutch anyday

The C450 does not have a dual clutch either. Only the 63 model AMGs rock multi clutch trannies...

No DCT on either C450 or C43. BMW and Audi's ZF transmission is definitely better than 7G. I guess jury is still out for the 9G application here.

And if you are keeping it past warranty, DCT is a ticking time bomb. I won't want one with high mileage on it.

Quote from Mercedes-Benz USA at 1:22: "It's a full-fledged AMG model."

Nah, not quite........but maybe it is to the untrained eyes and ears of beginner, novice, or intermediate MB Enthusiast. On 2nd thought, isn't that their whole objective?

But still, we must give credit for one very accurate statement, which - make no mistake about it - is a huge part of the attraction/selling point: While they did stop short (my words), AMG did do ALOT to upgrade from the 400 4matic, all of which I've noted in other posts.

But Steve Siler in this Car & Driver review puts it best (paraphrasing), in that we're getting 75-80% of full fledged AMG and that is damn good.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t-drive-review

So, MB Marketing Division, why couldn't you just leave it at that instead of just BSing us to death with this 'believe me, it's really an AMG'??

No the (*$% it ain't. Using that logic an 335i M-Sport or the old 335is or an Audi S4 is nothing less than a full fledged BMW M3/4 or Audi RS5.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight. Not very logical, is it?

The sales people are not too thrill with all the changes with AMG either.

Especially now they are talking about AMG only stores/dealerships.

Dealership like the extra margin of AMG models without the extra costs.

When they say separate AMG dealers, they will still be owned by the owner of an MB dealership. For example at Mercedes of Greenwich in CT, they have a separate AMG dealership across the street. So in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter that they will have standalone show rooms.

AMG does not consider the C450 a full fledge AMG. See below a conversation I had with AMG on their Facebook page


I always drive me C450 in sports+ mode. Why when I restart the engine after driving in sports+, well within 4 hours, I just get a quiet start, instead of the rumble on start up? I get the start up rumble maybe about 20% of the time.

Today
Mercedes-AMG
10:51am
Mercedes-AMG
Hello Paul,
Thank you for the question. Unfortunately, we cannot assist with problems that are related to Mercedes-Benz series cars. We kindly ask you for your understanding and suggest to contact our colleagues at Mercedes-Benz directly. You can reach them at www.facebook.com/mercedes-benz.
Best regards from Affalterbach,
Your AMG Social Media Team

Funny part is that if you visit their website, the 450 AMG is listed under vehicle lineup:

Will the new style C43 rims be stock? or optional?

Thank you.

The C450 will never start up in Sports+ no matter if you just drove in S+ a minute or 4hours before. Sometimes you will get a slight rumble at start up but generally, all start ups are in Comfort mode by default. If you would just press the engine one button twice and switch to S+ then turn on the car you will be greeted with a very loud and pronounced rumble and crackle with some pop 100% of the time.

I understand that SOMETIMES it may start up with a rumble by default some times but the rumble at S+ is much more pronounced than it will ever be.

The feature that MotoMan spoke about are only applicable to the prototype model or the European models. Due to our PITA highway regulations we did not retain the 4hour drive mode memory in our US models nor did we retain the true ILS lighting present in European models.

Dealer website:

http://www.loebermotors.com/blog/wha...amg-43-models/

What's new in that article? Anything? Or just the same stuff from older articles?

I heard rumors that all Mercedes with AMG packs will bear the AMG badge.

For example, C300 with AMG package will become C30 AMG.

Similarly there will be E35 AMG, S55 AMG, etc.

It's a multiple year plan starting w/ C43. Tobias Moers believes this will reduce development cost and increase revenue.

AMG will become more or less Audi's S-line.

Are you serious? Ay, caramba!

no

Oh okay......you must be hodadrah's agent & spokesperson. But I concede; Had me goin' for a minute.

European blogs are showing ordering availability in MID APRIL for C43 sedan - we should know pretty soon.

Just want to mention Mercedes of Greenwich in CT is the WORST dealership I dealt with.
When I was looking around for W205, I paid $$ deposit at their dealership to take one car, but over the weekend, they sold the car to someone else - what's the point of the deposit. Also they played me like a fool when talking about lease payments. We had an agreement with a deal, but payment got hiked maybe thousands more (in total lease payment) after they submitted my lease application. They said im in tier 3. I asked to get the report because I didn't trust them, they said no reports would be provided to a customer ever.

Went to another dealership, leased my current W205, tier 1 lease rate.

Took weeks to reach their sales team to get my deposit back - they cut my phone calls off, reject my emails.