derrick_lui

The dealer just told me they have a silver E55 AMG 2003..asking 69,000...
I might be able to talk it down to 65,000 dollars...

If so , should I get it? and trade in my C55?

ima55r2

If you do, you will have a faster, bigger, and easier to keep clean car.

rguy

Yes, but it will handle worse, brake worse with almost no feel, weigh more, and be even more nose heavy effectively due to the concentration of mass between the V so high up in the engine bay. Think frying pan on top of a pencil, pretty tipsy huh?

Bottom line, if you are in it to drive, keep your C55. If you just like the AMG image and want to haul kids around, get the E55.

schwarzwagen

or you could call it a microwave, too.

EKaru

Absolutely NOT... $69K for a 2+ year old car which is $9K+ more than a brand new C55? Sure the E55 has a lot more power and accelerates faster, but C55 weighs 547 lbs less.. To me the C55 is more of a driver's car and that ultimately makes it my first choice.. C-class AMG cars take huge hits in depreciation and that's another reason why it's not worth the switch..It would make more sense if you're coming from an 02' C32, but the C55 just came out for this model year.. If you're made of money and are really unhappy with your C55, then go for it.. One more thing.. If indeed the E63 is on the horizon, then the E55 will take a hit when it comes out
Eric...

rguy

schwarzwagen,

if you were feeling particularly sassy you could call it a "blower"...if you know what I mean.......

CynCarvin32

Hey thats my line. I was saying that back in 2002 when the C32 drove like junk with a big reactor on top of the motor! I guess its caugh on around here and is now all to normal. Shucks

But... E55k's with real tires (non Conti's) is really almost equal to a C55 in feel. Driven both extensivly and I think its close. If the E feels a bit biased in weight to the front the power more than makes up for it! I know im the fist person to b*tch when a car feels like it understeers like a pig but both cars do that so why not have one thats stupid fast and plows like a barge?

But that price is not all that great. Low 60's maybe but believe me the 2003 cars should be less than 69k.

DbleNckel

YEP! wait, cuz once the E63 comes out the E55 is gonna take a nose dive then you can get it cheaper!

EKaru

sarcasm?

DbleNckel

not at all, just in agreeance

cntlaw

While many say "no". I would like to say "go for it". :p
I never drove one but based on reviews, E55 is king. No way C32/C55 can even see its tail when that 476hp super-charge engine howls
Is the E55 that bad in terms of handling ? Does it really like a boat? The Porsche owners will tell us our C32/C55 are also "boats".
Or are we challenging CLS55 is a boat, or CL65 is a boat , S65 is a boat; just because they are heavier? I thought AMG is supposed to enable a luxury car to race?

Honestly, I don't know.

But what I trust is MB knows what their customers want.
This time, I would not comment on the E63, financial justification etc .
Have fun.
Cheers
cnt

MBAMGPWR

I traded in my 04 C32 for an 03 E55 in November of 2004. I must say, best move I've ever made. While I loved my C32, the E55 is just a all out fun car to drive. I'm not looking to track my car when I go to work, to dinner, or to the grocery store -- so the fact that people say "well, it doesn't handle as good, blah, wah, wah..." just makes me laugh. As for size, I thought it would be too big for me (I'm a single guy w/ no family to haul around), but I love the size of the car and I get around just fine in it.

If you can "upgrade" for a small amount, why not? Give the E55 a test drive, you'll want one!

Marktini

What will the dealer give you for your C55? $69K is too much for the E. You should be looking at low $60's maximum. What's the insurance costs? Personally I'd love to trade up to an E55 but I'd rather drive my C55 for now.

Take an extended test drive in it and if you want it you are in the position to negotiate terms because you already have a kick-a** car and you can always walk away.

MBAMGPWR

Really, $69k isn't all that bad of a price, depending on miles. Many 2003 E55's have sold for mid-high 60's with an average amount of miles. I paid $70k for my 2003, but it only had 6800 miles at the time of purchase with every option available to the car.

s0vietbenz

I say move on up to the east side

ajoe

I've got about 30 miles test driving a two different c55's. Wife is looking for a new car. I drive an 04 E55. The C55 is a very good car, but...... this one isn't even close. The E55 has better steering feel and the adjustable suspension works. Where the E55 really shines over the C55 is at highway speeds or at any speed. The E55 is quieter, but I like the engine sound better than the C55. I'm not panning the C55, but just take that E55 for an extended test drive and go to WOT and you'll see the real difference.

rguy

I have driven both extensively, and ultimately chose one. It wasn't a financial decision, except I guess that to me, the E55 was $30K more for an inferior car for my purposes and I could make it cream an E55K for $13k. The E55 is faster in a straightline than a stock C55, but regardless of what some E55 owners will tell you, handling matters to a LOT of people. It is okay if they disagree with me. If they just like to go in a straight line, have a mushy zero-feedback brake pedal, a dissociated "air" suspension, and have the handling dynamics and weight distribution of a moo cow, then so be it. Ultimately, I am sure you are looking for both sides of the story. The cars will resonate differently with different people. Financials aside, these are not the same types of cars at all. It is kind of like the old (and unfortunately still current) M3 vs. C55 war. Different strokes, different folks. Listen to both sides and figure out which one resonates with you. It isn't important what we think.

derrick_lui

thanks for all your opinions! Greatly appreciate it.

I went to the dealer, and it seemed like he could do 65k

I told him I want "low 60s" and he said he'd have to check and ask n stuff...

I guess I will stick to my C55 for now...and see in the future what happens.
I still love my C55 baby!

04E55 AMG

If you want handling get a sports car not a sedan. The new 06 Z06 would be a good place to start that will not break the bank


BTW - I have driven both and a E55 that rides on 19" rims that is lowered and has a LSD installed will run circles around a C55 at the track. Great write up on the E55 board by Eric who was hanging with GT3's and 911 TT's all day in his E55.

derrick_lui

by the way guys.
The 2003 E55 im looking at has around 13k miles.
No other options, as I know of (execpt for stock ...heated seats...dynamic seats...)

ProjectC55

My vote: E55

rguy

For those who weren't reading. Different strokes for different folks. Leave it at that please.

rguy

By the way, I think we are trying to compare the two stock to stock. I can do a super plasma ray gun and a super sonic turbolicious donkey kicker and kill E55's all day long, in fact, one blast from that ray gun and not only do I get to kill the E55, I get to create nuclear winter too!

smgC32

Similar argument to the M3 vs M5 story. Different cars for a different people. If sporty handling is what you are after, both the M3 and the C55 will out run the M5 and the E55 (and the RS6) in any canyon run on any day of the week. Several members here including myself have done this test over and over and over... One plus for the E55: the police will let you out of a ticket more often in this car than the C class. Eric knows this story!

04E55 AMG

We all are fortunate that we get to drive AWESOME AMG cars!

The cops followed me all the time in my 911 TT and NSX but never in my family E55 sedan with the baby seat in the back

Hammer it and enjoy