I just found out today I will be picking up by new C55 next Thursday. I'm pumped and had to share my excitement! My previous post asked for advice on the various shades of black. Despite all the great advice (thank you), I chose to go with brilliant silver. I know, it's been done. But it's a classic color. And, given I live in Calgary, where we have virtually 6 months of winter, silver just makes more sense.

I read with interest all the opinions on break-in options, including the "drive it like you stole it" theory. Ultimately, I've made the decision to just go with MB's advice. I would like to think they know what they're talking about.

I may go with 3M protective film in the front, although the reality is a vehicle will suffer paint damage all over eventually, especially in Calgary, where winters are severe and we use aggregate on the highways for traction. (I'm going to drive my vehicle year round.) So I'm not convinced that protecting the front end is really worthwhile.

Some day I'll consider the after market options - chip etc. However I want to experience the car stock for a while. Okay, so I'll admit it now. The C55 is replacing a '99 Mustang Cobra convertible. I got a lot of fun out of owning the vehicle for a few years and only then adding MAF, chip, pulleys, 4.10 rear end, Bassani exhaust. When you really know the car, I think you can better appreciate improved performance.

On the subject of the Cobra, I suspect it would not get a lot of respect on this forum. I'll just say it has been a lot of fun and I'll miss it. However there's no doubt in my mind I am trading up to a world class performance vehicle. I can't wait.

It doesn't hurt that I feel like I'm joining an exclusive club. I don't see a lot of M3's, S4's and CTS-V's on the road here in Calgary, but I do see them fairly frequently. On the other hand, I have never seen a C55 here. We have two MB dealers in the city. The one I dealt with is allocated 4 C55's per year. I'm getting the second of the four.

Sorry for being long-winded, but I know you C55/C32 owners can appreciate my feelings.

I'll post pictures if you're interested, maybe with the Rocky Mountains in the background, so you get some local flavour!

 

congrats! make sure you take a lot of pictures

 

Welcome to the family. You'll love the C55. Just to give you an idea of how fast the stock C55 is, I ran a Dodge Viper the other day and keep up with him, we were virtually neck and neck from about 10mph to 80mph before we both had to break for the light.

 

Congrats, although I have ordered a new 911 I have second thoughts everytime I drive the C55, its a stunning car. The more I have driven it the better it has gotten. Mustang Cobra is great, now you will have a more user friendly back seat and ride and handling so refined you will be blown away. This car is amazing and you won't believe how fast and competent it is until you get some seat time. I have huge respect for the boys at AMG, you won't know it for the first few days or even week or two, but once you start figuring it out, the fun begins.

 

You will enjoy this new car. Just drove the car back and forth from my house to Atlantic City, 180 miles round trip 3 times! He's right...the ride gets better and better each time! Almost like the car continues to break in....What a difference AMG vehicles are! The tolerances just seem to be so much better.

The biggest surprise is the gas mileage. I'm averaging 19.4 mpg city, stop and go and 23.2 highway.....for a 5.5 liter V8......unreal!

So have fun & be safe!

 

I should add that, after about 3k miles the car feels stronger and much faster. And yes, the gas mileage is really that good!!! Enjoy!

 

Unless, of course you have a lead foot. Then the gas mileage isn't quite so good. Mileage should be great in the ice though as you can't step on it that hard anyway.

Have you ever thought of just buying a beater car so your C55 doesn't get mangled in the winters? When I was a kid, and lived up north, my Dad always had one piece-of-s**t car that he would use for commuting in the snow.

 

Thanks for the replies. Now I'm even more excited. Despite having driven a fast car for the past 6 years, the C55 will be in a different league. Re the previous suggestion about driving a beater car during the winter, I'm a real believer in enjoying my vehicle year round. If I were to garage it in winter here in Calgary, it would be off the road for 5 months of the year. With care, you can keep a car looking great - even if not pristine - despite winter driving. As for driving conditions, although it's cold here in winter, you're not driving on snow and ice most of the time.

 

First, congratulations and enjoy your new car! "BS" may be a boring color to some but it's easy to keep looking clean and good all year around. I got the front-end protection FWIW. I also picked up a set of 17" wheels and snows for Winter driving because I believe it's better to drive it than garage it for extended periods. If it's going to be really nasty out, I take our '02 GTI (our all-around grocery-getter/truck ).

Rgds,
Norm

 

Congrats on you new C55 coming this week. I have had mine couple months and there is not a single moment while I am driving that I don't say to myself, "really glad I got this car!" Each time I get into the car, the thrill is there.

HPC55

 

I'm glad MB woke up with this round of releases to the cars. The previous gen C-class only had the C43. Now that I have a motor from the E55 in it, all I can say is, this is the way MB should have released it all along. But MB has to keep the E-class above the C-class ... so we only got the 4.3L.

Congrats to all C55 owners.

 

Congratulations on the new car purchase, and welcome to the club. I've had mine for a few months now and holy smokes is it fast. Duh. Really fun car to drive and it moves like a....well you know.

 

congrats on your new purchase

 

congrats!!!! I still have to wait until August to pick up my car.