cntlaw

I was a little bit lucky than you; I shifted from a E320(W210) to C55 in Aug 2004. It is all about timing and what you have owned previously.
At its first launch, E500 was a great car possibly , at that time, the biggest displacement NA engine on the W211.
E500 has always been my ultimate car.
However, it was for me, ROI less justified (high tax here) to spend a fortune to move from a just 3 yr old E320 (W210) to a new E500(W211).
But for you, you only have a Japanese IS300, so you will get plenty
of fresh feeling to migrate to E500 ( better if fully loaded )
Besides, C55 is not as easy to maintain as a E500 , because it is
a freaking crazy fast sports car.
Take the E500 (W211) because it is a newer technology.
It is a bit late to buy a C55 now, and there is no 7G tronic on it.
Enjoy Mercedes Benz.

Stiggs

Oh thats classic!

Childish///AMG

Must be "Nice" to have cash flow like that :p I will admitt the E55 is definately a sweet car. I almost purchased one but it was the wrong color

dragonAMG

Another thing too consider about the e55 is it's weight. Read the e55 forum. The handling and braking in one thing that e55 owners complain about. They say it feels and handles like a big boat.

Chappy

Here's the answer to your own question. I suggest you do not upgrade to a C55, but rather get what your heart is set on....the E55

noka

IIRC you might want to consider avoiding MY '03 and maybe early '04 due to some reported problems. Search E55 forum for details.

Rgds,
Norm

cntlaw

Give this poor guy a break friends
Move to a 467hp E55 from a IS300 , he has got to trust his 'heart'

Childish///AMG

True "That" Let his heart be his guide. If he buys the wrong car, he will regret it

05C55

My C55 has been pretty reliable, its fast, comfortable, understated but still very nice to look at and anything with the three pointed star commands a bit of attention unlike your IS. E55 is a freight train in a straight line but try throwing it into some corners..... Not bad but you feel all that weight and you are talking about an 85K+ car

NVESTMNT

Thanks guys!!! As I noted above, I won't be trading up for a while and I like to keep my options open. I feel the E55 is everything I'm looking for.

I'm not sure how long the current E-class body has been out? When is the replacement do? I know the C-class body is due for replacement soon.

BiTurboBenz

Oh, I guess that makes it an "AMG one"

RLS

Man you guys are rough! Only thing I am stating is that the E420 came with the AMG emblem. If it is not one, than why would MB put it on? Does MB have it on any other car that is not an AMG?? Please enlighten me.

scovit

I'm finding this thread very interesting to read. In fact, I had a similar dilemma back in May. Here's the deal. 47 year old guy, likes to go against the norm and doesn't need a larger car for status or smoothness. Been there done that!

The dealer was giving me back all my money on my 05 CLK500, so what was I going to get? An E500? 4Matic? What should I get?

I had actually ordered the new 06 BMW 530XI and it was being made to my specs.

I just wasn't thrilled in any direction, until my wife looked at the C55 sitting in the dealer showroom. Yea, that's my wife reminding me that I can like a smaller C-Class, especially one w/ the AMG logo on the back.

Long and the short........"I feel the need for speed"!

I cancelled my order for the 530XI and bought the C55 and loving it! You should have seen her behind the wheel of this car just to try it out!

Cuts across all barriers age, sex and otherwise! It gives you a piece of everything, around town cruising or racing speed, your choice.

4 doors w/ all the luxury...decent trunk and the subtle look that says...good ahead....make my day!

You want fast...you've got the potential there and I use it. It is one stable auto even at +125mph w/ great 20 mpg at the pump!

Drive the C55...you'll be thrilled.

noka

My '00 540i/6 came with some ///M emblems from the factory. IIRC, it had some ///M suspension components and the same 6-spd tranny. Not totally uncommon for some manufacturers to do this.

Rgds,
Norm

05C55

I was so believeing this post until the last line. :rofl:

noka

I get 19-20mpg.
Norm

mez456

Are you driving backwards? Just kidding. I have only been through 1 tank and the outlook is I need to buy stock in an oil company!!! Granted I have goten on it a couple of times but the rest of the time the car was in "C" mode. Hopefully it will get better. I am not even sure that there is premium in it as it was the original tank from the dealer.

Mez

NVESTMNT

Good move getting the MB over the BMW

I'm sure the C55 feels awesome when you give it gas but as I noted for me, ths size is an issue. Thanks tho for the good review!

cntlaw

That's good, congratulations.
The soon 4 yr old E-Class W211 should be due for a facelift in 2006.
You should wait until MB put a 7G Tronic to the E55/E63.
If above are not matter, should buy it now.
Can't wait for something to happen forever.

glomar83

I only get 13 mpg, granted I don't do any highway driving and I am pretty aggressive when i drive the c55.

My opinion, buy the E55, you know that's the car you really want. I didn't think I had enough money to buy the c55 until I actually took delivery. Now my only regret is that I didn't buy it sooner.

NVESTMNT

That's what I was thinking. If I don't like the new body better than the current, I can buy this body used and at a much lower price than sold now. We shall see...

Childish///AMG

Just remember this your "Cash" will not burn a hole in your pocket
All in all get what you want

LowCaliTi

look at one, drive it and look at it again, and then no offence but be mad when the is300 feels like a civic on the way home..... buy it

CynCarvin32

Get the E500 if you dont care about the .5 seconds between the two in 0-60 performance. The e really drives well when driven correctly.

The E just feels like a better car and the C55 feels like a C230k with nappa leatehr. Given it is quick and has some nice touches but it still is a C230k at heart. Stock the C55 is not a sports car so why not just get the E500. I bet a race car driver would not be that much slower in a 2006 E500 when compared to the same driver in C55. The 7g in the W211 is simply in a class of its own. It never is out of the power band and it shifts faster and more crisply than the speedshift 5 speed.

I think the best point is this... is a C55 twice as good as a C230k? No its not. I had a C32 and it was fun but an E500 is just a better car. But watch out if you drive hard the E500 needs a brake upgrade ... and fast. But this is only seen in serious canyon driving and track use.

Anyhow the C203 chassis is near the end so why buy the last of the last? Wait for a W204 or get a W211 instead.

ToboC32

go for the E500. AMG is not necessarily a status thing, it's a enthesiust thing. I really don't know how to say this nicely, but if you need convincing to get an AMG, then you probably don't deserve one.