I have the MB AMG book and it lists the C55@4.9.???

 

This is a pointless comparision, one car is large and quick but handles like a garbage barge in comparison to any smaller sport sedan. The S class is great dont get me wrong, however it isn't something with handling in mind, and is designed for a different purpose. To sell a C55 because another car that isn't even in the same class is faster is absolutely absurd. Especially the logic of God forbid being in a C55 while the new M3's are out, so I might as well go get something small and hide until MB comes out with the W204 AMG.

This is in addition to the fact that not all roads are straight and not all comparisons are based on just going straight, thats just 1/2 the story while the rest of the story (paul harvey) is also how well you can turn.

Either sell your damned car or deal with it.

 

Yeah, I have the American 2005 AMG brochure too in pdf format. It says 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds. In all the previous posts, we're talking about 0-100km/h, which is about 62 mph.

Trust me, the international AMG brochure and international website both list the C55 sedan as taking 5.2 seconds to reach 100km/h (62mph).

Anyways, it really doesn't matter. Taking about 5 seconds to reach to speed limit is plenty fast already.

 

Wow, this thread has really adds to the hysteria, especially when I am trying to sell this car and at least take some fair bucks out of it for other reasons.

I am told that there are 10 used C55's on line for sale through cars.com and ebaymotors, and what that does is de-value the car to an unreasonable level.

When you pay 58k in June and now its worth 43.5k, wholesale that's insane.

I just don't understand why BMW's hold so much value. I just don't get it and frankly it would be reason enough for some to consider a BMW over a Merc.

All things being equal BMW's are great cars and Merc's are supposed to be and yet Merc's have no value. Even the infamous high value CLK's are dropping in retained value. Perhaps its the influence of the Chrysler merger and qualit that has hurt the "demand" for our cars.

And don't talk to me about new models because you wouldn't believe how much retained value exists in the old BMW E39 class as an example.

Explain it to me. I just don't get it.

 

If the S500 gives 388hp and 0-100 in 5.4S.
The S550 ( withe the 6.3 litre 4valve engine ) will be much faster.
(Not to consider S600 as it is a V12 and has much higher rank than S500; and God know what the hp is )
And, what it implies, if the non AMG S-class can go that fast;apart from a lower price tag, what is the motivation for an AMG which is slower than the 'normal MB' ? e.g. S500 is a very normal MB ; and so is S550.
And what if the coming facelift E500 uses the same 388hp V8 engine as the new S500? With its lighter body, then future E500 will probably do a 5.2s? And, not to ignore the fact that there might be a E550 also.
Or is this the same reason why people pay double for a 997S which is really not that much faster than the C55 (in straight) and even it has less torque. Because 997 has better handling ? So does it mean if a car has better handling, we will accept it even it has less hp? If this is the case, fine.
I still think the sign of age-ing is pressing the C55 harder now and it should be a 420hp V8 4Valve 7/8-G W204 time sooner the better.
cnt

 

Look cntlaw. Times change. You're comparing the top of the line C-class AMG sedan to a much more expensive S-class car. I hope you realize that the CURRENT non-AMG S600, CL600, and SL600 (5.5L twin turbo V12 making 493HP and 590lb-ft torque) are already faster than the C55 AMG to 100km/h.

According to the Canadian Mercedes website, these are the times to 100km/h for 2006 models:
S600: 4.9 seconds
CL600: 4.8 seconds
SL600: 4.7 seconds
C55 AMG: 5.1 seconds (don't know why the Canadian website lists a slight faster time than the international AMG website, which is 5.2 seconds).

Anyways, my point is that it is not something new or novel that the lowest/cheapest AMG car is not faster than some of the much more expensive non-AMG cars in Mercedes' lineup. So what if the upcoming 2007 S500 is only slightly slower than the current C55? You're probably right that when the new 5.5L 4 valve V8 makes it into the E-class, that E500 will probably be just as fast or faster than the C55. So what? Last time I checked, the current 2006 E500 with the old 5.0 3 valve V8 with 302HP is still quite a bit more expensive than the C55. By that time, the AMG C-class will likely have a new engine itself which will be faster than the current C55.

With enough time, there will be more and more cars faster than the current C55. That's called progress, and the only way to keep up is to change cars every 3-4 years. Look at the old C43. It's times are just plain slow now because times change. With the horsepower race in full swing, it is inevitable that the C55's acceleration will become slower and slower relative to other cars. It's obvious you are privilaged enough to change cars like you change clothes. Good for you. Enjoy your toys.

Also, where did you read about a S550 which will have the 6.3L V8? I don't think that's accurate.

 

Here, the price of C55 is higher than a plain E500. A fully loaded E500 may be just 5% more than a C55. One of the major reasons (apart from the AMG badge) that I ignored the E500 , was because C55 has 367hp vs E500's 306hp. And, with 367hp , I would not give a damn to a 333hp 545i too.

Yes, damn right, the time changed.
If the S500 gets 388hp, logically, the E500 will get 388hp.
If time reversed, I would take a E500 with 388hp than a C55 with 367hp
while their prices are very close in our case.

What above implies, I was not all wrong - the C55 is already out date.
I must say, this does not stop the owners to love their cars and keep it.
There are plenty of C36s , C32s out there, we can surely join them and sing loud 'as a group' too.

In a year or so, we (if still) C55 owners will be posting here :
"wow , your W204 C63 grill is really lovely , I must have it on my C55 "
" wow , I m gonna to mod my EUC to get the same 420hp as the C63 "
" wow , how much do I have to pay to mod my headlamps like the 63?"
" Where can I buy the C63 wheels cheaper "

blah blah blah...
:p

cnt

 

First off where on Earth did you hear about a 8G tranny from MB? If your just guessing here why not go for a 10G tranny? Secondly it is depressing and annoying me with banter as to why the C55 is basically antiquated garbage. If you feel its to slow spend some money and get the ECU re-flashed by renntech or kleemann. If you still feel its too slow spend some more money and get a supercharger for it. With enough mods no future stock E500 or S500 or even the 600 lineup will be able to hang with the C55.

If your not enjoying the car sell it and buy something else. But stop continually telling everyone oh this new Merc, this new Audi, this new BMW and so on will be faster then the C55, so time to get rid of yours. Also, you continually tell everyone thinking of buying a C55 to pick a different car or only get it used at a low price. That is old. Whatever happen to telling people its a great car you'll enjoy it a lot. Oh, but no your thought is the W203 is being replaced with W204 in a few years so stay away. My thought is so what is the W204 coming out next month? No! 6 months? No! A year? No! So why not tell people its alright to buy a NEW C55 or is it something that is just unacceptable to you?

A quick question do you buy a new ipod everytime apple comes out with a new one? Do you buy a new TV every year the new model comes out and it can display more pixels then the previous year? You must be a upgrade nut That can't handle not having the lastest and greatest. That's fine fuel the economy, but stop trying to bring everyone else down to your level. Let people enjoy their purchase

 

AMG - Touche. Why is anyone (including me) even wasting time with this inane, ridiculous thread. It should be moved and CNTLAW should be put on probation for his complete and utter lack of logical reasoning.

 

sell your C55 and start looking for the C32. you can make a c32 go much faster than a c55 and also spend less money.

just my .02

 

RawAMGpower

Calm down. With your over-reaction, I have no more creditability for being so naive on this thread.

Back 14 mths ago, I did not join mbworld before my C55 buying decsion. The time, was too tempting to try this largest displacement engine on a compact sedan for the price of a E500 (with much less power). Did I not consider the issue of aging W203? I did and well, at least I got a 04 facelift model and also being the very first to own it. The investment had been a great success on personal satisfaction.

My bitter sense of humour could well be misleading and not too nice to tell straight to people's faces to dump their new cars. I am aware of all the feelings there (your car is 9 months and mine is 14 months). Not a doubt, we all love the C55 as much as we did since day-1, no less.

Again, you have rightly pointed out, the number of 'examples' I have gathered were messy and would not make some better reasons that owners have to sell the C55 (now). (Okay, I took that I am just CNTLAW and nobody needs to agree with me okay). If that has made me a criminal, fine.

However, as you pointed out, yes, I did give my comments to some threads in several occasions as not to buy brand new C55s e.g. SLK55 is my preference at this point of time. (And I took that people did not have to listen to me anyway). In another view point, if these people really so sure what they are getting , they won't be coming up here and ask whether they should get a 03 C32, a 04 C55 or a 05 E90 330i, okay. For those they know why they need a C55 , they won't be asking us anyway. e.g. me.

My other points may not be good enough for reasons to dump the car; are they also not serving as valid points for concluding a buying decision?

1. If the E500 gets a 388hp V84V engine 0-100 5s for the same price?
( don't give me the shhtt that W203 has better handling than the E again, so as the M3 E46, so as the SLK, CLK )

2. "ECU re-flashed by renntech or kleemann" - this is not available in most countries or they get their warranty void.

3. W204 will launch 9 months after the new S-Class. We know the AMG version of W204 will be in 2007. Prove to me if it is not. (We are talking about a 60K investment in USA, 110K here back my home, and 300K in Thailand)

4. C55 is a great car - it fulfilled my dream and yours and may of us here, but that we were talking about a buying decision back 2004 , right?
Read your calendar, what is the date today?

I have pointed out the facts that SLK, CLK are newer models; and W203 is relatively aged - what is wrong with that?
(Did I say anything C55 is rubblish? Did I say I hate my C55 because it is not faster than a E55 ? Looked like that was you stuffed words to my mouth to confuse everybody here)

 

I for one do not see why everyone is getting so "Upset" He is merely
expressing his opinion. Perhaps he is beating it to death :p But never the less, who ever owns, or is planning to purchase or sell will do so of their own accord. There have been some valid points from everyone. I am looking for the right C55 for me. I can only drive so fast on city streets. I am not about to risk my insurance payments going up, mi espousa would have a fit

I have never viewed a car as an investment, so I do not care about depreciation. All in all I view cntlaw's posts as just comments to make me a better consumer when it comes to purchasing my C55, and thats it