Performance test results of C-AMG cars
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C55 AMG, 135i, 911 GT3, GLE43 AMG
Performance test results of C-AMG cars
Here are some test results from Road & Track through the years for the various C-AMG cars. I recently dug up some old magazines and I thought it would be interesting to post these for comparison and to see the improvement in performance through the years.
Road & Track, Feb. 1995.
C36 AMG test
0-60 mph: 6.0 sec
1/4 mile: 14.5 sec @ 98.5 mph
200ft skidpad: 0.86 g
700ft slalom: 62.2 mph
Road & Track, June 1998.
C43 AMG test
0-60 mph: 5.9 sec
1/4 mile: 14.4 sec @ 98.5 mph
200ft skidpad: 0.84 g
700ft slalom: 62.7 mph
Road & Track, Sept. 2001.
C32 AMG test
0-60 mph: 5.1 sec
1/4 mile: 13.6 sec @ 105.4 mph
200ft skidpad: 0.86 g
700ft slalom: 64.0 mph
Road & Track, Nov. 2004.
C55 AMG test
0-60 mph: 5.0 sec
1/4 mile: 13.5 sec @ 106.6 mph
200ft skidpad: 0.86 g
700ft slalom: 67.6 mph
And here are some lap times on Nurburgring from Sport Auto magazine to give a sense of the overall performance of a car. Many consider these laptimes to be a more definitive measure of "performance", as Sport Auto uses the same driver all the time. More and more manufacturers now use the lap times around the "ring" to be a benchmark when assessing the handling dynamics of cars. Here, you can see major improvements with each generation. I don't have a time for the C36 from Sport Auto magazine.
Feb. 1998
C43 AMG test
laptime: 8.51 minutes
Sept. 2001
C32 AMG test
laptime: 8.37 minutes
July 2004
C55 AMG test
laptime: 8.22 minutes
Now that the C55's life will come to an end, I look forward to the next C-AMG car and what performance numbers it will produce. I predict the next C-AMG car will do 0-60 in 4.X seconds, and the 1/4mile in 12.X seconds.
Road & Track, Feb. 1995.
C36 AMG test
0-60 mph: 6.0 sec
1/4 mile: 14.5 sec @ 98.5 mph
200ft skidpad: 0.86 g
700ft slalom: 62.2 mph
Road & Track, June 1998.
C43 AMG test
0-60 mph: 5.9 sec
1/4 mile: 14.4 sec @ 98.5 mph
200ft skidpad: 0.84 g
700ft slalom: 62.7 mph
Road & Track, Sept. 2001.
C32 AMG test
0-60 mph: 5.1 sec
1/4 mile: 13.6 sec @ 105.4 mph
200ft skidpad: 0.86 g
700ft slalom: 64.0 mph
Road & Track, Nov. 2004.
C55 AMG test
0-60 mph: 5.0 sec
1/4 mile: 13.5 sec @ 106.6 mph
200ft skidpad: 0.86 g
700ft slalom: 67.6 mph
And here are some lap times on Nurburgring from Sport Auto magazine to give a sense of the overall performance of a car. Many consider these laptimes to be a more definitive measure of "performance", as Sport Auto uses the same driver all the time. More and more manufacturers now use the lap times around the "ring" to be a benchmark when assessing the handling dynamics of cars. Here, you can see major improvements with each generation. I don't have a time for the C36 from Sport Auto magazine.
Feb. 1998
C43 AMG test
laptime: 8.51 minutes
Sept. 2001
C32 AMG test
laptime: 8.37 minutes
July 2004
C55 AMG test
laptime: 8.22 minutes
Now that the C55's life will come to an end, I look forward to the next C-AMG car and what performance numbers it will produce. I predict the next C-AMG car will do 0-60 in 4.X seconds, and the 1/4mile in 12.X seconds.
Last edited by PC Valkyrie; Jun 13, 2006 at 01:33 AM.
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From: Chicago
02C32AMG
Great post.
What are the C-AMG cars main competition? How does these performance numbers compare with the C's closest competitor?
I'm still new to this forum and MBs in general. IMO, the closest sedan competitors (to the C55AMG for example) would be:
Audi S4
Audi RS4
BMW 330i
BMW M3 (although I consider the M3 in a different class as it's a coupe, etc)
Lexus IS
Infiniti G
???
What are the C-AMG cars main competition? How does these performance numbers compare with the C's closest competitor?
I'm still new to this forum and MBs in general. IMO, the closest sedan competitors (to the C55AMG for example) would be:
Audi S4
Audi RS4
BMW 330i
BMW M3 (although I consider the M3 in a different class as it's a coupe, etc)
Lexus IS
Infiniti G
???
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From: Taipei Taiwan
'10 E63 Obsidiant Black; '06 R350 Alabaster White; 05 C55 Obsidiant Black (sold)
the C55 AMG competitions are
Caddy CTS-V
Audi S4 & RS4
BMW M3
those are some cars i can think of right now.. anymore anybody?
Caddy CTS-V
Audi S4 & RS4
BMW M3
those are some cars i can think of right now.. anymore anybody?
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R35 GT-R, EvoX
Performance-wise, the Subaru STi and Mitsubishi Evolution are great competitors, but of course they're on a totally different level than a Mercedes C AMG. The newer BMW 335i sedan (as the rumors say) should be in good competition with the older C32 and C55. The new M3 should destroy them. Then again, if a C63 comes out, it will destroy everything.
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From: New York City
C55 ///AMG, 535xi
The EVO and the STI competes in the japanese sports tuned cars such as the 350Z, RX-8 etc,
as the 3 series M coupe supposedly is called "4 series"
C32 would face M3, S4
C55 would face M3, RS4
as for the 3.2L c320s and the 3.5L c350s, possibly the new 335i, 3.2T A4, possibly the IS350, G35, and the Type-S Acuras
the 335i seems attractive as a twin turbo inline 6, but I doubt it'd be much difference as the C350s, such as the C320 (215hp) and 330 (225hp)
as the 3 series M coupe supposedly is called "4 series"
C32 would face M3, S4
C55 would face M3, RS4
as for the 3.2L c320s and the 3.5L c350s, possibly the new 335i, 3.2T A4, possibly the IS350, G35, and the Type-S Acuras
the 335i seems attractive as a twin turbo inline 6, but I doubt it'd be much difference as the C350s, such as the C320 (215hp) and 330 (225hp)
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
good write up. However I've seen quicker times for both C55 and C32.
quickest time I've seen magazine test for C32 was in a comparison with the B6 S4 which the C32 clocked 4.77sec 0-60mph and 13.2 1/4 miles and trap around the same speed. The C55 I've seen around the same 0-60 and quater as well.
quickest time I've seen magazine test for C32 was in a comparison with the B6 S4 which the C32 clocked 4.77sec 0-60mph and 13.2 1/4 miles and trap around the same speed. The C55 I've seen around the same 0-60 and quater as well.
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From: Canada
C55 AMG, 135i, 911 GT3, GLE43 AMG
Originally Posted by FrankW
good write up. However I've seen quicker times for both C55 and C32.
quickest time I've seen magazine test for C32 was in a comparison with the B6 S4 which the C32 clocked 4.77sec 0-60mph and 13.2 1/4 miles and trap around the same speed. The C55 I've seen around the same 0-60 and quater as well.
quickest time I've seen magazine test for C32 was in a comparison with the B6 S4 which the C32 clocked 4.77sec 0-60mph and 13.2 1/4 miles and trap around the same speed. The C55 I've seen around the same 0-60 and quater as well.
Here are the numbers for the C32 and C55 from Car and Driver. Unfortunately, I didn't subscribe to Car and Driver in the 1990's, so I don't have the numbers for the C36 and C43.
May 2003
C32 AMG test
0-60 mph: 5.2 seconds
1/4 mile: 13.6 seconds @ 106 mph
skidpad: 0.81 g
Nov 2004
C55 AMG test
0-60 mph: 4.7 seconds
1/4 mile: 13.3 seconds @ 108 mph
skidpad: 0.85 g
And as for competition for C-AMG cars, the most obvious ones are the BMW M3 and Audi S4. They are in the same price range and they are all in the same "class" of cars. The RS4 is probably a step above, because of its price and performance numbers.
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,058
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
I think Road&Track actually has more accurate time given in real world condition. CarandDriver sometimes are sketchy on their test results.
off-topic, anyone read the new issue of CarandDriver? I can't believe the idiots ran a new 599 Fiorano into the wall.
off-topic, anyone read the new issue of CarandDriver? I can't believe the idiots ran a new 599 Fiorano into the wall.
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From: Dallas TX
2013 650i Coupe, 2010 IS250 AWD, 1999 S500
Interesting info. AMG didn't really advance much in straight-line performance from the C36 to the C43, but the did with the C32, but then the C55 didn't really advance too far from the C32. You know what the means? The C63 is going to be a scorcher! I loved the C36 more than any of these until the C55 came around. There was something about the C36 when it was first introduced. Then for the last model year, 1997 they gave it a slight power boost. That was Mercedes made an I6 just as good as any BMW I6. Ahh..times gone by.
M
M
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C32 AMG
You really need to keep in mind how limited these numbers are. They do NOT tell the whole story at all. I guess if you take your AMG to the drag race track, you might focus on 1/4 mile time; but for real driving, the results may be deceptive.
I took my bone-stock C32 to an Audi Club driving event at Virginia Int'l Raceway (3 mile road course), and I was impressed (as were others) at how the C32 stacked up to the B6 S4 (V8 power) and the WRX STi. My C32 had lame tires and could not make up any time on the curves, but coming out of the turns into the straights, I was easily catching and passing S4s and STis.
In part it's the HP (small advantage), but it's also torque and gearing. And, of course, the C32 is carrying less weight than an S4. There's no way a magazine test can capture these things unless they do "hot laps" head-to-head.
I took my bone-stock C32 to an Audi Club driving event at Virginia Int'l Raceway (3 mile road course), and I was impressed (as were others) at how the C32 stacked up to the B6 S4 (V8 power) and the WRX STi. My C32 had lame tires and could not make up any time on the curves, but coming out of the turns into the straights, I was easily catching and passing S4s and STis.
In part it's the HP (small advantage), but it's also torque and gearing. And, of course, the C32 is carrying less weight than an S4. There's no way a magazine test can capture these things unless they do "hot laps" head-to-head.
Thread Starter
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From: Canada
C55 AMG, 135i, 911 GT3, GLE43 AMG
Originally Posted by Fifth Ring
You really need to keep in mind how limited these numbers are. They do NOT tell the whole story at all. I guess if you take your AMG to the drag race track, you might focus on 1/4 mile time; but for real driving, the results may be deceptive.
I took my bone-stock C32 to an Audi Club driving event at Virginia Int'l Raceway (3 mile road course), and I was impressed (as were others) at how the C32 stacked up to the B6 S4 (V8 power) and the WRX STi. My C32 had lame tires and could not make up any time on the curves, but coming out of the turns into the straights, I was easily catching and passing S4s and STis.
In part it's the HP (small advantage), but it's also torque and gearing. And, of course, the C32 is carrying less weight than an S4. There's no way a magazine test can capture these things unless they do "hot laps" head-to-head.
I took my bone-stock C32 to an Audi Club driving event at Virginia Int'l Raceway (3 mile road course), and I was impressed (as were others) at how the C32 stacked up to the B6 S4 (V8 power) and the WRX STi. My C32 had lame tires and could not make up any time on the curves, but coming out of the turns into the straights, I was easily catching and passing S4s and STis.
In part it's the HP (small advantage), but it's also torque and gearing. And, of course, the C32 is carrying less weight than an S4. There's no way a magazine test can capture these things unless they do "hot laps" head-to-head.
If you look at this measure of "performance", the Mercedes C-AMG cars have improved significantly with each generation. BMW M3 totally dominated this aspect of performance until the C55 came out, which finally resulted in a C-AMG car which could keep up with the M3 on a track.
I just hope the next C-AMG car will not have to play catch-up again to the new V8 M3. Currently, the RS4 holds this crown with a 8.09 laptime around the Nurburgring (as tested by Sport Auto).
Last edited by PC Valkyrie; Jun 15, 2006 at 09:30 AM.
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From: Dallas TX
2013 650i Coupe, 2010 IS250 AWD, 1999 S500
Originally Posted by Fifth Ring
You really need to keep in mind how limited these numbers are. They do NOT tell the whole story at all. I guess if you take your AMG to the drag race track, you might focus on 1/4 mile time; but for real driving, the results may be deceptive.
I took my bone-stock C32 to an Audi Club driving event at Virginia Int'l Raceway (3 mile road course), and I was impressed (as were others) at how the C32 stacked up to the B6 S4 (V8 power) and the WRX STi. My C32 had lame tires and could not make up any time on the curves, but coming out of the turns into the straights, I was easily catching and passing S4s and STis.
In part it's the HP (small advantage), but it's also torque and gearing. And, of course, the C32 is carrying less weight than an S4. There's no way a magazine test can capture these things unless they do "hot laps" head-to-head.
I took my bone-stock C32 to an Audi Club driving event at Virginia Int'l Raceway (3 mile road course), and I was impressed (as were others) at how the C32 stacked up to the B6 S4 (V8 power) and the WRX STi. My C32 had lame tires and could not make up any time on the curves, but coming out of the turns into the straights, I was easily catching and passing S4s and STis.
In part it's the HP (small advantage), but it's also torque and gearing. And, of course, the C32 is carrying less weight than an S4. There's no way a magazine test can capture these things unless they do "hot laps" head-to-head.
M
