Drove my 1st C32, might look at a C36 next
10-24-2008, 05:57 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 70
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2010 E550, 02 CLK55 Cabrio - sold
Drove my 1st C32, might look at a C36 next
Went to the dealer and took out a 2002 AMG with 90k miles on it. Sadly, I had to be supervised - bet its even faster with 200lbs less. Wow 
Now that is my kind of car! I think I will forget all about M3's and Mustangs. I was really happy it had that super solid and smooth feel I remember from mid-90's Mercedes. And the interior looked of quality for the most part. It was not exactly pristine, had a few scratches hear and there, the leather was ok but did not look like it was conditioned, looked a bit weathered, but not too bad. I found a tiny bit of rust at the bottom of the driver door sill. No warranty of records (dealer). They are asking 14k, so I figure it might be worth 12K.
There is a 1996 C36 AMG in town, looks super clean. Do they have anywhere near the feel of a C32? Are they very quick, more or less reliable? 1 of 220, find that hard to believe:
"Original owner, non-smoker, never-abused, no-accident, always-garaged example of only 220 built. ONLY 44,000 MILES! Jet black exterior with special black AMG leather interior. AMG built 286 HP INLINE 6, suspension, body, exhaust, and wheels. Fully loaded, power everything, everything works and drives great. Dealer serviced with all maintenance records. New tires and a second set of wheels/tires included. This car was purchased new by my aunt who has pampered this car since day one. Truly a must-see example of a rare automobile. $11,500 or best offer."
Now that is my kind of car! I think I will forget all about M3's and Mustangs. I was really happy it had that super solid and smooth feel I remember from mid-90's Mercedes. And the interior looked of quality for the most part. It was not exactly pristine, had a few scratches hear and there, the leather was ok but did not look like it was conditioned, looked a bit weathered, but not too bad. I found a tiny bit of rust at the bottom of the driver door sill. No warranty of records (dealer). They are asking 14k, so I figure it might be worth 12K.There is a 1996 C36 AMG in town, looks super clean. Do they have anywhere near the feel of a C32? Are they very quick, more or less reliable? 1 of 220, find that hard to believe:
"Original owner, non-smoker, never-abused, no-accident, always-garaged example of only 220 built. ONLY 44,000 MILES! Jet black exterior with special black AMG leather interior. AMG built 286 HP INLINE 6, suspension, body, exhaust, and wheels. Fully loaded, power everything, everything works and drives great. Dealer serviced with all maintenance records. New tires and a second set of wheels/tires included. This car was purchased new by my aunt who has pampered this car since day one. Truly a must-see example of a rare automobile. $11,500 or best offer."
10-24-2008, 06:02 PM
#2
Went to the dealer and took out a 2002 AMG with 90k miles on it. Sadly, I had to be supervised - bet its even faster with 200lbs less. Wow Now that is my kind of car! I think I will forget all about M3's and Mustangs. I was really happy it had that super solid and smooth feel I remember from mid-90's Mercedes. And the interior looked of quality for the most part. It was not exactly pristine, had a few scratches hear and there, the leather was ok but did not look like it was conditioned, looked a bit weathered, but not too bad. I found a tiny bit of rust at the bottom of the driver door sill. No warranty of records (dealer). They are asking 14k, so I figure it might be worth 12K.
There is a 1996 C36 AMG in town, looks super clean. Do they have anywhere near the feel of a C32? Are they very quick, more or less reliable? 1 of 220, find that hard to believe:
"Original owner, non-smoker, never-abused, no-accident, always-garaged example of only 220 built. ONLY 44,000 MILES! Jet black exterior with special black AMG leather interior. AMG built 286 HP INLINE 6, suspension, body, exhaust, and wheels. Fully loaded, power everything, everything works and drives great. Dealer serviced with all maintenance records. New tires and a second set of wheels/tires included. This car was purchased new by my aunt who has pampered this car since day one. Truly a must-see example of a rare automobile. $11,500 or best offer."
Now that is my kind of car! I think I will forget all about M3's and Mustangs. I was really happy it had that super solid and smooth feel I remember from mid-90's Mercedes. And the interior looked of quality for the most part. It was not exactly pristine, had a few scratches hear and there, the leather was ok but did not look like it was conditioned, looked a bit weathered, but not too bad. I found a tiny bit of rust at the bottom of the driver door sill. No warranty of records (dealer). They are asking 14k, so I figure it might be worth 12K.There is a 1996 C36 AMG in town, looks super clean. Do they have anywhere near the feel of a C32? Are they very quick, more or less reliable? 1 of 220, find that hard to believe:
"Original owner, non-smoker, never-abused, no-accident, always-garaged example of only 220 built. ONLY 44,000 MILES! Jet black exterior with special black AMG leather interior. AMG built 286 HP INLINE 6, suspension, body, exhaust, and wheels. Fully loaded, power everything, everything works and drives great. Dealer serviced with all maintenance records. New tires and a second set of wheels/tires included. This car was purchased new by my aunt who has pampered this car since day one. Truly a must-see example of a rare automobile. $11,500 or best offer."
The 04 C32 is the rarest of the rare, 1 of about 200 in the USA!!! This is from the official AMG website. Why buy the 36 when you can have a faster, better car for about $5 K more!! Not much you can do to modify that inline 6 either compared to the C32!! Not that its a bad, car BUT a 1996 car is like dinosaur years today!! Also, if you get a C32, make sure you run at least 93 octane!!
10-24-2008, 06:32 PM
#6
[QUOTE=e1000;3128157]
Do I really want them over on this forum reaming us??? Different car, different time, different place, different engine, different everything!!! Just like the C55 versus the C32, I really don't like to go there.
Do I really want them over on this forum reaming us??? Different car, different time, different place, different engine, different everything!!! Just like the C55 versus the C32, I really don't like to go there.
Trending Topics
10-24-2008, 08:00 PM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 830
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
2003 C32 AMG, 2003 E39 M5
If you have to choose between the 2 you drove I would go with the 36. I say this because of the service records and the care of the C32 you are describing. You can tell by looking at the outside and inside if the car was taken care of. I would feel much better buying a car I know the history on even if the other was faster. A fast car that ends up having problems and is in the shop with expensive repairs all of a sudden is not faster than the car that was maintained and not in and out of the shop. Fast is only good if you can drive it.
Now in general if I had to choose between a well maintained C32 and a C36 hands down C32 would be the car. The C32 even with today's cars are still considered quick. Nice thing is it is a real sleeper.
Get a C32 that has been maintianed and has service records. If you are looking for speed you would be taking astep back purchasing a C36.
I am not bad mouthing the C36 it just had it's day and time which was years ago. Give it another couple years and the C32 I am sure will not be considered a rockect ship. Couple years back it was considered very fast. Now a couple years have gone by and mid 13 sec's is getting slow. With cars things change so quickly it is hard to keep up unless you have a ton of money. Compare the C32 to the C55 now the C63. See my point with cars being dated quickly.
Now in general if I had to choose between a well maintained C32 and a C36 hands down C32 would be the car. The C32 even with today's cars are still considered quick. Nice thing is it is a real sleeper.
Get a C32 that has been maintianed and has service records. If you are looking for speed you would be taking astep back purchasing a C36.
I am not bad mouthing the C36 it just had it's day and time which was years ago. Give it another couple years and the C32 I am sure will not be considered a rockect ship. Couple years back it was considered very fast. Now a couple years have gone by and mid 13 sec's is getting slow. With cars things change so quickly it is hard to keep up unless you have a ton of money. Compare the C32 to the C55 now the C63. See my point with cars being dated quickly.
Went to the dealer and took out a 2002 AMG with 90k miles on it. Sadly, I had to be supervised - bet its even faster with 200lbs less. Wow Now that is my kind of car! I think I will forget all about M3's and Mustangs. I was really happy it had that super solid and smooth feel I remember from mid-90's Mercedes. And the interior looked of quality for the most part. It was not exactly pristine, had a few scratches hear and there, the leather was ok but did not look like it was conditioned, looked a bit weathered, but not too bad. I found a tiny bit of rust at the bottom of the driver door sill. No warranty of records (dealer). They are asking 14k, so I figure it might be worth 12K.
There is a 1996 C36 AMG in town, looks super clean. Do they have anywhere near the feel of a C32? Are they very quick, more or less reliable? 1 of 220, find that hard to believe:
"Original owner, non-smoker, never-abused, no-accident, always-garaged example of only 220 built. ONLY 44,000 MILES! Jet black exterior with special black AMG leather interior. AMG built 286 HP INLINE 6, suspension, body, exhaust, and wheels. Fully loaded, power everything, everything works and drives great. Dealer serviced with all maintenance records. New tires and a second set of wheels/tires included. This car was purchased new by my aunt who has pampered this car since day one. Truly a must-see example of a rare automobile. $11,500 or best offer."
Now that is my kind of car! I think I will forget all about M3's and Mustangs. I was really happy it had that super solid and smooth feel I remember from mid-90's Mercedes. And the interior looked of quality for the most part. It was not exactly pristine, had a few scratches hear and there, the leather was ok but did not look like it was conditioned, looked a bit weathered, but not too bad. I found a tiny bit of rust at the bottom of the driver door sill. No warranty of records (dealer). They are asking 14k, so I figure it might be worth 12K.There is a 1996 C36 AMG in town, looks super clean. Do they have anywhere near the feel of a C32? Are they very quick, more or less reliable? 1 of 220, find that hard to believe:
"Original owner, non-smoker, never-abused, no-accident, always-garaged example of only 220 built. ONLY 44,000 MILES! Jet black exterior with special black AMG leather interior. AMG built 286 HP INLINE 6, suspension, body, exhaust, and wheels. Fully loaded, power everything, everything works and drives great. Dealer serviced with all maintenance records. New tires and a second set of wheels/tires included. This car was purchased new by my aunt who has pampered this car since day one. Truly a must-see example of a rare automobile. $11,500 or best offer."
10-24-2008, 09:12 PM
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
C32 AMG
I would say out of these 2 cars that you have in town, you should go with C36 if you really have to choose between the 2. Like the others said, maintaining a car is very important. If you could easily spot the negative side of the 32 maybe its not the best idea to choose one that you would have to take care in the long run. Also the 36 have less milage. Even though they may not be as fast as the 32, it's still an AMG!!!
Good luck on finding the car you love!
Good luck on finding the car you love!
10-24-2008, 10:06 PM
#11
10-24-2008, 11:44 PM
#12
10-25-2008, 04:22 PM
#15
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santa Barbara & Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 973
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
C32, Cobra, 700hp Vespa
10-25-2008, 05:51 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
04' C32 AMG & 90' TT 300ZX
The 04 C32 is the rarest of the rare, 1 of about 200 in the USA!!! This is from the official AMG website. Why buy the 36 when you can have a faster, better car for about $5 K more!! Not much you can do to modify that inline 6 either compared to the C32!! Not that its a bad, car BUT a 1996 car is like dinosaur years today!! Also, if you get a C32, make sure you run at least 93 octane!!
10-25-2008, 06:34 PM
#17
11-07-2008, 01:57 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Morehead, KY USA
Posts: 396
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
2 Posts
SLK55 AMG, E320 BlueTec, ML350, (formerly) C32 AMG, MR2 Turbo, HD-FLH-FSE, BMW R100RS, Ducati M900
C32 vs C36
Quote: "C32's are MUCH faster than C36's and C43's"
Well, I have never driven C43 but I owned a 1997 C36 AMG for the better part of 5 years and currently own a C32. They are totally different beasts but the C32 stock is not much faster. It is a little faster. I have a little personal test track to compare cars relative accelleration. Weather and atmospheric variations not withstanding, it gives me a comparison. It consits of running the car from a 30 mph kick across a known distance, the following are some results:
Honda Prelude with VTEC controller, cold air intake and exhaust = 65mph
Olds Cutlass stock and worn out = 60mph
2000 Mustang GT 5 spd = 70 mph
1991 MR2 Turbo with lots of mods = 77mph (sometimes closer to 80ish) this was a 14.00 ET car
1997 C36 AMG = 75mph was usually a tick behind the MR2
2003 Mustang Mach I (DOHC 305hp) 5spd = 75-80 depending on traction
2005 Lotus Elise = 80mph or close to it (my son was driving) it was a tick faster than MR2 or C36
2003 C32 AMG = 80mph (this was very close to the Elise)
The C36 has a 4 valve engine with variable valve timeing and is not as strong on the bottom as the C32. Where the C32 spins the tires the C36 just squats and goes. In the mid range the C32 is a little stronger but on top the C36 is surprisingly fast. I suspect that AMG was sandbagging when they claimed 275 hp. I suspect that it was closer to 300 at the crank.
In a drag the C32 will win every time but not by much. 0.8 sec more or less. Handling in the C36 is better than the C32. It has a more planted and stable feel at speed that only gets better the harder you push the 36. The 32 feels a little less connected to the road and wallows a little in the front when pushed. Both handle better than 90% of cars on the road. C32 has better brakes. Both get about the same mileage with me at the wheel. I just sold a cherry Alpine White C36 to a dealer near Cleveland. It needed "Nothing" Would I trade the C32 back for it?? NO WAY, the C32 may not be alot faster but it is faster and fun and mine has lots less miles.
My point is that a well cared for low mileage C36 is a rare gem and you will not be disapointed by it. It might not have the numbers of the C32 but it is no push over. My buddy hoped out of his Mustang GT and into the C36 and went "Whoa, that car is silly fast". AMG made only 1000 C36's over three years and I was told that 220 in 1997 was about all they turned out. We estimated that only 15 of the 1997's were the white and about 55 were black, 110 in Silver. A nice low milage C32 will cost you twice what a C36 will. They are getting long in the tooth and the styling is outdated so their price is dropping accordingly. Mine was surprisingly affordable to own with few problems.
The C32 has TONS more tuning potential as it is relatively easy to hot rod where the C36 is in a pretty high state of tune already and you will not get much more out of it.
Well, I have never driven C43 but I owned a 1997 C36 AMG for the better part of 5 years and currently own a C32. They are totally different beasts but the C32 stock is not much faster. It is a little faster. I have a little personal test track to compare cars relative accelleration. Weather and atmospheric variations not withstanding, it gives me a comparison. It consits of running the car from a 30 mph kick across a known distance, the following are some results:
Honda Prelude with VTEC controller, cold air intake and exhaust = 65mph
Olds Cutlass stock and worn out = 60mph
2000 Mustang GT 5 spd = 70 mph
1991 MR2 Turbo with lots of mods = 77mph (sometimes closer to 80ish) this was a 14.00 ET car
1997 C36 AMG = 75mph was usually a tick behind the MR2
2003 Mustang Mach I (DOHC 305hp) 5spd = 75-80 depending on traction
2005 Lotus Elise = 80mph or close to it (my son was driving) it was a tick faster than MR2 or C36
2003 C32 AMG = 80mph (this was very close to the Elise)
The C36 has a 4 valve engine with variable valve timeing and is not as strong on the bottom as the C32. Where the C32 spins the tires the C36 just squats and goes. In the mid range the C32 is a little stronger but on top the C36 is surprisingly fast. I suspect that AMG was sandbagging when they claimed 275 hp. I suspect that it was closer to 300 at the crank.
In a drag the C32 will win every time but not by much. 0.8 sec more or less. Handling in the C36 is better than the C32. It has a more planted and stable feel at speed that only gets better the harder you push the 36. The 32 feels a little less connected to the road and wallows a little in the front when pushed. Both handle better than 90% of cars on the road. C32 has better brakes. Both get about the same mileage with me at the wheel. I just sold a cherry Alpine White C36 to a dealer near Cleveland. It needed "Nothing" Would I trade the C32 back for it?? NO WAY, the C32 may not be alot faster but it is faster and fun and mine has lots less miles.
My point is that a well cared for low mileage C36 is a rare gem and you will not be disapointed by it. It might not have the numbers of the C32 but it is no push over. My buddy hoped out of his Mustang GT and into the C36 and went "Whoa, that car is silly fast". AMG made only 1000 C36's over three years and I was told that 220 in 1997 was about all they turned out. We estimated that only 15 of the 1997's were the white and about 55 were black, 110 in Silver. A nice low milage C32 will cost you twice what a C36 will. They are getting long in the tooth and the styling is outdated so their price is dropping accordingly. Mine was surprisingly affordable to own with few problems.
The C32 has TONS more tuning potential as it is relatively easy to hot rod where the C36 is in a pretty high state of tune already and you will not get much more out of it.
11-07-2008, 02:12 PM
#20
MBWorld Fanatic!
11-07-2008, 02:18 PM
#22
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: nj
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
a car that can't do the throttle reset.
Quote: "C32's are MUCH faster than C36's and C43's"
Well, I have never driven C43 but I owned a 1997 C36 AMG for the better part of 5 years and currently own a C32. They are totally different beasts but the C32 stock is not much faster. It is a little faster. I have a little personal test track to compare cars relative accelleration. Weather and atmospheric variations not withstanding, it gives me a comparison. It consits of running the car from a 30 mph kick across a known distance, the following are some results:
Honda Prelude with VTEC controller, cold air intake and exhaust = 65mph
Olds Cutlass stock and worn out = 60mph
2000 Mustang GT 5 spd = 70 mph
1991 MR2 Turbo with lots of mods = 77mph (sometimes closer to 80ish) this was a 14.00 ET car
1997 C36 AMG = 75mph was usually a tick behind the MR2
2003 Mustang Mach I (DOHC 305hp) 5spd = 75-80 depending on traction
2005 Lotus Elise = 80mph or close to it (my son was driving) it was a tick faster than MR2 or C36
2003 C32 AMG = 80mph (this was very close to the Elise)
The C36 has a 4 valve engine with variable valve timeing and is not as strong on the bottom as the C32. Where the C32 spins the tires the C36 just squats and goes. In the mid range the C32 is a little stronger but on top the C36 is surprisingly fast. I suspect that AMG was sandbagging when they claimed 275 hp. I suspect that it was closer to 300 at the crank.
In a drag the C32 will win every time but not by much. 0.8 sec more or less. Handling in the C36 is better than the C32. It has a more planted and stable feel at speed that only gets better the harder you push the 36. The 32 feels a little less connected to the road and wallows a little in the front when pushed. Both handle better than 90% of cars on the road. C32 has better brakes. Both get about the same mileage with me at the wheel. I just sold a cherry Alpine White C36 to a dealer near Cleveland. It needed "Nothing" Would I trade the C32 back for it?? NO WAY, the C32 may not be alot faster but it is faster and fun and mine has lots less miles.
My point is that a well cared for low mileage C36 is a rare gem and you will not be disapointed by it. It might not have the numbers of the C32 but it is no push over. My buddy hoped out of his Mustang GT and into the C36 and went "Whoa, that car is silly fast". AMG made only 1000 C36's over three years and I was told that 220 in 1997 was about all they turned out. We estimated that only 15 of the 1997's were the white and about 55 were black, 110 in Silver. A nice low milage C32 will cost you twice what a C36 will. They are getting long in the tooth and the styling is outdated so their price is dropping accordingly. Mine was surprisingly affordable to own with few problems.
The C32 has TONS more tuning potential as it is relatively easy to hot rod where the C36 is in a pretty high state of tune already and you will not get much more out of it.
Well, I have never driven C43 but I owned a 1997 C36 AMG for the better part of 5 years and currently own a C32. They are totally different beasts but the C32 stock is not much faster. It is a little faster. I have a little personal test track to compare cars relative accelleration. Weather and atmospheric variations not withstanding, it gives me a comparison. It consits of running the car from a 30 mph kick across a known distance, the following are some results:
Honda Prelude with VTEC controller, cold air intake and exhaust = 65mph
Olds Cutlass stock and worn out = 60mph
2000 Mustang GT 5 spd = 70 mph
1991 MR2 Turbo with lots of mods = 77mph (sometimes closer to 80ish) this was a 14.00 ET car
1997 C36 AMG = 75mph was usually a tick behind the MR2
2003 Mustang Mach I (DOHC 305hp) 5spd = 75-80 depending on traction
2005 Lotus Elise = 80mph or close to it (my son was driving) it was a tick faster than MR2 or C36
2003 C32 AMG = 80mph (this was very close to the Elise)
The C36 has a 4 valve engine with variable valve timeing and is not as strong on the bottom as the C32. Where the C32 spins the tires the C36 just squats and goes. In the mid range the C32 is a little stronger but on top the C36 is surprisingly fast. I suspect that AMG was sandbagging when they claimed 275 hp. I suspect that it was closer to 300 at the crank.
In a drag the C32 will win every time but not by much. 0.8 sec more or less. Handling in the C36 is better than the C32. It has a more planted and stable feel at speed that only gets better the harder you push the 36. The 32 feels a little less connected to the road and wallows a little in the front when pushed. Both handle better than 90% of cars on the road. C32 has better brakes. Both get about the same mileage with me at the wheel. I just sold a cherry Alpine White C36 to a dealer near Cleveland. It needed "Nothing" Would I trade the C32 back for it?? NO WAY, the C32 may not be alot faster but it is faster and fun and mine has lots less miles.
My point is that a well cared for low mileage C36 is a rare gem and you will not be disapointed by it. It might not have the numbers of the C32 but it is no push over. My buddy hoped out of his Mustang GT and into the C36 and went "Whoa, that car is silly fast". AMG made only 1000 C36's over three years and I was told that 220 in 1997 was about all they turned out. We estimated that only 15 of the 1997's were the white and about 55 were black, 110 in Silver. A nice low milage C32 will cost you twice what a C36 will. They are getting long in the tooth and the styling is outdated so their price is dropping accordingly. Mine was surprisingly affordable to own with few problems.
The C32 has TONS more tuning potential as it is relatively easy to hot rod where the C36 is in a pretty high state of tune already and you will not get much more out of it.
11-07-2008, 02:31 PM
#23
MBWorld Fanatic!
11-08-2008, 12:01 PM
#25
MBWorld Fanatic!
