While they're both W203's, the 55 is considerably better-looking IMO with its W209 CLK front end, clear bi-xenons and 18's standard.




The quad rear exhausts look more...what's the word? Cool! :-)


In the twisties, my 32 would come off boost in the tight corners and drop from 300-plus brake at the crank down to probably...220 when it's N/A.


The same road in the 55 is like a totally different road.


Power is more constant throughout the rpm range and in even the tighter corners and power delivery overall is much more linear....and doesn't stop either.


The blown 3.2 is a great engine don't get me wrong but the top-mounted intercooler makes for massive heat soak and power loss too quickly. And the blower belt slips now and then - especially letting off into a corner and powering out of one.


With the 5.4 - no need. Just a big lump of cast iron. A little bit like (don't ban me for saying this) a GM LS1 - lazy but powerful.


Overall - I look forward to every trip in my 55. I cannot wait to get a 63 - even though IMO they are not as attractive and don't sound as good as the 55.

 

Cast aluminium my friend,, cast aluminium.

 

Coming from a C32 to the C55, I agree, I love the interior. I HATED the C32 gauge cluster and steering wheel.

 

Regarding the C63, yes I think the w203 body style is prettier, however the C63 sounds SICK!! At least when you're behind one and they punch it, although I guess I've never really had someone else drive my car and follow them to hear it, will have to try

 

+1, C63 sounds bananas at WOT. Come to think of it, even just pottling around town it sounds great. But the 55 sounds decent enough with resonator and secondary cat delete. I wish I could perpetuate the crackle and pops more easily though, as it stands, it requires a sudden lift off of throttle to do it.

Don't worry thought...C63 prices are just going to continue to drop and drop. That said, I was really keen on one to replace my C55 but I think I'll be keeping the C55 now for longer term, and instead replace my S2000 with a 997.

 

Hello Saaboteur, I bought a C32 (2002 ) from another member in Denver over the weekend and had it delivered Sunday, Some things to do to it, but looks and feels good. I agree though does not have that continual pull of the V8, but will be a good 4 door daily driver through the winter. I will be putting my other cars away for the winter,2005 M3( 30,000 miles) 2000 ZM Roadster (32,000 miles) and the 1976 2002 completely restored ( awaiting engine re build over the next 2 months )
Sorry I could not get your car but thats the way it goes all the best with your next project
John in Kansas City

 

I owned BOTH the 32 and 55 for 6 years together. The C32 was so easy to MOD versus the 55. Taking a 32 V6 SC to 400+ HP with cooling mods, pulley and tune is a LOT easier and less expensive than taking a 300 RWHP (on dyno) C55 to 400+ HP unless you go with an Autorotor Kleemann like I did. I sold the 32 a month ago to a fellow forum member and he's loving it!! Its been stone cold reliable and except for exhaust and TCM tune, its got every mod Needswings or Code 3 ever made for the C32. (plus it was a bona fide mid 12 second car that was a DD as well). Not that this is impressive in light of the 11s and 10s the C63 is capable of doing, BUT it was still quicker than 99% of the cars on the street. The C32 took out many a C5 and non-ZO6 C6 in its day.

The C55 is a different animal, not necessarily better (to me), just different. At slower speeds below 80, the 32 is lithe and frisky, the 55 is more like Thors hammer, it takes a while to toss it, BUT once you do look out!! IN fact, from 0-60, my C32 was just as quick as the Kleemann and then after that it was all over. (that may change with the Quaife I am having installed).

I prefer the front end of the C55 and the quad exhaust as was mentioned above. The cluster is also nicer on the C55 and it feels "tighter" on the roads. For highway cruising, the C55 excels, For city / close suburban, I preferred the C32. My C55 is Mars Red, so it gets a LOT more attention/affection than the Black C32 did. Since its debadged, people constantly stop and ask me at redlights etc , what is that thing?? They have NO clue and unlike the C32, its held the test of time in appearance better and does NOT look as dated. In fact, if you look at the C55 from the side (sans 2 doors) and the front, it looks a LOT like a 2008 CLK 63. From the front, its very difficult to tell the difference.

Like many of you, I have been waiting for the C63 prices to drop and drop they are!! With the intro of the 507, they are really starting to go lower than they were 3 months ago. (Anyone with a P31 C63 2011 or newer, let me know??) .

I saw that car here on the forums. Good luck with it!!! A few mods and you'll be happy you made them. ECM tune, pulley , intake and some cooling mods and it'll be the quickest car in your stable!!

 

I drove a C32 only once, quite briefly (and last winter at that) - local forum member Supgee's car - and thought it felt about the same as my C55 just at regular speeds. I do really prefer the updated interior of the C55, especially the instruments. The HVAC and ICE feels more quality to me too. Unlike some, I actually prefer the HVAC rotary knobs (our LR3 has rotary heater and fan switches, but my Audi has the buttons to push to control heater and fan). With rotary knobs, it's quite easy to get your settings into the rough area with gloved hands (a major concern for my bloody cold winters). A bit more of a pain with the button style controls.

Also, the factory stance/ride height just seems better on the C55 than the C32, at least with North American spec suspension - or was it all the same in all markets? Look at a stock C32 and the first thing I wanted to do was lower it.

The cheapest C63s I've seen in Canada has to be mid to high $30k...very tempting way to ~500hp (with mods).

John, I'm glad you found another car! The swapped C43 is off to a good home now, I think the new owner will really enjoy it once the snow is gone.

 

SWEDEPAT - cheers bro, cast aluminium 5.4 lump it is. Still feels a bit like an old-school LS1. Always thought of AMG's as 'German Muscle Cars' anyway. You know, straight-line monsters - not super flash in corners (unlike say BMW).


BLACKSAGE - 55 is nicer than a 32...perhaps I was a little overzealous with the 55 sounds better than a 63, though it doesn't bark "LOOK AT ME!" as much - which I like. Isn't AMG about 'understated power'?


C230 MULAC - you lucky bas-tard! You own a 63?! Will get on one day - though I still have a hankering for the CLK DTM AMG. Drool.


SAABOTEUR - really enjoy the crackle and pop on the overrun. I've never owned a V8 before and the 32 sounded like a vacuum cleaner at the best of times.


NEWZCHSPY - spot on bro. The 55 is more lethargic down low but when the engine gets into its power-band - goodbye 32. I can only imagine what the 63 is like. If only the W204 was more sleek and curvy as opposed to square and bulky.


Someone in a black E55 wanted to drive spiritedly beside me from the lights in town a few nights ago. There isn't that much difference down low. I know up top if it were given the chance to stretch it legs (and supercharger) I would be looking at a smaller and smaller speck.


Cheers for the replies boys.

 

+1 on that!

 

Wait, I may have made a bad statement lol.

I meant to say I've never heard my 55 from outside so I don't know what it sounds like to compare to C63. I wish I had a C63!!!! I knew a guy who bought one and I drove next to him once and it sounded incredible. It will definitely be my next AMG when the prices come down!

 

No worries bro, I can see how you meant it and how I took it to be read and mean. :-)


Either car is pretty cool, but the 55 is more understated and considerably less cartoonish but the 63 has the engine, the modernity, the wow factor and that crazy exhaust. Someone called it 'bananas' - not a word I'd use but yeah, it makes the point.

 

Don't forget the 63 seats, they're fantastic

 

C63 was definitely a move in the right direction, although it attracted a new crowd that somewhat wasn't expected (same type that is in the M3/G35/G37 crowd). I think the style was definitely aggressive, although long term a little cliche. I think MB corrected this with the 2012 refresh, with the more "grown up" look. Headlights, bumpers, interior, all look great on the refresh.

The C55 on the other hand was always a sleeper. Subtle, hidden, people don't really notice unless they're really listening for the exhaust note. I personally love the sound of our engine; with 127k on mine, I think some of the exhaust packing has been blown out, since when I was rolling by at normal engine speed at 40mph, a coworker in the parking lot I was turning into said "hey, I didn't know your car sounded so great?". So I guess you can hear the rumble...

 

I know you're right about moving in the right direction style-wise bro, but I was hoping that the 'Black Series' could be the 'cartoon bananas' option and the 'AMG' could remain the 'Sledgehammer in a tutu' option (forgive the weird metaphor).


Opinion but the W203's were probably losing (badly) in terms of sales and 'wow factor' to the E46 and early E92 M3's, which is probably why the radical change.


FIRST SHADOW: How do they differ to the 55 seats bro? The 55 seats are a definite improvement over the 32's. I do like the Alcantra shoulder patches to hold you in the seat better. :-)

 

You need to sit in a C63! The seats are much more 'enveloping' compared to the 203 AMG seats. HUGE side bolsters.

 

I have taken one for a test drive but it was an early gen 2007 and I don't remember the seats too well but I do remember that the interior was surprisingly budget and plastic-y.


Have to revisit them again and check Saaboteur.

 

Yeah, the seats are the best part of the interior, basically. When I first drove a C63 I thought the interior was fine. This was an MY11 if I remember right, so the last model year before the facelift. This past summer I had another ride in a MY10 and on reflection, felt the dash was quite cheap. The facelifted cars interiors are much nicer I think, at least to look at, with the nav integrated into the dash.

At the time of the ride in the MY10 this past summer, I was still all rah rah about getting a C63 as my next car. I've since changed my mind about that, and I'm aiming to get into an early 997 instead. The interior quality has a lot to do with it. Also the fact that C63 prices will just continue to drop, ie. they're not at the bottom of their depreciation curve. I guess neither are 997s, but the starting point for a 997 is well over $100k (sometimes $140-150k here in Canada, with options), so in that regard, you get a better bang for your buck, if you will, with a Porsche. My view on that subject, anyway. I still want a C63 someday though, but for the time being I'll be sticking with my C55. Basically, a C55 is 2/3 the car of a C63 at about 1/3 the price.

 

Spot on bro. Spot on.


I must admit, I feel more of an AMG brotherhood with the 63 in my 55 than I ever did in the C32. Taking nothing away from the 32.