C32 AMG, C55 AMG (W203) 2001 - 2007

C32 and C230 drive feel

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Jan 20, 2005 | 09:53 PM
  #1  
kostas's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
2008 BMW 335xi Coupe
C32 and C230 drive feel

well I wanted to get some input from the members that have previously driven these two cars...

I'm not in the market to buy any of these two but I am curious about the feel of a C230 SS compared to the C32... considering the C230 has a much lighter feel than the C320.. i was told that the C320 is far from feeling sporty or any fun on a track... I was told because of the greater weight in the front.. the car losses some of its sporty feel.. now because of that loss of feel in the C320.. compared to the C230.. would it be the same in the C32? would the C230 be more fun on a track or would the C32 be more fun (I know the C32 is much faster, but I am talking about feel)

thanks for the input.. hope i made any sense.. i am in a rush so i posted it really fast
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2005 | 11:21 PM
  #2  
05C55's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
My buddy has a C230 and I have a C55, driven both quite a bit. C230 is a fun car and does have a certain tossable feeling to it whereis the C55 feels glued down and much tighter. Although the Kompressor motor is very flexible and a very competent package, there is really no comparison between the two. The C55 would be much more at home on a track vs a C230 but given the choice I would choose a C320 sport over the C230, maybe a bit more understeer but also a lot more torque and pretty close in the handling between the two (320 sport v. C230).
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2005 | 11:23 PM
  #3  
cntlaw's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,469
Likes: 1
From: Hong Kong
C55AMG W203; 330i E90
I never driven a C230 Sports Coupe, but if that was what you were referring to, I make a good guess the 'sports feel' is better than the C320 in all aspects. Without checking, I recall C230 coupe is Kompressor engine gives ~190hp , which is pretty close to the C320's ~219hp.

If you were referring to C230 sedan vs C320 sedan, forget the details , C320 is much powerful and definitely more 'sporty'. Get the Advangarde version which has more sporty suspension than the Elegant version.

There is just no way C230 coupe , C320 sedan and C320 sedan can have a more 'sporty feel' than the C32/C55 which I would only need to check if there is a AMG logo .
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2005 | 11:51 PM
  #4  
kostas's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
2008 BMW 335xi Coupe
well.. the C320 has like 29 hp gain? is that worth the added weight from the V6 that screws up the front/rear weight ratio? which was why I thought the C320 feels less sporty and more like a boat.. and i know nothing about the feel of a C32.. I was just curious if the same kind of effect happens on the C32 as does in the C320

the things i am saying about the C320 are things I read from other owners posts in the C-class section, if i recall correctly.. I just want to know about the C32 compared to the C230
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2005 | 01:54 AM
  #5  
FrankW's Avatar
MBworld Guru
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,058
Likes: 18
From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
the C230ss feels lighter and more nimble on the back roads and that's about it. that was from driving ex's car :o
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2005 | 02:36 AM
  #6  
JeT's Avatar
JeT
Super Member
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 784
Likes: 0
From: Brisbane/Sydney, Australia
Last week I test drove a C32 (there was no C55 available for test drive at the time)...the C32/C55 does not suffer from the crappy SC lag that the coupe does on the auto. In terms of feel, throw on some coilovers and it will feel much more sporty than the coupe.
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2005 | 10:53 AM
  #7  
smgC32's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 815
Likes: 2
The 2005 230Kss feels like it handles better than a 2003 C32 in everyday driving situations. Power is not part of this equation.
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2005 | 11:28 AM
  #8  
Biznatch's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: New York
3000GT and 05 C230 K Sport Sedan
Originally Posted by smgC32
The 2005 230Kss feels like it handles better than a 2003 C32 in everyday driving situations. Power is not part of this equation.
I actually agree with you here. I was looking at getting either a used C32 or the new 230Kss. I am a fan of the manual transmission, that was one factor, and the 230 felt more nimble to me. I drove a few c32's so i know it wasnt just one example.

However when it comes to acceleration and power.......... C32 destroys the C230ss.
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 21, 2005 | 05:01 PM
  #9  
FrankW's Avatar
MBworld Guru
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,058
Likes: 18
From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
all these differences in drive/handling feel is mainly due to the heavier engine C32 has, so that it creates more understeer than the new C230ss. After I got my RENNTech springs, the understeer is greatly reduced.
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2005 | 07:09 PM
  #10  
cntlaw's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,469
Likes: 1
From: Hong Kong
C55AMG W203; 330i E90
undesteer, heavier engine , do they make a car feel less 'sporty' ? I am not sure about this. Day2day , I am swapping between a Z3 2.2 and the C55. Wit the much less powerful Z3, I could step on the paddle fully and engine high revs , not with the C55. In terms of steering feel, I found the C55 is much better.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:54 PM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE