On my way to the Paris Motor Show, I stopped by Affalterbach not only to say hi to AMG boss Tobias Moers, but also to drive some of AMG's latest V6 offerings. And since I only had time for two cars each, I had to ignore the GLC43 (because SUVs be damned), the SLC43 (because real estate agents be damned) and the C43 Cabriolet. Today, I would only focus on the beefed up E-Class and the C hardtop instead.

So, does this mid-range V6 AMG package make any sense when the proper 63 AMGs cost only a few grand more?

As long as you keep the curb weight under 4000 pounds, it sure does.

Moers says it's not just the twin-turbo V6 that they upgrade in the 43 cars. They worked on the chassis as well, including the suspension, the brakes and the steering, not to mention the exhaust and the software package controlling the gearbox and the engine. While not all AMGs can be C63 S Edition 1s nowadays, they still take the hardware side very seriously. The only problem is that despite all that effort and 396 horses waiting for your foot to do the right thing, the Mercedes-AMG E43 4Matic is still not a particularly exciting drive.

The new E-Class is the first car to have all the latest Mercedes tech, which means it comes with highly advanced autonomous features and an infotainment system that uses artificial intelligence to guess what you would like to see on the screen. In semi-autonomous mode, it will change lanes and obey speed limits on its own (as long as you apply some torque to the wheel from time to time, which makes this pointless). On the inside, the new E is pretty much the same as on the outside: a scaled down S-Class, complete with all the comfort and machined metal bits that come with the territory.

With the rear-biased all-wheel drive and a very smooth 9-speed gearbox, the E43 is as refined as a luxury saloon can get, but its muted exhaust, mushy steering and considerable weight completely defeats the purpose of having this mild AMG treatment. Those looking for the ultimate four-door hot rod will still need to buy the E63, while for high-speed cruising, a fully loaded E300 4Matic should be perfectly adequate. But I get it. For many, the AMG badge alone will be worth a (few) thousand dollars. That's perfectly fine. It's not like they're gonna end up with a bad car.

Hop into the C43 4Matic though, and everything changes for the better.

Take away around 500 pounds and two doors from the E Class, add a lot more noise and a much prettier body, and you get a car that's a proper riot on the road.

The 3-liter V6 might only give you 362 hp and 384 lb-ft., but the peak torque comes on at 2000rpm, and once you press the loud button, the C43 becomes very playful indeed. The sound of this car is on pair with the Jaguar F-Type S with all its pops and crackles, and while its steering leaves a bit to be desired, it's still a lot of fun to push the C43 AMG until its steel brakes start fading. The C63 comes with ceramics of course, but for street use, this felt like a good compromise.

The C43 feels surprisingly light on its feet, and since many will find the C Coupé prettier than a BMW M4, for them, this entry-level AMG might just be the ticket. For the crazy folks, I guess it still has to be the C63, preferably in matte black. Either way you go, you'll be flooring it in every tunnel.