Hmm. Strange statement. It's extremely easy to beat the C43. That car isn't particularly fast. The point of this topic isn't performance.

EDIT: No meaning to offend. The C43 is big bang for the buck and very fast on the Autobahn as well. Had trouble keeping up with our SL450 rental in Germany

 

The c43 competes with non-M cars. It's embarrassing. And the fact that you guys are so obsessed with having an "AMG" car tells me how much the name means to you. And I see some of you just adding more and more AMG badging to make sure everybody knows you drive an "AMG." And all those AMG perks you mentioned are added to make you feel special so you spend the money on the c43. It's a great marketing move. And did you just say that buying a c43 or a c63 had nothing to do with finances? I don't know your situation, but it most definitely would for me... When I was a college kid, I even bought a used toyota over a new toyota because of finances... And that was "only" a $10k difference... Wealth absolutely DOES equate to high-end car ownership... what are you even saying??? I must have badly misunderstood... Please elaborate...

 

So if I follow your logic, you are saying that all you could afford is a C63?
I do have a number of friends with significant wealth that drive either old or cheap cars. People do with their money as they please and I never look at a car as a reflection of wealth. Again, high-end cars for a million plus excluded.

 

Absolutely all I could afford is a c63 poverty spec. 😂 if I had tons of money and could comfortably afford the s-model of course I would have gotten it... Why not? Unfortunately I have other financial responsibilities so had to draw the line at the c63 non-S. Same with my 335i...if I could have afforded an M3 of course I would have gotten that.

 

That's fair. Just believe me that not everyone is following the same criteria. BMW is also quite a bit more blatant with their M-Badges and BMW is much more dependent on BMW decision making than AMG. IMO, AMG is also a much more full-fledged performance company that the M-Division in terms of development and manufacturing.

 

 

personally when I see a c43 on the road it brings a huge smile to my face. anyone driving a 43 gets a thumbs up from me and no hate. I love it when someone chooses a c43 over an s4 or a 335i for example. They've made a very cool purchase !

The new facelift has plenty more power too.
I test drove a 43 a while back but at the time opted for a gla 45 which though lacks the class and refinement of the 43 , was more interesting to drive for me personally and definitely felt faster too even though it's only got 4 cylinders. i didnt find the 43 to handle quite as sharp but it had plenty of speed and power and as an overall package takes the gla class to the cleaners. as a road car the c43 is such a great piece of equipment. That said, the Gla was just wild and raw and that's what attracted me to it. it had an x factor about it. That exhaust, those pops and crackles , the handling. so I was surprised when I got one instead of the better car , ie the 43. if there was ever a posh rally car, this is it ! a lot of people will perhaps not feel the 45 models are true AMGs either. But a properly optioned 45 looks the business. in wet or cold , no c63 is ever going to keep up with a gla 45.

When the gla started to give me problems because of its small size, I again thought about a c43 a second time, but then decided that at the end of the day I'd rather sacrifice some speed (the 43 in UK conditions is faster in the wet and winter ) and a lot of money for a 63s. The 43 is all the car I need and objectively I can't see that a 63s is worth gbp 23k more than a 43. But that's just it , they're different cars for different types of people. The 63 is a monster in a c class body kit. the c43 is a great daily driver and the gla 45 is somewhere in the middle. I can't answer the question regarding whether a car is a true AMG or not because I really don't care and think it is completely irrelevant. if you want a fast practical car, get a 43. if what you want is a V8 monster and have money to waste ...

 

 

I just want to point out that many do not consider the C Class a real Mercedes either.

Okay Thanks
mercedes either.

 

Can I ask the mod to delete all of my posts in this thread? I am ashamed to have even taken part in such a petty debate. Serious.

 

Popping in this thread since it's on main mbworld page.

To me AMG stands for "extraordinary". Has to be in some way, at least that's how I used to think. CLA45/GLA45 for example have crazy HP for a 4-cyl. C63 has 500hp and dat sound. C43 is not extraordinary in any AMG-way. Is it true AMG? Kind of, yes, since they call it AMG. Is it exciting drool-worthy AMG? No. Do I think it's a real AMG? Yes. It has AMG badge on the rear so to me it's AMG. It's their choice how to name their products. But these days the lines between product lines are so blurred it doesn't really matter anymore. When M240 is as fast as M2... that letter M doesn't matter at all anymore. It's just 2-series one way or another.

When they first announced the name change I was one of those to call it fake AMG. Now that the time has passed and we all used to it I don't see it as fake AMG. It's real AMG but AMG lost its glamour to me, became less special. I still see C43 more of a V6 C300 upgrade rather than C63 downgrade. I believe it's closer to C300 than to C63. It's like a V6 Camry compared to 4-cylinder base one.

However it does have two significant advantages: AWD and non-wide bodywork. C63 was my dream car when it debuted... now the time has passed and I don't like that widebody anymore. I prefer the sleek slim look of a regular C coupe. With 19' refresh I actually prefer non-AMG looks, it's slimmer and I think all those extra lower body skirts just give it some visual heft and steal some lightweight grace from it.

I think of C43 AMG as simply C43. The "AMG" part is just a meaningless "extra" name.
C63AMG is just C63. AMG name doesn't really stand for anything these days since they went from black and white to 50 shades of gray with it. Can't really tell where Mercedes ends and AMG begins.

So we have C300. C43. C63. AMG lettering can die for all I care.

 

 

@nuieve agree

 

Good points.

When I think of AMG, I think of big block, big displacement, glorious sound. When I think of M, I think of top track performance and handling.

M240i and C43 do not fit those categories. They do everything quite well for an upgraded economy car but it is obvious they exist to make money in a segment many buyers are looking for today.

Compared to the M240i and S4 I think the C43 is the best choice, it can even give the M2 and RS3 a run for its money in certain aspects.

I'd rate my fully spec'd C43, without distronic, probably a 7/10. Not bad, but it could be a lot better. I would like my car much more if it was cheaper. Will report back ultimately after its first full winter...

As most of us are car enthusiasts, I am sure we can all agree to be happy just driving the thing and not garaging it. Just enjoy the pops/bangs, free AMG Experience, and wild, clunky as **** transmission. Oops

 

Think of this:

3 out of 4 models in C-class coupe form are AMG (C300 vs C43, C63, C63S). Imagine a cake with a cherry on top. That cherry used to be AMG. Now it's a singular cake crumble with a pile of cherries on top. That's current MB range. BMW is no better. All cars besides x28 are M-cars of some sort. That M-letter used to signify a top performance model, now it's just part of whatever insane naming scheme they have for higher-trim models that doesn't mean anything. M235iXDriveCompetitionGrandTourismo whatever. These days M is as cool as XDrive. It's just part of all this naming nonsense. I feel AMG is heading that way. Soon C300 will become C300AMG4MATIC. Why not? Slap a $2000 premium for having the AMG logo on it and it will sell, right?

Back to C43 discussion. True AMG used to be fire-breathing monsters that would anihilate any other cars in their class by a mile. Now what does C43 compete with? Kia Stinger? Hyundai Genesis R? Dodge Charger R/T? Ford Fusion Sport? Lincoln MKZ? Infiniti Q70? Some of these I'm afraid not only will hang with C43 but can actually beat it (I didn't look for specific numbers but some have 400hp) So what kind of AMG is this if it's beaten by 3rd tier econoboxes?

If I have C43, will I brag about having AMG? Probably not. Some car guys might ask? Is it V8? How many HP? The answers will be a bit on an embarrasing side and will require quite a few "...BUT.."s. Will I be more proud of it if it was C450 Sport like it was, or simply C43. Hell yeah. I'd say proudly "I have C43!" instead of "I have C43...amg..." /foot shuffle, blushing/

Don't get me wrong. I sound like a C43 critic but I have nothing against the car itself, it's fantastic... I only have a problem with MB decision to name it AMG,

 

I kinda liked the AMG sport line they tried.. C450 AMG sport.. but a name is a name is a name.. I love the C43 amg.. 0-60 tested at 4.2 seconds is pretty good to me..sounds good.. I build half with AMG perf seats, perf exhaust and steering wheels.. the way I like I actually am mad we don;t get the C43 amg Wagon in the US. sadly

 

I don't get the nostalgia here. It's neither the point of the topic nor are some of your assumptions correct. AMG's history was to tune cars, large and small and they used whatever was in their toolbox at the time. If they would have had small engines that can produce enough power they would not have bothered with a V8 either. That must be American muscle car thinking. Given that AMG is a cash cow and they are a separate business unit, they have more influence over MB than the other way around. Their role in engine and platform development proves that. My thinking is that if Tobias Moers believes that a C43 isn't appropriate for an AMG badge, it wouldn't be there...

 

362hp 384 lb torque
​​​that sounds like AMG to me.

 

And 385 for 2019

 

In 2005 C55 also had 360hp. In 2009 CLK500 had 380hp and it wasn't called AMG.

In 2018 Camry has 300hp, and AMG is only 25% more powerful. Than a Camry.

Of course, grandpa's MKZ with its 400hp is way out of reach for this AMG.

That's the kind of crowd AMG is running with these days.

 

I don't really get your point. Are you determining speed and performance simply by HP? Nevermind the many other factors like aerodynamics, weight, grip (a big plus on the 43), gear ratio, transmission type, differential, etc... all the aspects of what AMG is about

 

Mercedes-AMG GmbH, commonly known as AMG, is the high performance brand used by Mercedes-Benz. AMG independently hires engineers and contracts with manufacturers to customize Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicles. Mercedes-AMG is headquartered in Affalterbach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.AMG was originally an independent engineering firm specializing in performance improvements for Mercedes-Benz vehicles; DaimlerChrysler AG took a controlling interest in 1999, then became sole owner of AMG in 2005. Mercedes-AMG GmbH is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG.AMG models typically have more aggressive looks, a higher level of performance, better handling, better stability and more extensive use of carbon fibre than their regular Mercedes-Benz counterparts.[2] AMG models are typically the most expensive and highest-performing variant of each Mercedes-Benz class.[2]AMG variants are usually badged with two numerals, as opposed to regular Mercedes-Benz vehicles, which have three (e.g., C 63 as opposed to C 300).[3]

 

AMG private lounge says the C43 and C450 are REAL AMGs by VIN.

Yeah it has been a long tradition of associating an engine with skilled craftsman, but AMG themselves ultimately defines what is an AMG (with influence from Daimler like it or not).

 

Wow. Someone needs to put this thread to rest. Unfortunately, this probably isn't the first or last time that this discussion is going to happen. On a separate topic... Any rumblings of a C53 in the next gen??

 

What? One of my closest friend had a C43 Cab until last month. He just got a Performante, a 911 and Macan within a span of one week because he just woke up on the weird side of the bed. Your logic is hurting my brain.