Has AMG lost it luster......
 

I was at MB of Arlington, yesterday to have my 07 E63 fully detailed. They have a guy that works miracles with 12 yr. old paint. Anyway, I had many hours to kill, so I walked around the dealership looking at many AMG's, as this dealership is also a AMG Performance Center. So I seen various 43s, 53s and 63s. It seems that AMG is plastered on just about every MB made. I feel as though the brand is being watered down, with AMG branding on every dam thing. And to be totally honest with you, besides the C63s, E63s and GTR there isn't any other AMG that I would buy period. AMG philosophy had been "One Man, One Engine" now its Driving Performance. I'm of the philosophy if your engine isn't built to the One Man, One Engine principle that it isn't a true AMG. I totally get AMG's marketing strategy, by branding vehicles like the 43s and 53s, owners get a small taste of what AMG is. And hopefully, they'll come back and purchase a 63. But what usually happens, is that these owners get a taste of the maintenance costs, and run the other way. Especially when their vehicle needs brakes and other needed maintenance. I witness a AMG owner forego replacing his front rotors and pads, opting to just replace the pads because of the expense, even though his rotors were pretty worn, but not at minimum spec. So the dealership just replaced the pads. One of my good friends Jack is the shop foreman, and he tells me horror stories of owners foregoing maintenance on their AMG because of the costs. He tries to talk folks out of buying AMG's, simply because you must factor in the cost of maintenance into your buying decision. These are $100K cars, and their maintenance reflects that cost. Unless I was to hit the lottery, I honestly don't think I would buy another brand new AMG. Also Mercedes puts tons of technology into their cars, and it's this technology that will ultimately fail. I was looking at a 2019 E63s digital display, and wondering how much it would cost to replaced if some of the pixels were to burn out. Some would argue that the AMG luster is better then it was, but I think the opposite. I miss those days when AMG was AMG, no holds barred.

I agree with all of that. Unfortunately we are not representative of the bulk of their clientele. Marketing at its finest, they want more market segment and the 43, 45 cars are aimed at much younger buyers than traditional purchasers. I have trouble telling C and E class apart on the street now.

Yeah......the C Class looks like smaller E Class, the E Class looks like a smaller S Class. And the CLA, GLA, GLC, GLE, don't like any of those vehicles.
I actually drove a GLC 300 loaner yesterday, I personally prefer my X5. The I-4 engine didn't seem to have enough giddy yup. But is it the entry level, I get it.
Now the S560 was nice......woo baby. And I looked at the GT63, which looks like a copied Porsche Panamera to me, but with a different nose.

I agree 100%!! I had this almost exact conversation with a friend recently. I love my 211 (2009 E63) and is last generation I would buy.

Speaking of which I get to take her out of storage and for a run this weekend since the snow has finally melted! Will be a great reunion. 5 months is too long!

I just had my car detailed for spring, but we are like minded I absolutely love the W211. The W213 is starting to grow on me.

I agree as well. I am kind of old school I guess. I don't like all the digital screen nanny BS so much so I don't want a car with it. It's one of the many reasons I bought an E55. My brother has a SLK55 AMG with the kleeman blower set up and it's also old school and a hoot to drive. It seems it's getting to the point you need an IT degree and the car is becoming too precise and you lose the "fun factor". I have owned Supra's before and I like the new one but not so sure about the digital display standing up in the middle of the dash.


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the AMG luster is alive and well when you step up to the SLS Black and similar but agree that most of these car are just status and "somewhat" luxury.. the biturbo 2012+ 63's look interesting to me these days with a tune will get you moving pretty quick and comfortably...MB maintenance across the board is high and they make a crapload of money doing it... i could not afford my car (nor would i even want it) unless i could do a lot of the little crap that happens with it -- if you got the means, buy new run it under warranty and trade in and up.. my .02 .

This is unfortunately happening with the performance brands across the board. BMW plasters the M badge on anything. You can now get regular models with the M sport package or something like that. An average person won't be able to tell it apart from an M3/4. To some extent it's for them to stay relevant and have a business. To be honest the clientele who buys 63s for what they are and are happy with them is small and getting smaller. Many buy these cars and then complain that they ride harsh etc. and yes I'm sure get surprised by the maintenance cost. As a result, these cars get watered down to increase sales, and lower end models (43s and 53s) are added to the brand to cater to those who can't quite stomach a 63, but still wanna have an AMG badge on their car. I have a neighbor with a GLC 43, and she proudly mentions that it is an AMG. I haven't said anything to offend her, but she will soon see what a proper AMG is, once my new 2019 C63S Coupe arrives. As I said, it's happening to other brands as well. I've owned Audis for the past 13 years. My current daily is a 2013 RS5 and I'm disappointed in the water down new RS5 Audi released. Hence I'm buying an AMG. I personally think AMG has never been better. They used to be about engines and burnouts, but not much more. Now their cars actually have excellent driving dynamics and the are doubling down. Just look at what they've done under the hood to the 2019 C63S. I am discouraged about the watering down of the brand with the 43 and 53 models. The new GLE 53 now has the panamericana grill, which AMG previously specifically reserved for the 63s.

I hear yah...I do a lot of maintenance myself, so ownership costs are lower, as compared to taken it to the stealership. These new AMGs require Star Diagnostics to figure out the issue, and most owners don’t own one. I like all E55 and anything with the M156 in it.

I hate the digital displays. I was also especially disappointed with the new supra and z4 dash but it seems the way of the future. I would consider any new biturbo amg if I needed a E55 replacement but I hope not for a long time.

I definitely get what everyone is saying but we also have to recognize that it makes them so much money to “dilute” the brand and offer performance versions of everything for those people in the middle market between regular Benz and AMG. The important thing to me is that they take some of those profits and continue investing in R&D to develop increasingly better performance cars. AMG doesn’t carry the same weight in tradition, but the performance is undeniable and the more they can pull from an ICE, the better our chances are to ward off electric vehicles just a bit longer. And I’m all for that!

When my wife thinks a GLA 45 would look “cute”, then the car just lost its cool...

Agree with a lot of what was said. The key focus on 43/53 AMGs frankly is to pursue a younger generation, who will most likely lease and not buy, or drive the car through a subscription service. It’s also a way to lock in long term owners as most lessors swap cars all the time.

For me, one of the key points is pursuing the W211 E63 chassis was that this model (at least in my opinion) represented one of the last analog drivers. Again, my opinion there. Everything is digital/tech driven, so much so where coders are recognized more than the individual engine builders. Because of all of the technology in today’s cars, insurance companies are more likely total cars out (I will find the article to link to, but I welcome doubters).

My insurance company just sent a letter yesterday saying costs are increasing due to the more complicated and expensive repairs of the newer vehicles coming through. At least my mr2 will never get hacked.

I agree with the OP. AMGs used to be special cars. For example, up here in Canada less than 100 C55s were sold in the whole country. And how it used the w209 CLK front clip. To me, that's truly rare and special. AMG's styling also used to be very subtle compared to the newer line up. Now they have these crazy lines, fake exhaust tips, etc. But as others have said, for the sake of profitability, BMW and Audi are both doing the same thing; M and S Line on everything. Everyone wants to buy an AMG but no one wants to pay AMG prices. I would assume the 43s/53s have lower maintenance costs (less cylinders, smaller brakes, no carbon ceramics, etc) so that's a plus for those people. But for those of us who enjoy working on our own cars, it's getting more and more difficult with the newer stuff. That's the sad reality of the overall trend of the industry; more electronics, more driver aids, etc. All that being said, the newer AMGs have some jaw dropping performance...

Don't get me started on the fake exhaust tips, I looked at a red GT63, beautiful car looks just like a Porsche Panamera. Anyway, I was surprised to find that the exhaust tips are purely cosmetic.
As well, as all the other AMG's I looked at. What is the world coming to when you can't have real exhaust tips. And when did AMG move forward yellow brake calipers? They have been either brilliant silver or gray since 2000.
The GT63 had them. https://attachment.outlook.live.net/...animation=truehttps://attachment.outlook.live.net/...animation=true

I never understood the exhaust tips...all the new stuff with the square tips is fake. I don't mind the colored calipers though. I really like the gold/bronze calipers they have with the carbon ceramic set up. Mine have chips here and there from the previous owner removing the wheels so I'm going to redo mine in that color eventually

Go drive a new E63 and then report back if the “fake” tips matter.

The car launches like a freaking rocket.

The “fake” tips hasn’t slowed it down.

Like I said in post 14, I know the new cars are crazy fast, they're in super car territory with this new generation. The fake tips don't slow it down. If AMG put a bunch of fake vents and grills (like a lot of manufacturers are doing) or a big C63 Black wing on the new E63 it wouldn't slow it down either, but all that stuff matters, at least to me anyway. I just never understood the purpose of the fake tips. Maybe it was for cost? Or easier bumper removal? Either way it looks weird when the car is up in the air

With 603 hp and 627 lbs/ft it better not be slow. :D Hell my E63 isn't a slouch and it has far less :mercy:

When you pay for a performance exhaust, the tips shouldn't be fake period.

No one is doubting the insane performance, just the cheap gimmicky designs. The SL63 has fake side vents just to match its predecessors.

I sort of felt the same about AMG. Until I sat in the S65/S63, GLE63, GLS63, E63, G63, C63, SL63, AMG GT Sedan and Coupe (No need for a 53 series at all because it is watered down to me) The AMG Project One is amazing from what I have seen online. I feel the 53 series, 45 series and now 35 series have just watered down the AMG Brand. If they also just made 1 AMG Version for each car instead of having a S Version vs non S version (Example being E63 AMG vs E63 AMG S) it would be better. It seems like there is WAY too much redundancy with the line up. I am glad I just picked up a GLK over the GLC. Looked at buying a CPO GLC but they are just awful. The engine is a joke as is the transmission that shifts all the damn time. The interior is cramped and even thou it is larger then the GLK it feels smaller because of the design.

I want something that scares the s h I t out of me when I drive it. Hahahahaha.

Ya nope. GLC43 is basically a GLC that has a non AMG Engine but is made to look like one. Nothing about the 53 or 43 series is AMG other then the badges.

New E63 AMG Does that! And sounds amazing too!