Without wanting to take anything away from these great cars, I wonder if they'll be future classics?
I guess I'm looking at the W202/208/210 AMGs mainly.
Only reason I wonder is that I ask myself what makes these cars notably different from the mainstream models - in terms of equipment, styling (exterior/interior) or technology?
I own a CLK55 and it's a great car to drive on decent roads - smooth, powerful, luxurious etc. But in terms of styling, if I'm honest it looks very similar to a facelift 208 CLK with AMG wheels (lots of them about
) and is probably 80% similar to drive to a 430 V8 Avantgarde in the real world - auto gearbox, similar steering feel etc. Likewise, the same comparison could be made between a W210 E430 with AMG kit/wheels/nappa leather etc.
The C43 is obvously the only W202 with a V8 (bar the C55) and scores a few points there
Going back to the 80s/early 90s there used to be a much greater divide between the regular MB models and the performance cars. Eg:
The 190E 2.3/2.5-16
The old-school AMG cars - eg the W124 'hammer'
Whereas the C43/CLK55/E55 used a slightly larger M113 that was already offered in the 208/210 and other MB production cars it was technically very similar and the power gains weren't huge. Eg the AMG 4.3 V8 was only around 10% more powerful than the standard 4.3 M113. Even the 5.4 litre AMG '55 engine is of broadly similar design and makes a similar hp/litre figure to the standard M113 V8.
Going back to the older cars, the engines were much more bepoke - eg the 2.3-16 had a unique cylinder head specifically designed for motorsport with twin camshafts, 16 valves and had a signifcant power increase - very different in character to the regular M102. And the AMG quad-cam V8 was again very much different in design and power output compared to the regular V8 engines.
Aside from the engine - cars like the 2.3-16 had many technological/design differences - eg, a limited slip differential, a Getrag manual transmission with a unique shift pattern and close ratio gears, an oil cooler, oil temperature gauge, less turns lock-to-lock on the steering box etc.
I can't help but think of my CLK55 as a posh CLK with a bit more power, it doesn't seem have that many unique components or major differences to the normal ones?
What I do think makes them a bit more special is that they only sold something like 200 of them during the production run in the UK. Was this due to availability or price/demand etc? Perhaps the regular models were sufficient for many people's needs?
Sorry if this sounds at all negative - it's not meant to be
it's just me thinking aloud and wondering what makes these AMG models unique compared to the more mainstream models. I do love my CLK55 but I think of it as more of a modern/powerful 'GT cruiser' than a sporty/potential classic type car.
Discuss!
Will
I guess I'm looking at the W202/208/210 AMGs mainly.
Only reason I wonder is that I ask myself what makes these cars notably different from the mainstream models - in terms of equipment, styling (exterior/interior) or technology?
I own a CLK55 and it's a great car to drive on decent roads - smooth, powerful, luxurious etc. But in terms of styling, if I'm honest it looks very similar to a facelift 208 CLK with AMG wheels (lots of them about
) and is probably 80% similar to drive to a 430 V8 Avantgarde in the real world - auto gearbox, similar steering feel etc. Likewise, the same comparison could be made between a W210 E430 with AMG kit/wheels/nappa leather etc. The C43 is obvously the only W202 with a V8 (bar the C55) and scores a few points there
Going back to the 80s/early 90s there used to be a much greater divide between the regular MB models and the performance cars. Eg:
The 190E 2.3/2.5-16
The old-school AMG cars - eg the W124 'hammer'
Whereas the C43/CLK55/E55 used a slightly larger M113 that was already offered in the 208/210 and other MB production cars it was technically very similar and the power gains weren't huge. Eg the AMG 4.3 V8 was only around 10% more powerful than the standard 4.3 M113. Even the 5.4 litre AMG '55 engine is of broadly similar design and makes a similar hp/litre figure to the standard M113 V8.
Going back to the older cars, the engines were much more bepoke - eg the 2.3-16 had a unique cylinder head specifically designed for motorsport with twin camshafts, 16 valves and had a signifcant power increase - very different in character to the regular M102. And the AMG quad-cam V8 was again very much different in design and power output compared to the regular V8 engines.
Aside from the engine - cars like the 2.3-16 had many technological/design differences - eg, a limited slip differential, a Getrag manual transmission with a unique shift pattern and close ratio gears, an oil cooler, oil temperature gauge, less turns lock-to-lock on the steering box etc.
I can't help but think of my CLK55 as a posh CLK with a bit more power, it doesn't seem have that many unique components or major differences to the normal ones?
What I do think makes them a bit more special is that they only sold something like 200 of them during the production run in the UK. Was this due to availability or price/demand etc? Perhaps the regular models were sufficient for many people's needs?
Sorry if this sounds at all negative - it's not meant to be
it's just me thinking aloud and wondering what makes these AMG models unique compared to the more mainstream models. I do love my CLK55 but I think of it as more of a modern/powerful 'GT cruiser' than a sporty/potential classic type car.Discuss!
Will
, then we had the 500E/E500, the W210 E55, W211 E55, W211 E63 and now the current W212 E63.
