C55 AMG v Audi S4

[gina2201]

HAHAHA yes he did spend a while fixing the P38 but to be fair to I think it was a good one as it was only consumables that went such as brake pads, exhaust etc... I have sold it now as it was very juicy on diesel and so slow even though I got it chipped.

He thanks everyone for all their opinions and good to see everyone has had a valid opinion on each choice. He thinks he will have about £12-14,000 to spend so yes the B7 RS4 is out of the question.

The reason he thought about the S4 was you would kind of think it would be a natural progression from a MK4 olf R32 and the 4WD proved somewhat handy in the rubbish weather we have had. I know he has a soft spot for the C55 AMG and he love's M3's as well but he keeps saying that the time has come to get a V8 in his life hahaha! I know he loves the B5 RS4 as well but I think he kind of thinks its a bit old in the tooth now and would like one as second car but not as a daily driver.

Is there anything to really look out for in both the C55 and M3's for those of you that have them apart from the usual stuff to check.

Oh and this is his current R32 if anyone is interested he hates any kind of OTT styling so he has done everything himslef and made it very subtle apart from the exhaust which is so loud!!! Sounds lovely though!

and here is a quick spec of what the car is.


Engine Mods:
• Milltek Stainless Steel Manifold
• Milltek Sports cats
• Milltek Stainless Steel Non-Resonated exhaust (LOUD!)
• BMC CDA Carbon Air Box
• Revo Stage 2 Re-Map with Select Plus
• Polyurethane Dog-Bone Mount
• Jcaps, R-line aluminium strut covers, power steering, expansion tank, oil cap, washer bottle and dip stick.

Chassis Mods:
• Eibach Pro Street Stainless Steel Coilovers
• Powerflex anti roll bushes
• Forge adjustable rear tie arms
• Audi S3 lower front strut brace
• Dieselgeek panzer skid plate (aluminium plate sump protector)
• H&R 30mm rear wheel spacers (15mm each side)

Exterior Mods:
• Genuine 19” X 8.5” BBS CH Motorsport wheels, wrapped in Toyo T1-R tyres
• Seat Leon Cupra R front splitter
• LED sidelights and rear number plate lights
• MK5 VW Polo rear wiper
• VW Touareg aerial
• Vented front grills
• UK legal pressed metal number plates with private plate
• Genuine USA, R-Line bonnet bra

Interior Mods:
• VW MFD G Sat-Nav Stereo with IPOD controller
• VW MK4 Golf centre armrest with home built IPOD holder
• MK4 Golf fly by wire Cruise Control
• Complete homemade stealth ICE install consisting of: -
o Optima Yellow Top 3.7 R Battery in original VW battery holder
o Alpine SPE-20SF 20cm 240 watts front component speakers
o Alpine SPE-17SF 17cm 210 watts rear component speakers
o In Phase IP42PS, 3000W Professional Dual Amplifier Wiring Kit hidden throughout the car
o In Phase IPA1041, 1000W 4 channel Amplifier mounted behind rear door cards
o In Phase IPA1001, 1000W 2 channel Amplifier mounted behind rear door cards
o In Phase XT8 1000 Watts 8” Subwoofer mounted in homemade stealth box
o All panels sound proofed with Dynamat Xtreme sound proofing
o In Phase 1.2 Farad Digital Power Capacitor
• ECS window module (auto closure windows/sunroof)
• VW R-Line interior mats
• All interior lights replaced with LED’s

 

[timk]

Nice R32, I had a black one back in '05 and it was a surprisingly sharp steer for a VAG product. Not to mention those Konig bucket seats - fantastic on a twisty road.

A lot of people who are into R32s seem to progress to S4/RS4s, probably the whole big engine in a small car thing. And the AMG C-Class kind of continues that philosophy - a big V8 in a relatively compact car certainly makes you smile.

In terms of what to look out for on C55s - mine had to have replacement track rod ends and lower ball joints, and a steering arm (all under warranty from MB), but whether this is representative of the breed I don't know. There aren't really any widely publicised nasties with the C55 - engine/ gearbox seem strong and as a post-facelift W203 it has a decent quality interior and no rust issues. Pretty sound purchase if you find a good one. Finding one will be a challenge though, and spec does vary widely.

 

[mer190]

I think the RS4 is awesome, feels pretty well balanced and is a joy to drive, however that should have worn the S4 badge and the RS4 should have been a supercharged version of that fsi engine with a true 450bhp.
All imho.

totally agree with you don't know what Audi were thinking releasing the RS4 without a supercharger or even being turbo'd as the previous RS4. standard B5 RS4 will move away from a V8 RS4, mapped B5 will pull car lengths all over it.

this was the first car forum i ever joined when i had a 190e 2.5-16v, now i am also subscribed to an Audi forum and its funny how loyal and blinkered we become when defending our cars........

but its all good.

 

[Blackman]

That's a nice R32 there. I love them!

Also wanted to thank gIzzE for his comments on different cars. Interesting to read and good to know from actual owners, rather than just opinions from nowhere.

 

[mercboiuk]

C55 vs S4 is a valid comparison, looking at power, current price and performance.
If your budget allows to consider the B7 RS4, then I would certainly look to that

I looked at a C55 estate before buying the RS4. It was a stunning vehicle, very understated, comfortable and a better quality interior than the pre-facelift C32, IMO.
They also have a lovely engine not and they are very fast cars. The engine and gearbox action are smooth, and the interior is well appointed.
Handling wise, they are very good, although I do prefer the harder suspension on my RS4 (it has a factory option suspension upgrade).

I just didn't need an estate, and in the mean time I was able to increase the budget to have a look at RS4s.

These are brilliant all-year-round, everyday transport.

I've never driven a B6 S4 with it's earlier 4.2 V8, but I've driven an Audi S5, which uses almost the same engine as that in the B7 S4.
It was a brilliant engine, set up more for it's "wafting" ability, rather than the RS4s higher revving engine.

As for Audi's interiors, a friend owns a B6 A4, albeit a V6. The interior is only slightly different to the B7, but both are wonderful places to be - good quality feel and well put together.

It's a tough call, B6 S4, B7 S4 or C55.....I would choose the C55. It's appears to have a bigger interior and is more understated.

If the choice does become between RS4 and C55, then the Audi would win it, because of it's harder, racier persona.

Good luck with your search!

Darren

 

[BenzedUP]

I would hope so too, the cab is not exactly known for it handling and is worlds apart from the coupe.

They are not world apart from the coupe actually, i've driven both and yes the coupe is tighter and everything but it's still the same car and drive more or less the same!

I've driven my friends E46 M3 for couple of days and I still think the C55 is more stable at higher speeds.

 

[flango]

They are not world apart from the coupe actually, i've driven both and yes the coupe is tighter and everything but it's still the same car and drive more or less the same!

I've driven my friends E46 M3 for couple of days and I still think the C55 is more stable at higher speeds.

I agree with a standard M3 but an M3 CSL is rock solid at speed +170mph, the C55 is stable but no where near the CSL when you get to serious speeds.

 

[st4]

Josef, Ian and Gizze,

This thread comes down so much to personal taste, driving styles, etc. Someone finds an M3 choppy, the other poised and compliant. Someone on the other thread finds a Fiat 500 based car agile and fun, I found it torture on every level.

The way you drive a car, how you feel it interact with you, are different for others. Of that lot a C55 or M3 would win for me, as one axel is good for one thing, the other good for the other. I find COMAND in a car abhorent, others willingly spec it.

Whatever floats yer boat.

 

[BenzedUP]

I agree with a standard M3 but an M3 CSL is rock solid at speed +170mph, the C55 is stable but no where near the CSL when you get to serious speeds.

Yes Deffo I'm talking about the standard e46 coupe, it's not world apart from the cab I've driven both cars and to be honest there wasn't too much of a difference imo

I've never driven a csl so I can't really comment but I'm sure they are great.

Still I like the blend of luxury and performance and that's what Mercedes AMG is all about.

 

[flango]

Josef, Ian and Gizze,

This thread comes down so much to personal taste, driving styles, etc. Someone finds an M3 choppy, the other poised and compliant. Someone on the other thread finds a Fiat 500 based car agile and fun, I found it torture on every level.

The way you drive a car, how you feel it interact with you, are different for others. Of that lot a C55 or M3 would win for me, as one axel is good for one thing, the other good for the other. I find COMAND in a car abhorent, others willingly spec it.

Whatever floats yer boat.

FWIW I share your abhorence of Command. The most overpriced underfeatured peice of kit you could ever spec in a car. Even when it comes as standard in the cars I drive in Germany I still plant my TomTom on the dash for SatNav far more reliable than the joke maps in Command.

 

[st4]

FWIW I share your abhorence of Command. The most overpriced underfeatured peice of kit you could ever spec in a car. Even when it comes as standard in the cars I drive in Germany I still plant my TomTom on the dash for SatNav far more reliable than the joke maps in Command.

I cannot even use it, someone said use the lingutronic. This was on a 59 plate CLS. Does not work. And I am a young tech savy bloke.

The system on the 212 and 204 uses a BMW iDrive controller, and after fiddling with my pals E60, its better, marginally.

However, the biggest failing with ever COMAND car until 204 and 212 and also the 221. Where its placed. They must assume everyone drives a merc lying down or their head in line with the bottom of the windows, as thats where its placed to be seen. IMHO its dangerous, distracting and useless.

The 212 system can be seen without diverting your eyes so much, is easier to see, so less distracting, and easy to use, so better than useless. I would not avoid a 212 with COMAND, but would certainly avoid a used 211 with one.

A tom tom, however is excellent.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I would not avoid a 212 with COMAND, but would certainly avoid a used 211 with one.

As well as paying a premium for a car that has Comand, over one that hasn't....

 

[st4]

Why not supercharge the R32. Give it a new lease of life...

 

[LTD]

However, the biggest failing with ever COMAND car until 204 and 212 and also the 221. Where its placed. They must assume everyone drives a merc lying down or their head in line with the bottom of the windows, as thats where its placed to be seen. IMHO its dangerous, distracting and useless.

The matrix section of the dash display on the W220 can be configured to show Sat Nav info. I would think others can be too.

That coupled with voice info makes it quite unobtrusive, yet functional.

Must admit, as a GPS unit it is rubbish but COMAND is more than just a Sat Nav.

What I hate seeing are people driving with Tom Tom units welded into their field of view. Downright dangerous IMO as they are effectively watching the graphics on the TT rather than the road itself.

Should be a three point offence IMO. No fine, just points.

 

[gIzzE]

However, the biggest failing with ever COMAND car until 204 and 212 and also the 221. Where its placed. They must assume everyone drives a merc lying down or their head in line with the bottom of the windows, as thats where its placed to be seen. IMHO its dangerous, distracting and useless.

The 212 system can be seen without diverting your eyes so much, is easier to see, so less distracting, and easy to use, so better than useless. I would not avoid a 212 with COMAND, but would certainly avoid a used 211 with one.

I am seriously surprised Mercedes don't have heads up display by now, I had it in my BMW 6 years ago....

Going back to a car without it takes some getting used to and does feel far less safe. It is amazing how quickly you get used to seeing your speedo without looking down, you sort of forget where the speedo is for the first 30 minutes or so when going back to a car without HUD.

 

[Steve A]

Not been on for a while, and in this thread i feel i can contribute.

I have owned c32 saloon, M3(e46) M6coupe RS4 saloon and c55 saloon and tons of other to boot.

c32 was a great car, in fact im looking for an estate version now as a runaround. It was fast did 20mpg in my hands and apart from the air con matrix breaking 3 times it was very reliable. it is nowhere as near a sharp a drive as the m3, absolutely miles apart, woolly steering slow witted gearbox when pressing on, but comfortable and a very nice place to spend time and munch miles. However as a whole car experience i owned it for 2,5 yrs the longest ive ever owned any vehicle.

I had the M3 previous to the C32 i sold it because i needed 4 doors as children came along. and finance was a bit tight i bought it new and needed to release some cash. Its an awesome car, it was dynamically superior to the c32 in every way really but not as fast in a drag race but on b roads was as good as all the mags make out. it was my first brand new car.

C55 I bought this to replace my 335d as i swapped it against a new ml420cdi in 2008 for the wife as the c32 she was driving knocked on the door of 100k miles.

As i direct replacement for the c32 the c55 feels much more solid. looks miles better with the clk nose, quad exhausts, suede on the seats much better command and a nicer wheel. Throttle response is so much sharper but the most obvious and over riding part of the car is the engine. They had improved the software in the gearbox, it was just a great allround road car. I loved to cruise in that car, i miss it everyday and probably should have kept the car.

At the time though i was climbing the ladder, the better my business went the more expensive the car had to be i sold the car to get an M6, which is in a different league altogether.

I live in manchester and bought the M6 from plymouth so i drove down in the c55 and drove back in the M6. Well it had 8000 on the clock and the previous owner had given 92k for it and i paid 42k. It is the best built car ive ever owned leather dash suede roof leather everywhere all the bells and whistles, it felt like a supercar and for the fisrt hour i was scarred to accelerate but that soon wore off. That V10 engine is monumental its so ****ing fast and sounded amazing it is faster OVER 100mph than under 190 was waaaaayyyyyy to easy, but to cut a long story short after 10 months the gearbox was really doing my **** and 11.7 mpg got a bit boring!!!! in so i swapped it for a B7 rs4 which tbh has probably been the best car ive ever had .....well that and the iSF ive just sold.

The rs4 is fast, definatley faster than the c32 and c55 and e46 m3 the way that that car can travel across country is bordering on insane, the engine sound is a match for the any v8 out there and it revvs to something like 8300 which is mental, and it feels it up there (but it is lots slower than the m6 over 70) i loved that car , the seats, the MMI, it was a complete package. I truly believe if they released it again with a DSG box they still sell eveyone. I had it 12 months and then is came upto the end on its 3 yr warranty and i was faced with 1600 warranty plus 1200 on tyres so i decided to swap, which again with hindsight it should still be on the drive.

RS4>C55>C32
M6>M3
RS4>M3

M6 was probably the best car apart from the gearbox and fuel economy, Rs4 best ownership experience, but its a manual and ive had enough of that changing gear lark.

So really ive just talked myself into buying another c55 lol but i needs to be an estate, if anyone knows of one let me know.

god that was a ramble through the old mind.


PS gizze not heard from you in a while pal, hope things are well.

 

[mika]

why would anyone ask on a mercedes forum whats better a merc or a audi/bmw?
surely they wouldnt expect impartial advice?

id go for an audi every time

or a nice old wartburg

 

[BenzedUP]

C55 I bought this to replace my 335d as i swapped it against a new ml420cdi in 2008 for the wife as the c32 she was driving knocked on the door of 100k miles.

As i direct replacement for the c32 the c55 feels much more solid. looks miles better with the clk nose, quad exhausts, suede on the seats much better command and a nicer wheel. Throttle response is so much sharper but the most obvious and over riding part of the car is the engine. They had improved the software in the gearbox, it was just a great allround road car. I loved to cruise in that car, i miss it everyday and probably should have kept the car.

RS4>C55>C32
M6>M3
RS4>M3

M6 was probably the best car apart from the gearbox and fuel economy, Rs4 best ownership experience, but its a manual and ive had enough of that changing gear lark.

So really ive just talked myself into buying another c55 lol but i needs to be an estate, if anyone knows of one let me know.
.

I have a C55 AMG now and it's deffo allot better than my previous C32/M3, the C32 AMG felt like a normal 320 but with a beast under the bonnet, super fast.

Regarding the M6; You say apart from the gearbox, lol but the main thing is the gearbox/engine on a car, I've driven a BMW M6 and the gearbox was a joke, it ruined the feel of the car, I did consider an M6 at one point in till I found out how much was to replace the brakes and the running cost was just too much + the gearbox...

The 5L V10 in the M6 deserves the DCT you find on the new M3's

The C55 AMG is a pleasure to drive, great great car!

Here is a C55 estate, think the only one on the market atm, there is another on PH but it's LHD. Very rare cars they are.

2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C55 AMG 5439 cc AMG

 

[Steve A]

I have a C55 AMG now and it's deffo allot better than my previous C32/M3, the C32 AMG felt like a normal 320 but with a beast under the bonnet, super fast.

Regarding the M6; You say apart from the gearbox, lol but the main thing is the gearbox/engine on a car, I've driven a BMW M6 and the gearbox was a joke, it ruined the feel of the car, I did consider an M6 at one point in till I found out how much was to replace the brakes and the running cost was just too much + the gearbox...

The 5L V10 in the M6 deserves the DCT you find on the new M3's

The C55 AMG is a pleasure to drive, great great car!

Here is a C55 estate, think the only one on the market atm, there is another on PH but it's LHD. Very rare cars they are.

2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C55 AMG 5439 cc AMG

The SMG3 on the M6 is amazing when and only when you are on full attack. When i did my track days in it it was generally the fastest car on track, it felt engaging and worked in harmony with the V10, however i was on track 5 times and driving around day to day 300 times. It just got tedious. I do agree if the car had had a dct i would have forgave the dire mpg.

Thanks for the link, although ive seen it already, really wanted a black one. I do know they are rare cars though. In fact i saw my old C55 for sale at castle cars the other week its the garage where i traded it for the M6, it still looked very good.

 

[st4]

SteveA, how are you finding the Lexus ISf? My pal is thinking about one....

Would you consider a E63/C63. Many on here like them. BMW do an M3 saloon which I reckon will be a cracking piece of kit