E43 AMG Estate Ride & Comfort

[Petrol Pete]

About a week after the OP sells the car a new member will pop up on here..." Hello , I have just bought a lovely 2017 E43 but the old fart who owned it before me fitted 19' wheels for some reason, will a set of 22's fit ?

Thanks in advance ...."

 

[MMCC]

Yes, I've found there is little different in ride comfort between all adaptive modes. As the comfort setting wasn't what I would suggest was comfortable I don't think the differences are great enough for each mode. It seems Porsche with the new Cayenne made these wider to differentiate between the modes more. The steering and throttle response/gearbox on the E43 seems noticeably different between each adaptive modes but not sure the suspension does.

Agreed it is plenty plenty quick enough for me and most. The traction and grip is quite immense and with a slick shifting gearbox it can be really hustled along and some pace if required.

How much was the price of the 67 plate 30k mile example you looked at please to give me some idea of prices?

I was concerned that the car could potentially be too stiff in sports mode, but found it was fine and better than I had expected. That car is advertised on autotrader just now, it’s at a Mercedes’ franchised dealership so will come with a 2 yr warranty, they have it priced at just under 35.5k. It’s dark blue (cavansite), is “premium” trim level and smells of dog.

 

[Londonscottish]

The W211 generation is likely to be a sweet spot for those of who are in our more senior years because the more compliant ride reminds us of how cars used to be, but also it’s also genuinely more comfortable and that becomes more important to us as we get older.

Firmer suspension can of course improve handling, but more importantly it feels like it should handle better regardless of whether it does or not, and regardless of whether the driver gets anywhere near the limits of it’s ability when driving.

Image and perception is important to buyers - especially younger buyers - and with speed cameras and congestion the opportunity to genuinely push a car is reducing: so feeing sporty when going to the supermarket or driving to work helps to sell what is otherwise a normal and un-sporting car.

Thy of course means that the 43 must be firmer; and the 63 needs to be firmer still, and the next generation needs to feel even former!

Yeah, I guess it's to "impress" on a quick test drive round the block or on the first couple of miles or driving one on smooth tarmac.

"Ooooh! It's sporty!!". No it's not. It's just massively over sprung.

The average ride quality on modern cars is getting worse and worse. It's a trend I hate.

 

[ALFAitalia]

The average ride quality on modern cars is getting worse and worse.

Is that as you get older and older by any chance!?

I think people have short memories....or are just too young to remember. Sporting cars back in the 80s were rock hard with poor damping. Drive an old 205 GTI over a penny and you could feel if it was heads or tails!! I was lucky enough to drive a Lotus Carlton a while back....again, girders for suspension. Take it back further to the cars of my youth and nearly everything had sold rear axles ( and therefore tons of unsprung weight).....again leading to horrible ride quality. Cars are getting better as time goes by (design wise if not build quality)....and personally I think the ride of a modern car, even one with sporting credentials, is far better than years ago. If I wanted a soft comfy car I would not have been looking as one with an AMG badge....or possibly have even gone to a softy sprung/airbagged non AMG S Class.......But to me that's comfortable luxury transport......not driving....

 

[rockits]

About a week after the OP sells the car a new member will pop up on here..." Hello , I have just bought a lovely 2017 E43 but the old fart who owned it before me fitted 19' wheels for some reason, will a set of 22's fit ?

Thanks in advance ...."

LOL....more than likely

I've still got the 20's so someone could put these back on if required.

 

[rockits]

Is that as you get older and older by any chance!?

I think people have short memories....or are just too young to remember. Sporting cars back in the 80s were rock hard with poor damping. Drive an old 205 GTI over a penny and you could feel if it was heads or tails!! I was lucky enough to drive a Lotus Carlton a while back....again, girders for suspension. Take it back further to the cars of my youth and nearly everything had sold rear axles ( and therefore tons of unsprung weight).....again leading to horrible ride quality. Cars are getting better as time goes by (design wise if not build quality)....and personally I think the ride of a modern car, even one with sporting credentials, is far better than years ago. If I wanted a soft comfy car I would not have been looking as one with an AMG badge....or possibly have even gone to a softy sprung/airbagged non AMG S Class.......But to me that's comfortable luxury transport......not driving....

Not sure I totally agree with old cars being rock hard with poor damping. I guess it is how old you go back. I have a 1998 306 GTi-6, a 2003 206 GTi 180, a 2005 Alfa GT 3.2 V6 which all are sporty cars. All with brilliantly compliant rides. I can remember my first car was a 1984 MK1 Astra 1300S and yes not a sporty car but had great ride. My friend has the GTE and it was again comfortable and not rock hard.

The E55K's I had were worlds apart in the comfort stakes and I have had an SL60 and SL55 that were both very comfortable without rock hard rides.

I agree cars are getting faster, safer and higher performance in many areas. Does that make them better? No, not in my book at all. Of course better is subjective but in my world no.....I have no desire to look at cars newer than a certain age now. I don't want keyless, touch screen complex cars and many don't. It adds weight and complexity to no improvement to the car or driving experience. Just creates an anodyne Playstation car. If I want that I'll jump on a Playstation.

 

[Skd884]

Not sure I totally agree with old cars being rock hard with poor damping. I guess it is how old you go back. I have a 1998 306 GTi-6, a 2003 206 GTi 180, a 2005 Alfa GT 3.2 V6 which all are sporty cars. All with brilliantly compliant rides. I can remember my first car was a 1984 MK1 Astra 1300S and yes not a sporty car but had great ride. My friend has the GTE and it was again comfortable and not rock hard.

The E55K's I had were worlds apart in the comfort stakes and I have had an SL60 and SL55 that were both very comfortable without rock hard rides.

I agree cars are getting faster, safer and higher performance in many areas. Does that make them better? No, not in my book at all. Of course better is subjective but in my world no.....I have no desire to look at cars newer than a certain age now. I don't want keyless, touch screen complex cars and many don't. It adds weight and complexity to no improvement to the car or driving experience. Just creates an anodyne Playstation car. If I want that I'll jump on a Playstation.

That is why i have no desire to own anything newer than my c36 c43 v8 or 204 c63, love old skool!

 

[rockits]

I had a 2005 987 3.2 Boxster S that of course was sporty but with a really nice comfortable ride. Almost to the point of being a little soft on spirited road driving. I like a bit of compliance in the ride and to feel the weight transfer. It is much more analogue and much more involving as a driver with good driver skill/ability or understanding to get the best out of it. Any idiot can drive most modern cars fast including an E43. Often way beyond their capabilities. Not sure that is better for my tastes. It is why I still have some older cars.

 

[rockits]

That is why i have no desire to own anything newer than my c36 c43 v8 or 204 c63, love old skool!

Yup, I'd agree with you there. Just wanted something a little newer but maybe I need to regress to go forward ironically. Progress isn't always progress I've come to find.

 

[buccal]

306 GTI-6 is a rare car now!

 

[buccal]

That is why i have no desire to own anything newer than my c36 c43 v8 or 204 c63, love old skool!

I didn’t know you had a C36?

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I must be getting old. To me, that's an example of things getting worse not better. What ever happened to the art of engineering a compliant ride?

It's a bit like home audio. Manufacturers encourage you to connect a shit music source through a Bluetooth connection (gah..) to some sort of overpriced active speaker setup and call if "hifi". The magazines fall over themselves fawning over which ones sound better than the others whilst completely omitting to mention that they ALL sound awful compared to traditional separates. Backwards progress at its finest.

It's two decades or so since I got rid on my Meridian set up with B&W Nautilus speakers.

Hand on heart, I haven't heard a better system since.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Is that as you get older and older by any chance!?

I think people have short memories....or are just too young to remember. Sporting cars back in the 80s were rock hard with poor damping. Drive an old 205 GTI over a penny and you could feel if it was heads or tails!! I was lucky enough to drive a Lotus Carlton a while back....again, girders for suspension. Take it back further to the cars of my youth and nearly everything had sold rear axles ( and therefore tons of unsprung weight).....again leading to horrible ride quality. Cars are getting better as time goes by (design wise if not build quality)....and personally I think the ride of a modern car, even one with sporting credentials, is far better than years ago. If I wanted a soft comfy car I would not have been looking as one with an AMG badge....or possibly have even gone to a softy sprung/airbagged non AMG S Class.......But to me that's comfortable luxury transport......not driving....

Not sure about this.... people are very loathe to service / repair suspension and bushes. That Carlton maybe wasn't driving as it was new.

I test drove relatively young E55 W210's a long time back and there were huge suspension differences which seemed to be about how they'd been used (around London).

My 1985 M635 ran on 14 inch TRX's.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

 

[rockits]

306 GTI-6 is a rare car now!

Indeed. Genuine unmolested ones with reasonable miles, low owners and history even more so.

I had one brand new as a company car back in 1997 and loved it. They were £18.5k back then which was a stack of cash compared to others but really was a cracking thing to drive.

 

[Londonscottish]

It's two decades or so since I got rid on my Meridian set up with B&W Nautilus speakers.

Hand on heart, I haven't heard a better system since.

What a great combo.

 

[Londonscottish]

I test drove relatively young E55 W210's a long time back and there were huge suspension differences which seemed to be about how they'd been used (around London).

Yeah, London speedbumps aren't kind to bushes, ball joints, drop links etc.

I was forever changing them on my 202's and 211. There are some minor noises coming from the front of my 212 at the moment and I'll get it looked at before my trip to France in the summer.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

What a great combo.

Children. Nightmare. The things we do...

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

My 1985 M635 ran on 14 inch TRX's.

Look at the amount of rubber on my 1990 Sovereign 4.0. On 15's but by modern standards they're SUV wheels

 

[Skd884]

I didn’t know you had a C36?

Pic sent mate WhatsApp.