On this page I present information, links, and photos about our on-order 2003 Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG sedan.
My text is in black. Text copied from the Net is in maroon or, as highlighted by me, in red.
2.1. Photo of Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG
Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG
File: ...\MBC32M\ChFrSid.jpg (822 x 525, 122 KB, original size).
This photo, by blanket permission of Sammy Chan, was exclusively photographed by him, and does not belong to any car manufacturers, companies or person(s), courtesy of www.canadianautoreview.com. See more of such photos at:
Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG: http://www.canadianautoreview.com/mercedes-benz_c32_amg.htm.
Our car will look like the above, except for the following:
___ a. Our car will be coloured Brilliant Silver (metallic).
___ b. Our car
will have the COMAND satellite
navigation system. Its short stubby antenna, only about 5 cm
long, will project from the upper center of the rear window. For
detailed photos of the the engine (with its supercharger
cowling), console and nav system in place, wheels, and side and
back views of the car, in Brilliant Silver,
see:
C32 AMG C-Class
W203: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/5350/w203c32.htm Much detail, and photos --
including dashboard and controls.
See also: Mercedes-Benz: http://site.www.umb.edu/forum/1/Jacq105/res/Henrywebsite7.html
___ c. The
headlights will be the newer Bi-Xenon
headlamps introduced in the 2003 model, as shown in detail at the
following site, which also shows a car in Brilliant
Silver:
BenzWorld Registry:
http://www.benzworld.org/publications/pub.asp?id=68 First
look: 2003 Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG sedan
Our car will
probably not be in an elite-enough category to have the following
new feature:
BenzWorld News: http://www.benzworld.org/news/news.asp?id=31 New
from Mercedes-Benz: Swivelling headlamps for safer cornering. July
25, 2002 Pictures, diagrams, and
details.
2.2. Photo of gauges of Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG
Photo of gauges of Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG
File: ...\MBC32M\Gauges.jpg (822 x 535, 69.9 KB, original size).
This photo, by blanket permission of Sammy Chan, was exclusively photographed by him, and does not belong to any car manufacturers, companies or person(s), courtesy of www.canadianautoreview.com.
This car has a top speed of 283 km/h (176 mph), but is limited (by means of the choice of a parameter in a computer chip) to 250 km/h (155 mph). Acceleration is AMAZING. This is the fastest stock Mercedes ever produced: the C 32 AMG sedan loaded with two adults and luggage takes only 5.2 seconds to reach 62 mph according to Mercedes. The car is capable of runs to 60 in 4.5 seconds! (AutoCar review Jun 27th 2001) That's faster than the new BMW M3 and the Porsche 911. See Mercedes C32 AMG Stats: http://www.c32life.com/stats.htm.
Person's names read from left to right in all photos.
For index of Mercedes contents, go to Mercedes main contents
2.3. Rationale for buying the Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG
The following is a copy of a memo I had sent to a friend on 5 July 02, after we had hinted strongly at what new car we were about to buy to replace our 1987 Nissan Maxima.
Thank you for the following Sympatico link: http://www1.sympatico.ca/Contents/Automotive/
One of its links led me down the garden path to the following extracts, found in pages 1 and 4 of the following links. That should give you an idea of what car we have recently chosen to buy: the Mercedes C32 AMG.
New Car Test Drive - Auto and truck reviews, prices and pictures: http://www.nctd.com/review-list.cfm?Make=Mercedes-Benz Click on 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
http://www.nctd.com/review-intro.cfm?ReviewID=961 This is page 1 of 4. Proceed to second last para, which is:
. . . Barely was the ink dry on the wagon brochures when Mercedes announced the creation of the C32 AMG*, a high-performance version of the four-door sedan that uses a supercharged version of the 3.2-liter V6. Rated at 350 horsepower, it comes with a 6-speed manual** transmission. The C32 AMG has its own exterior décor, interior trim, special suspension, larger tires and wheels, and is one of the quickest and fastest four-door cars in the world. It is priced substantially out of this segment's normal $35,000-$40,000 price range at more than $50,000. . . .
[* AMG is a special performance-tuning division of Mercedes. It was once a separate company. It will custom-make a car for you, but usually 'just' 'tunes-up' Mercedes models from the regular lines!]
[** Wrong. It comes with a 5-speed automatic Speedshift transmission, which also allows for easy up-shifting and down-shifting overrides, by flipping the gear handle to the right or left. Even without using that feature, the car can be forced to stay in any gear to the red line (at about 6,220 or 6,300 rpm). The C32 Speedshift system allows for 35% faster (or stay-in-same-gear) shifting than for the standard C320 system. Those changes are still governed by firmware monitoring and intervention, as is the maximum potential speed of 177 mph (285 km/h), which is limited by the electronics to 155 mph (250 km/h). The speedometer dial has a max reading of 300 km/h, as is seen in the following set of photos by Sammy Chan. It also has a digital readout of speed (not shown), a feature which I like in our Nissan Maxima. Also not shown in those photos is the GPS (COMAND) navigation system, which employs a combination of looking at satellites and dead reckoning using gyroscopes linked to the wheels, for use when not enough satellites are in view -- which is why one has to tell the COMAND system which tires it is sporting! Yes, the car is smart -- but not that smart!)
Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG: http://www.canadianautoreview.com/mercedes-benz_c32_amg.htm .]
New Car Test Drive - Auto and truck reviews, prices and pictures:
http://www.nctd.com/review-final.cfm?ReviewID=961 Proceed to bottom of page 4. . . . And the C32 AMG? At $50,000, it's the high-performance bargain of the year, capable of absolutely amazing acceleration and handling. Your problem will be trying to find one that's not already spoken for.
The waiting list is about ten months! Estimated production of C32 AMG models this year is 3,500 worldwide.
2.4. We have ordered our new car: the Mercedes C32 AMG!
Introduction We have put in an order (on 18 June 02) for our next new car -- the Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG sports sedan. This particular model derives from a car manufactured by Mercedes in its C-Class line of four-door sedans, including its top-of-the line model, the C 320. Upon nearing its completion, the C320 is then turned over to the tender mercies of AMG, a division of Mercedes dedicated to converting that car into a high-performance machine. One of its feats of magic is to convert the engine of the C 320 (3.2 L V6, 215 HP) into a C32 AMG (3.2 L V6, supercharged, 349 HP). AMG used to be a separate company devoted to boosting the performance of Mercedes cars. Mercedes now owns at least a majority interest in that famous firm.
More details are given in the Quick summary and other links below. Here is a brief snapshot:
Mercedes-Benz
Canada: http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/Index2.cfm?thelocation=http%3A//www.mercedes-benz.ca/site/home.cfm%3FPID%3D140%26LNG%3DE
Click on C
32 AMG.
The C32 AMG is built in such small quantities (about 3,500 last year, perhaps 50 for Canada), and demand for it is so high, that the delivery time is now about ten months. It will be several weeks, if not months, before we have a firm delivery date from the boys in Stuttgart. From the hills of Bavaria comes another car in high demand -- and a close competitor of the AMG in every respect -- the BMW M3. That car is in such demand that the waiting list is more like two years. To get one, you probably have to pay about $15,000 above list price!
As detailed below in reviews, specifications, and photos, this AMG is a car that is a bit extravagant in performance, luxury, and -- yes -- price. For that reason, I shall answer below a few anticipated questions as to why this choice. First, though, a sketch of the search for the new car.
The search: not only a search for the Holy Grille, but a morality tale, to boot!
Our search started innocently enough, on the thought that "Hey, why not drop in and see that new Lexus luxury sport car that was advertised so breathlessly on TV?". After all, we were not going to buy it -- just look at it -- especially given its base price of $84,000. Ditto for the Mercedes SL500 sports convertible -- at a base price of $125,000.
We test drove a BMW 325i, and were very impressed with it in most ways. Ditto for the Infiniti G35, a sportier version of the Infiniti I35. The G35 employ a 3.5 L V6 (260 HP) engine. The good reputation of the Nissan 3 L V6 engine is supported by our good experience with our present 1987 Nissan Maxima, and its 148 HP engine, which still hums along smooth as silk, as does the automatic transmission!
Here, our story turns slightly darker. Although we were very pleased with the test ride in the Infiniti G35, we were told that there were no sales brochures available. So, we phoned a week later, and were informed that the brochures had just arrived. We drove to the dealer to pick some up and have another look. The salesperson was busy, but informed us that, no, the brochures had not arrived after all. I asked if we could look at a model that had a GPS satellite navigation system. "Yes, we could -- there is a car over there, but I'm busy with someone else right now", she said. It is not very informative to see a place in a dash where a GPS screen might be, but with no key to turn on the power. More importantly, there was no sales person to hold our hands, point out its features, and exclaim 'Gee whiz!'.
Not to be undaunted, I got on the Internet, zeroed in on the home page of Infiniti Canada, and ordered a brochure. That was over a month ago. I have yet to see a brochure.
Our next stop was to visit an Audi Quattro dealer. The salesman was very obliging, but seemed to lack knowledge of one of my main reasons for even considering a Quattro, namely the CVT (or Multitronic) feature available on selected models: Continuously Variable Transmission. This is a form of automatic transmission in which, instead of having three, four, or five forward gear ratios, there is a continuously variable range of gear ratios, thanks to the use of a special belt, and advances which have made it possible in only the last few years to apply this old idea to higher-powered cars.
"Could we take a test drive?", we asked, innocently enough. He replied "Oh, yes, but you will have to phone sometime and book a session". Our session was rudely interrupted all the while by a couple's lack of parental attention to a little child who was cavorting about the showroom giggling and clapping her shoes. Our salesman was very uncomfortable with that noise -- given that he had a particular medical condition in which he is hypersensitive to noise and distraction. (Meniere's disease: see The Meniere's Page: http://oto.wustl.edu/men/ ) Don't get me wrong. I like children. It's only that, as with noisy dogs, I like them to be as far away from me as possible. I do not pet dogs or children! It appeared to me that he was flustered, blushing, and near to fainting several times. To his credit, though, he did give us a video to take home and watch.
Does it appear to you that these dealers are trying their best to sell us a car? It appears to me that, not only were they not even willing or able to brag about their cars in a knowledgeable way, they were not even hinting that we might like to buy one! The exception to this was the BMW man. He was very knowledgeable, very enthusiastic, and very informative during our test drive -- done not only on civilized asphalt, but on some twisty and bumpy roads in the boondocks. BMW is, indeed, a driver's car! We were very impressed!
But, what of Mercedes? The salesperson (sorry -- Consultant) at Mercedes-Benz, Carling Motors, Ottawa, was a real gentleman. He was very knowledgeable about every aspect of the car, including the GPS navigation system, and very conversant with delivery times. We had two test drives in a Mercedes C320, the base car upon which the C32 AMG is built. It was very impressive. Among other things, I tried out overriding the Speedshift automatic transmission with upshifts and downshifts, and an abrupt twist of the wheel (at about 70 km/h) -- which was quickly corrected by the automatic system.
Some auto reviewers fault the C32 AMG slightly for not having a manual gearbox, as in the BMW M3, with its six-speed manual shifter. The consensus seems to be that, in the balance of raw performance vs luxury ride, BMW -- 'the driver's car '-- tends toward driver control and road feel, whereas Mercedes tends toward luxury, but without compromising performance. Notwithstanding that, at least one reviewer has concluded that the C32 AMG, with its automatic 5-speed Speedshift transmission, with manual override, can meet or exceed the performance of the BMW M3. I have never been in favor of manual transmissions. It would take an unusually well-skilled driver to make a car with a manual transmission outperform a modern car with an automatic transmission -- especially one tuned as in the C32 AMG to have higher shift points (by 35%) than standard. The C32 Speedshift automatic transmission has the capability to easily override the automatic gear at any speed, subject to computer-controlled safety restrictions -- on engine RPM, for example. Besides, I consider that driving with a manual transmission in normal traffic offers as much distraction as using a cell phone, or tuning a car radio. But, they haven't made it illegal -- yet!
As for the Mercedes site for Canada, see: Mercedes-Benz Canada: http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index2.cfm?LNG=E
Dealership (Carling Motors) location (in Western Ottawa): http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index2.cfm?LNG=E
Dealership Web site: http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index2.cfm?LNG=E Carling Motors.
Rationale for our choice of car
You are going to ask -- among other things -- why spend so much on a car? Why do you need 349 HP instead of 148 or 215? Here are a few anticipated questions and answers. Caution: you don't have to believe all of the answers!
1. Loneliness. My wife already owns a Mercedes -- a 1978 Mercedes SL 450 sport convertible, and it's cherry red to boot! Maybe she thinks that it harks after a companion -- and one that is a bit more exciting than an '87 Maxima (or me?)!
2. We both like to not only get to a destination, but to enjoy the drive to get there.
3. We like performance cars. This one is already a collector's item.
4. It could be our last chance to own a dream car. New cars we have bought are: 1966 Ford Mustang, 1976 Chev Chevelle Malibu, and 1987 Nissan Maxima. Do you think we will be buying another new car in 10 or 15 years, at the age of 75 or 80? Probably not! El will still be driving that '78 SL 450, though!
5. You only live in your second childhood once! We prefer this new toy to things like a snowmobile, a cottage, a boat, an ATV, skis, etc. . . .
6. Although there is a 'gas-guzzler' tax to be paid, the fuel consumption is not as bad as one might expect, given the power of the engine. (In most normal driving, the supercharger is not activated.) Some figures for the C32 AMG (and the regular C320 in brackets) are as follows, using USA gallons. MPG, city: 17 (19); MPG, highway: 22 (25); Greenhouse gas emissions, tons/yr: 10.00 (8.80). See U.S. Dept. of Energy site: Gas Mileage of 2002 Vehicles by Mercedes-Benz: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/Mercedes-Benz2002.shtml
For comparison, the figures for the Nisssan Altima, 3.5 L V6 automatic, from that same site, are as follows: 19, 26, and 8.80. The figures for the Lincoln Navigator 2WD, 8-cyl, 5.4 L automatic MPV are: 12, 17, and 13.60. The irony (and shame!) of it is that one needs to pay an initial 'gas-guzzler' tax (of about $1,000) on the C32 AMG, but not on the Lincoln Navigator. The latter ('thanks' to lobbying) is exempt -- in spite of its poorer performance -- because it is classified as being a truck, not a passenger vehicle! See you in Kyoto? : ~ (
7. Of course, one could always rent a car now and then, instead of buying one. However, that could prove a bit pricey, especially on the French Riviera!
Monte Carlo hotels accommodation in Monte Carlo and Monaco: http://www.monte-carlohotels.com/luxurysportcar.htm Rent a Mercedes, or a Ferrari, or . . .
Quick summary of the C32 AMG
C32 AMG Life! The site that's all Mercedes C32 AMG: http://www.c32life.com/ The site dedicated to the (W203) Mercedes C32 AMG. Many reviews, specs., and photos.
Four Doors: http://www.c32life.com/C32reviews/autoweek2.htm Review and user views. Four Doors, and Fast: Mercedes-Benz AMG C32 really delivers the goods
LIKES:
Lots of power
Sports car handling Sports car brakes
DISLIKES: Plasticky interior Inscrutable
COMAND center Instrumentation too small
HAVING YOUR CAKE
AND EATING IT TOO is a well-worn cliché, but it's a pretty good
way to describe Mercedes-Benz AMG C32
owners' desires. They're driving a sports sedan with an AMG-built
349-horsepower engine with 332 lb-ft of torque, complete with a
five-speed AMG Speed-shift automatic
transmission. The supercharged engine spins effortlessly to the
6220-rpm redline. The suspension gives excellent feedback while
making sure not to jar your fillings. Its cross-drilled and
ventilated front disc brake rotors look like they came off a race
car. And the C32 rides on 17-inch alloys shod with Z-rated tires,
225/45s up front and 245/40s in the rear.
Oh, and it has four doors.
The C32 performs on track as you would expect a sports car to respond: 0 to 60 mph comes up in 5.2 seconds . . .
Overall reviews
Road Test 2002 Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG: http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/roadtest/48643/article.html
Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG: http://www.canadianautoreview.com/mercedes-benz_c32_amg.htm Excellent private photos, by Sammy Chan. Close-up of speedometer.
C32 AMG C-Class W203: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/5350/w203c32.htm
Mercedes C32 AMG - Fiche technique + photos: http://weaky.free.fr/fiches/de/mercedes/C32_AMG_01.htm Click on camera icon.
MBworld.org Forums - Anyone have a Brilliant Silver C32 with Blue AMG interior: http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?s=8e97a5434d9d8b7bf466d90a2e25aae4&threadid=11305 Photo of our likely choice of colors: Brilliant Silver exterior; Charcoal and Blue AMG leather seats. (Windows are tinted Blue.) Scroll down for large photo.
globemegawheels.com - News & Reviews: http://www.globeandmail.com/globemegawheels/20011115/compact.html The Globe and Mail, Canada.
By Richard Russell
Thursday, November 15, 2001
Three hundred and fifty horsepower in a compact sedan! Can it get any better than this? The Mercedes C32 AMG is a showcase of brutal power and sophisticated technology in a four-door family car as capable of grocery getting as blasting down the autobahn at 300 km/hr.
AMG used to be an outside tuning house in Germany that specialized in customizing Mercedes vehicles for well-heeled buyers wishing performance enhancements. The majority of the work involved wringing more performance from the engine and equipping the cars with upgraded brakes and suspension systems to match the newfound performance.
The engineers at AMG did a superb job and developed a strong relationship with the factory over the years. So good in fact, Mercedes bought them out last year making AMG the in-house performance division charged with making every model in the Mercedes lineup available with an AMG badge and the appropriate upgrades.
That AMG badge is not a marketing ploy; it only appears on a select few vehicles that have been extensively modified. For example, our test model, the smallest Mercedes sedan, received modifications to the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, interior trim, instrumentation and the electronic hardware such as ABS and the traction control.
Of course, all this work and exclusivity does not come cheap. The as-tested price was $69,500 - coming in at $18,900 above the base Mercedes C32 model. We fudged the horsepower figure above a bit. It's actually only 349. Only Teutonic Mercedes would have chosen not to round the number up to 350, instead insisting on the actual output as measured on the dynamometer.
The folk at AMG take the basic 215 hp, 3.2 litre, V6 engine apart, throw everything but the bare aluminum block back into the parts bin and build it back up with new crank, rods, pistons, heads, valves, camshafts etc.
Then they bolt on a twin-rotor, screw-type supercharger to force more fuel/air into each 3-valve cylinder under the careful guidance of a re-programmed electronic management system.
An air-to-water intercooler is plumbed into the intake system to cool the incoming mixture, increasing density. Both supercharger and intercooler are fitted in the valley between the cylinder heads.
The whole thing is then carefully balanced and blueprinted and run in on the dyno. The final result is at least 349 horsepower from a 3.2 litre engine - or a very impressive 109 hp per litre. If that same efficiency were wrung from the familiar 5.7 litre American V8 the result would be more than 620 hp! Torque is an equally impressive 332 lb-ft - at least 300 of which are available from 2300 rpm to the 6300 rev redline.
This prodigious engine in a 1,700 kg vehicle results in some interesting dynamics. Standing starts with the electronic traction control activated are frustrating, as the system struggles to prevent the rear tires from being turned into puddles of molten rubber.
Anything other than the most modest application of the loud pedal results in electronic intervention until well into third gear or roughly 100 km/hr. Still, acceleration to that speed takes a tick over five seconds - on dry, warm pavement. But, to truly appreciate this engine you have to try it on a racetrack or the autobahn because the squirt to 100 is just that - the initial blast. The quarter mile is covered in 13.6 seconds and at this point the car is travelling 175 km/hr! This brute pulls like a freight train all the way to an electronically governed 250 km/hr. Acceleration from say 80 or 90 km/h to the 130-140 range is nothing short of astounding. Passing, needless to say, requires very little real estate. The only transmission available with this engine is a 5-speed automatic. AMG has heavily reworked both the innards and shift programming for this application resulting in 35 percent faster shifts.
There is some serious adaptive programming involved. If you are tackling a twisty road, the computer tells the transmission to retain the current gear, preventing a shift from upsetting the vehicle's excellent balance. Downshifts are lightning-quick and upshifts whether part or full throttle are nicely torque-managed.
A heavy application of the brake pedal, such as might be encountered during enthusiastic driving, brings automatic downshifts. Left in the S for sporty position, fifth gear is locked out, but whether in S or D the shift lever can be used manually to select a ratio. With this much power there is little need or time for such action. If all automatics were this competent, enthusiasts would be hard-pressed to seek a manual gearbox.
As an indication of just how thorough the AMG engineers are, this same driveline meets and passes all known emission standards including those proposed for 2005 and beyond. Braking and handling have been raised to similar standards.
The entire vehicle sits 30 mm lower than the regular C32 sedan and every suspension component has been reworked with an eye to enhancing cornering without a serious loss in ride comfort. Springs, shocks, bushings and sway bars have all been modified.
The AMG rides on massive 17-inch wheels. Inside each beautifully sculpted and widened wheel well you'll find a performance oriented summer tire and a huge disc brake - 345 mm in front and 300 mm at the rear. Braking power is simply amazing, bringing this lithe sedan to rest from 100 km/hr in only 120 feet! Handling is near-neutral with a trace of understeer at the limit. Steering is well weighted and full of feedback. Of course this is a Mercedes so safety is expected and included. On the passive front we have both front and side airbags as well as side curtain bags to protect both front and rear occupants.
On the active side there are plenty of electronic aids from ABS and ASR (traction control) to the Electronic Stability Program that intervenes early and often when the car is pressed hard in the corners. This is not by way of criticism; very few drivers would be able to use the capabilities of this car at higher limits, especially on wet roads. For those equipped with the necessary skills, it can be switched off. But the average driver will be profoundly safer with the computer preventing the car from switching ends when you overstep the limits of adhesion. Driven normally, there is very little evidence of the AMG's capabilities. The ride is relatively supple and comfortable.
The changes made by AMG are not only restricted to the mechanical elements. The body receives a special kit developed in the wind tunnel to enhance aerodynamics and keep the sedan on the road at the high speeds it is capable of reaching. Luxury touches abound; the leather-lined cockpit is worthy of the price tag, as is the extensive standard equipment list. AMG touches are subtle, yet everywhere, from the steering wheel to the special instrumentation.
Introduced this fall as a 2002 model the C32 AMG is . . . a very desirable high performance sports car wrapped in a 4-door body.
Immediate competition: Audi S4, BMW M3, Lexus IS300.
© 2002 Bell Globemedia Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Mercedes C32 AMG Stats: http://www.c32life.com/stats.htm Much detail, and photos.
C32 AMG C-Class W203: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/5350/w203c32.htm Much detail, and photos -- including dashboard and controls.
W203: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/5350/w203first.htm New C-class W203 sedan . . . Below there`s first photos and text info about the new C-Class W203 sedan . . . Very detailed specs. on all of the C-class, upon which the C32 AMG is derived.
C32 AMG C-Class W203: http://mbspy.bacosys.be/w203c32.htm DaimlerChrysler
USA Press Release Feb.8, 2001
MERCEDES-BENZ DEBUTS RAPID NEW C32 AMG
New 349-Horsepower C-Class Marks the First Supercharged
Mercedes-AMG Engine. Detailed
photos.
Mercedes-Benz Page: http://autozine.kyul.net/html/Mercedes2.htm#C32
C32 AMG
The stiffest rival to BMW M3 has arrived. The previous C43 AMG and C55 AMG were never able to challenge the BMW, not because of power but because of incapable chassis. Think in this way: putting a big V8 into the nose of a baby Mercedes could hardly achieve the right balance. The lifeless recirculating-ball steering couldn’t help as well.
The new C32 AMG is another matter. Not only the new W203 chassis is dynamically outstanding, the smaller-and-lighter supercharged 3.2-litre V6 also provides abundance of power and torque without burdening the nose. Moreover, the new car looks really attractive to eyes.
History
Hot baby Mercedes started in 1985 with 190E 2.3-16. . . .
In many ways the C32 is more attractive than M3. It has more space, better ride and a more accessible power delivery. The M3 wins back in terms of engine noise and revability, gearbox, build quality and a purposeful styling. Ultimately, M3 engages and thrills the driver more while the AMG is easier to live with - as long as not considering the not-so-kind price tag. Although AMG expects sales number to be multiplied from C43, its target annual sales of 3,500 cars is just a fifth of the BMW’s. . . .
Specifications . . .
The above page is part of the following:
New Car Archive: http://autozine.kyul.net/html/0_index.htm
Throughout all the years, this page has been known as the biggest new car archive on the web, although many other web sites also have the same claims. To know who is telling the truth you just need to click the links listed below - warn you, this will be a time-consuming job but you will definitely find it rewarding and amazing. From this page you can find virtually all cars available in the world - including those exclusively sold in Japan, Europe and USA - all complete with detailed report and technical data. As I know, these qualities are yet to be matched by any other web sites.
However, for a number of reasons you won’t find the following cars here:
___ Cars built in The Third World and Eastern Europe - because they are technically outdated and uncompetitive;
___ SUVs - because AutoZine thinks they are nonsense and polluting; < http://autozine.kyul.net/0_Inspiration/54/Inspiration.htm#No%20more%20SUV%20please >
___ Big MPVs - because they are not designed to be fun to drive, not suitable to our slogan "The Promised Land for Ultimate Car Enthusiasts".
Powerful, Supercharged V6 Dynamism Mercedes-Benz C 32 AMG: http://www.autoweb.com.au/id_MER/doc_mer0111021/article.html Detailed.
C32 AMG vs BMW M3 Detailed testing on racetrack
BMW Car Club of America, M3 vs C32 AMG: http://64.70.201.88/Roundel/2001/12/FeatureStory.shtml
December 2001 Roundel Feature Story. Detailed testing on racetrack.
. . . Driving: The week I spent with the C32 was timed well, as I had the opportunity to take the car to Watkins Glen for a Genesee Valley Chapter instructor lapping day and took advantage of the presence of M3 Club racer and instructor Ron Checca to get the C32 on the track. Ron has been successfully racing an E30 M3 in the Club Racing series since 1995 and has been an instructor since 1993, so his insights carry the weight of some experience. “The C32 did everything really well,” he said after our session. “It was very impressive in both wet and dry conditions. In the wet I was able to maintain a dry line almost at the limit. Braking was among the best of any car I’ve driven, including my own BMW race cars. The handling was perfect, other than when the track was dry when it did push a little — but that is to be expected in a road car. Turn-in was very crisp and precise, and the balance of the car was excellent; it didn’t feel particularly heavy. The nose felt very light, almost like an E30 M3. The automatic is not my cup of tea, but for a road car it’s very nice. On the track, it didn’t always downshift when I wanted it to, but it would hold a gear all the way to redline, and it would hold a gear when you were going through a corner without upshifting. But while I loved the C32, it still doesn’t quite have the feel of a BMW. My choice would be to have a four-door M3.”
Certainly the C32 is the best AMG car to be thrown into the M Wars to date, and is really in its element on twisty roads. Steering feel is very similar to a BMW, and the suspension is supple and soaks up road imperfections with aplomb — again, like a BMW. The workings of the supercharger are transparent and seamless, providing a rush of power that is delivered in a more linear way than the M3. The SpeedShift transmission did have the tendency to upshift from first to third, skipping second completely, but besides that it worked well. The only real weakness in the car is the lack of a manual transmission, . . .
The threat from AMG however, is more real than ever, and the C32 is really nipping at the M3’s heels. More buyers will be looking at the C32 as an alternative to the M3 than any other AMG car before it, particularly those who need four doors . . .
2.5. COMAND GPS navigation system
We have ordered the navigation system, but not the extra phone option.
For a photo of the nav
system in place, and a side view of the car, in Briliant
Silver, see:
Mercedes-Benz: http://site.www.umb.edu/forum/1/Jacq105/res/Henrywebsite7.html
MBSPY on COMAND - Present and Future: http://mbspy.bacosys.be/comand.htm Details & large photos (with TV button!). The button labelled 'TV' in the photo is blank in North America!
techexpr: http://mbspy.bacosys.be/techexpr.htm MB technical expressions explained
Comand
- Cockpit Management and Data System
Comand is the combination of car radio, cassette player, sound
system, navigation system, telephone, clock and tv system.
Was first available in 1998 in the then-new S-Class (W220).
The very latest communications technology in the form of the Cockpit Management and Data System, known as COMAND for short, is now available for the first time for the C-class sports coupé, as an item of optional equipment. COMAND is a car radio, navigation system and CD player in one, as well as acting as the command centre for all audio, telematics and telecommunications equipment. The driver can either operate these functions directly from the COMAND unit in the centre console and read off the necessary operating information from the large colour display, or can enter instructions using the keys on the multi-function steering wheel. The central display in the instrument cluster and the COMAND display in the centre console are linked, but can also be used separately. The individual functions are selected by the driver by pressing the keys on the left of the COMAND system's colour display. More detailed instructions are given mainly by using the combined rotary/push-button on the right of the control panel. This button is used to highlight different menus on the display which can then be activated by pressing the button. The CD player is located above the colour display. It is used both for storing data from the CD-ROM for the navigation system as well as for playing audio CDs.
A
completely new generation of COMAND systems, COMAND II, will be
available from autumn 2002 on e.g. in the face-lifted S-Class
W220.
Besides a faster CPU and an improved user interface it will also
have DVD instead of CD. The supplier changes from Blaupunkt/Bosch
to Becker/Harman and VDO/Philips.
Siemens Automotive Navigation: http://navigation.siemensauto.com/mercedes/content/copy.htm
Siemens Automotive Artwork by Subject: http://media.siemensauto.com/mediacenter2/queries/photosearch3.phtml?subject1p=driverinfo
PM In-Car Nav Systems May 2000: http://popularmechanics.com/popmech/auto3/0005AUTKAM.html In-car nav systems: how good? Acura vs Mercedes-Benz vs BMW vs Porsche.
Navigation
Technologies: http://www.navtech.com/Press/05-14-2002-142.html 05/14/2002
NAVIGATION
TECHNOLOGIES IS AWARDED AS BEST MAPPING DATABASE. This is the map database
system used by Siemens in the Mercedes COMAND GPS navigation
system.
Internet Access In Cars: http://popularmechanics.com/automotive/auto_technology/2000/9/car_internet_access/ Web cars. Mercedes-Benz introduces Internet access on the road. Photo.
2.6. Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG links
THE CAR FAMILY: http://www.thecarplace.com/famamg.htm . . . Mercedes and AMG have combined to produce a first rate, high performance sedan that is astonishing in only one regard, its pricing. For about as much money as a 290 horsepower BMW 540i you can get a car that is almost as large inside, gets nearly the same gas mileage, and has 349 horsepower. The $50,000 plus pricing is remarkable in that you are getting more than horsepower with this AMG prepared vehicle. The C32 has been reborn as a supercar, making it about as close as you are going to come to driving a race-prepared vehicle without suffering the usual ill effects of high performance machinery; . . .
C32 AMG Life! The site that's all Mercedes C32 AMG: http://www.c32life.com/
C32 AMG C-Class W203: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/5350/w203c32.htm Big photos, and lots of detail.
Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG: http://www.canadianautoreview.com/mercedes-benz_c32_amg.htm First and Only Chinese/English Car Website in North America. Photography by Sammy Chan.
Official supplier sites are listed in red.
BenzWorld - The Mercedes-Benz Community Website: http://www.benzworld.org/
C32 AMG Life! The site that's all Mercedes C32 AMG: http://www.c32life.com/
Internet Access In Cars: http://popularmechanics.com/automotive/auto_technology/2000/9/car_internet_access/
MBCanada.com: http://www.forum.mbcanada.com/ My Blue Canada. Might be of interest, starting 1 Jan 03.
MBSPY Electronic Car Magazine : http://mbspy.bacosys.be/index2.html
MB-USA: Mercedes-Benz, Home of Mercedes-Benz Luxury Auto: http://www.mbusa.com/brand/index.jsp
MBworld.org Forums : http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/index.php?s=a8e06731c436ebacb95c8cf18ba94478
MBworld.org Forums - C32 AMG (W203): http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=c680eda4ec6f9652a13a689c790cac41&forumid=48 Excellent!
MB-Deutschland: Mercedes-Benz: http://www.mercedes-benz.com/index_ie.htm
MB-Canada: Mercedes-Benz Canada: http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/
MB-AMG: Mercedes-AMG: http://www.mercedes-benz.com/amg/default1.htm
Mercedes-Benz Club of Canada: http://www.mbclubcanada.com/directory.asp?7
Mercedes-Benz Owners' Association: http://www.mercedesclub.org.uk/merc_news_jan01.html
Mercedes C32 AMG FAQ: http://www.c32life.com/faq.htm Cleaning . . .
2003 model * Model year 03 C32 AMG USA Highlights
hey! here is the official information: http://www.imakenews.com/autospies/...le000075403.cfm
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