RE: Mercedes E55 AMG: Spotted
Discussion
People talk about the M5 compared to the E55, as if it is a Toyota Yaris in terms of running costs! The E39 M5 has a reputation for emptying pockets too you know!
I am potentially in the market for something like this......would I be brave enough I am not sure, but I have always loved the E55 AMG of that era. A friend of mine owned one for a few months shortly after owning a 996 Carrera and I seem to recall he preferred the Merc....said it felt just as fast....
Actually, the Audi S6 of that vintage would probably get my vote if I could find one, the S8 is simply too big for me...
MrHooky said:
Ditto. Paid £4,800 for mine. To my eyes these Mercs look horribly dated. Also lusted after an E39 but a decent one was probably £12k in the same condition as the S8...
Recent purchase? Not many about in dolphin grey and I know one's been advertised very recently....Check out A8Parts forum if you aren't already on there
Not all of them are total rust buckets. This is mine a 98 car, with no rust anywhere. Really love it. Back cats have been removed so it sounds pretty tasty.
Having bought it after two E39 M5s a few thoughts.
Agree it's not as sharp a tool as the M5, As a backroad blaster its a bit behind but I feel that any car this size isn't really a back road blaster. The Merc has much more torque and with the auto box it goes straight away whereas the M5 needs you to stir the box to get the most from it.
The Merc is a far more comfortable car for a long journey, softer if that makes sense.
Both great cars but quite different.
ArmaghMan said:
Not all of them are total rust buckets. This is mine a 98 car, with no rust anywhere. Really love it. Back cats have been removed so it sounds pretty tasty.
Having bought it after two E39 M5s a few thoughts.
Agree it's not as sharp a tool as the M5, As a backroad blaster its a bit behind but I feel that any car this size isn't really a back road blaster. The Merc has much more torque and with the auto box it goes straight away whereas the M5 needs you to stir the box to get the most from it.
The Merc is a far more comfortable car for a long journey, softer if that makes sense.
Both great cars but quite different.
Also posted in smoker barges but deserves a spot in here. Brave pills and brown underwear anyone?
http://www.driftworks.com/forum/drift-cars-sale-pr...
http://www.driftworks.com/forum/drift-cars-sale-pr...
ArmaghMan said:
Not all of them are total rust buckets. This is mine a 98 car, with no rust anywhere. Really love it. Back cats have been removed so it sounds pretty tasty.
Having bought it after two E39 M5s a few thoughts.
Agree it's not as sharp a tool as the M5, As a backroad blaster its a bit behind but I feel that any car this size isn't really a back road blaster. The Merc has much more torque and with the auto box it goes straight away whereas the M5 needs you to stir the box to get the most from it.
The Merc is a far more comfortable car for a long journey, softer if that makes sense.
Both great cars but quite different.
Sold mine in June this year. Was a '99 model on a T registration.
Blue-Black Metallic with Black Heated Memory leather. Bodywork was rotten, but was mechanically perfect.
Exhaust was blowing at the back cats, so had them removed and straight pipes fitted. Sounded glorious, especially when started from cold.
Drove very well and was solid inside. Comfortable on long runs. Reliable car that never put a foot wrong. Having read about some of the common E39 M5 issues, I think these are relatively cheaper to maintain in comparison.
All big V8 tuned engines like a drink, and this did circa 18mpg with mixed driving. Good cars that are available at reasonable prices at the moment.
Had an X308 XJR before the E55, and the XJR was definitely quicker, but didn't shout about its progress as much as the V8 in the AMG did.
Blue-Black Metallic with Black Heated Memory leather. Bodywork was rotten, but was mechanically perfect.
Exhaust was blowing at the back cats, so had them removed and straight pipes fitted. Sounded glorious, especially when started from cold.
Drove very well and was solid inside. Comfortable on long runs. Reliable car that never put a foot wrong. Having read about some of the common E39 M5 issues, I think these are relatively cheaper to maintain in comparison.
All big V8 tuned engines like a drink, and this did circa 18mpg with mixed driving. Good cars that are available at reasonable prices at the moment.
Had an X308 XJR before the E55, and the XJR was definitely quicker, but didn't shout about its progress as much as the V8 in the AMG did.
From reading the comments it seems that these are cheap for a reason....still have a massive soft spot for them though - remember when it was ok for performance cars to be understated? Imagine if the next E63 only had two small exhausts as per the original E55 - the motoring press would s**t a brick!
AH33 said:
I had a CLK of a similar vintage. You arent joking about the rot, I think mine was held together by rust.
Snap! Had every panel worked on under warranty; must have cost Merc a fortune to put right! Positive was that I must have driven every model available at the time as loan cars.ES335 said:
I agree about the rote placing of the E39 M5 on a pedestal. I drove on recently and it didn't do much for me - particularly because of the lack of torque. That said, they are very pretty cars whereas the W210 is kind of hard to love in that regard.
Isn't there about 20 lbft difference between the two?griffin dai said:
I kept mine for just under a year, lost almost 4K in 11 months though!! Prices just plummeted for some reason!!
Nice motor though, quick & comfy but repair bills were big, had to go
.Nice motor though, quick & comfy but repair bills were big, had to go
.
From your photo you used to work on the USAF base at upper heyford.
I work just across the carpark from you....
many of the buildings are being knocked down for housing..but the one in your photo is currently still there. (this week!!!)
Paul.
Super comfortable cruisers and great as an every day car. My best buddy ran one previously owned by his Father. He ran it daily from Crowborough to the Docklands covering about 70K in 5 years. Super reliable with just normal servicing to keep it going. Off the back of his experience I bought a 2000 CLK 55 AMG which is of the same era. I ran mine for a year and 10K with no problems other than it telling me the brake fluid needed replacing so I did that as part of the service. Oh and the engine mounts needed replacing as they broke! A common fault but cheap to replace.
If you buy one that has been garaged (lacking rust) and has the right history I would recommend it hugely. CLK or E class they are fantastic daily drives. In the end I sold my CLK to buy an M3 as I missed having a manual box but if that's not what you're looking for then do check out these middle generation AMGs.
Interestingly my friend sold his E55 on 152K miles and jumped into the next generation Supercharged version sharing it's drivetrain with the SL55. A huge jump in performance but despite buying one with the right history and low mileage he has had bill after bill. Far more costly to run and I'm not just saying at the pump!
I find myself still looking at the W208 CLKs as some days I really miss my '55. :-)
If you buy one that has been garaged (lacking rust) and has the right history I would recommend it hugely. CLK or E class they are fantastic daily drives. In the end I sold my CLK to buy an M3 as I missed having a manual box but if that's not what you're looking for then do check out these middle generation AMGs.
Interestingly my friend sold his E55 on 152K miles and jumped into the next generation Supercharged version sharing it's drivetrain with the SL55. A huge jump in performance but despite buying one with the right history and low mileage he has had bill after bill. Far more costly to run and I'm not just saying at the pump!
I find myself still looking at the W208 CLKs as some days I really miss my '55. :-)
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