C32 AMG: 7 Countries, 2 days and 1,200 miles
Discussion
My girlfriend was a little concerned when I mentioned our new car would do ‘around’ 22mpg, especially seeing as we had a 1,200 mile journey ahead. My criteria for purchase was simple: Fast, fun, comfortable for a long trip and with a big load area for the remaining contents of my house. Fuel costs didn't really factor as work would foot the bill for my relocation. My last car was bought on the basis ‘a diesel will save us money’, which worked fine until I sold the car for £8k less one year later (123d coupe in case your wondering).
The removal company had taken 99% of our belongings a week before, leaving us with two options: by air or by road? I like driving, and the 'by road' option appealed as it would involve a fair bit of this.
The requirement for a big load area had sadly discounted a nice 968 which I'd gone to view the weekend before departure. Two of my Audi nut mates were keen to sell me down the S4 Avant route; either B5 or B6 (one of them runs a +400bhp B5). They advised Quattro would be the sensible option as my destination was still verging on arctic conditions. We went to see a B6 Avant in London but it was a bit of a dog, and the garage seemed less than enthusiastic to sell it. I liked the car in principle, though years of reading road tests had done less to convince me about their handling; and that big V8 is a long way forward.
A few days before my planned departure date a C32 AMG estate came up on Autotrader. I'd always liked the idea of these cars remembering the Autocar stats of 100 in under 11 seconds from a rather ordinary looking estate. So I convinced my girlfriend it was worth the trip from Hampshire to Rugby to view. After a very sedate start to the test drive the owner demonstrated the aforementioned stats, and after a second trip up the M1 I returned very happy with the C32.
My planned route would take us from Hook to Folkestone; under the channel; France, Belgium, Netherlands, autobahns of Germany; one night in Kiel on the Baltic coast; ferry to Rødby, Denmark, then across the bridge to Malmö with a final 7 hour drive up the length of Sweden to Stockholm.
After a successful 2 day trip, averaging an impressive 26mpg, we arrived at our new home in Ekerö just west of Stockholm. The car had been faultless for the whole journey; very confortable, surprisingly economical, and able to outrun nearly anything that challenged it despite being loaded to the roof with my belongings.
3 weeks later I still think it’s great. For a ‘charged V6 it makes a surprisingly good noise when you put your foot down; and it does move quite quickly. Off the line traction is incredible considering it’s channelling 350ish through 2x 245 sections; though I’m yet to challenge the traction in the snow! It also goes round corners, which I wasn’t expecting.
Things I’m not liking: the auto box is slow (nowhere near as modern as the one on my 123d previous), fuel consumption is now crippling round town (14-20mpg), and I’m slightly concerned what the extreme use of salt on the roads here might do for this vintage’s less than good reputation for bodyrot; I’ll guess we’ll see…
On the Chunnel
Ferry to Rødby
In Sweden but still 639kms to go!
Finally made it
...and in time to celebrate Paddy's day!
The removal company had taken 99% of our belongings a week before, leaving us with two options: by air or by road? I like driving, and the 'by road' option appealed as it would involve a fair bit of this.
The requirement for a big load area had sadly discounted a nice 968 which I'd gone to view the weekend before departure. Two of my Audi nut mates were keen to sell me down the S4 Avant route; either B5 or B6 (one of them runs a +400bhp B5). They advised Quattro would be the sensible option as my destination was still verging on arctic conditions. We went to see a B6 Avant in London but it was a bit of a dog, and the garage seemed less than enthusiastic to sell it. I liked the car in principle, though years of reading road tests had done less to convince me about their handling; and that big V8 is a long way forward.
A few days before my planned departure date a C32 AMG estate came up on Autotrader. I'd always liked the idea of these cars remembering the Autocar stats of 100 in under 11 seconds from a rather ordinary looking estate. So I convinced my girlfriend it was worth the trip from Hampshire to Rugby to view. After a very sedate start to the test drive the owner demonstrated the aforementioned stats, and after a second trip up the M1 I returned very happy with the C32.
My planned route would take us from Hook to Folkestone; under the channel; France, Belgium, Netherlands, autobahns of Germany; one night in Kiel on the Baltic coast; ferry to Rødby, Denmark, then across the bridge to Malmö with a final 7 hour drive up the length of Sweden to Stockholm.
After a successful 2 day trip, averaging an impressive 26mpg, we arrived at our new home in Ekerö just west of Stockholm. The car had been faultless for the whole journey; very confortable, surprisingly economical, and able to outrun nearly anything that challenged it despite being loaded to the roof with my belongings.
3 weeks later I still think it’s great. For a ‘charged V6 it makes a surprisingly good noise when you put your foot down; and it does move quite quickly. Off the line traction is incredible considering it’s channelling 350ish through 2x 245 sections; though I’m yet to challenge the traction in the snow! It also goes round corners, which I wasn’t expecting.
Things I’m not liking: the auto box is slow (nowhere near as modern as the one on my 123d previous), fuel consumption is now crippling round town (14-20mpg), and I’m slightly concerned what the extreme use of salt on the roads here might do for this vintage’s less than good reputation for bodyrot; I’ll guess we’ll see…
On the Chunnel
Ferry to Rødby
In Sweden but still 639kms to go!
Finally made it
...and in time to celebrate Paddy's day!
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