E55 AMG advice please...?
Discussion
Hi all,
Considering one of these beasties as a replacement for my '03 WRX Impreza.
Looks far more subtle, seems on paper it has monster performance, looks comfy and well equipped. Plus, I lose the image and worries of Impreza ownership. I'm tired of all and sundry wanting to race me and I think I'm getting old now (33)..!!
I'd be looking at anything 2003->, with some mileage up to say 40k and a full MBSH for a budget of circa £35k..? Does that sound about right..?
What do I need to look for/avoid with this car..?
Is it essential to pick these up used from MB dealers or would an independent garage be fine, but with a seriously good look over?
Also, calling actual owners (past or present), what sort of fuel consumption do you get as an average? I'm getting about 22mpg (220miles out of a £45 tankful) at the moment, what's yours doing?
And finally... servicing, what sorts of costs am I going to be looking at? I'm currently averaging £450p/a with the wrx, would the AMG be about the same?
Any other info or pointers would be VERY much appreciated.
Cheers,
Nige.
Considering one of these beasties as a replacement for my '03 WRX Impreza.
Looks far more subtle, seems on paper it has monster performance, looks comfy and well equipped. Plus, I lose the image and worries of Impreza ownership. I'm tired of all and sundry wanting to race me and I think I'm getting old now (33)..!!
I'd be looking at anything 2003->, with some mileage up to say 40k and a full MBSH for a budget of circa £35k..? Does that sound about right..?
What do I need to look for/avoid with this car..?
Is it essential to pick these up used from MB dealers or would an independent garage be fine, but with a seriously good look over?
Also, calling actual owners (past or present), what sort of fuel consumption do you get as an average? I'm getting about 22mpg (220miles out of a £45 tankful) at the moment, what's yours doing?
And finally... servicing, what sorts of costs am I going to be looking at? I'm currently averaging £450p/a with the wrx, would the AMG be about the same?
Any other info or pointers would be VERY much appreciated.
Cheers,
Nige.
hi, i stepped out of a 18mth old porsche 997s... into a 53 plate E55. At first the steering/handling seemed v poor. But then i was only driving it in the wet.. and dark. I used the 997 mainly as a station car, simply because at the weekends, the kids (now 13 and 10), couldnt fit it in. So it was a waste, and i wanted something as quick, more comfortable and with space, but robust and reliable. Having had it for a few mths, i absolutely love it. The grip is acutally much better than i at first thought (i leave in on the hardest susp. setting). The only real weakness in my opinion is the vagueness of the steering. BUT, the V8 more than makes up for it. I use the buttons on the s/wheel quite a lot, and the gear chg is very impressive. I would even say the brakes are better than the 911, they're incredible. Comfort levels are hard to beat, and the car looks great (i couldnt live with the M5... too ugly). The relativley discreet looks are a big plus; means it doesnt attract the attn of police, thieves or boy-racers (and when it does... they get a more than they bargained for!).
I bot mine from a MB dealer and would not buy this kind of car any other way, and you'll probably pay about 2-3k more. low 30's should get u a 2003 in good shape. first yr depn would prob be about 6-7k (ie. forecourt price that u pay, less what the bid would be after one year), and after than 4k pa??
apart form steering, only minor downside is the fuel tank.. it;s too small! i used to get 22 avg on the 911, and the computer says i get 18 on the E55, but most of my driving is very short trips (from cold).
Only other car i thought of getting was the CL55, but now i've had the E55 for a while, i'm happy with the decision. Might get the CL in a year or two, as i chg my cars quite frequently.
cheers
nick
I bot mine from a MB dealer and would not buy this kind of car any other way, and you'll probably pay about 2-3k more. low 30's should get u a 2003 in good shape. first yr depn would prob be about 6-7k (ie. forecourt price that u pay, less what the bid would be after one year), and after than 4k pa??
apart form steering, only minor downside is the fuel tank.. it;s too small! i used to get 22 avg on the 911, and the computer says i get 18 on the E55, but most of my driving is very short trips (from cold).
Only other car i thought of getting was the CL55, but now i've had the E55 for a while, i'm happy with the decision. Might get the CL in a year or two, as i chg my cars quite frequently.
cheers
nick
I have a 54 plate E55 that I use as a daily driver and get between 16 - 19 MPG. On a longer run you can get just over 20 but it does take a lot of will power not to call the ponies on. Good car but it does struggle with traction if wet or greasy and the steering feel is akin to a tractor. That said in every other respect I think it’s a great car. I would defiantly recommend a warranty as most owners I have spoken to have had a few issues with a sensor here or there. I am not sure of servicing costs but the parts are not too expensive just the labour rates at main dealers. Make sure you get a high spec car or you will suffer on resale when you want out.
Think you guys are pretty spot on.
My wife had an Est new in sept 04 and sold it in Aug last year for the 63 est.
The car was big spec and cost circa £80k. We managed to get 40k back for it with 18000 miles on it. So big depreciation. It had two services in that time and the cost was minimal. first set of tyres lasted 12k and the fronts were still ok at that stage.
Had no reliability issues with it at all. Awesome power awesome car but steering was crap.
The new 63 addresses this steering problem and is the single biggest improvement but she has already had reliability issues with it and its only done 1000 miles.
Not looking forward to the depreciation hit again so will probably keep it forever.
My wife had an Est new in sept 04 and sold it in Aug last year for the 63 est.
The car was big spec and cost circa £80k. We managed to get 40k back for it with 18000 miles on it. So big depreciation. It had two services in that time and the cost was minimal. first set of tyres lasted 12k and the fronts were still ok at that stage.
Had no reliability issues with it at all. Awesome power awesome car but steering was crap.
The new 63 addresses this steering problem and is the single biggest improvement but she has already had reliability issues with it and its only done 1000 miles.
Not looking forward to the depreciation hit again so will probably keep it forever.
get a clk 430 .you get 400 miles to the tank on motorways.they have all the toys.look better than the e55 in my opinion (more youthfull)bloody fast too.i have owned scoobs and powerfull evos .the 430 is much quicker than any standard evo /scoob after 50 mph.flooring it at 70 mph pulls like my old 350 bhp evo7 probably quicker not sure though. remember its 279 bhp through two wheels not four. 300 lbs of torque is also impressive through two wheels which is the same as the porsche carrera s.i was going to get the clk 55 but the difference in power of 50 bhp does not quite seem that when driving both cars.i suppose 55 is heavier and the power is limited when the esp is on.and wheel spins like mad when its off all good though .the 55 clk is 4k more on average compared to the clk 430.i added a set of K+N filters to my car which improved midrange to topend power.
Edited by cream crackered on Friday 26th January 23:45
there's no clk that compares to the E55 in terms of performance, not even close. I had a 997s, and the E55 is just as quick in a straight line, and i would argue that pulling from 80/90 mph, the E55's acceleration is more effortless. ..and you've got a huge boot, and carries 5 in comfort. One of the many cars i've had in the past was a clk, and i sold it after 6mths due to boredom.
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