Why buy a  $55,000 C55 ( 362 HP )when you can get
a $40,000 Chrysler 300 SRT8  ( 430 HP ), which is
effectively the previous E class with a  big
engine and a muscle shirt.

The only rational I can think of is
some people prefer small and nimble.

http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/2005/01/24/cx_cd_0124test.html

Forbes.com

Test Drives
2005 Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG
Charles Dubow

Overview
There is a joke among people who work at Mercedes-Benz that the three
most powerful words in the car business are: AMG.

Besides the obvious dig at longtime rival BMW, the punch line has
merit. AMG, which is the high-performance line of Mercedes, is one of
the fastest-growing and most successful divisions within
DaimlerChrysler (nyse: DCX - news - people ). It was founded in 1967 in
a garage in the German town of Großaspach by two Daimler engineers,
Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, who were moonlighting, turning
regular Mercedes cars into hot rods. (The name AMG comes from the first
letters of their two last names, plus the first letter of the town.)

After entering, and winning, many major road races over two decades,
AMG began officially teaming up with Mercedes. By the early 1990s, the
team entered into a formal contract with Daimler to build both race
cars and also to develop high-performance passenger cars. Their first
successful effort was the limited production Mercedes C36 AMG, which
boasted 276 horsepower at 5,750 rpm and 284 pound-feet of torque at
4,000 rpm. It was also capable of going from 0 to 60 in 5.9 seconds and
had a top speed of 155 mph.

The original C36 was the precursor of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG,
the subject of this review. But first a bit more history: By 1997 more
than 5,000 C36 AMGs were being produced. In addition, Mercedes' E-Class
model line had its own AMG, the E50, which had been introduced the
previous year. These were closely followed by the C43 AMG and E 55 AMG.
Today, there are 12 AMG models across every Mercedes product line--if
you count the CLS55, which is coming to market in early 2005--with the
exception of the A-Class, which is not currently available in the U.S.

It was the E55 that put AMG on the map in the U.S., becoming the first
AMG car that sold in good volume to Mercedes' traditional customer
base. That success had much to do with the formal acquisition of AMG by
DaimlerChrysler in 1999. AMG has gone from being a tuner car to a
factory-made, street-legal race car--complete with AMG's 600 employees
and 45 master engine builders capable of producing three engines per
day, as well as service, parts and a full warranty.

Unlike some high-end performance lines, AMG has been a success despite
its high prices. According to Rob Allan, product manager for AMG, in
2003, the last year for which full data are available, one in 20 of all
Mercedes coming into the U.S. was an AMG; 11,000 AMG models were sold,
accounting for 5% of all U.S. sales.

Clearly, AMG seems to be a hit for Mercedes, and, as anyone who has
ever had the pleasure of driving one of these cars can attest, it is
not hard to figure out why. The C55, like all AMGs, is not only
wickedly fast thanks to its special engine and drivetrain but is also
fitted out with unique bodywork and alloy wheels, as well as specific
performance-oriented interior equipment.

The C55, which has a MSRP of $54,620 (including destination charges),
costs--also like all AMGs--considerably more than the regular C-Class
Sedans, the most expensive of which is the $38,070 C320 Sport Sedan. Is
it worth the extra bucks for the extra rush? Read on to find out.

Even though the speedometer goes up to 200, in the U.S. the C55 is
electronically limited to a top speed of 155 mph.

If you are already familiar with Mercedes, you may not immediately
recognize any significant differences between the interior of the C55
and that of any other C-Class sedan. The controls for the power seats
are still on the side of the door, the three-pointed star still adorns
the center of the steering wheel, and the fit and finish still ooze
Mercedes quality.

But then you notice certain touches and design cues that let you know
this is not your run-of-the-mill Benz (not that there's anything run of
the mill about them either, in point of fact). Below the speedometer,
for example, is the AMG logo. Look closer and you will also see that
the speedometer also goes all the way up to 200. A dead giveaway, if
there ever was one.

Then you will notice the AMG-design Nappa leather upholstery with
Alcantara shoulder inserts that are, while luxurious, just a little
more tightly sprung, as befits a performance car. Then let your right
hand wander down to the center console, and you will find that the
usual gear box has been replaced by the AMG SportShift. This five-speed
automatic shift provides 35% faster gear changes and prevents automatic
downshifting while braking and upshifting while cornering.

It also lets you select between three different modes, "M" (manual),
"C" (comfort) and "S" (standard), which let drivers select the
performance level they want. Particularly fun is the Formula 1-style
shifting buttons on the back of the steering wheel for those moments
when it's really not a good idea to take your hands off the wheel.

While some people may complain that this is not a true manual
transmission, Mercedes is about nothing if not providing its customers
with the driving experience they want. If some people buy the AMG for
its sex appeal alone but don't really have an interest in exploiting
its awesome horsepower, that's fine. They will be very happy with the C
mode. However, if you want the manual experience, and all that entails,
it will be hard to find fault with the M mode. (Of course, if you
haven't ever used SpeedShift before, make sure your dealer shows you
how before you drive off the lot. It can be pretty confusing.)

All AMG seats are sport-tuned and slick looking.

The point of the C55, and indeed of any AMG model, is the fact that
this is not a car intended for anything else other than going really
fast. Sure, it looks nice, but if what you need is a car to commute to
work in or to retrieve the kiddies from school, why spend all that
extra money? After all, a non-AMG Mercedes is still pretty special.

What makes the C55 so special is its 362-hp, 5,439-cubic-centimeter,
SOHC 24-valve, 90-degree V8 engine made out of a high-pressure,
die-cast alloy cylinder block that is capable of 376 pound-feet of
torque @4,000 rpm. This allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 60 in
4.9 seconds, which is as fast as the Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa and
Panoz Esperante, both of which retail for more than $90,000. Not bad
for a car that weighs 3,540 pounds.

Of course, how fast you go is only as important as how quickly you can
slow down. Mercedes has given the C55--and all AMGs--a dynamically
handling control system composed of an anti-lock braking system, the
braking assistant, the ASR acceleration skid control system and the
ESP® Electronic Stability Program, as well as AMG-enhanced,
dual-circuit, power-assisted, four-wheel disc brakes on new 18-inch,
AMG light-alloy, double-spoke wheels. This also allows for a
near-intuitive braking function that, for example, automatically
applies the right amount of braking pressure when the car goes into a
tight turn.

In short, the C55 is a blast to drive.

The C55, like all AMGs, doesn't look that different from a normal
Mercedes.
Should You Buy This Car?
To the casual observer, with it understated but distinctive lower-body
work and markings, the C55 AMG doesn't particularly look like a $50,000
performance car. That is part of its charm. This is not some
tricked-out road rocket with racing stripes and a spoiler poking out of
the hood. This is more about subtle power. Like a black belt who only
reveals his prowess when it is absolutely necessary.

Some people may want more flash, of course, but it is clear that AMG is
becoming increasingly popular--at least if an informal survey of
Manhattan's streets are anything to judge by.

Now, if we were to voice a criticism regarding the C55, we would have
to zero in on two issues: size and price. The C55 is not the smallest
performance car on the market, but while the front seat is quite
comfortable even for tall drivers, the rear is pretty tight, even
though it's the same size as the regular C-Class sedans. It's big
enough for kids or even a dog, but is the C55 really the kind of car
you should be driving when children are in the back? The trunk is big
enough for two sets of golf clubs or a few weekend bags. What else
would you need it for?

Then there's the price. The concept behind the C-Class is to create an
entry-level car that will attract younger buyers, people who are either
too young or not rich enough yet to buy an E- or S-Class. That's sound
thinking and we applaud it, but would this same target consumer be
looking to spend $20,000 or so more buying an AMG? If someone just
wanted an affordable, very fast car, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
RS, which has an MSRP of $27,929, can rocket from 0 to 60 in a
blistering 4.4 seconds.

What the C55 does do, however, is put AMG performance and prestige
within the price range of people who would have to spend vastly more to
buy practically any other AMG. The next most expensive AMG is the CLK55
AMG roadster, which has an MSRP of $61,220 but quickly escalates into
six digits, with the most expensive being the $179,720 SL55 AMG. In
fact, if you added up all the 11 current AMG models, the average price,
excluding the as yet unpriced SL55 AMG, would be nearly double at
$105,570.

Seen in that light, the C55 looks like an extremely good buy. Are there
other cars worth looking at in the high-performance category and price
range? To be sure. Both the slightly less-expensive $47,000 BMW M3
coupe and the $46,579 Audi S4 (for a review of the S4 Avant wagon,
click here) not only cost less but are well worth considering.

However, BMW's M Series has been somewhat under the radar recently,
with only the M3 coupe and M3 convertible currently in production.
Despite the respect it commands from aficionados, Audi just doesn't
have the market- or mind-share of the other two German makers.
Mercedes' brand, not to mention its nationwide dealership network, is
much bigger.

So now is the time for AMG to shine. If you want to shine in a C55, and
spend the $54,000 it takes to do so, get ready to dazzle and be
dazzled.

Each AMG engine is hand-built by expert craftsmen.
Specs
Manufacturer Contact: www.mercedes-benz.com

MSRP: $54,620 (including destination charges)

Color Options: brilliant silver metallic, alabaster white, black, Capri
blue metallic, desert silver metallic, diamond black metallic, granite
grey metallic, Mars red, obsidian black metallic, pewter metallic

Suspension Type: Front suspension: independent three-link with antidive
geometry. Enlarged stabilizer bar. Rear suspension: independent
five-arm multilink with geometry for antisquat and alignment control.
Enlarged stabilizer bar. Sport suspension: AMG- tuned front coil
springs over AMG gas-pressurized shock absorbers. Separate AMG-tuned
rear coil springs and AMG gas-pressurized shock absorbers.

Acceleration: zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds

Engine Type: AMG-built, 5,439-cc, SOHC 24-valve, 90-degree V8 engine.
High-pressure die-cast alloy cylinder block. Reinforced crankshaft and
valvetrain. Alloy heads. Lightweight camshafts. Reinforced engine
block, oil pan structure, pistons, connecting rods and crankshaft.

Horsepower: 362 hp @5,750 rpm

Torque: 376 pound-feet @ 4,000 rpm
EPA Mileage: 16 city/22 highway mpg

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