I took a CPO 2019 AMG C43 for a drive today. Herewith my impressions:
The Design:
Exterior- Definitely a M-B; the styling is neither exciting or offensive- the same script followed by the G20 3er. The extra cost Cardinal Red is attractive, but rather subdued.
Interior(overall)- Black leather with red stitching. Very attractive and well designed. A very different control structure compared to a BMW, but it would be easy enough to learn. One demerit: The "Natural Grain Black Ash Wood Center Console" looks like "100% Injection Molded Plastic".
Seating- As comfortable as BMW sport seats- maybe even a touch better. AMG offers a true sports seat akin to the ones offered in BMW M cars, but you inevitably have to special order it as dealers know they aren't AARP approved.
Instrumentation- The virtual instrument display is much better than BMW's hockey-stick design( which saddles you with a tach that runs counterclockwise). HUD is optional but this car doesn't have it. Like the M Performance cars and their M badges, the C43 scatters AMG badges everywhere(including the IP) to remind you it's almost "The Real Thing."
Steering Wheel- A flat bottom design. I learned shuffle-steering for the track and the flat-bottom makes it a pain. Nice red stripe at 12 O' Clock, though. It has a power telescoping tilt column, which I can easily do without, as in I invariably set it once and forget it.
Telematics- Essentially equivalent to BMW's setup, with the exception of the control wheel/touchpad- I much prefer how BMW combines the touchpad and control wheel into one assembly.
Shifter- I hate, HATE, H A T E the column shifter; it gives me flashbacks of the times that I was sentenced to the purgatory of driving my father-in-law's Park Avenue. Ugh.
The Drive:
Engine- Just adequate; the C43 is supposed to be quicker than my M235i, but if anything it felt slower.
Transmission- The nine speed M-B autobox can't compare to the ZF 8HP used by most every other luxury car company. I floored it at 75 mph and there was an extended pause before the transmission decided on a gear and took off. My 2er would have left if for dead.
Brakes- A bit more touchy than the BMW brakes I'm used to, but I could easily adapt. Like BMW, M-B is cutting costs and using floating calipers at the rear. I like fixed calipers at all four corners.
Suspension- I've read that the suspension is very stiff and uncomfortable. Wrong; if you find that the C43 suspension calibration to be too aggressive you are either a wimp, a wuss, or a hand-wringing bedwetter. Even at the stiffest setting both my wife and I found the ride to be more than acceptable. The car had lots of grip(credit the 19" wheel package and Continental SSR summer rubber) but it felt a bit numb. Not bad by any stretch- just not entertaining.
AWD- Sadly it's standard. I know how to drive and the car has less than 700 hp, so I would happily do without it.
Bottom Line- A very nice luxury/sports sedan. A driver coming out of a mainstream family sedan would think he/she died and went to Heaven. Me, I want something considerably more involving- with RWD and preferably with two fewer doors.
The Design:
Exterior- Definitely a M-B; the styling is neither exciting or offensive- the same script followed by the G20 3er. The extra cost Cardinal Red is attractive, but rather subdued.
Interior(overall)- Black leather with red stitching. Very attractive and well designed. A very different control structure compared to a BMW, but it would be easy enough to learn. One demerit: The "Natural Grain Black Ash Wood Center Console" looks like "100% Injection Molded Plastic".
Seating- As comfortable as BMW sport seats- maybe even a touch better. AMG offers a true sports seat akin to the ones offered in BMW M cars, but you inevitably have to special order it as dealers know they aren't AARP approved.
Instrumentation- The virtual instrument display is much better than BMW's hockey-stick design( which saddles you with a tach that runs counterclockwise). HUD is optional but this car doesn't have it. Like the M Performance cars and their M badges, the C43 scatters AMG badges everywhere(including the IP) to remind you it's almost "The Real Thing."
Steering Wheel- A flat bottom design. I learned shuffle-steering for the track and the flat-bottom makes it a pain. Nice red stripe at 12 O' Clock, though. It has a power telescoping tilt column, which I can easily do without, as in I invariably set it once and forget it.
Telematics- Essentially equivalent to BMW's setup, with the exception of the control wheel/touchpad- I much prefer how BMW combines the touchpad and control wheel into one assembly.
Shifter- I hate, HATE, H A T E the column shifter; it gives me flashbacks of the times that I was sentenced to the purgatory of driving my father-in-law's Park Avenue. Ugh.
The Drive:
Engine- Just adequate; the C43 is supposed to be quicker than my M235i, but if anything it felt slower.
Transmission- The nine speed M-B autobox can't compare to the ZF 8HP used by most every other luxury car company. I floored it at 75 mph and there was an extended pause before the transmission decided on a gear and took off. My 2er would have left if for dead.
Brakes- A bit more touchy than the BMW brakes I'm used to, but I could easily adapt. Like BMW, M-B is cutting costs and using floating calipers at the rear. I like fixed calipers at all four corners.
Suspension- I've read that the suspension is very stiff and uncomfortable. Wrong; if you find that the C43 suspension calibration to be too aggressive you are either a wimp, a wuss, or a hand-wringing bedwetter. Even at the stiffest setting both my wife and I found the ride to be more than acceptable. The car had lots of grip(credit the 19" wheel package and Continental SSR summer rubber) but it felt a bit numb. Not bad by any stretch- just not entertaining.
AWD- Sadly it's standard. I know how to drive and the car has less than 700 hp, so I would happily do without it.
Bottom Line- A very nice luxury/sports sedan. A driver coming out of a mainstream family sedan would think he/she died and went to Heaven. Me, I want something considerably more involving- with RWD and preferably with two fewer doors.
