Know whatcha mean whan...those 95 C36's are still wicked little cars, even without the 5-speed auto. Had the fun of scaring the snot out of a M-roadster not long ago in one. It was close, but the AMG won by a "real" amount.

Though a C36 does not quite posess the 1/4 mile trap speeds and highway top end (read: triple digit+) power of a 500E, the 1/4 or less they are pretty stout, very close to an equal. Both the C36 and C43 both seem to sort of scoot off the line vs the unending, unholy rush of the 500E. As whan said, the real fun of the W202 AMG cars is the handling. Not just the grip but a very tossable, nimble feel. They also seem to be much more predictable and balanced at the limit vs the W124 V8's. I'd love to see what one of the C36's would do with a pair of turbos or an Eaton... Heck, even a Vortech style supercharger would be wild. With forced induction it would be 500E/E55 powerful AND do the light/nimble.

Lee