Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Mercedes-Benz Performance Paddock

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-07-2005, 06:31 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: sydney,australia
Posts: 79
C36 or a 00WRX

I'm looking for a new car and I had my heart set on a C36 until I took my friends WRX for a spin.
What a fun car to drive car!
I know the C36 wins in my opinoin in interior, comfort and gadgets but what about performance and handling?
Price wise here in Australia C36 app.$35-40k- WRX $22-26k
Anyone familiar with both these cars?
Is the C36 worth the extra?

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-07-2005, 09:18 AM
nkowi
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Golden, CO
Posts: 452
You'll have to decide what it is you want to drive - and for how long. In ten years, whatever the WRX might be today, will be a ten-year-old-Subaru. Look around and see how many Roos you can find that are 10-15 years old with 200K+ miles, and whose coachwork is still screwed together. If you tend to not keep your cars long, the WRX would probably be a blast to own.
Good luck on your decision.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-07-2005, 11:19 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: North America
Posts: 552
The WRX should win in performance and handling. The last time I was looking at buying an AWD used Subaru they were holding their values better than a used Mercedes. Not to mention, there are many tuners that can make the WRX really scream for a fraction of the cost that it would take to make the C36 scream. I think the WRX would also be more dependable than the C36.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-07-2005, 02:17 PM
Rahulio1989300E's Avatar
V10s & V8s FTW!
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,147
Yeah, if you like to keep your cars for a long time, I recommend geting the Benz, but I might be wrong since newer Benzes have lost a lot of quality since the 70s and 80s and early 90s....

The WRX can last a long time, but with a turbo installed on a gas motor, the life is reduce due to the extra wear it produces....

Take a good look at the Outback wagons, they still have a sporty suspension, but just not as much powa!
__________________
2006 BMW M5 "Heidi" @ 109,000 miles
2005 MBZ C55 AMG "Lorelai" @ 165,000 miles
1991 MBZ 300E "Benzachino II" @ 165,000 miles
1990 MBZ 500SL "Shoshanna" @ 118,000 miles

(On the hunt for a good used M103 engine as of 6/10/23, PM me if you have one to sell!)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-07-2005, 11:33 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: North America
Posts: 552
Quote:
The WRX can last a long time, but with a turbo installed on a gas motor, the life is reduce due to the extra wear it produces....
Not necessarily. That's the good thing about turbos. You can run the engine under vacuum conditions and only use the boost when you want. Since the WRX has a lower compression motor than the C36, it will probably last longer if the owner does not abuse the motor or run too much boost.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-07-2005, 11:58 PM
Hit Man X's Avatar
I LOVE BRUNETTES
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: FUNKYTOWN
Posts: 9,087
Thumbs up

My WRX was a great ride. I put about $800 USD into it and picked up about 65whp... not bad at all. That's just catless up and downpipes, and tuning it (on stock turbo).

Stock clear coat is poor, needs a bigger rear sway bar, spring rate was poor, VERY little sound deadening, 5 speed manual doesn't like you around 300whp, and other oddities... but for what I paid it was a GREAT car.

Tons of potential to go even faster. STi pull off parts make it far better and can be had for cheap.



Benz has panache, that will never be matched. Fit and finish like no other. But it's pretty much as fast as it'll get without getting bent.



All depends on what you're after in the end.
__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.
[/IMG]
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-08-2005, 11:36 PM
Rahulio1989300E's Avatar
V10s & V8s FTW!
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,147
Quote:
Originally Posted by super SEC
Not necessarily. That's the good thing about turbos. You can run the engine under vacuum conditions and only use the boost when you want. Since the WRX has a lower compression motor than the C36, it will probably last longer if the owner does not abuse the motor or run too much boost.

I stand corrected!
__________________
2006 BMW M5 "Heidi" @ 109,000 miles
2005 MBZ C55 AMG "Lorelai" @ 165,000 miles
1991 MBZ 300E "Benzachino II" @ 165,000 miles
1990 MBZ 500SL "Shoshanna" @ 118,000 miles

(On the hunt for a good used M103 engine as of 6/10/23, PM me if you have one to sell!)
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-09-2005, 03:19 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,108
I'd wager with a different final drive the C36 would beat the WRX all up and down any road. The Mercedes I6 is a pretty good engine, I wouldnt question its durability for a second, even with 10.5 compression and all the nasty things people say about it, because the evil head gasket . Thats only 1/2 a point over the 3.0 and they get a ton of miles before a rebuild, like 350K at least? Thats the only part of my car I havent had problems with, and i drive the bejesus out of it! Personally I havent known any WRX with that kind of reliability, and I dunno maybe they were reliable cars once, I havent talked to anyone that will say that about their WRX. And the Mercedes sounds a ton better than the Subaru, IMHO. I'd also bet the Mercedes handles better on your average day/road, especially with some minor suspension tuning, unless you spend a lot of time in the snow. The only thing is that the C36 costs a bunch over there. Here, its a no brainer since a C36 can be had for pretty cheap.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-17-2005, 11:04 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 7,381
Subaru's tend to last a very long time if you take care of them. Newer MB have a host of problems that cost $ to deal with. As with any car, you may get a good one or not so good one. Do you want a rice burner that hauls or a MB that hauls?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-04-2005, 12:47 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 9
depends on what u want. Some thing rare and unique go with the C36. Something fast and fun go with the WRX. Both are great cars. I have a C43 and my brother has a STi. I perfer my C43 over the STi
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 07-04-2005, 08:01 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,638
IMHO, handling-wise for track or autocross use, the WRX can't be beat by the C36 or C43.

The W202 just has too much understeer . . .

If the purpose of the car is 80% daily driver and 20% performance/track use, then go with the C36 or C43.

:-) neil

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
C36 vs. C43, then both vs. 500E Walden Mercedes-Benz Performance Paddock 40 03-24-2013 05:07 AM
Any C36 owners here? Advice needed.... RickM Tech Help 2 12-29-2004 12:23 PM
C36 AMG service manual daveCT Mercedes-Benz Used Parts For Sale & Wanted 12 08-30-2004 07:52 PM
C36 vs. C43 again.... :) whan Mercedes-Benz Performance Paddock 3 09-07-2000 11:56 PM
AMG C36 vs. AMG M117 engine transplant MB-Estate Mercedes-Benz Performance Paddock 3 09-02-2000 05:50 PM



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:28 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page