Hello..
which is superior performance?
which is better value for the money?
which is more reliable?

thanks!

Have you heard the C43's engine note??
It's awesome! I don't know about the I-6 3.6's .. but the V-8 4.3's is definitely awesome..!

For what it is worth... before I bought my C 36 I drove the C 43 and while the motor did sound great I could not justifiy spending the extra $12,000 for a v-8 if you look at the performance numbers the C 36 and C 43 run almost the same times. My thought was save the $ 12,000 and buy a real hot rod when you want to go fast ( C 32 ) the new M3 Lightweight with paddle shifts looks really sweet.. I will always have a MB though..

I really do think that the C43 will pull away from the C36. I know, I know, we have all seen the Car & Driver and Motor Trend tests. I think a C36 should do 5.6 seconds 0-60 and the C43 should do around 5.3. But it will probably pull away, even more so at high speeds. But it still makes me angry that these cars were not offered with a manual .

I have a 1995 C36 engine (AMG'd M104)& tranny in our 1988 W124 wagon, and that engine is very powerful.

However, like a true hot-rod engine, the power is in the upper rev-range, which means you have to rev-it to get the torque & HP.

The C43 V8 has more torque down low, so for a daily driver, I would choose the C43.

If you're going to take the car to the track, I would choose the C36.

The C36 is one of the last "true AMG modified" engines. IMHO, all other AMG's are production cars.

Find an early C36 with NO ASR, and if possible, find one with a limited-slip differential (LSD).

Our wagon has both (no ASR and LSD) and it goes and handles very well.

If you don't mind the look of the W124 series, I would get a 400E or 500E.

IMHO, they are built better than the W202 C-Class, and are value-priced, which allows you to customize them with Euro headlights, etc.

A 400E with a 3.07 diff swap, will beat a 500E, C36, C43 in the 1/4 mile.

Best of luck,
:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E (looking for a 3.07 ASR LSD)

A '99 C43 in mint cond would be about the same as '93 500E in mint cond.... and I would go with 500E.. hehe

But anyways, 1997 C36 should be a tick faster than C43, but C43 sounds better, better quipped, and more torque...

You want a daily driver with alot of VROOM VROOM... go with C43, want a track car & daily driver... go with C36....

Andy Kuo

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1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
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2002 Acura TL Type S
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