Why wasnt the C43 Mercedes SUPERCAR???

[mike690003]

The C43 should have been Mercedes supercar. A 302 HP V8 stuffed into a small lightweight body, the car shouldve been a real seller(its a real sleeper though!). Why did the C43 just have almost no appeal??

I would love to have a C43. Then again, I cant hate a V8!

That V8 is shoehorned into that engine bay!



All thet power and Superb handling!



What brought the downfall of the C43??

[The Godfather]

The design of the car was getting old, and it wasn't very sporty looking when compared to the BMW E36 and newer E46. That's probably why the C32 W203 is selling better.

[mike690003]

Good point DR. They did in fact release the C43 in 1999. The c-class was debuted in 1994(???)

[blackmercedes]

When the C36 hit the streets, it was something very new. The E500 and the M5 had been around, but there hadn't been a neato fast compact four door land in North America.

By the time the C43 came around, most W202 hot-rod buyers had scooped up the C36. Also, the W202 chassis was rumoured to be up for replacement in 00 or 01.

Now, in the W202, 1998 was a banner sales year, with the exterior freshen really getting things going on the showroom floor. But, the C43 sold, but not the excess demand that the initial C36 had. Well, the C43 wasn't too far off a Sport trim regular W202 for looks. By 1998, everybody had equipped their W202 with 17" AMG wheels.

Also, the C43 drives quite different from the C36. It's not any quicker than the last C36 with the 722.6, so there wasn't any performance jump. The suspension is much stiffer, and not as good a balance as the C36.

If it were me, I'd love a C43, but they're still too expensive as used cars.

[mike690003]

yeah you got the price part right, $28,000 used. Too rich for my blood.

[Holson Adi]

hhmm if I had the money I would rather get the W124 E500/500E.

For 500E:

1. looks - those fenders just somehow transform the already handsome 124 into a very dignified and 'confident' sports sedan. Whenever I see a 500E, it just reminds me of someone who is very secure and knows what he/she is capable(and not) of and is not ashamed of anything!

2. the M119 motor period.

3. the interior of the W202 is nowhere near as nice as the 124. I think the 124's interior is among the nicest among mercedes cars.

4. heritage

For C43:

newer chassis
newer A/C
newer suspension system
flip key :p

[Cannoli]

The C36, being AMG's first car homologated under the Mercedes AG watchful eye, was done very nicely. Many aspects of the car is tuned. Where as the C43 is basically the engine from the CLK430/E430 (chime in boys if I'm incorrect), stuffed into the engine bay of the W202. Sure, it's got HP/Torque, but is it as 'tuned' as the C36? I think not.

For the money, W124.036 or the W202 C36.

My $.02

[yal]

Originally posted by Norman Anthony
The C36, being AMG's first car homalogated under the Mercedes AG watchful eye, was done very nicely. Many aspects of the car is tuned. Where as the C43 is basically the engine from the CLK430/E430 (chime in boys if I'm incorrect), stuffed into the engine bay of the W202. Sure, it's got HP/Torque, but is it as 'tuned' as the C36. I think not.
My $.02

I agree. I think the V8 was to big an engine for that chassis. I don't believe it came close to overwhelming the chassis, but tightening up the chassis to match the engine but staying with in the limits of the 202 body really took away from the driving experience for a daily driver. I think if they had done some 500E ish things to it, redesigned the suspension, etc, it could have been better.

[need2speed]

IMHO, I think the C-Klasse car just isn't as appealing as the larger chassis cars.

The small performance sector has been totally dominated by BMW for too long now...it will take more time and a different strategy for MB to "sell" small hot cars in North America.

The current AMG C-Klasse offerings are also being ignored for the bigger cars.

[mike690003]

In my opinion the new c32 is just too subtle. The M3 is an eye grabber (but the E55 grabs more attention than the M5). MB should get crazy with a concept C-class to blow the doors off the M3. Hey if a lot of people like it, they might become the kings in that category.

"If you build it, they will come"

[dtanesq]

I just wish I could have the real version of the CLK-GTR model that sits on my desk. That would grab some attention - probably of the law enforcement kind....