To selling the Corvette and getting an AMG. Been looking at some E55s and a couple C43s. There is nothing on earth like driving a Benz, and everytime i drive the 95 C180 i cant help but be impressed by just how bloody good a car it is, 230,000 + on the odometer, and it still drives far better than any GM ive ever driven, even brand new.

The 1.8 litre I4 is incredibly powerful considering the mass and weight its pushing, and even though every review ive read on the C180 says they dont handle nearly as good as the C220 and up, im still very impressed by just how well this rig takes corners. And this is before we even mension the name AMG.

The C36 i drove before i bought my 94 Corvette was almost as fast off the line as my modded LT1, and it was faster than my bone stock 87. It also held on almost as good as the 87, although not quite as good as the 94 is now ive done some work.

Not only was this barstard bloody fast, it was VERY spacious, almost silent, and smooth as silk to drive.

Here is a couple pics:
The arse end of the red machine:



And the machine that is the AMG C36.... (C43 looks almost the same)

I have some concerns about MB's... especially since about 1999/2000. They have lost there lead in the QC arena... sad, but true... and are UBER expensive to fix when they break.

And AMGs are even more expensive to fix when they break... that's my only concern with the mid-90s vintages. They were still well built cars, but last few years, MB has fallen on hard times. Electrical gremlins are the biggest problem... EXPENSIVE electrical gremlins.

I agree that the MB is a better car than anything GM makes (especially when you take the sample from back then, some of the new Cadillacs are pretty nice).

Man, I'd be sad to see you without a Vette, but I sure do understand the appeal of a Mercedes.

Which one are you thinking? The red or the blue? I like the newer car better, but with some real meat under it, the red car could be pretty cool.

Do what makes you happy! I sure wish my entire family could enjoy the Vette...

I drove a brand new Cadillac CTS-V a couple years ago. I had shot a bunch of commercials for a Cadillac dealership, and got to be buds with one of the sales guys. Fantastic car. Did not feel American, except for the growl of the V8.

It had a manual tranny too... I would trade my Vette for that, but sadly it is worth about $40,000 more than my car is.

CSS996, i have the red one in my driveway now, its been there a long time. Never a single thing failed on it.

Bogus, they are certainly no more expensive to fix here than a Corvette is, even when i buy my parts directly from a very good mate in the US. The neew Cadillacs are not only more expensive here then a Benz, but they are not even CLOSE to the standard either. And they never ever will be.

Just remember though, you fix a Corvette every few weeks, im yet to ever fix anything on the Benz here, and the only thing that ever failed on the 1978 280 SEL i had here after being flogged for well over 1 million miles was the odometer, it stopped at 634,XXX on its 2nd trip around, and had been out of action for almost 7 years, so after stopping at abit past 1,000,000 miles, never having anything rebuilt, and still going like a rocket, id call it VERY reliable. You turn the key, it started imediately. And so smooth to drive.

Im certainly not worried about what one costs to fix, cause in order to require that, it has to break first. And from all the Mercedes Benz eperience around me here, it remains to be seen, alot of my mates have owned them, some have fixed things here and there, but you add it all up, fix a Benz once for a fair amount, or fix GM every few weeks for peanuts that soon add up to be more then the car was ever worth.

My Corvettes have been far more reliable than almost anyone else i know over here, but even still, issues are always coming up with them. You fix one thing, and something else is at the end of its life. You fix that, and the next item is rooted 2 weeks later. They require constant maintenance just to keep the screws tight so they dont rattle to bits. Mate i spend alot of time taking care of my Corvette, it wore very thin 3 years ago when i got rid of my factory perfect 87, and its worn me down again now.

I might be CasetheCorvetteman, but it just might be burning me out fixing and helping to fix Corvettes all the time... I might just need a break...

Well, there goes my Hurst install...

Nah, seriously, you have to make yourself happy. Hopefully if you get rid of the Vette, you'll still hang out here every once in awhile.

I'm sure you'll keep us posted on your decision.

So, would you tinker with the Benz, or leave it alone?

Would only do what is needed on the Merc, the AMGs are allready bloody fast.

I only really do what is needed on the Corvette now, but still, the car is not enough car to keep me happy anymore, i could modify it til im blue in the face and its just not going to go as fast or handle as good as i think a car that looks like this should. I tend to expect a little less from a 4 door family monster, even though it delivers just as much.

I still plan to get over there next year, and your Hurst shifter is still on the list of things to do while im in Colorado!!

Personally, I think the biggest problem you have with the C4 is the automatic transmission... if that was a 6spd, I think you would find it more engaging.

As for handling, I donno what to say. I admit, I hate the transverse leaf springs, and if I had the $$ I would replace them with coil overs in a heart beat. I feel that is the #1 weakness with the C4 chassis, well, that and its inherent lack of structural integrity...

Finally, the AMG, being a modified MB sedan, would be much more common than the C4... so perhaps it matters not, but at least the C4 is unique.

I know exactly what you mean by the burnout... but since we got the Jeep, I have had something different to tinker with and learn about. So it makes working on the Vette seem less common... know what I mean?

maybe you just need a 2nd project...

No mate, the auto is perfect. I dont like manual unless im playing a video game. I like automatic, its just the way i prefer to drive.

The C4 handles fine with the leaf springs, Dick Guldstrand retained them on many of his versions of the C4. They are a great setup i reckon.

AMG may be a modded Benz, but its not really a common one (although the newer ones seem to be getting more common). They didnt make many C43s between 97 and 2000, infact they made more C4s each year then they did C43s in 2 years (apparently only 25 2000 model C43s went to the US) but im not worried about having a rare car or a common car or any of that,

I would hate to see you leave Case, but I do understand where you are coming from. When you get to CO, let me know as I'd still like to meet you.

BTW I voted that you're a F***ing lunatic, but it has nothing to do with your thinking about selling the Vette.

For sure mate, i did have a look on the map at one stage to see how far from you to Burlington, it wasnt all that far from memory (by Australian standards)

So we should get you and CSS996 there and have a forum gathering!!

P.S. Just cause i sell the car doesnt mean i wont be leaving the forum, all you blokes are my good mates!!!

Quote:

P.S. Just cause i sell the car doesnt mean i wont be leaving the forum, all you blokes are my good mates!!! [/quote]

The hell with that Case, we only love you for your car, did you think was something more personal?

All BS aside mate, you will regret doing this. Take a break? Sure we all need it occasionally, no need to sell the car.

Vettes can be frustrating at times, God knows they break but the Benz will bore you to death, at least if the Vette takes you out we know you will go in a blaze of glory1[B]
:toothy8: