Used 1998 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG Sedan Consumer Reviews
Great fun, lotsa maintenance
This beast is a blast. 308HP, 0-60 in 5.8, & almost .9 Gs in the skidpad means nothing until you've had it through mtn curves or on the open rd. 130 feels like 60. Had the car for a yr and in the shop monthly. Small things usually. But, when it rains real hard and water pours in through the AC/heating vents shorting out motors & sensors, leaving 3" of standing water in the floorboard,, costing $7K it's time for something more reasonable. Don't know what it is with German cars. Great fun to drive but totally unreliable. If you have the time and $ to keep taking this car to the dealer, by all means, indulge yourself. I probably would.
The German Beast from AMG
Unbelievable car - not bad off the line but when rolling on the highway , wow! The torque is unbelievable , 50mph to 70mph is like 3 seconds.You can get in or out of any kind of trouble you want with this vehicle.It is imperative that you stay up on the maintenance of this lady.
c43 bad ass
This car is mean and thrives on the highway. Interior gets endless comments. Fun to modify aswell.
The Sleeper
I have owned this car for a year and 1 month. It is awesome. The car is light weight so it handles beautifully. And also a light weight car, coupled with an AMG tuned big 4.3L V8 engine = a pretty fast car. At higher speeds it feels poised and at ease. My car has 156,000 miles on it. So far, the car is very reliable and I have only had to do basic upkeep work on it. Nothing major. I have replaced the mass airflow sensor, evaporator temperature sensor, and my O2 sensors. So all in all, that's under $500 in repairs.
Highway wundercar
Ample HP and torque, good gas milage (26MPH highway new, 24.5 now) and a solid engine. After 165K miles and 10 yrs I still love this car. Replaced 2 wheels due to potholes, the front bumper loves to snag things and the stock toe setting cups the tires. Minor plastic bits inside have worked loose, but the interior is still quiet. Once the sunroof decided to start opening itself. Lower control arms up front do wear out, but that might be my driving. The gas gauge sensor in the tank would stick occasionally, but hasn't in over a year now. Using 1 quart oil every 1500-1800 miles now, but at 180K miles, that isn't surprising.
Mercedes C43 Jet
Love my C43! You'll most appreciate this car highway commuting. Engine is superb. In general MB lets their engines average higher revs than BMW giving the car a more responsive feel. Fuel economy is not bad at 22 m/gl with spirited, 60% highway driving. Transmission feels tough and has a sporty kick when pushed. Interior offers room for even the tallest people, is modern but not very techy. Climate control works great. So far I've had no major problems. Problems arising with the car sitting in heavy rain are a myth - I've had no electrical issues. If youre more of a BMW fan, do yourself a favor and try MB before deciding. You may be surprised like I was.
The Best of the W202 cars
Absouloutly love the car! I bought it with 110K mi on it, it now has 132K+ on it and no major repairs, just very minor maintnence. It has no squeaks or rattles, everything works perfect. And that cannot be said about my 2000 50K mi Corvette. In fact the 130K Mercedes feels tighter and newer than the Vette. German cars are built better and better engnerred than American cars and they don't rust either. Not even the hardware. I actually baught the Mercedes because the Vette kept breaking. Now the Vette's for sale and no more domestics for me. Parts are cheap for a Mercedes too. About half the price of the Vette's. If you buy a clean C43 that's been maintained you won't be disappointed!
Great car if you can find the right fuel
This car loses significant power with California RFG II gasoline. Avoid this car if you can't get other fuel. That said, when I can get federal RFG fuel or non-RFG fuel, the car's engine is hampered only by the lame transmission. This car is one of the last (and best) "old school" Mercedes out there. On the used market this car is bargain priced, but I hope you have a skilled and low-cost mechanic to work on it. I lost the transmission at 60k miles ($6000) and the crank shaft rotation sensor at 80k (not expensive, but left me stranded). Avoid this car if you are going to get service at a Mercedes dealer.