"Real AMG" owners butthurt about Mercedes' new AMG Sport models

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein) 04/21/2015 at 18:31 • Filed to: None

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I just read !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . They like the car and generally feel it’s a fine competitor for the BMW 335i xDrive and Audi S4. But apparently, there are certain owners of AMG products who are none too pleased at the existence of a more-affordable car with AMG badges.

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The C450 AMG is the first of Mercedes’ new AMG Sport lineup: performance-y versions of the regular cars, but without the fancy hand-built motors of full-on AMG cars. So basically the exact same thing the as the BMW M235i being not a full-on M car. AMG Sport models still have a zero in the name of the car (i.e. C450 AMG rather than C45 AMG) and get AMG badges on the fenders but not the trunklid.

This subtle differentiation from “real” AMG cars, is not enough differentiation for certain “true” AMG owners. For example, commenter Paul T. in the C&D post:

To Steve Siler of Car & Driver I am a AMG owner and I would like to encourage you to investigate what the current AMG owners say about this new “AMG Sport” model. Their has been such a blowback to AMG management. The owners on the AMG blog are furious at these new models . AMG is suppose to be One man One engine but this new V6 is a reg production engine. The C450 is simply a C63, in and out, with a reg V6. AMG Owners are furious to the point a recent thread “C450 AMG BEING SLAMED ON SOCIAL MEDIAS” on AMG Private Lounge was shut down and locked because the response from management was condescending to AMG bloggers. It got real ugly I assure you. Seems AMG will have a Sport version in every Class. You think current owners of real AMG’s are pleased? Numerous owners are demanding a reply from Tobias Mores but no response has come of yet. Many have assured they are cancelling their orders for a new car. many are saying goodby and selling their AMG’s Please investigate from an owners point of view how they see this new Sport model. How would you feel if you owned a C63 and an identical pulls up next to you with factory AMG badges and looks identical for $15,000 less? AND, this AMG Sport version is coming to all classes. Will they have an AMG-GT Sport? How will E, CLS, S class 63 owners feel about this Sport version. We feel betrayed to say the least. They have blurred the line between a MB and the AMG. Its not that AMG owners don’t want to grow the family, we simply believe the exterior style should remain exclusive to a real AMG, just like a Black series does. These new Sport models should of been called “ Tuned By AMG” this would of stated clearly that your C450, with non AMG styling cues, is a supped up C400 and was by tuned by AMG. Its not an AMG but real close because a Mercedes tuned by AMG is NOT an AMG vehicle. Will we soon have a Black series Sport version?? Its a total disaster !

Paul T. is mad! So mad that he has totally forgotten how to properly use punctuation and grammar! HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU OWNED A C63 AND AN IDENTICAL PULLS UP NEXT TO YOU WITH FACTORY AMG BADGES AND LOOKS IDENTICAL FOR $15,000 LESS?

I tried finding more information about the qualms of the very upset AMG owners, but I don’t have access to the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , because I don’t have an AMG Mercedes.

I was however able to find !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on MBWorld talking about the blowback from the “C450 being slammed on social media” thread.

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It would seem that someone from Mercedes had to step in and pull the reigns on all of the “real” AMG owners’ jimmies being rustled.

I also found another thread where MBWorld introduces their review of the C450 AMG with the headline, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Many more jimmies are rustled therein. 11 pages and counting worth of jimmies rustling.

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This all seems like a whole lot of getting butthurt over nothing. If you have a C63, you still have like 100 hp more than the C450. Does the C450 existing somehow threaten your sense of self worth as an AMG owner? I know people buy fancy cars with fancy badges for status symbols and not just because they like cars, but this is all a bunch of crying over spilt milk. WAAAAAHHHH MY AMG ISN’T AS SPECIAL ANYMORE BECAUSE MERCEDES MADE A CHEAPER NOT-QUITE-AMG THAT STILL SAYS AMG AND LOOKS LIKE AN AMG!

To this, all I have to say is:

Signed,

Driver of a non-M BMW that nonetheless came factory equipped with a total of seven M badges.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 18:34

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it really is stupid tho. like Audi’s S-line. for the bro that wants to look like he has an S4, but couldn’t Dad told him it was too much, and he had to get a new car, not a used S4.

Rico > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 18:34

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I was on the mbworld forums when this butthurt started and could only shake my head. More models mean more money for AMG to do balls to the wall shit like the AMG GT or C63s. I personally would love something in between base models and AMG.

TheHondaBro > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 18:37

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Meanwhile, tools in their M-sport models still don’t care.

Jedidiah > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 18:37

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Learn from GM. Badge engineering never works right

lone_liberal > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 18:37

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It’s the people who worry more about what other people think of their cars than what they think of them that get like that. It’s not like the already considerable depreciation is the issue.

jkm7680 > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 18:40

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Tell them to stop bitching, from myself.

Textured Soy Protein > TheHondaBro 04/21/2015 at 18:40

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Funny you mention that. My non-M BMW has 7 M badges.

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 18:43

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I’ve said this before and I stand by it.

The people who care about this care about this care more about what an AMG means than what an AMG does. The sport line doesnt make your AMG any slower, but what it does do is open the door to people not ohhing and ahhing when you tell them you have an AMG.

E. Julius > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 18:44

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AMG owners butthurt? I have no fucks left in my fuck budget to give them.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 18:44

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C450’s with C63 badges in 3...2...1..

Textured Soy Protein > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 04/21/2015 at 18:57

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Except Audi S-Line is just their name for their sport package. The C450 AMG and M235i are performance models unto themselves, just not as hardcore as full AMG or M cars. They’re actually direct competitors for the S4 and S3.

JGrabowMSt > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 19:01

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Im not butthurt, but I certainly dont feel like its a great thing. The Black series will be next, Im sure.

But thats just how it is, push units, make them seem more special than they are.

RockThrillz89 > E. Julius 04/21/2015 at 19:02

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K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 19:07

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Ya know, Porsche had this happen when the Boxster came out back in ‘98, so far, pretty damn good. :)

All I see is, “so much 1st world problems, this will have dire consequences on my ego! fuck my life! This car that I’m never gonna by is gonna make me look worse than everyone else! I’ll have to start buying cats! FUCKING CATS! NO WOMEN WILL EVER LOVE MY MONEY OR POSSESSIONS AGAIN!!”*sobs uncontrollably*

Hehe yeah! ;)

Alex B > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 19:07

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What kind of BMW do you drive?

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 19:08

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Does this somehow degrade the performance of the real AMG car? Then who cares. Otherwise you’re like those idiot Ferrari owners who complain that a Dino 246GT isn’t a “real” Ferrari. Meaning you’re just mad bro because your 308 is about 1/10th as good looking.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 19:09

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#firstworldproblems

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis 04/21/2015 at 19:16

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Exacta!

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 20:01

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People who don’t know cars can’t tell the difference between a C63 and a C200 anyway. Car guys will know the different between these things and a full blown AMG. This is some of the silliest butthurt I’ve ever seen.

wiffleballtony > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 20:24

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That’s like being pissed if Mercedes made a reliable car.

AM > wiffleballtony 04/21/2015 at 20:59

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Mercedes?Reliable? Hahaha you are so funny dude!

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 21:51

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Oh fuck these people. Seriously. If your penis is so small that you’re upset by this, you need to re-evaluate your life. It’s not as if the deprecation will change.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 04/21/2015 at 21:51

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What’s stupid about it?

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Jedidiah 04/21/2015 at 21:53

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This isn’t badge engineering. Badge engineering is when you make 20 cars that are all almost the same but you change minor details to make them into different models for different brands. Bonus points if you start with a shit platform and try to pass it off as a luxury vehicle.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 04/21/2015 at 21:53

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There’s been non-AMG vehicles with AMG badging and models stuck on since 500 B.C. This doesn’t change that.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Rico 04/21/2015 at 21:54

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MBWorld used to be so great, it’s a joke now

Textured Soy Protein > Alex B 04/21/2015 at 22:06

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135is

Jedidiah > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 04/21/2015 at 22:10

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They are placing an AMG badge on a car that was not tuned by AMG in attempt to sell cars based on the premium associated with the AMG name.

Badge Engineering =/= platform engineering, although they often go hand in hand

Textured Soy Protein > JGrabowMSt 04/21/2015 at 22:18

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The way I see it, the AMG and M cars have gotten so fast, there’s room beneath them for something more special than a “regular” model. BMW started this idea with the 335is and 135is, but I guess they felt like they should add more performance name recognition with the M235i.

Compare these modern sub-M or sub-AMG cars to the “real” ones from 10 years ago. The C450 is faster than the ‘05 C55, and the 135is, M235i and 335is are all faster than the E46 M3.

Progress man, progress.

And really, I could give a shit what these companies call their cars. A good car is a good car.

Rico > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 04/21/2015 at 22:18

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I just stick to the W204/W205 forums, the corny AMG sport feud is a lame dick measuring contest I have no reason to bother with.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 04/21/2015 at 22:21

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I KNOW RIGHT

Bill"TheStig"Murray > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 23:08

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Yep, I mean the cheapest 3-series you can even get in the US has as much power as the original M3. I think this will just allow the true AMGs to become even more extreme

JGrabowMSt > Textured Soy Protein 04/21/2015 at 23:15

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Everything is getting faster, more efficient, improved and so on.

I’m not saying that it really matters a huge amount, but looking at the history of the names, it does subtract a little bit. I mean, we’re all happy tearing someone a new one over falsely badging M cars (or any other performance name for that matter), but I don’t really care about that too much, I just want to recognize the history of that name.

If we alternatively look at companies like RUF, if I stuck RUF badges all over a regular Porsche, the backlash would be huge. I just don’t see why Mercedes is concerned with having multiple tiers beyond a regular model and an AMG model of certain cars . I can understand having an AMG appearance package (which many people get), but we don’t need AMG models of everything. It takes something that’s normally special and it waters it down.

My SL600 Sport was from right before the official buyout of AMG so I have the wheels, the appearance package, the tune, but no official badging outside of the wheels. I’m happy with that, and I don’t mind seeing cars like the CLK430 with AMG wheels and the AMG sideskirts, bumpers, etc. What I do find annoying is tossing AMG branding around to cars that don’t really have the pedigree. Do I think they should never have started doing that though? Not at all. There are some really cool cars that have come out of it. R63 AMG, ML55 AMG, now the G65 AMG, they’re completely insane cars that don’t have a reason to exist or be as fast as they are, but they’re like unicorns out there. You don’t see them very often (ML and R class mainly), but they’re just stupid fast.

I guess that it went from a boutique option where you really had to want it, to an option box people check because of image, and that’s what bothers me about it. I didn’t buy my SL because of image. I don’t care what people think of when they see me in it, I love the car and couldn’t let it go. It’s just that Mercedes is taking full advantage of the name for pure profit and pushing units. I was told by a Mercedes employee that essentially the Maybach name is going to see the same thing. The naming convention is being left as an option for potential expansion to more than just the S Class in the future. It certainly wont sit well if I see a GLE Maybach car, but it’s how they’re preparing to use the name as no longer a special version, but an option package. The AMG skunkworks should be the bonkers cars, the Maybach skunkworks should be the extreme luxury end, but it shouldn’t be something you check off for another few thousand to have bumpers and sideskirts, it should be a full overall treatment of the car. But that’s just me.

Like you said, if the car is good, the car is good, I fully agree with that. Sticking an AMG or M badge onto it doesn’t automatically make the car better, but too many people who are just concerned about image see another checkbox and don’t want to be known as someone who “bought the cheap one” to other people. It’s just a crappy way to live, and it’s unfortunate that it’s how things have become. I just hope that it’s people who value the history of what M and AMG have done that are butthurt, and not the people who are buying solely for image, and now their cars are no longer the special, more expensive one, so their images are being hurt by this crowd.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Textured Soy Protein 04/22/2015 at 01:51

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No comment on the feud itself, I don’t need to get into that.

But I will say the 450 and 63 are entirely different cars, so much more than just the engine. including different body work and the fact that the 63 is 50mm longer to accommodate the larger engine.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Textured Soy Protein 04/22/2015 at 04:11

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to AMG owners , i’m playing the world’s smallest violin.

Textured Soy Protein > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 04/22/2015 at 16:10

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And the Dino 246 is fantastic. If only I had enough money to buy one before the values on them skyrocketed. Now I’m going to need a lot more money to get one. Eventually. It’s on my list.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Rico 04/22/2015 at 20:08

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Yeah, I mostly read the AMG forums for the big cars (CL, S, SL) since I have a strong inclination to pick one up someday. I remember back in the day when the C63 came out...that sub forum was the source of so many laughs for the rest of the users. Seems they’ve moved on to the new one.

Rico > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 04/23/2015 at 10:46

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I’m sure the CLA/GLA 45 was the most recent punch dummy but it seems it has been accepted into the loving embrace of the AMG Elite.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Rico 04/24/2015 at 16:12

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Yeah, once everyone saw how damn fast it was

myTotaledTahoe > Textured Soy Protein 05/12/2015 at 18:42

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This is what I don’t get. I’ve been reading C450 reviews and immediately thought “Hey! an S4/M Sport competitor. This makes perfect sense.”

Not everyone needs a monster, but does want a sportier option. I don’t understand the backlash.

And jesus that “WAAAAH I NEED PEOPLE TO KNOW I SPENTY MORE MONEY” is just absurd

Nedus > Textured Soy Protein 05/12/2015 at 18:48

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“ To Steve Siler of Car & Driver I am a AMG owner “

Stopped reading, guy is a dipshit.

Color-Commentary > Textured Soy Protein 05/12/2015 at 19:00

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Funny. I really wish Mercedes would do the opposite - let me order the high-power handbuilt motor in a plain-vanilla body with no badges. Keep the soft suspension but upgrade the brakes. Only gold diggers and cops care whether you bought the AMG version - best to stay invisible to both of those.

Yes, I *do* drive an M3 that’s disguised as a 328. Only the mirrors give it away.

RenamedUser371558 > Textured Soy Protein 05/12/2015 at 19:46

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Some people buy cars for their own enjoyment, others for the sake of their fragile ego. It would seem that a lot of Mercedes AMG owners belong to the latter group.

savethemanualsbmw335ix > Textured Soy Protein 05/12/2015 at 20:06

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I don’t get why this is a problem. The bmw M-sport models are the same thing, being more of a sport package that actually gives some handling benefits. I love my 2014 335ix msport, it has the m dynamic suspension that works really well but it also has some real all-weather driveability that the M3 doesn’t have because of the AWD. the C450 will be the same thing, but also with some extra power. just because the engine isn’t an AMG doesn’t mean the suspension and transmission can’t be..

pasghetticode > Textured Soy Protein 05/12/2015 at 21:53

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Does anyone know if S550’s with the AMG Sport package come with AMG badges from the factory? I’ve seen quite a few S550s (sedans and coupes) with AMG badges around LA, and my thought each time is: “what, driving a $100K car isn’t good enough, you have to pretend that it’s a $130K car?”

redstationwagon > Textured Soy Protein 05/13/2015 at 05:25

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I can see the problem with the badge and the official AMG name. But some dealers already took care of that in the past for the “concerned” owner.

What I don’t get is his outcry over the differentiation in design. All past AMGs looked almost identical to the standard car with the AMG styling package!!?

ZweiDeutschesAutos > Textured Soy Protein 05/13/2015 at 07:51

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Honestly this is all pretty ridiculous. I’ve seen it with BMW too — specifically the M235i. Yes, I KNOW it’s not a “true” M car. That said, if half the crowd who says this had much experience with the old M cars they'd realize pretty quickly that the M235i is way closer in spirit and feel than the current bloated M3/M4 which, while awesome, are more AMG than M.

Peter Cooper > Textured Soy Protein 12/11/2015 at 16:44

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Recent ex-AMG driver and, yeah, I feel their pain slightly ;-) But it’s not on the trunk lid, so there’s that.

If anyone should be feeling annoyed, it should be Porsche 911 owners - a model being totally outgunned for the money by the new Cayman..