"feather-throttle-not-hair" (feather-throttle-not-hair)
07/02/2018 at 13:35 • Filed to: None
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"feather-throttle-not-hair" (feather-throttle-not-hair)
07/02/2018 at 13:35 • Filed to: None | 3
| 10 |
A while ago, my friend bought this C43 with close to 300K on the odometer. He dailied it for a bit before the transmission crapped out. Knowing this was an eventuality, he had a contemporary E55 engine and drivetrain ready to go. He had just finished it when i got to his house, so i offered to wash it in exchange for a chance to drive the beast.
It drove really well and was much faster than my 350Z. The handling was surprisingly good, despite there not being much steering feedback. Unfortunately, the C43 did not come with a limited slip differential, which kind of sucks, but it actually didn’t do much peglegging. It mostly just grips up and scoots. I’ve driven E55's from this era and they’re much more prone to rolling burnouts. I think we can blame the lighter C class platform for the car’s increased ability to just grip and go.
He had to change the badge afterwards. He sent me this after i got home.
E90M3
> feather-throttle-not-hair
07/02/2018 at 13:48 |
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That’s pretty awesome. I’ve always liked how those cars looked. Sounds like he just needs to get an LSD for it. On that note, I’m surprised that all AMGs didn’t come with LSDs from the factory, as all M cars do. I know it was an option in the W204, kind of surprised it wasn’t standard.
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feather-throttle-not-hair
> E90M3
07/02/2018 at 13:56 |
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Yeah, not having an LSD in a 300+ hp performance car just sounds crazy to my 2018 ears, but i guess in the 90's people didn’t care as much?
M cars are definitely more driver oriented though. I’ve driven E36 325i’s and they have much better steering feel and more progressive brakes than the C43 did. And that was just the 325i. I will say that the AMG had an interior that appeared to still be screwed together well, so score one for the C-class on that front i guess.
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E90M3
> feather-throttle-not-hair
07/02/2018 at 13:59 |
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The contemporary E36 M3 has an LSD, even the watered down version we go here.
I’ve never actually driven an E36, any E36, or a Mercedes of that era, so I don’t know. I do know that the 2009 C63 AMG has a shit interior. I test drove one and it was falling apart.
fintail
> feather-throttle-not-hair
07/02/2018 at 14:09 |
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Fun stuff, amusing to see they are now called vintage . Years ago I had a C43, I got it as a 50K mile 1 owner car. It was a fun thing, with the V8 shoehorned into an engine bay where most examples had a 4 cyl:
Mine had the somewhat loud two tone interior:
I didn’t keep it too long, as the engine developed a kind of lifter rattle/knock at cold start, which scared me away. The ride was also really firm for my tastes, a bit jarring. The car was replaced by a W210 E55 I had for 7 years.
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feather-throttle-not-hair
> E90M3
07/02/2018 at 14:30 |
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Oh man, E36 is in my top 10 of ‘goldilox’ cars. All your controls (transmission, steering, pedals) have fantastic feel and the straight six has a great powerband even if its kind of a small one. So much right with that car.
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feather-throttle-not-hair
> fintail
07/02/2018 at 14:32 |
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Nice! Yeah i remember reading reviews for these in car magazines as a kid. Doesn’t seem like that long ago, but honestly, they qualify as vintage at this point!
You’re absolutely correct about the ride though. It is pretty stiffly sprung.
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E90M3
> feather-throttle-not-hair
07/02/2018 at 14:59 |
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I’ve really only heard good things about them.
Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
> E90M3
07/02/2018 at 16:49 |
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AMG’s up until the AWD ones weren’t equipped with LSD’s standard.
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fintail
> feather-throttle-not-hair
07/02/2018 at 21:22 |
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C43 is 20 now, and W202 is 25, so I guess that says it all. The cars are getting older, as are we :)
gmctavish needs more space
> feather-throttle-not-hair
07/02/2018 at 21:28 |
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I’ve only driven an E36 328is once, for about 5 minutes, but I’ve wanted one since then. Goldilocks is totally the right way to put it, everything feels just right.