Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG 2004 Review

The C55, complete with a 5.5-litre V8, replaces the C32, which had a supercharged 3.2-litre V6 (260kW and 450Nm).

The C32 may have been quick, but it seems soft compared with a C55 V8 that has 270kW and 510Nm, allowing it to go from 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds.

The V8 rumble is worth winding down the windows for. AMG tuners have ensured the exhaust note, through four outlets, is loud for a typically conservative Mercedes.

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The four-door C55 AMG is $159,900 – $17,900 more than the BMW M3, but the Mercedes is a different type of car.

You could take it on a scenic cruise with some spirited driving thrown in. The two-door M3 is a harder charger and less comfortable for daily driving.

The M3 comes as a regular manual or F1-style sequential semi-automatic. The C55 is automatic only (five-speed).

It does have a self-shift mode, with buttons on the steering wheel, but the automatic won't let you rev the engine out and changes up on you, regardless. This happens a few times and you end up putting it back into full auto mode.

It is difficult to pick from the rest of the C-Class range, but the C55's front is 80mm longer than the standard car, to accommodate the V8.