Relative ownership costs: AMG versus standard models

[philharve]

Hi All

When I first thought of buying a Mercedes I considered buying an AMG model because I have driven mainly sporty models all my driving career. I spreadsheeted all aspects of ownership and rapidly came to the conclusion that AMG ownership was just too expensive and there were security issues, e.g. increased risk of theft or damage, that didn't seem to affect lesser models.

Well, with over two-and-a-half years of ownership behind me, I've found the costs of M-B ownership not quite as severe as I had expected, leaving aside the corrosion issue.

Temptation has crossed my path once again and I intend to conduct another costs review. However, I feel I would be treading, once again, upon a well worn path and there must be many members of this forum who chose an AMG model over a humbler and perhaps more 'sensible' alternative. I kind of went for a more sensible model, a C230K, but this was a choice of 'mind ruling the heart' and not the other way round. Save for the corrosion issue, now hopefully behind me, my C230K has proven to have been a sound purchase and relatively cheap to run and own. But I have often wondered what would have happened if my heart had ruled my mind and I had chosen differently.

There must be members out there that made this choice and I was wondering what the relative costs of ownership are between an 'ordinary' C-class (say) and say an AMG model? Fuel and insurance must be higher and probably servicing too? But what goes wrong and what takes an arm and a leg to fix? What about replaceable parts costs: pads, discs, exhaust components, tyres, etc. Is an AMG model less reliable and require more loving care and attention? Do AMG models attract the wrong kind of attention and possibly suffer abuse from envious members of the public?

I would like to invite any member who has owned both an ordinary model and an AMG model to comment on the merits and costs of ownership of both models. Furthermore, if they had to make the choice again, would the choice have been the same? If not, why not?

REGARDS

Phil

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

I've had a S280 and my present car being a E55AMG. I couldn't comment on costs as they are company cars so costs are zero. I'm in a dilema at the moment as a choice of next car. I can't go back to a standard Merc after having a AMG so my only way forward would be a McClaren - Oh dear what a shame I don't know how I will manage. I can tell you though that owning a AMG is a worry, when you return to your car and it's still in one piece - that is a relief.

 

[verytalldave]

Never having owned an AMG and only ever having owned an "ordinary" C200K for about 3 months hardly qualifies me to answer this with any authority. All I can give is my personal opinion for what thats worth.
Which is......
I cant see why ANYBODY nowadays who lives and drives in the UK needs a car like an AMG. Dont get me wrong, I am not anti-AMG, I just dont see any viable reason why anybody should need a car that can sprint to 60 in 4 seconds or top out around 200mph. Surely the standard model must be more than adequate for 99.99% of road situations. Even if someone was to give me an obscene amount of money, I would not go down the AMG or Brabus route. Why? It might be slighty different if I lived in Germany or Italy where higher speeds are legal, but in the UK?
Driving a AMG or Brabus badged MB is really no more than showing off - something akin to RnB and rap artists draping themselves in vast quantities of gold and diamond jewellery.
I dare say many might find my comments wildly wrong and maybe even offensive. But hey......its just my opinion.........:wink:

 

[jberks]

my experience of merc ownership is that the things that need repair tend to be brakes, suspension joints and the odd sensor. AFAIK AMGs are every bit as reslilient as a standard model so I imagine the repair tasks will be very similar. I haven't priced it, but AMG brakes and suspension components are going to be pricier than standard bits.
Tyres will be really nasty at around £200? (if you shop around) a corner and being performance tyres, they won't last very long.
The other factor is that you have a relatively small 4 pot. AMGs are V8's on the whole so thats 16 spark plus and lots more Mobil 1.
Then there is the fact that there are lots of 230ks around but few AMGs so all parts are going to have to come from the dealer.

Factor in fuel, insurance and depreciation and I'd expect an AMG C class to cost 2-3 times more to run than a C230k.
I fancied an AMG too, I bought a sensible diesel!

 

[BlackC55]

A C43 is a fantastic car.

The V8 is a very reliable engine. The service cost is more due to running more expensive oil (Mobil 1) but not that different.

Tyres wear out quicky, brakes are expensive but it far out weighs the joy of the V8.

Go for it. You only live once......

 

[verytalldave]

my experience of merc ownership is that the things that need repair tend to be brakes, suspension joints and the odd sensor. AFAIK AMGs are every bit as reslilient as a standard model so I imagine the repair tasks will be very similar. I haven't priced it, but AMG brakes and suspension components are going to be pricier than standard bits.
Tyres will be really nasty at around £200? (if you shop around) a corner and being performance tyres, they won't last very long.
The other factor is that you have a relatively small 4 pot. AMGs are V8's on the whole so thats 16 spark plus and lots more Mobil 1.
Then there is the fact that there are lots of 230ks around but few AMGs so all parts are going to have to come from the dealer.

Factor in fuel, insurance and depreciation and I'd expect an AMG C class to cost 2-3 times more to run than a C230k.
I fancied an AMG too, I bought a sensible diesel!

Excuse my obvoius ignorance......but why should there be 16 spark plugs on a V8?

 

[Dave's E55 AMG]

Excuse my obvoius ignorance......but why should there be 16 spark plugs on a V8?

It's 2 per cylinder

 

[jberks]

I cant see why ANYBODY nowadays who lives and drives in the UK needs a car like an AMG. Dont get me wrong, I am not anti-AMG, I just dont see any viable reason why anybody should need a car that can sprint to 60 in 4 seconds or top out around 200mph.

Very true.
Aside from the odd overtaking menouver, any high performance car makes little sense these days. I used to get frustrated with a little Audi turbo. Foot down and stop, foot down and stop..... Ok so I was the first to the next red light. With the Gatso invasion it's now even harder to use it.
The best car in reality is, and has been for a while, the 320cdi, economical with the performance to blow 99% of other cars off the road from a standing start. What more do you need?

 

[verytalldave]

Very true.
Aside from the odd overtaking menouver, any high performance car makes little sense these days. I used to get frustrated with a little Audi turbo. Foot down and stop, foot down and stop..... Ok so I was the first to the next red light. With the Gatso invasion it's now even harder to use it.
The best car in reality is, and has been for a while, the 320cdi, economical with the performance to blow 99% of other cars off the road from a standing start. What more do you need?

My point entirely.
However, I dont expect that view to be met with universal approval.
And quite right too. We are all different and have different aspirations.
Some are happy driving around in 10 year old Rover Metros, whereas others pick holes in Maybachs.

 

[verytalldave]

It's 2 per cylinder

Thanks for that.......... I guessed as much but wasnt sure.

 

[television]

I get the odd moment when I think that I should have bought an AMG, but truthfully what can you do with it other than go faster up to 70mph, as JB I soon get my feet back on the ground.

 

[Brett]

I hear everything that has been said above BUT there is no better sound or feeling than an AMG powered V8 as you accelerate away from the dirty diesels (ok, only to see them fly past you when you do get to sixty but they sound awful in comparison).

*My* experience of my AMG is that:

* tyres cost me £125 per corner (involved a lot of calls and haggling but it is possible).
* My "A" service cost me a shade over £300.
* Other costs have been repairing the "inflatable" seats (can't think what the Merc term was) @ £140.
* fixing the convertible roof mechanism (a couple of clips had broken and the whole hinge had to be replaced @ £250 including labour).

The bottom two could have happened to any Merc fitted with those seats or a convertible roof. Overall, my experience of my AMG has been great. Yes, significantly more expensive than my CLK230 Kompressor, but most of that cost has been in fuel!

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
I agree service parts will last approx. the same time as normal model mercedes though as mentioned previously heavy on tyres and brakes.
Exhausts really expensive £3500 approx. (4 cats) for a C43.
Front brake discs and pads £350 compared to my c230k about £80.
Interested to hear that the C43 has 16 spark plugs did,nt know that.
We live and learn don,t we.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Very true.
Aside from the odd overtaking menouver, any high performance car makes little sense these days. I used to get frustrated with a little Audi turbo. Foot down and stop, foot down and stop..... Ok so I was the first to the next red light. With the Gatso invasion it's now even harder to use it.
The best car in reality is, and has been for a while, the 320cdi, economical with the performance to blow 99% of other cars off the road from a standing start. What more do you need?

Overtaking? Since moving temporarily down South - it has become blatantly obvious to me, that a high performance car is an absolute waste of money and totally usless (apart from the odd early Sunday morning). Why? Because 'down here', car owners simply do not undertand what the inside lane is for. They reduce a 3-lane Motorway to a dual carriageway..!!!

It is outrageous! Mile after mile of empty inside lanes, and a procession of vehicles in 2 lanes - with hardly 2mph to seperate them. :evil:

 

[Uncle Benz]

I had a succession of CLK coupes and an SLK before buying a C32 AMG. My excuse was, since an estate was required for the newly arrived offspring, that it would have to be a hot-rod.

I would strongly recommend that if you are tempted by the AMG thing to give it a try. I have just returned from a 2550 mile european tour in my ML 270 CDI. After a ten minute trip in the C32, my legs are jelly and my heart is racing. It is just AWESOME.

I have owned this car for three years and it never ceases to give me a rush. I will admit that you cannot use all the power all of the time in this country - the greedy pockets of the establishment with all their cameras are out to get you!!, but Germany is not far away, and the Nurburgring is the place to be for serious owners.

Probably the biggest mistake is to buy one of these if you have to worry about what it will cost. Big power rarely comes cheap. Insurance is also on the pricey side. If budget is on your mind, enjoy one of the larger diesel engines and look after it properly - don't buy an AMG and neglect it; that is truly criminal!!

 

[television]

It is outrageous! Mile after mile of empty inside lanes, and a procession of vehicles in 2 lanes - with hardly 2mph to seperate them. :evil:

I know that feeling only too well, I think it is the same further north

 

[JEZ.S320L]

I know that feeling only too well, I think it is the same further north

Once you get north of Manchester (M6), drivers seem to suddenly 'discover' the inside lane - and tend to use it.

I drive up to Glasgow regularly - bliss Cruise Control on and inside lane for mile after mile. Lovely!

 

[television]

Once you get north of Manchester (M6), drivers seem to suddenly 'discover' the inside lane - and tend to use it.

I drive up to Glasgow regularly - bliss Cruise Control on and inside lane for mile after mile. Lovely!

The answer there is that no one lives north of Manchester


I will now sit back and wait

 

[JEZ.S320L]

The answer there is that no one lives north of Manchester


I will now sit back and wait

I don't have an answer to that. I'm going to bed now.

 

[television]

I had a succession of CLK coupes and an SLK before buying a C32 AMG. My excuse was, since an estate was required for the newly arrived offspring, that it would have to be a hot-rod.

I would strongly recommend that if you are tempted by the AMG thing to give it a try. I have just returned from a 2550 mile european tour in my ML 270 CDI. After a ten minute trip in the C32, my legs are jelly and my heart is racing. It is just AWESOME.

I have owned this car for three years and it never ceases to give me a rush. I will admit that you cannot use all the power all of the time in this country - the greedy pockets of the establishment with all their cameras are out to get you!!, but Germany is not far away, and the Nurburgring is the place to be for serious owners.

Probably the biggest mistake is to buy one of these if you have to worry about what it will cost. Big power rarely comes cheap. Insurance is also on the pricey side. If budget is on your mind, enjoy one of the larger diesel engines and look after it properly - don't buy an AMG and neglect it; that is truly criminal!!

This is the point though isnt it, a little burst of acceleration and 3 times running cost on the brakes and exhaust plus the rest, have you driven the 320CDI 163 yet