The W202 C class Mercedes-Benz was the first Mercedes model officially breathed on by the tuning firm AMG. Starting as a C36 with a 3.6 liter inline six, the C36 begat the C43 in 1998. Powered by a tuned version of the 4.3 liter V8 from the E430, the C43 cranked out 302 hp which was backed up by a 5 speed automatic from the SL500 with shift points tailored towards more spirited motoring. Here’s a pretty much new example of the C43 with only 12,000 miles for sale.
The seller states:
You are bidding on what might possibly be the lowest mile C43 available in the world. This car looks and smells and drives as new. Not a ding dent or scratch on the whole vehicle and no curb rash on the wheels. This car has everything including the xenon light and rain sensor wiper package as well as the CD changer and the original built in phone as well. I have both keys and all the books as well as the original window sticker.
It is the nicest example of a C43 for sale today and you will find for a long time. This car would make a great part of a collection or just a great daily driver as well. Everything works as it should and the AC is super cold and no rust on the vehicle at all and you could eat off of the engine bay. Any buyer of this car will be very pleased with this vehicle. Please e-mail me with any questions you might have and i will do my best to answer them. Thanks again!!
The car is listed for sale locally at a price of 25k or best offer and i reserve the right to end the auction early due to local sale.
As a former owner of both a W202 C230 (1998) and a W203 C230 (2007), I have to say, I preferred the W202 better. It just seemed like more of what a classic Mercedes should be about. I’ve driven many V8 powered Mercedes-Benzes over the years, but never a C43. I could imagine it would be right up my alley though; relatively small in size, big engine and tighter handling. At $25,000, this is way beyond the top end of what one would pay for any version of the W202 C class. If you want the best, though, this is probably going to be it.
-Paul
Wow, this must just been sitting in a garage all these years. I really like the older Benz’s, definitely classic. It’s worth a premium, not $25k to me, though. All those rubber parts are probably dried out after 12 years.
For whatever reason these cars don’t retain a lot of value so $25K is highly optimistic. I almost bought one earlier in the year with twice as much mileage but a better color for considerably less money. The only thing that stopped me was I felt I’d end up selling it for less than I paid.
I don’t get it.
Unless you live in Miami, white really isn’t the best color on these. The mileage is ridiculously low, but as always_fixing suggested, perhaps it a little too low.
Alternatively, you can spend a lot less, and get a newer, bigger, faster, better-equipped C-class AMG:
https://germancarsforsaleblog.com/2005-mercedes-benz-c55/
(from the “related posts” list above)
Wouldn’t the AMG Hammer pre date this as a car AMG breathed on?
Auction made it to $15890 with 10 bids, reserve not met. This car has already been relisted with a BIN of $21900 – only $600 less than previously.
@ Bob, yes, the Hammer predates the C36. What I should have said was the C36 was the first AMG model produced by Mercedes-Benz after the automaker absorbed the tuning company.
2nd time was the charm, apparently…this car sold for $18,975.00 after 14 bids (although the seller lowered the reserve during the auction).