Mercedes-AMG C 43 - like Christmas and your birthday in one

I'm lucky enough to share my December birthday with that Jesus fella. But this year I really don't mind. Because there's an AMG C 43 with my name on it...

Date: 19 December 2017 | Current mileage: 119 | Claimed economy: 34.9mpg | Actual economy: -

I'm unfortunate that my December birthday is overshadowed by that Jesus fella who used to wear sandals everywhere. It does mean I can refuse any birthday presents that come wrapped in Christmas paper, something that started when I was 4 years old and continues to this day. But it also means my birthday - which is just a couple of days before Christmas Day - kind of gets lost.

But this year I don't mind that, because our latest long termer has just arrived - the Mercedes-AMG C 43 AMG Estate. And it's mine for the next six months. It is literally like my Christmas and birthday have come at once.

This was one of the most memorable cars I drove in 2017. I loved the performance, the interior quality but most of all the noise. It made things like the Audi S4 sound almost mute in comparison. It did help a bit that the car I drove in the the spring had the optional AMG Performance exhaust fitted.

So when it came to specifying this car I couldn't not add that. Despite the fact it costs an extra £1000. Ouch. So what else have I gone for? Well the biggest outlay is the Premium Plus package at £3k. This adds Keyless-Go, a panoramic glass sunroof (keep little one happy in the back) plus the posher Burmester surround sound stereo.

                                    It was early and I didn't want to annoy the neighbours...

There's also the Driving Assistance Package at £1700, the £595 Night Package which adds black trim rather than chrome, some larger 19-inch AMG alloys for £595 and the head-up display for £825. So from a starting price of £47,000, our car now comes in at £56,470. Funny how easy it is to start ticking all those boxes...

But this is not an massively unusual amount to spend on options on an AMG. The average according to Mercedes-Benz is £5k. And when you look at how much an AMG C 63 costs - close to £62k without any options - our 43 AMG looks sort of reasonable.  

Despite the badge (we'll come onto that in a later update), the AMG 43 engine is in fact a 3.0-litre unit. The turbocharged V6 produces 367PS but it's the 520Nm of torque that helps this thing to really move. On paper it will cover 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds but what interests me more is the fact it's a 4Matic. That's Mercedes-Benz talk for four-wheel drive. It means the C-Class is much more capable of putting that power down than the previous generation model, which was solely rear-wheel drive. There's also less chance of me putting it sideways into a tree.

But while it's a performance car, the AMG will still be daily transport for me. Yes, I know, let's ignore the fuel bills for one second. So I've gone for the estate (I do like an estate) because my two-year old daughter won't go anywhere without her scooter or bike or play kitchen or something which is generally massive and a pain to move - and a saloon won't cut it. It's fair to say I'm looking forward to the next six months.

So why 43 AMG when there's already a 45 AMG?

The 43 AMG has a bigger engine than the 45 AMG, but has less power. But it's used in bigger cars. Yes, it's a bit confusing.

Date: 9 January 2018 | Current mileage: 707 | Claimed economy: 34.9mpg | Actual economy: 22.7mpg

Mercedes-Benz isn't shy when it comes to AMG models. In fact, B-Class aside, every Mercedes-Benz car comes as an AMG. That's not something Audi or BMW can match with their respective performance models. It even manages to do 63 AMG versions of stuff like the GLS and the new G-Class. Because who doesn't want a 5.5-litre V8 with more than 580PS in a massive 4x4...

In comparison the 43 AMG that's fitted to our car looks quite sensible. The 3.0-litre V6 has 367PS, pretty modest alongside the 65 AMG models which manage to shoehorn in an engine with twice the capacity and twice as many cylinders, giving them no less than 630PS.

But there's one AMG engine that sits on its own somewhat. The 45 AMG engine, used in the A-Class, CLA and GLA, is a 2.0-litre unit but thanks to uber turbocharging it produces 381PS. No surprise then that it's actually faster on paper from 0-62mph than our 43 AMG, taking just 4.2 seconds in the A-Class and CLA.

So why not just fit this in the C-Class? Well the 45 AMG is aimed at a hot hatch buyer - one between 30 and mid 40s according to Mercedes-Benz. And that's younger than your typical AMG buyer. The chances are, someone wanting a 45 AMG isn't interested in something like a C-Class. Well, according to marketing people anyway.

 C43 AMG S202

                                The original C43 AMG. Back when alloy wheels were all solid...

Not that I'm in any way complaning. I mean, I like the 45 AMG engine and it's really good to drive in a frantic and fast sort of way. But the V6 smoothness of the 43 AMG suits the C-Class much more. Plus of course, Mercedes-Benz is competing with the Audi S4 Avant and BMW 340i here.

Not that this is the first C-Class with a 43 badge on the back. Back in 1998, Mercedes-Benz launched the original C43 AMG. At a time when the badges actually made a bit more sense, it was powered by a 4.3-litre V8 which didn't have any turbochargers but did still produce 306PS and the estate could knock out 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds, which now looks pretty slow when our car does the same in 4.7 seconds.

It's fair to say the 1993 C-Class that the 43 AMG debuted in wasn't a highlight in the history of Mercedes-Benz cars, especially as it replaced the renowned 190E. But the 43 AMG version is now quite a rarity - the estates more so - and is likely to be a future classic. You're looking at around £7500 for a decent one and prices are going up.

As for our car, it survived Christmas and is now being pressed into my daily 80-mile commute, mainly up and down the A1. It's no V8 like its precursor, but the V6 engine is a real delight, although economy is hardly a strong point - it's averaging about 23mpg at the moment which is about what I expected, even with an official figure of 35mpg.

Fuel economy - terrible but also worth it

Our AMG C 43 Estate is only averaging 23mpg, although that actually looks quite reasonable when you look at Real MPG.

Date: 23 January 2018 | Current mileage: 1022 | Claimed economy: 34.9mpg | Actual economy: 22.7mpg

You don't buy a performance car - particularly not an AMG - if you want fuel economy. So I was fully prepared for fairly hefty fuel consumption when I took on the AMG C 43 Estate. The official figures say it can average 35mpg but the chances of actually seeing that are zero.

They're definitely zero for me - and not just because those official economy tests are done in a laboratory in Germany by a man called Gunter who wears white gloves even though he doesn't actually have to. It's because - and this may shock you - I actually quite like accelerating in my AMG.

I know. Crazy right? Imagine such a thing. It's almost as if that's why I chose an AMG in the first place. So while I do cruise along at 70mph on the A1 to try and save some fuel, as soon as I have to slow down for a roundabout, I use all that fuel up by accelerating off again. Which I realise is in no way sensible.

I'm blaming AMG. They've made this thing sound amazing. And with that lovely buzzing V6 under the bonnet, it's very hard to resist pushing the revs up and enjoying the sound it makes. Surely that's what a car like this is for after all?

Mercedes -AMG C 43 Corner

                                     Our Mercedes is proving as thirsty as we expected...

So four weeks into our time with the AMG C 43 Estate and we're currently seeing 22.7mpg according to the trip computer. That's about 65 per cent which is about right for a car like this. These are of course the old NEDC figures so this will change in the future when manufacturers switch to the new WLTP test. You can read all about that here.

Looking at Real MPG that figure doesn't actually seem too bad. The average among other AMG C 43 owners is only 21.4mpg so I'm managing marginally better than that. Plus I'm usually hauling around a fair amount of kit in the back including a hefty car seat and various other strange things like children's scooters.

Compare the economy of our car with the competition though and it lags behind though. The Audi S4 Avant has slightly less power with 354PS but still has four-wheel drive, yet on Real MPG owners are seeing 28.1mpg. That's far from economical but it's considerably better than our AMG C 43.

Despite a 66-litre tank, it means that I tend to spend a lot of time fuelling up our car, which isn't cheap as it requires premium which is around £1.30 a litre. With a full tank it will do roughly 330 miles but seeing as my daily commute is 80 miles, that soon goes. Still, I am getting lots of Clubcard points at the local Esso garage.

Mercedes-Benz - a family tradition

Mercedes-Benz cars have always run in David's family but it's taken him until the age of 40 to actually run one.

Date: 6 February 2018 | Current mileage: 1594 | Claimed economy: 34.9mpg | Actual economy: 22.7mpg

I've grown up with Mercedes-Benz. And Volkswagens. For as long as I can remember, my father has always had a Mercedes. Not new ones mind, old ones. I grew up in West Germany in the 1980s (it was called that then) and so we had a succession of old Mercs, while my mum had various Volkswagen Beetles and later a fetching Mk1 Golf.

Sadly, my car ownership history is far more chequered and currently includes a 1985 Vauxhall Senator, the reasons for buying I've long since forgotten. Still, it seemed a good idea at the time. I have run plenty of long termers over the years, everything from a Ford Fusion to a Lexus GS 450h. But surprisingly, never a Mercedes-Benz.

Until now of course. At the age of 40 I now find myself following in the family tradition. Well, for six months at least. I'm slightly off the pace - my dad had his first Mercedes in the late 1960s when he was first posted to West Germany not long after joining the British Army. It was a fetching chocolate brown 220 SE, which was a rare sight when he brought it back to the UK.

As a mechanic, it made perfect sense to my dad to run older cars that he could maintain, rather than buying something new. And being a young lad into cars, I loved the fact we always had something a little bit different. That said I do remember in the mid 1980s our neighbour having a shiny new red Rover SD1, which I thought was amazing. And I always wanted a go in.

Mercedes Benz 220S (1) - V2

                                                     The old man with his 220 SE

But by far my favourite car was the primrose yellow 280E in the picture at the top. We'd had a white W115 beforehand which was only a 220, but when someone crashed into that, my dad upgraded to a newer W114. Complete with a six-cylinder engine with 160hp. Which was a lot then...

In a way this was the performance Mercedes-Benz saloon of its time. Built for the Autobahn, we went all across Europe in it and I remember holidays down to Italy and the South of France in the stifling heat - before the days of air conditioning. 

This was eventually replaced by a shiny new W124 Mercedes-Benz 200 in 1985 (pictured below). My dad skipped the W123 after he went to a Mercedes-Benz showroom in Germany and they explained that it was no longer in production. The W124 came with a four-speed manual gearbox, cloth seats, manual windows all-round and steel wheels (the ones in the picture below my dad fitted afterwards). How times have changed...

My dad's love of cars, which was passed on to me, ultimately led me to the job I do today. And what does he drive now? A BMW 520d. Which is my fault. I suggested it when he bought his most recent car in 2011. When that comes up for replacement, I may have to persuade him back into to a Merc. A nice E-Class. It's tradition after all...

Mercedes 200 - V2

An interior that's in need of an update?

The C-Class may only be a few years old, but some of the interior features already looks a little dated alongside the latest E-Class.

Date: 20 February 2018 | Current mileage: 2021 | Claimed economy: 34.9mpg | Actual economy: 22.4mpg

It doesn't seem that long ago I was on the launch of the current C-Class yet somehow it's been almost four years. Compared to the previous model it was a huge step forward in so many ways, but not least the interior. Gone were all those awful plasticky buttons and hard edges, replaced by something that actually had some style.

Features like the circular air vents and the row of metal rocker switches helped it to stand out from the competition, while the the materials used inside, from the leather on the dash top to the hefty metal volume controls and the feel of the steering wheel, all made it feel genuinely upmarket. And more befitting a car with a Mercedes-Benz badge on the bonnet.

But after four years, is the C-Class already starting to show its age? Compare it to the latest E-Class (pictured below) and it suddenly looks a little behind the times. Not the basic design as such, but things like the infotainment system. Drive an E-Class and then get back into a C-Class and it feels somewhat dated.

Now this may seem picky. But when there are rivals such as the excellent Audi A4 - a car with one of the nicest interiors out there - small details can make all the difference. The A4 comes with what Audi calls the 'virtual cockpit'. It replaces the conventional dials with a large colour screen that you can tailor depending on what info you want. So you can have a huge map with the speed in the corner if you're lost.

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                                    The latest E-Class interior has a huge widescreen

True it is a cost option - even in the Audi S4 Avant - and will set you back £750 as part of the Light and Vision Pack. But we think it's well worth it. Of course as you'd expect, Mercedes-Benz isn't far behind. The E-Class has a similar high res screen that replaces the conventional dials (as you can see above). It actually stretches right across the dash and incorportates the huge navigation screen.

Compare this to our C-Class and it looks a bit old fashioned old hat with its standard dials. Then there's the infotainment system which isn't as slick or as simple to use as that in an Audi A4. Neither uses a touchscreen, but the layout of the Audi system makes it easier to navigate using the dial controller.

For some reason our C-Class doesn't come with Apple CarPlay either. Or the equivalent for people who are part of that underground cult of non-iPhone users. They call it Android Auto apparently. I expected this to be standard fit. Turns out not. Although subsequent investigations have revealed the issue was in fact me. I'd managed to not tick the box on the options list. It costs £295 by the way but is standard on a £13,500 Skoda Fabia...

The good news for those buying a new C-Class is that there's a facelift coming this year which will see the introduction of a digital instrument display, just like the E-Class. Although there's no word on how much it will cost. There's also an updated version of the Comand infotainment system and new touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel rather than the physical buttons. 

The AMG C 43 faces the fast estate competition

How does our Mercedes AMG C 43 compare against the competition in the form of the Audi S4 Avant.

Date: 6 March 2018 | Current mileage: 2365 | Claimed economy: 34.9mpg | Actual economy: 22.7mpg

Fast estates are nothing new - you can go back to the Volvo 850 T5, launched in 1991, as proof of a landmark moment. And it continues now with things like the Audi RS6 Avant and Mercedes-AMG E63 Estate. There's plenty of more affordable stuff too, like the excellent Skoda Octavia vRS, a car I ran for six months and really enjoyed.

Strange then that there are actually very few direct alternatives to our AMG C 43. In fact there's only one - the Audi S4 Avant. BMW doesn't do an M3 Touring (more's the pity) and it would be a rival to the more powerful AMG C 63. There is the BMW 340i Touring, but it's down on power and is almost a second slower from 0-62mph than the C 43.

There's no estate version of the Jaguar XE or Alfa Giulia and while there was the V60 Polestar, this was discontinued in 2016 and a new V60 will be arriving in September. So if you're after a performance estate this size for around £50k, there's either the Mercedes or the S4 Avant. 

And as competitors they're really evenly matched. Both have a turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine with the S4 Avant delivering 354PS - slightly less than the 367PS of the C 43. And both have four-wheel drive. In terms of performance, on paper the Audi covers 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds - only 0.2 seconds slower than the Mercedes if you're counting.

Audi UK00016369   Mercedes C43 AMG0431

                                  Not as shiny but I actually prefer the interior of the Audi S4 Avant...

Let's be honest here though. You aren't going to be disappointed with either of these. Both are fast, comfortable (much more so than the RS4 and C 63 AMG) and sound great thank to their six-cylinder engines. 

There are subtle difference from behind the wheel though. Much of that is down to the gearbox. Both shift gear incredibly quickly, but use the paddles and there's more aggression in the Mercedes. The Audi is almost too slick. Yes it's a superb piece of engineering, but it's not especially engaging, there's more of a snap when you shift up in the C 43.

And the C 43 sounds better too. Although that's probably down to the Performance Exhaust fitted to our car which makes a big difference. True it's a £1000 optional extra but according to Mercedes, a lot of AMG C 43 buyers choose it. Sadly there's no similar option on the S4 Avant.

When it comes to the interior, I personally prefer the Audi. It's not as shiny as the Mercedes but I like the Audi Virtual Cockpit - something not available in the C-Class although it will be when it's facelifted in a few months - plus it has a more conventional gear selector rather than the column shift on the C-Class. 

So which do I prefer? The Audi is an impressive piece of kit and a lovely car, but for me the Mercedes has that bit more character to it. And although I can't quite put my finger on it, the C 43 just feels a little more special. I wouldn't be disappointed with either, but the C 43 would always be my first choice.

 Audi UK00016371

The best £1000 you'll ever spend...

We chose the optional AMG Performance exhaust system with our AMG C 43. Yes it costs £1000, but it's worth every penny.

Date: 20 March 2018 | Current mileage: 2522 | Claimed economy: 34.9mpg | Actual economy: 22.6mpg

Whenever anybody asks me about buying a new car - and specifically what options are worth going for - I usually err on the side of caution. After all, car manufacturers - and to a far greater extent - car salesman, are very keen for you to spend money on extras. Lots of money.

And it's very easy to do so. If you're thinking of buying a new car, you can go onto said manufacturer's website and configure your car till your heart's content. Like being a kid in a sweetshop, only with more optional trims. Before you know it, you've ticked several boxes and added on hundreds if not thousands of pounds to the list price.

And so it proved with our C 43. I told myself to be sensible but when it cames to specifying it, our Mercedes ended up with close to £10k of optional extras on it. Oops. The most expensive is the Premium Plus package at £2995 which includes the panoramic glass roof, keyless go, ambient lighting, memory package for the seats and the Burmester sound system.

The metallic blue paint is £685 and I also went for the Night Package at £595 which adds gloss black on the windows, exterior mirrors, roof rails plus privacy glass. Oh and you get black exhaust pipes. What was it I said about being sensible and erring on the side of caution?

One thing I really wanted was the AMG Performance exhaust system. Yes it costs £1000, but this completely transforms the sounds of the 3.0-litre V6 engine. Drive an AMG 43 model without it and you feel like you're missing out. In fact, I've become a little obsessed by it. So much so that I pretty much permanently have it switched on. I like to think of it as getting my money's worth.

It uses three variably adjustable flaps, hidden within the system, to alter the sound characteristics. Basically, when it's switched on it's much louder and deeper. Stick it in Sport and you get the full experience when you accelerate and come off the power, as our little video above shows.

Mercedes-Benz says it is actually one of the most popular optional extras on the AMG C 43 - which makes me feel a bit better. And it's easy to see why. If you buy a car like this, you do so because you want the performance. And part of that experience is the sound. The Audi S4 doesn't have anything similar and feels far more tame as a result.

It's one of those things that makes me love driving the AMG C 43. There are few every day cars I can think of that sound this good. It's guaranteed to make you happy, or at least make some sort of face when you accelerate. It's the best £1000 you'll ever spend... 

How you can still lock your keys in your car...

David discovers that despite keyless entry, you can still lock your keys in your Mercedes if you try hard...

Date: 3 April 2018 | Current mileage: 2863 | Claimed economy: 34.9mpg | Actual economy: 22.7mpg

I've twice locked the keys in my car. I say my car, the first time was in 1985 when I locked the keys in my dad's Mercedes outside my nan's house in Croydon one Sunday morning. I think we were due to go on holiday although I remember the telling off I got more.

The second time was in 2012 when I managed to somehow leave the key in the boot of an Audi R8 and shut it. This was followed by a four-hour round trip to rescue the spare from a nice man at Audi. I was too embarrassed to ask for them to bring the key to me. I look back on that as a fun morning too.

But last week I managed to do it for a third time. This time with our AMG. And in the boot to be exact. This is the beauty of keyless entry. It's so convenient that you can leave the key in your backpack, unlock and open the boot without needing to touch the key, throw your backpack in and press the shut button again.

And voila. You have successfully managed to lock the keys in your car. The panic that quickly set in was heightened by the fact I was in a busy town centre car park and had my three-year old daughter with me who really want to go home and had only mentioned that fact several dozen times in the last 10 minutes...

IMG_5555

How the boot usually looks...

There is however a twist to this tale. Despite my best attempts to prevent the electric tailgate from closing with just millimetres to spare, I couldn't stop the inevitable. What I didn't realise was that the boot hadn't actually closed properly. Not enough to notice - it looked closed - but crucially it hadn't fully locked.

So after a two minutes of trying to work out what to do next, I gave the boot a hefty shove down, heard a click and with a press of the lever, it opened again. Much to my relief. And sanity. Especially as the spare key is with the Mercedes-Benz press garage.

Aside from the excitement of almost locking the keys in it, our AMG continues to superbly blend being a day to day family car with genuine performance. With close to 3000 miles on the clock, the AMG 43 continues to impress with the engine just getting better and better.

Economy is also improving and on motorway runs I'm now seeing around 27 to 28mpg although that does mean me having to be restrained with the loud pedal. I've also started using the Eco mode on the drive settings (a strange thing for an AMG to have but there you go) to see if it helps boost economy. 

Mercedes-AMG C 43 or C 63?

You'd think a 3.0-litre estate with 370PS was enough for most people but Mercedes does an AMG with even more power...

Date: 24 April 2018 | Current mileage: 3217 | Claimed economy: 34.9mpg | Actual economy: 22.7mpg

For most people, a 370PS estate with a six-cylinder engine that can cover 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds is enough. More than enough. But when it comes to Mercedes-Benz, there's always room for more power. Which is why above our AMG C43, there's the AMG C63.

If the AMG C43 is a bit of a beast, then the 63 is a proper monster. Instead of a 3.0-litre V6, it's powered by a 4.0-litre V8 producing no less than 476PS. Like our car, it has 4Matic four-wheel drive as standard but uses a different gearbox - a Speedshift seven-speed MCT as opposed to the 9G-Tronic Plus in the 43.

If you want even more, there's an S version with 510PS which comes in at more than £70k. But for now we've borrowed the 'standard' version to compare with our 43. It's a mere £63,000 (yes we know...) so you're paying an extra £16,500 over the AMG 43. So what do you get for your money?

Well, it's quicker as you'd expect, with 0-62mph taking 4.2 seconds - half a second less than the 43 - but it's the 650Nm of torque, 130Nm more, that makes such a difference when you drive them back to back. The AMG C43 is hardly slow, but you do find yourself hitting the rev limiter sooner than you expect when accelerating. That doesn't happen in the 63.

Mercedes Twin Back

There's a more immediate response in the 63 too, so when you do want acceleration, it's pretty much instant, due to the amount of power. The 43 AMG doesn't quite have that at speed - especially if you're not in the right gear. 

It also makes a wonderful noise. The big V8 engine delivers a euphonious sound and if you have the optional AMG performance exhaust, it's hard to resist accelerating at any given opportunity just to hear it. It makes the 43 seem a bit tame in comparison. 

The 63 also gets a rear locking differential, which isn't something you're going to notice in everyday driving. But if you're coming out of a slow corner with some 'gusto' let's say, the 63 gets better traction than the 43 and pulls away with more composure.

What's a little odd is that visually, there's not much difference between the two. Although you do get a different grille and front bumper. Certainly not compared to how different an Audi RS4 is from an S4. Given the extra performance of the 63 you'd expect a more aggressive look. Instead it's actually very subtle.

So which would I go for? Well, while the 63 is amazing, the 43 is all I'll ever need and plenty fast enough for me. While it's not exactly cheap, it's still considerably less to pay than the 63. I also find it rides slightly better (although both are firm) and is easier to drive at low speeds - and to park. Boring I know but when you're using a car every day, it's these small things which can swing it.

Mercedes Twin Front

Mercedes Comand - making what should be simple more difficult

The Mercedes-Benz infotainment system seems very clunky and old fashioned compared to some out there. As David discovers...

Date: 15 May 2018 | Current mileage: 3566 | Claimed economy: 34.9mpg | Actual economy: 22.6mpg

While I'm a big fan of the C-Class and love our AMG C43, there's one thing that still frustrates me. The Mercedes-Benz Comand system (I'm not putting that all in capitals like Mercedes does by the way). This is basically the infotainment system - what BMW calls iDrive and Audi labels MMI.

I'm in a fortunate position where I get to drive plenty of different cars - and that means getting to try lots of different infotainment system. What's surprising is the varying degree of quality between them. Some are excellent, others truly woeful (the one in the DS I ran a few years ago stands out as the latter).

It's easy to criticise a system for being unintuitive or difficult to get to grips with, but for someone owning that particular make or model, this isn't a problem. It's like switching from an iPhone to Android. Or vice versa. Weird at first but you soon get used to it.

But there are systems that I find frustrating to use. And Mercedes Comand is on that list. Compared to MMI and iDrive, I just can't seem to get on with it. Even after six months with our AMG C43, I'm still fumbling around when trying to do things that should be simple.

Mercedes AMG C 43 (1)

First off, there's the odd thing of having a touchpad (which you can pinch and zoom) and a dial controller too. Yet both sort of do the same thing. And using the touchpad isn't even that easy on the move, so you end up using the dial, but you have to awkwardly angle your hand around the touchpad. The whole thing is just a bit clunky and makes what should be straightforward functions, all a bit long winded. 

Things like skipping forward and backward on tracks when listening to music, for example, require a swipe of the touchpad, which seems to register about three seconds after (and sometimes not at all) or you have to use the dial. 

The layout of the menus on the screen is odd too. It all seems cluttered and compared to iDrive, quite dated too. I'm not the only one it seems. I've spoken to several other C-Class owners who share my frustrations. It's the kind of thing you'd expect to be better on a posh Mercedes-Benz like this.

The good news is that Mercedes-Benz has sort of fixed this for the facelifted C-Class, with a new wider screen and an updated infotainment system. I'm looking forward to trying it out and hope that Mercedes has finally given us a system to match BMW and Audi.

Is an AMG C 53 coming?

Mercedes-Benz is replacing the AMG 43 engine with the 53 engine - but is it coming to the C-Class?

Date: 29 May 2018 | Current mileage: 4866 | Claimed economy: 34.9mpg | Actual economy: 22.7mpg

It seems not even performance cars are immune from hybrid technology as we march towards a somewhat depressing future where by the year 2040 petrol and diesel cars won't be sold in the UK. Although whether that actually happens is another topic altogether. But what we are seeing is more hybrid and PHEV models coming.

Mercedes-Benz is no stranger to hybrid technology. The previous generation E-Class came with a diesel hybrid while the current model is available as a more conventional (and much nicer) petrol hybrid as well as a plug-in hybrid. It's the same story for the C-Class.

While these currently exist mainly for company car drivers - due to BIK tax and other dull things that make for thrilling conversations down your local, along with mobile phone contracts and broadband speeds - it's inevitable that most cars will soon have some sort of hybrid or PHEV element as we move towards that 2040 deadline.

Hence why we're now seeing a hybrid AMG. Debuted in the CLS and now in the E-Class, the AMG 53 4Matic+ unit uses a new 3.0-litre six-cylinder (a straight six as oppose to the V6 in the 43) with a mild hybrid system to give it even more power. 

Mercedes C43 Side 

The C-Class will remain a 43 for a bit longer

The new engine is more powerful than the V6 in the E 43. It has 435PS compared to 'just' 401PS although torque is the same at 520Nm. But alongside that is the EQ Boost starter-alternator which momentarily provides an additional 20PS plus 250Nm of torque.

We've yet to drive one but we have high expectations. That said, it will need to be immensely good to top the 43 AMG, one of my favourite engines of all time. Fingers crossed for an AMG Performance exhaust on the options list.

But the big question is, will it makes its way to the C-Class? Well, Mercedes-Benz has told us there are no plans to introduce it to the C-Class range. At least not in this current generation model. But rumours are that it will be in the next gen C-Class, expected in 2020.

That's no bad thing though. The 43 AMG is a superb engine and more than enough for the C-Class. It's the real sweet spot in the Mercedes-Benz range and I actually prefer it every day to the 63 AMG. I'm already having to prepare myself for the day it goes back...

It's a sad auf wiedersehen to our AMG C 43

Our time with the superb AMG C43 Estate has come to an end. And we really don't want to hand it back...

Date: 19 June 2018 | Current mileage: 6066 | Claimed economy: 34.9mpg | Actual economy: 22.7mpg

It's not bad doing my job. In fact, sometimes I have to remind myself how privileged I am, getting to drive a whole variety of new cars all the time. And I've never even had to watch an episode of Top Gear either. It also means I never get bored of whatever I'm driving, as it changes so often.

However, once in a while I'll get something that I really don't want to hand back. And this is one of those cars. I've loved our time with the AMG C 43 - it's a car that's always a joy to drive - and despite a few small gripes, it's a car I'd have in a heartbeat.

The last few weeks of its time with us have seen the AMG C 43 pressed into action taking the family on holiday. Some sensible driving even saw it returning 34mpg - which is pretty close to its official 34.9mpg. That may not sound that impressive, but given that we've been seeing 22mpg on average, anything above 30mpg is a minor miracle.

We managed to max out the boot space, although that did highlight how bulky the retractable tonneau cover is. Plus if you take it out (which isn't very easy) there's nowhere to store it. Instead we ended up using our best Tetris skills to fit everything in it, including a potty. We even remembered to pack the child too.

Mercedes C43 AMG019

But as we pottered around on holiday, it made me realise just what a great all-rounder the AMG C 43 Estate is. It's practical, comfortable (it rides well enough) and is easy to drive. But when you put it into Sport mode and press the button for the AMG Performance Exhaust, it transforms into a hard edged performance car that is wonderfully involving to drive.

And much of that is down to the sound of the V6 biturbo engine, which coupled with the noise from the exhaust, makes this one of the best sounding cars this side of a Porsche 911 GTS. If there's one thing I'm really going to miss, it's that noise. Although I'm sure my neighbours won't...

During our time with the C-Class we've had no problems. In fact it's been faultless apart from when I almost locked the keys in the boot. But that was user error rather than the car's fault. 

So what's next? Well I'll be running our Ford Fiesta for a few months before something Swedish and SUV-esque arrives in October. One thing's for sure, the AMG C 43 has left a big hole in my life. Maybe it's time to start saving...