Oh, and it has four doors.

The C32 performs on track as you would expect a sports car to respond: 0 to 60 mph comes up in 5.2 seconds and you pass the quarter-mile in 13.71 seconds at 104.5 mph. Stopping is sports car-like, too, with 60 mph to 0 taking just 117 feet.

Comparing the C32 to a sports car is what many AutoFile respondents did before buying one. Porsche was noted by many respondents as one of the car marques they shopped before deciding on the C32. BMW's M3 was also high on our respondents' shopping list, but all Porsches (so far) and the M3 are two-door models, and the Mercedes' back seat, while not cavernous, allows passengers to ride somewhat comfortably.

"An awesome combination of style, safety, performance, comfort, features and exclusivity," wrote one reader. "The exterior forgoes any boy-racer tendencies."

Price was another major consideration. Most readers who stopped off at the BMW store were more than a bit put off by the long waiting list and up to $15,000 over sticker dealers asked for an M3. Most readers found Mercedes dealers selling the C32 at or near sticker.

Comparing the C32 to an M3 we tested, track times are almost identical. The M3 went 0 to 60 mph in 5.10 seconds and did the quarter-mile in 13.68 seconds. The M3's 60-mph-to-0 braking distance was the same as the C32's and the slalom speed was 46 mph compared to the C32's 45.1. Our tester found the expected loss of performance due to the C32's automatic transmission simply wasn't borne out by the numbers. The differences in acceleration times are so close as to be a wash, and the braking similarities are startling. The M3 now has serious competition.

If there's a downside to the C32, there is no manual transmission option. While there may be no performance reason to slog through a manual box, many people prefer to shift a sports car for themselves. The M-B COMAND center for the sound and navigation systems remains difficult to master, and several owners noted some of the plastics used in the interior looked out of place in an otherwise well-appointed cabin.

Yes, the cake tastes really good.

VIEWS AND REVIEWS

OWNERS

I WANTED ONE CAR THAT COULD DO IT ALL and the C32 delivered. In my opinion the C32 is the new king of the all-around-supercar contest. Starts and stops as fast as a Porsche 911, handles like BMW, safe as Volvo, aggressive but tasteful styling and a great value. -PAUL FISHBEIN, via e-mail

I BOUGHT ONE OF THE FIRST AVAILABLE in July and have already traded it for a 2002 CLK 430. Unfortunately, the car never ran properly. The car would hesitate on initial acceleration during both hard and gentle driving (a concern merging into traffic). I wish I could give a better opinion of the C32. During the small time when the car appeared to run correctly it was blazingly fast and smooth, plenty roomy and stunning to look at. -STEVEN MEITZ, Naperville, Ill.

THE C32 AMG IS AN AWESOME COMBINATION of style, safety, performance, comfort, features and exclusivity with impeccable Mercedes quality. I expect the future will prove excellent resale. The AMG touches (two-tone leather with logos, AMG instrument bezel) in the interior are impressive, and the interior forgoes any boy-racer tendencies. I would not complain about a bigger tach and an oil pressure gauge. But this is a minor issue. I am totally pleased with the whole package. -CARL BEVERIDGE, Fairfax, Va.

I MUST REPORT THAT IT IS THE BEST, most-balanced automobile I have ever driven and I'm thankful for the arrogance and greed of the BMW dealership (which was charging $15,000 over sticker for an M3). Rather than debating whether the C32 is competition for the M3, enthusiasts will, in time, be talking about the M3 catching up with the C32. Less hype, much better automobile. -DON HAUSE, Sacramento, Calif.

INCREDIBLE COMBINATION OF PERFORMANCE, comfort and function. Definitely the best automatic transmission I've ever driven-I don't miss a manual at all. This car has the torque-curve feel of a high-output V8. One complaint: The climate control system has cumbersome buttons instead of rotary knobs. -CRAIG RENFER, Concord, Calif.

U.S. MEDIA

THIS IS NOT A SPORTS CAR WHERE YOU have to struggle to get in and out of the driver's seat. Nor does it have a harsh ride. The C32 AMG is a luxury sedan throughout-except when the driver's foot rests heavily on the accelerator pedal. Then Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde came into play... I resorted to cruise control to keep my desires under control. -The Washington Times

FOREIGN MEDIA

I WANT THE C32 TO BE A BIT MORE OUTRAGEOUS in its clothes sense, I want to be noticed driving round with my knuckles dragging on the ground, to turn heads and hear the murmurs of appreciation. The looks are just too damned polite. And to some extent the same applies to the driving thrill. As much as Mercedes-Benz trumpets the AMG Speedshift, there is no getting away from the fact that it is just a five-speed automatic gearbox. -Formula 1 Magazine (England)

FACTS

(MANUFACTURER'S DATA)
Mercedes-Benz USA
One Mercedes Drive
P.O. Box 350
Montvale NJ 07645
Customer assistance: (800) 367-6372
Internet address: www.mbusa.com
Country of origin: Germany
Number of dealers: 310

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