Mercedes-AMG: how to get your hands on a used Merc

With an impressive heritage stretching back 50 years, Aufrecht Melcher Großaspach – AMG – has earned its stripes. Here’s how to buy a good second-hand model from Mercedes’ performance branch

With their bonkers engines, thunderous soundtracks and demented handling characteristics, AMG’s models have traditionally provided a little light relief in the rather serious world of performance cars. And while recent models from Mercedes’ fast car arm have exhibited a slightly less loony take on life, with downsized turbo engines and ultra-sophisticated chassis tech, these cars still stand for ultimate performance.

Forget forking out £88,000 on the latest E63, however. If you’re looking for a bargain at every budget level, you needn’t search for long. Here are our picks of the classified ads.

2010 Mercedes-AMG SL63 - £36,000

Give the SL roadster’s brilliant M156 V8 even more power and you get the super-athletic SL63, which beautifully combines performance, grand touring ability and handling prowess. This car cost £100,000-plus when new, but sharp depreciation means early examples are now available from just over £30,000, while £36k will get you a lower-mileage 2010 model. The official 0-62mph time of 4.6sec is helped by the clever MCT auto’s launch-control function. Beware, though; the transmission is known for its occasional reliability issues, as are the SL63’s electronics. Make sure you buy a healthy one.

2003 Mercedes-AMG CLK55 - £7000

Unlike many of its menacing-looking coupé stablemates, discretion was the W209 CLK55’s middle name. Subtle badging and the huge twin exhausts were the only hints as to the muscular 362bhp 5.4-litre V8 under the bonnet. With a five-second 0-62mph time that baited supercars of the period, it looked set for success – but it cost more than a Porsche 911 and couldn’t beat the sharper, more rewarding E46-generation BMW M3. That’s not an issue these days, of course, and you can get a tidy one for less than £7000. Just beware of wheelarch rust, and check the five-speed auto shifts smoothly.

2008 Mercedes-AMG C63 Estate - £20,000

The quintessential family AMG, the 451bhp C63 came as a saloon and roomy estate upon its 2008 UK launch, and a coupé arrived three years later, too. You can now get an early, well cared-for car for less than £20,000, and its muscle-bound twin bonnet bulges and quad exhausts are thrown in for free. The hugely torquey, naturally aspirated M156 6.2-litre V8 is spectacular – one of AMG’s very best – and it sounds incredible as well. Just watch for cylinder head bolt failure on this otherwise very robust motor, and hold out for a model with the limited-slip diff that complemented uprated brakes and stiffer suspension in the factory Performance Pack upgrade.

Five more 'Bahnstormers

1996 C36 AMG - From £6000

Among the cheapest of the early collaborative Mercedes and AMG models. With its 280bhp straight-six, the C36 predates AMG’s V8-dominant era. Earlier four-speeders are the most reliable.

2003 E55 AMG ESTATE - From £9000

A 469bhp 5.4-litre supercharged V8 and rear-wheel drive in a large estate? It’s practicality overload – so why not! Rust and expensive Airmatic suspension repairs are caveats.

2007 ML63 AMG - From £16,000

This 503bhp SUV arrived in 2006. Its superb 6.2-litre V8 teamed with a 2300kg kerbweight sends fuel efficiency tumbling, however.

2012 C63 AMG COUPE - From £27,000

(Autocar)

Hardly practical but fabulous to drive, this C63 variant boasted bespoke suspension components and revised steering.

2007 CL65 AMG - From £40,000

The twin-turbocharged V12 beneath the CL65’s bonnet produced a mighty 603bhp and 737lb ft. Another fuel-efficiency fail, though…

Sarah Bradley is a writer for AutoCar.