An AMG on the autobahn is a beautiful thing. It's one of the few things that even I have to switch lanes to let by every now and then. and if they was getting chased by the police in most AMGs, as long as the guy/gal doesn't crash or run out of gas, the cops can't touch them, until they run over one of them dreaded spike strips. Then I think the cops will seriously want to beat the stew out of ya for blowing them away.

The ybest way to do it, if you have the cash is get a nice diesel MBZ for them city cruises and errands. And the big engine AMG for the "fun" times.
Then again, people tend to forget that it's torque and a good gear ratio that gets you off the line. And a diesel that can go 60 mph in 6.6 is good to smoke most gas powered vehicles and get better gas mileage too. Once I start to settle down and such, I probably get a new diesel MBZ as a primary road trip car for the wife and kid. And use the good old W126 as my classic (by that time period) get away car for myself and probaly as a daily go to work car. (The rules is that the wife drives the new cars.)
I think once people get the updated information about diesels and such it will sell alot better than just about anything else. Diesels still tend to be associated with noisy, slow, ponderous vehicles that smell funny and have a hard time starting in winter. Maybe way back in the day but this is the new age. Many diesels (MBZ) are quiet if not as quiet as their gas counter parts. They now have brisk if not quicker than most car, acceleration, and they don't smell all smooty. The diesel E class taxis are popular around here and they are fine.
Usually bigger displacemnt sometimes really show at high speed and even at lower speeds if you pay attention. It becomes very apparent usually at around 100+ mph but most Americans will not drive at them speeds so...
But the E350 having that much less torque than the E320 is kinda odd. Was it tuned to specifically do that?
And correct, 70 mph is not low end torque, that's where usually the hp rating comes in handy.

And the good old question of "why do people buy 150+mph cars when they probably never go that fast?" The answer is that Americans like to buy cars so that they just know that they can do that speed. Or maybe they plan on travekling to Germany to test it out. And then again, I think most people who buy them AMG cars, usually buy them with gas prices somewhere low on the priority list. Mercedes knows this and the consumer knows this. That's why some cars are advertised as "this car gets good gas mileage." because it's one of the traits that sells that particular car. While it would be weird to see "Save gas with an AMG!" on a MBZ commercial. People who spend $70,000-$100,000+ on them cars, the gas prices are probaly not breaking or anywhere near breaking their pockets. But Mercedes didn't totally ignore the gas watchers either, and thus, the diesel models are returning to the states with performance in tow. Just don't put water into that diesel's tank.

 

The comparison between the E350 and the E320 CDI was direct off of the MBUSA specs. I think that Mercedes should just make a 5.5 liter V8 or a 6.5 liter V12 diesel and stick it in all of the AMG bodies and be done with it. It will go 0-60 fast enough and people will save money from the stupid gas guzzler tax.

And for those that really need to go 220+ mph, get a Bugatti Veyron or a Ferrari... hehehe :-)

 

The thing about diesel is that Audi just spanked the non-diesels in the recent Le Mans with a V12 diesel. So diesels are now starting to get a new name for being performance oriented along with better gas mileage... Best of both worlds. AMG should take notice... I just talked to one of the dealers and they told me that the AMGs weren't selling well due to the gas guzzler issue.

 

Dang gas guzzler tax.
What rich monkey thought of that idea?

 

Oh yeah, don't forget to pay your oxygen tax.