Classifieds' Car Of The Day: V8 Mercedes C43 AMG

You might think AMG Mercs are the preserve of the very rich, but that's not always the case. If you don't mind a slightly older Mercedes with those three exciting letters on the bootlid, there's some surprisingly affordable stuff out there, like the C43.

Coming after the C36 - the first 'official' AMG Mercedes - the C43 was sold with a fettled M113 4.3-litre V8. Power was rated at 306bhp, giving the C43 a 0-60mph time of 6.7 seconds and an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. The 0-60mph time doesn't sound like anything special, but the old-school auto 'box has a lot to do with that.

Sure, it'll never be a dynamic match for its biggest contemporary rival - the E36 M3 - but the C43 is still a convincing sports saloon package. What's more, prices for the C36 and C43 are still relatively low, whereas E36 M3 values are rising at a steady pace.

This C43 we found, for example, is up for just £3495. Yes, the mileage is pretty high at 150,000, but it has a full service history and looks to have been well cared for. Just bear in mind that although these things are cheap to buy, they're not the cheapest to run. Is it worth it though? Hell yes.