For all you AMG buffs out there, a fine U.S spec example of the AMG Hammer recently made history at auction with its astronomical sale price of $761,800. But, what if you don't want to spend six figures on your next classic or modern AMG purchase and need something that's relatively economical and affordable to run and maintain? And, is it necessary to have eight cylinders to have the quintessential AMG experience? Well, the cars in this list prove that you can have proper fun in any of these all-time great AMGs with less than eight cylinders.

1995 C36 AMG

Starting the list with the rogue C36 AMG from the pre-Mercedes-AMG merger days was a parts bin special designed to take on other established German sports sedans, primarily the BMW M3. The C36 AMG was a parts bin special and for their first-ever non-V-8 performance car, AMG took the stock 2.8-liter Inline-six from the C280 and handcrafted it into a 3.6-liter masterpiece that makes 276-horsepower and 280-pound-feet of torque. Along with its new Frankenstein engine, it received plenty of hardware upgrades from other cars for instance the front brakes came from the SL600, the four-speed automatic was lifted from the E-class, and a differential designated for future E-class models.

On arrival, the C36 AMG took over the market by storm and achieved its goal of outperforming the M3 at the time with 36 extra horsepower. The C36 AMG was discontinued in 1998 and the moniker hasn't been used on a Mercedes-AMG product since making this car a brilliant AMG artifact. With prices starting at less than $10,000 for a decent example, it's also a great entry point into the world of classic AMGs.

1996 E36 AMG

After the success of the C36 AMG, Mercedes tried to use the same recipe for success with the E36 AMG in 1996. The E36 AMG went through a very similar conversion process where it starts life as a 320 TE Estate and receives its 2.8-liter Inline-six bored out to 3.6 liters resulting in a hand-crafted masterpiece with 272 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque.

This engine was surprisingly effective in the lighter C36 AMG but it also suited this practical ad wagon, as a result, the E36 AMG was able to keep up with the BMW M3s and Audi RS2 Avants of the day. Apart from the staggering performance, it was still a very practical car with seating for seven and of course the legendary build quality and reliability associated with Mercedes products from this period. These wagons are pretty cool and rare, which has led to rising values in the used car market so expect to pay anywhere between $15,000 for decent, high-mileage examples and up to $40,000 for pristine, low-mileage examples.

2002 SLK 32 AMG

Mercedes-Benz launched the SLK, the German auto marque's entry-level two-seater convertible back in 1996 and since then it's become somewhat of an icon for its classic styling and compact dimensions. So when it came to giving this two-seater roadster the AMG treatment, Mercedes decided to stuff their latest all-aluminum V-6 Kompressor motor that also found its way in the C32 AMG at the time.

Designed to take on rivals like the Porsche Boxster S and the BMW Z3 M, this supercharged SLK made an impressive 349-horsepower which made it significantly more powerful than the Porsche. As a result, this little AMG roadster was quicker than most big dogs at the time, including the legendary V-8 powered E55 AMG with a 0-60 mph time of just 5.2-seconds. The low-down and linear grunt from the supercharger combined with the lightweight body and short wheelbase make the SLK 32 AMG a desirable little roadster and with prices starting from as low as $20,000, it’s a great way to get your hands on a future classic.

2013 A45 AMG

Mercedes-AMG shocked the world when it launched the record-breaking A45 AMG back in 2013 in response to the iconic Audi RS3. The record-breaking part of the whole package was the A45 AMG's hand-built turbocharged Inline-four engine making 355 horsepower. At the time of launch, it had the highest specific output in any production engine, at 178 horsepower per liter. In addition, they also received a tricked-out 4MATIC+ AWD system mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, as a result, 0-60 mph came up in just 4.6-seconds and is significantly quicker than the turbocharged 6-cylinder equipped M135i.

Mercedes-AMG also stands behind its craftsmanship and promises these over-powered four bangers will not explode after a few track days which is why they back it up with a class-leading warranty. This is why a used first-generation A45 AMG sounds like a great and affordable way into AMG and hot hatch fandom.

2016 E43 AMG Coupe

The E-class coupe has been a symbol of elegance and luxury for decades and though people like fast coupes, an E63 AMG coupe might be overkill for most. This is where the E43 AMG comes in as the entry-level AMG model in the lineup with its bi-turbo V-6 engine that it shared with E450 models but for this application, the power got bumped to 396 horsepower and 384 pounds-feet of torque.

Furthermore, you got an AMG body kit which got redesigned bumpers and wheels for a more flamboyant look. Though the V-6 was killed off in favor of smaller, more efficient hybridized engines, it continues to be a punchy and refined powerhouse, and given its age, you will be able to find used examples under warranty which makes the 2016 E43 AMG coupe a very sensible used car purchase.

2016 CLA 45 AMG

Powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged Inline-4 engine which was the most powerful production four-cylinder engine at the time but the 2016 facelift took the power output up from the original's 355 horsepower to 375 horsepower resulting in a drop in the 0-60 mph time from 4.5 seconds to 4.1 seconds. If that's not enough for your engine aficionado's out there, the 2.0-liter hand-built AMG's twin-scroll turbo also held the record for the highest boost pressure in any production engine at the time at 26.1 psi.

To cope with all this horsepower, the CLA 45 AMG received AMG suspension with adjustable dampers, an AMG sports exhaust, rev-matching for the seven-speed DCT's manual mode in addition to a host of minor hardware updates. The CLA 45's compact size and sloping roofline might compromise the second-row seating, but it is still one of the hottest compact sedans ever made and the sheer noise and drama of the CLA 45's engine can put a smile on any face.

2016 C450 AMG 4MATIC Wagon

If you need the perfect fun-to-drive family wagon then the C63 AMG Wagon is one of the best options out there but the V-8 engine and the aggressive looks might not be everyone's cup of tea. This is why Mercedes introduced the C450 AMG Wagon, which is essentially a fast wagon that's more efficient and understated than the C63. But don't be fooled by the sedate looks, the C450 AMG is still unnecessarily fast by family wagon standards thanks to its twin-turbo V-6 engine that makes 362 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque.

Combined with the 4Matic AWD system, this is enough juice to get this wagon to 60 mph from a standstill in under 5-seconds which puts it on par with other brilliant wagons like the Audi S4 Avant and Volvo V70 Polestar. Inside you get all the equipment and space you expect from a proper Mercedes wagon and the rear-biased AWD system also allows for some tail-out action, making this an ideal sleeper wagon for the family.

2017 SLC 43 AMG

Originally launched as the SLK series, Mercedes decided to rename their popular two-seater roadster to better fit the nomenclature. So, in 2015, Mercedes launched the renamed SLC 43 AMG as the sole AMG offering in the lineup. The SCL 43 AMG used the same 3.0-liter bi-turbo V-6 as the SKL 43 AMG making 362 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque which gave this lightweight roadster enough punch to get to 60 mph from a standstill in just 4.7-seconds and all the accompaniments you'd expect with an AMG like more aggressive body kit, wheels, and bespoke AMG spec interior trim. The SLC lineup was discontinued in 2020, putting an end to Mercedes's entry-level roadster lineup which makes this a truly unique proposition in the world of rare and historic AMG models.

2018 E53 AMG 4MATIC+

The original E53 AMG debuted in 2018 with an all-new Inline-6 powertrain designated to replace the aging V-6 power plant. This engine of course made its way into a lot of models including a whole host of mid-tier AMG models like the 2018 E53 AMG. The E53 was designed to slot in the middle of the AMG lineup for the E-class model range thanks to its all-new 3.0-liter Inline-6 that used both turbocharging and supercharging to take the total output to 429 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque which meant it was nearly as powerful as the V-8 powered Audi S6 but more economical.

The understated theme is what makes the E53 AMG sedan such a promising proposition with its sporty yet dialed-down looks, a fast yet efficient engine, and a practical and usable four-door design all come together to make this one of the best modern-day sleeper sedans with an AMG badge.

2018 GLC 43 Coupe

Mercedes was opened up to a lot of ridicule when they decided to rebrand their 450 lineups of cars as full-fledged AMG models. This gave rise to the 43 AMG line of cars like the GLC 43 coupe. Granted the engine on this car was no hand-built masterpiece like the bigger AMGs but the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 with 362 horsepower and 384 pounds-feet of torque was enough juice to rival chief entry-level hot crossover contenders like the Macan S and Audi SQ5 and the bespoke AMG tuned suspension setup makes it a joy to drive.

But what makes this even more interesting is its styling which blends the practical four-door form factor with the coupe-like roofline to create an urban crossover inspired by trendsetters like the BMW X6, but it manages to offer plenty of practicality still with enough room to seat four in comfort and a boot big enough for most weekend getaways.

FAQ

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