Read Phil Floraday's comments on driving the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG.
I don't think insane is an adequate description of the power in this C63 AMG. When you jump on the throttle, it sounds as if someone unleashed a pack of rabid badgers in a henhouse. There's an incredible racket and speed builds instantly. Like all AMG cars, this 6.2-liter V-8 seems to throw physics and aerodynamics out the window. No matter how fast you're going, acceleration is beyond explosive.
Naturally this kind of power demands super-stiff suspension and amazing brakes. The C-class indeed stops as quickly as it blasts off, and the suspension is very stiff. I didn't mind the stiff ride as much as Joe, it never seemed harsh to me and I have a seriously deteriorated road for half of my 40-mile commute. Our Mini Cooper S is more painful in daily driving and doesn't offer near the performance of this C-class.
The transmission is a love/hate item for me. I love the automatic throttle blips on downshifts, but in manual mode shifts are way too slow. I found myself bouncing off the limiter in first and second because the shifts take about twice as long as I expect them to. Leaving the trans in sport mode lets the computer sort out the shifts and it does a great job. I stuck to sport mode and just used the paddles to drop a few gears when passing. During aggressive driving, the rev-matched downshifts are superb and near perfectly timed. It's as if the car wants you to reconsider your decision to slow down. Should you change your mind, or exit the turn, you're already back in the fat part of the powerband and ready to go again. I do wish manual shifts were as quick as those of a VW GTI with a DSG transmission. I really want to experience the way a BMW M3 shifts with the new DSG box.