From what I understand, some minor work and that engine can have more thrust. I think your model was the last year with the 2.3L. The following years they squeezed down to a 1.8L with the same power but had some issues. I think guys on MBWorld.org were doing pulleys and a few other small things and were well into 200hp. For me, the thing about the Mercedes was not as a status symbol, but just the feeling of knowing I was in a very safe, well built car that happened to have some crazy cornering limits and decent forward thrust. Edit: We won't be able to do Xcon 10's unless we magically came up with money to retool the 10" 12-spoke basket to have the clearance.