W204 C63 - What next?
Discussion
I've had my 2013 W204 C63 AMG saloon for the past thee years and it's been a blast! I've been looking at changing for something else, but I just can't seem to find anything I would change it for!
Budget wise I'm looking for something under £35k used - hopefully something I won't lose a huge deal on in depreciation. I've been looking at the F80 M3 Competition, but the more I look at it the more I think I'd be disappointed by the exhaust note from the straight 6. I did try out a W205 C63 a couple of years ago, which I did enjoy, but it felt lacking in character compared with the W204.
I need something which can occasionally take passengers and is practical enough to be used daily.
Welcome to hear anyone's thoughts? At this rate I'll be keeping the W204 forever - would that be a bad thing?
Budget wise I'm looking for something under £35k used - hopefully something I won't lose a huge deal on in depreciation. I've been looking at the F80 M3 Competition, but the more I look at it the more I think I'd be disappointed by the exhaust note from the straight 6. I did try out a W205 C63 a couple of years ago, which I did enjoy, but it felt lacking in character compared with the W204.
I need something which can occasionally take passengers and is practical enough to be used daily.
Welcome to hear anyone's thoughts? At this rate I'll be keeping the W204 forever - would that be a bad thing?
To keep the V8 theme going, you'd get into a facelift Mustang. Coupe so slightly less practical than a saloon, but at 5ft11 I'd happily do 90 mins as a passenger in the back. Facelift has some nice bits that come with it too. I've got a pre-facelift and it was a bargain at £27k for a 2018 car. Might not be as fast, or have the same bragging rights, but so full of character.
You're unlikely to find something with a better engine than the 6.2 V8, however you could move from a saloon into more of a sports car. Your budget reaches the bottom end of the Porsche 997.2 market, the .2 is important as it has the updated engine that isn't made from chocolate, so should be reliable and fairly low depreciation. For a rarer alternative, the Lotus Evora is pretty cool and at least the engine has Toyota reliability.
Coming back to cars more equivalent to your C63, if you prefer the aural character of a naturally aspirated engine you could go back to the last M cars before they went turbo, so the E90 M3 or the E60 M5. Conversely Lexus has stuck with the V8 format, so could consider an IS-F or RC-F. Or continue with your AMG for a few more years until the delectable LC500 depreciates into budget range. Another big-capacity option is the Holden HSV Commodore, sorry Vauxhall VXR8, as recently buying-guided here https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-buying-guides/... .
Firstly I'd say if you're happy with it then keep it, but if you want to change then there's this:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012227...
It's a bit over budget but some haggling & a bit if a budget stretch but these have character (think of them as a Japanese Quattroporte) & also have a very special V8 you'll be luck to see another & they're a fun steer too.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012227...
It's a bit over budget but some haggling & a bit if a budget stretch but these have character (think of them as a Japanese Quattroporte) & also have a very special V8 you'll be luck to see another & they're a fun steer too.
I bought a dealer demo C63 estate in 2014. Only done 20k and constantly wonder whether I should sell it and drive the other cars a bit more. However, whenever I start it up........damn, its a keeper. Not yet found a modern car to replace it which stirs the soul enough to fire up the e-banking app. Enjoy!
Just keep it. (assuming it's not ragged, rusty or both).
I was in a similar position years ago with a TVR, couldn't find anything that made it worthwhile changing, and 17-years later I still have it; likewise with my E-Class, bought new in 2012, still have it. Yes, new cars match, or might even exceed, the on-paper figures but they just don't seem to have that old-school V8 feel. IMHO.
I was in a similar position years ago with a TVR, couldn't find anything that made it worthwhile changing, and 17-years later I still have it; likewise with my E-Class, bought new in 2012, still have it. Yes, new cars match, or might even exceed, the on-paper figures but they just don't seem to have that old-school V8 feel. IMHO.
I sold my C63 last summer which was the right thing to do as paying high insurance/tax for a car that was literally just stood on the drive did not make any sense. In a similar predicament as you thinking about what replaces the car when we can be back on the road and I get to use the car properly. Similar budget as yours, my shortlist thus far looks like this:
- Alfa Giulia QV (Ticks the sound, looks and performance boxes, not a fan of the 4 doors as I don't need the rear seats)
- Alfa 4C
- F Type V8
- 996 Turbo (Left field older option but need to tick that off the list at some point!)
- Alfa Giulia QV (Ticks the sound, looks and performance boxes, not a fan of the 4 doors as I don't need the rear seats)
- Alfa 4C
- F Type V8
- 996 Turbo (Left field older option but need to tick that off the list at some point!)
My better half has one - Its amazing, it does the fast thing, it does a decent job of handling for a car that size and layout, and it's bloody luxurious inside.
It's often a question asked of great cars, where do you go next?
As she's going to be parting with hers once people can look at cars again, she has the same issue ( although hers is a coupe and we have no kids)
I get on average a weekly update about what car will be replacing it.
So far it has been
Z4 30i or above - previous shape
SLK350
E class Coupe
Cayman
Golf R
S3
M2
S5
X3 30i or above
X5 M50d
Panamera
DB9
Mini JCW
Jag XF
435i
I'm not holding my breath for the actual decision, might book a week away ( on my own) when she sells it
It's often a question asked of great cars, where do you go next?
As she's going to be parting with hers once people can look at cars again, she has the same issue ( although hers is a coupe and we have no kids)
I get on average a weekly update about what car will be replacing it.
So far it has been
Z4 30i or above - previous shape
SLK350
E class Coupe
Cayman
Golf R
S3
M2
S5
X3 30i or above
X5 M50d
Panamera
DB9
Mini JCW
Jag XF
435i
I'm not holding my breath for the actual decision, might book a week away ( on my own) when she sells it
lilmonsta said:
I've had my 2013 W204 C63 AMG saloon for the past thee years and it's been a blast! I've been looking at changing for something else, but I just can't seem to find anything I would change it for!
Budget wise I'm looking for something under £35k used - hopefully something I won't lose a huge deal on in depreciation. I've been looking at the F80 M3 Competition, but the more I look at it the more I think I'd be disappointed by the exhaust note from the straight 6. I did try out a W205 C63 a couple of years ago, which I did enjoy, but it felt lacking in character compared with the W204.
I need something which can occasionally take passengers and is practical enough to be used daily.
Welcome to hear anyone's thoughts? At this rate I'll be keeping the W204 forever - would that be a bad thing?
What did you end up doing?? I’m thinking of keeping my 6.2 C63 as a forever car, but also want to scratch the Alfa itch with a QV (and then decide which one to keep as a forever car, which means keep garaged and take it out for a couple of months here and there). Budget wise I'm looking for something under £35k used - hopefully something I won't lose a huge deal on in depreciation. I've been looking at the F80 M3 Competition, but the more I look at it the more I think I'd be disappointed by the exhaust note from the straight 6. I did try out a W205 C63 a couple of years ago, which I did enjoy, but it felt lacking in character compared with the W204.
I need something which can occasionally take passengers and is practical enough to be used daily.
Welcome to hear anyone's thoughts? At this rate I'll be keeping the W204 forever - would that be a bad thing?
As an S204 C63 owner, I'm in the same situation as well. I need an estate for family life, but I'm not sure what's going to give me the theatre of what I've been use to for last 2.5 years. I've done a fair bit of preventative maintenance too such as the new 63Motorsports camshaft adjusters, belts, tensioners, pulleys and injectors, plus a Wavtrac LSD so the car is loads of fun and reliable. Where to go next?
DriverLDN said:
As an S204 C63 owner, I'm in the same situation as well. I need an estate for family life, but I'm not sure what's going to give me the theatre of what I've been use to for last 2.5 years. Where to go next?
I'd try an estate with lesser engine and softer suspension for family life and buy a genuine sportscar for enjoyment. You'll spend no more money with this approach than others spend chopping and changing one big car. More fun too IMO - speed isn't everything.I had a 204 c63 also about 7 years ago and tbh, there is no replacement. That engine is a beauty and nothing else matches it. If you change that itl be for a completely different driving experience, whether that’s something faster or better handling or a manual etc is up to you. I can’t think of a better daily Iv owned than that for that budget. If funds aloud then an E63 just as they’re ferociously fast and still make a good noise and practical.
Edit to add Iv just notice original post was years ago
Edit to add Iv just notice original post was years ago
I had a S205 previously, I rated the bi-turbo M177 over the naturally aspirated M156 for daily duties. It had 95% of the drama with more accessible power, better economy, and reliability. I do think the M156 would make a better garage queen.
Switched to an FL5 Type R as I wanted something more engaging. The Type R delivered on that front, but it also made me realise that 99% of the time I don’t make use of the attributes a car like that brings - now I’m back in a fast estate in the form of an RS4.
Switched to an FL5 Type R as I wanted something more engaging. The Type R delivered on that front, but it also made me realise that 99% of the time I don’t make use of the attributes a car like that brings - now I’m back in a fast estate in the form of an RS4.
the subject dates from 2021, I think the op has changed since then...
as a car enthusiast we always want to change for this or that. now you have to know how to appreciate what you have, especially when you have the c63 w204 because there is no experience like that in European sedans. certainly we find V8s of equivalent displacement and power in American cars, often 2 places (vette) or 4 (cts) (holden) but the cheap interior, the lack of space, do not make them cars as practical and refined. the engine when it is above the ls2 ls3. 24 valves, 6.2 but 7200rpm, crazy! good torque at low revs even better at mid range, linear power, sound etc
simply everything you want from a big NA engine is here.
a legendary sedan, those who own one if they have the means, keeping it remains the best choice.
as a car enthusiast we always want to change for this or that. now you have to know how to appreciate what you have, especially when you have the c63 w204 because there is no experience like that in European sedans. certainly we find V8s of equivalent displacement and power in American cars, often 2 places (vette) or 4 (cts) (holden) but the cheap interior, the lack of space, do not make them cars as practical and refined. the engine when it is above the ls2 ls3. 24 valves, 6.2 but 7200rpm, crazy! good torque at low revs even better at mid range, linear power, sound etc
simply everything you want from a big NA engine is here.
a legendary sedan, those who own one if they have the means, keeping it remains the best choice.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff