RE: Mercedes-AMG C43 estate: Driven
Discussion
Arsecati said:
gumsie said:
MB actually used to call them Touring as well. Anybody old enough to remember the W123 and W124 will attest to that. I'll pass on this though, far too ugly just like most of the current range.
God and the artificial engine sound. Awful.
You know what, until today - I never knew what the 'T' in 'TE' or 'TD' stood for (thank you Google for the exact translation!), as yes, I am very much old enough to remember the W123 series! Haha! Fair play and many thanks for mentioning that - I always liked the 'TE's' back in the day, so now I'm actually quite chuffed to know what the T stands for now (pretty sad, aren't I? Haha!) God and the artificial engine sound. Awful.
On more than one occasion it took me opening the bonnet and asking them to point to the turbo before they'd believe me!
Deerfoot said:
devnull said:
Deerfoot said:
I can`t see this doing well in sales figures to be honest.
Surely if you want a fast C Class Estate only the C63 will suffice. If you don`t then I guess the far cheaper models will be the default choice.
I see more Audi RS6 cars than I do S6 cars for example...
I still want one though.
Nope - few guys at work have ordered these - these fit in nicely with the Company Fuel Card policy of cars under three litres. Surely if you want a fast C Class Estate only the C63 will suffice. If you don`t then I guess the far cheaper models will be the default choice.
I see more Audi RS6 cars than I do S6 cars for example...
I still want one though.
..... Anyone getting over 25 should have to taken off them anywayI would be quite interested in this I have about 14 months to go on my S1. Next summer we will having our first dog something of the Bernese , Otter hound Spinone variety .I have tried convincing the Mrs it will fit in a Porsche/ F type parcel shelf! .But it looks like an estate would be the choice New/1-2 YEAR OLD c43 or 5 year old C63 with the proper engine
Alternatively Old Golf for the Mrs and get what I really want !
Alternatively Old Golf for the Mrs and get what I really want !
Deerfoot said:
I can`t see this doing well in sales figures to be honest.
Surely if you want a fast C Class Estate only the C63 will suffice. If you don`t then I guess the far cheaper models will be the default choice.
I see more Audi RS6 cars than I do S6 cars for example...
I still want one though.
True that the RS models seems to outsell the S models... but i think this is quite cleverly marketed, and a interesting proposition.Surely if you want a fast C Class Estate only the C63 will suffice. If you don`t then I guess the far cheaper models will be the default choice.
I see more Audi RS6 cars than I do S6 cars for example...
I still want one though.
It's not a lesser model, it's an AMG with a smaller engine - is how a lot of people will consciously or unconsciously consider it.
Certainly quick enough, at least. When i come to swap the family C250 in a few years once of these 3 years old would be an interesting prospect if the considerably gap in price maintains as they get older....
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I was very surprised that about half of the 2008/2009 BMW E60's I looked at during car hunting this year had Faux Leather. All advertised as having the real deal of course, but you use any of the online VIN decoders & they soon tell you the truth. I discovered the way to tell when just looking at the 'leather' is that if it's creased & looks worn, it's real. If it looks like it did the day it came out of the factory, it's faux leather!BFleming said:
I was very surprised that about half of the 2008/2009 BMW E60's I looked at during car hunting this year had Faux Leather. All advertised as having the real deal of course, but you use any of the online VIN decoders & they soon tell you the truth. I discovered the way to tell when just looking at the 'leather' is that if it's creased & looks worn, it's real. If it looks like it did the day it came out of the factory, it's faux leather!
Agreed, but it does slightly beg the question why we bother with bits of dead cow in the first place, especially the low-end stuff fitted to most cooking cars*The plastic stuff looks a teeny bit worse for sure, but once your bum is parked on it there's no appreciable difference. Given that it lasts much better than leather too, is it just snobbery that keeps us sucking on the bovine teat?
Anyway, alcantara is better than both
*I admit the sumptuous leather fitted to 'real' luxury vehicles is something that has no equal
Edited by loudlashadjuster on Monday 7th November 16:02
loudlashadjuster said:
BFleming said:
I was very surprised that about half of the 2008/2009 BMW E60's I looked at during car hunting this year had Faux Leather. All advertised as having the real deal of course, but you use any of the online VIN decoders & they soon tell you the truth. I discovered the way to tell when just looking at the 'leather' is that if it's creased & looks worn, it's real. If it looks like it did the day it came out of the factory, it's faux leather!
Agreed, but it does slightly beg the question why we bother with bits of dead cow in the first place, especially the low-end stuff fitted to most cooking cars*The plastic stuff looks a teeny bit worse for sure, but once your bum is parked on it there's no appreciable difference. Given that it lasts much better than leather too, is it just snobbery that keeps us sucking on the bovine teat?
Anyway, alcantara is better than both
*I admit the sumptuous leather fitted to 'real' luxury vehicles is something that has no equal
Edited by loudlashadjuster on Monday 7th November 16:02
loudlashadjuster said:
Agreed, but it does slightly beg the question why we bother with bits of dead cow in the first place, especially the low-end stuff fitted to most cooking cars*
The plastic stuff looks a teeny bit worse for sure, but once your bum is parked on it there's no appreciable difference. Given that it lasts much better than leather too, is it just snobbery that keeps us sucking on the bovine teat?
Anyway, alcantara is better than both
*I admit the sumptuous leather fitted to 'real' luxury vehicles is something that has no equal
Totally agree. I have fake leather in my C300. One of the reason for choosing the MB was that it had a non-leather interior (Artico), especially that is available in 3 colours rather than just black for BMW. I will not consider a JLR product until they offer non-leather like they do in Indian market cars! In these days of high-tec features we still use leather.The plastic stuff looks a teeny bit worse for sure, but once your bum is parked on it there's no appreciable difference. Given that it lasts much better than leather too, is it just snobbery that keeps us sucking on the bovine teat?
Anyway, alcantara is better than both
*I admit the sumptuous leather fitted to 'real' luxury vehicles is something that has no equal
Edited by loudlashadjuster on Monday 7th November 16:02
Yes, I've bought one. I ordered one to replace a 2013 RS4, which was much loved but on the verge of tanking in value and it doesn't look as if Audi are going to get off the pot with a replacement any time soon. I took delivery of my C43 two weeks ago. I need to live with it for while to fully appreciate it but first impressions are extremely positive. I put a few extras on it (Premium Plus package, AMG seats and performance exhaust, Head Up Display, super tricky headlights) and got an 8% discount from the dealer. It goes like stink (with more torque than the RS the performance is immediate although the Audi would hurl you along the road once you gave the big V8 enough revs). Sounds fantastic. Cabin is gorgeous. Lots of nifty cargo carrying features (rear seats that fold at the touch of a button, integrated dog guard in parcel shelf etc). The Mrs. is not intimidated by it as I know she would have been by the C63, and actually prefers it to the RS.
Downsides so far - the MB Comand system is just not as good as the Audi equivalent, the Burmester stereo is overrated and the transmission wind mentioned in the review here very noticeable. And it doesn't get as much attention from yoofs in knackered Civic Rs. Not sure that's a downside though.
Downsides so far - the MB Comand system is just not as good as the Audi equivalent, the Burmester stereo is overrated and the transmission wind mentioned in the review here very noticeable. And it doesn't get as much attention from yoofs in knackered Civic Rs. Not sure that's a downside though.
I still think this car a definite dilution of the AMG brand but it does actually look like quite a good one. The thing is, the only people that would buy one would be individuals who are really into their fast cars. With that said, i'm not sure who wouldn't look right past one of these and go for a C63.
I've got a feeling this is heading the same way as the generic AMG-Line range. They've now gone one step further (or too far) and have now have a fully-fledged AMG badge'd car to represent the best of the best from Mercedes and it just isn't is it? It's at least one notch down on everything compared to the C63.
I've got a feeling this is heading the same way as the generic AMG-Line range. They've now gone one step further (or too far) and have now have a fully-fledged AMG badge'd car to represent the best of the best from Mercedes and it just isn't is it? It's at least one notch down on everything compared to the C63.
Interesting comments. As regards the question on the ride, I was aware of the reviews and set out on my first drive in it with some trepidation, but have found the suspension perfectly adept at handling the crappy road surfaces in the rural part of central and south west UK where the car will spend most of it's time. I would certainly compare it favourably to the ride quality in the RS4 outside of the Audi 'Dynamic' setting which was quite frankly impossible to live with if you wanted your fillings to stay in. As a certain Mr. J Clarkson bellowed from the pages of his Sunday Times Motoring column.
As regards the 'is it or isn't a real AMG' debate - truthfully, I don't care. Will I drive it on the limits and notice the disparity between the C43 and C63? No. Does the missus like it? Yes. Is it a lightening quick load hauler suitable for carrying large dogs, garden waste and the detritus of having a property in the wilds of Somerset? Yes. Will I trade it in when Audi get their act together and present us with a new RS4? Possibly.
In the meantime, I think I'm going to thoroughly enjoy it.
As regards the 'is it or isn't a real AMG' debate - truthfully, I don't care. Will I drive it on the limits and notice the disparity between the C43 and C63? No. Does the missus like it? Yes. Is it a lightening quick load hauler suitable for carrying large dogs, garden waste and the detritus of having a property in the wilds of Somerset? Yes. Will I trade it in when Audi get their act together and present us with a new RS4? Possibly.
In the meantime, I think I'm going to thoroughly enjoy it.
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