Does your AMG have a detrimental effect on your driving?

Does your AMG have a detrimental effect on your driving?

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Discussion

ecain63

Original Poster:

10,588 posts

175 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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Now, this is to be answered honestly. No bravado or claims that people demonise Merc drivers because of old cliches.

The reason I ask is that I actually think it does make me drive like a dick at times (or at least that's how its viewed from the outside) and I genuinely do think its the car that brings it out in me. I've always considered myself to be a decent driver and having done numerous courses to aid my development as a road user (advanced driving, HGV, offroad, ice & snow, desert, amphib etc) I've never felt lacking in ability or experience when skill is called upon. But, with the purchase of my C63 I've noticed that the way I drive is becoming more akin to the attitude of the car itself. Anyone else feel the car is taking charge?

It never happened with the RS6 as i felt it too fragile to punt everywhere at mach 10. The E61 M5 never caused this problem either. Not enough torque down low to be a point and shoot weapon. By the time you were in the right gear and at the right revs you were safely and considerately making your manoeuvre without upsetting anyone. Only once passed did the V10 howl scare the bejesus out of the guy behind.

Examples via the C63:

Easy undertaking weapon - The more i find its lightning potential to undertake he more its used. It's handy when you're faced with somebody who clearly is on another planet in the wrong lane but using the inside lane as an overtaking lane is a problem for others, and agreeably so. Can't say I'm proud of that one but Its too easy.

Finding gaps - If there's an opportunity to zip between cars or into a clear space then the C63 is the car that can do it. Its quick and it's safe but i can imagine what it looks like from the outside.

Stopping distances and accelerating distances - I do find i drive closer to the car in front as a result of good brakes, as wrong as that is. Again, i dont think that its unsafe but It looks bad to other drivers. Same goes for accelerating distances. How quickly this car goes from being behind a slow driver to being way past on an overtake is staggering. A little bit of right foot and youre away. Again, i can only assume other road users dislike this ability and find it quite intimidating.

Noise - It's got to be off-putting being overtaken by such displacement. Its not even a friendly or exciting noise like a Ferrari makes. More a death threat from Satan as you pass. Removes the need to stick the finger up. Just plant the loud pedal!

I don't feel that i drive less safely because of the car but i sure feel its a lot less agreeable. The answer and solution is obvious, just drive slower and safer. However......

What you reckon? Has your AMG done anything to your driving style?

tyrrell

1,670 posts

208 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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Sounds to me like you are having great fun, just continue to enjoy biggrin

jfbrin

415 posts

172 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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I went through this once but eventually had the back box fixed on my Micra and my driving returned to normal! wink

IATM

3,793 posts

147 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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jfbrin said:
I went through this once but eventually had the back box fixed on my Micra and my driving returned to normal! wink
I liked that one smile

PhilT86

45 posts

156 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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I agree with you haha with me I think its the noise and gearbox (C63 AMG btw too) that makes me just want to put the foot down (or maybe the fact its now running 525bhp haha), But most the time its other people that stare at you around town wanting you to give it some or pull to the side of you at the motorway and give signs to do the same, Don't get me wrong some times I like it if I am in the mood!

DUMBO100

1,878 posts

184 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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I can't compare my Civic Type R to a C63 but in the morning rush hour I have been known to drive like a tt and confirm the boy racer cliches

ecain63

Original Poster:

10,588 posts

175 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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PhilT86 said:
I agree with you haha with me I think its the noise and gearbox (C63 AMG btw too) that makes me just want to put the foot down (or maybe the fact its now running 525bhp haha), But most the time its other people that stare at you around town wanting you to give it some or pull to the side of you at the motorway and give signs to do the same, Don't get me wrong some times I like it if I am in the mood!
Likewise, I too have a mapped beast and feel it rude not to keep the engine feeling 'exercised'. All hail!

Nickellese

65 posts

192 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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My C63 definitely has an adverse affect on my driving - Ill hold my hands up to a stupid maneuver in order to get on the M32 slip road this morning.

I've actually made a mental note to force my self to drive considerately this week - and yes I know how bloody stupid that must sound to others...


ecain63

Original Poster:

10,588 posts

175 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
quotequote all
There is definitely something in this. Not a single negative response. The M-Power forum would sink if this level of approval happened there.

BigBen

11,639 posts

230 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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I hold my AMG directly responsible for the first points on my license in 20 years of driving.

anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 19th December 2013
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ecain63 said:
There is definitely something in this. Not a single negative response. The M-Power forum would sink if this level of approval happened there.
Probably stunned by the stupidity of it all? "self confessed tt blames his car"?

V8VGerry

135 posts

132 months

Thursday 19th December 2013
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I agree, thought my boy racer days were well behind me. But with 550bhp + in my new E63, and the explosive noise, I just cannot seem to keep the loud pedal restrained.



slippery

14,093 posts

239 months

Thursday 19th December 2013
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Some cars reward when driven hard, others feel out of their comfort zone. Spanking an AMG has 'feel good factor'! yes

897sma

3,360 posts

144 months

Thursday 19th December 2013
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My C63 has now gone now, but had it not it was only a matter of time before I lost my license or worse. Awesome car which you HAVE to drive.

RG63AMG

157 posts

124 months

Thursday 19th December 2013
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I am on my second C63, This one is a 507 coupe, my last one was a C63 ppp saloon and I find them very relaxing to drive as the mood takes me, BUT when I fancy a hoon, take it out of comfort and into S+ its up for it big time : )

NOW...If you want a car to make you do VERY silly things get a GTR-35, I sold mine within a month or I was going to jail or end up in a fiery ball in a field.

( BTW MODs I have been on here for years but changed log in as a stalking ex was snooping all the time )

lee c63

157 posts

124 months

Thursday 19th December 2013
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Its the noise its addictive. If I drive through a long tunnel Its windows down into manual and up and down the gears. Ha ha childish but who cares.
Only going to get worse with the scream of the weistec supercharger thats getting fitted....

developer215

265 posts

157 months

Thursday 19th December 2013
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Having been banned once for speeding (many years ago), I'm convinced that my E63 will get me in the courts again someday soon, however, it's impossible not to use the power because it's such great fun.

Tonto

2,983 posts

248 months

Thursday 19th December 2013
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RG63AMG said:
I am on my second C63, This one is a 507 coupe, my last one was a C63 ppp saloon and I find them very relaxing to drive as the mood takes me, BUT when I fancy a hoon, take it out of comfort and into S+ its up for it big time : )

NOW...If you want a car to make you do VERY silly things get a GTR-35, I sold mine within a month or I was going to jail or end up in a fiery ball in a field.

( BTW MODs I have been on here for years but changed log in as a stalking ex was snooping all the time )
I currently drive a 2012 C63 with PPP and can confirm that it probably looks like I'm driving like a nutter at times.
Last weekend, I overtook a dawdling pensioner, applied slightly too much loud pedal on the slippery road and the back end fish tailed. Rather than abort the overtake, I eased off the gas slightly and once the car stabilised I finished the overtake. The van driver coming the other way wasn't impressed and sellotaped the horn down quite early on, clearly assuming I had normal levels of acceleration, (I got back on my side of the road WAY before the van btw).

I can echo the comments about the GTR though. The combination of bone crushing acceleration and endless grip and traction meant that it was all to easy to adopt a policy of "I see therefore I overtake". All well and good 'till you look at the speedo when you pull back in and crap yourself!

GrahamPM

1,057 posts

231 months

Saturday 21st December 2013
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Not sure if detrimental, but it's demonic performance certainly gets me in trouble with my wife! Comments such as 'did you have to do that?" - tail hanging off the roundabout for instance! Each time I twist the 'knob' from C to S+ I get that 'here we go again' look!
Love it!
Graham

NorthernBoy

12,642 posts

257 months

Friday 27th December 2013
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ecain63 said:
Now, this is to be answered honestly. No bravado or claims that people demonise Merc drivers because of old cliches.
No, quite the opposite in my case. The car feels far less frantic than my RS4 or 911 GTS did befoore it, and as a result, I tend to drive it a bit more sensibly.

I still use all of the acceleration, and sppeed, sometimes, but less often than I did in the other cars.