C63 - a good buy?
Discussion
I opted for a non PPP (Im now on my second C63) and no matter what anybody says this car needs an LSD, either factory or Quaife. I fitted the Quaife to my old car but I managed to get a factory fitted unit on the new car. It is worth noting the facelift PPP cars do not come with the diff as part of the pack, it needs to have been specked separately (option code 471 should appear on the build sheet).
It is interesting, skipping between forums to see how many times you see the words "Keeper" and "Best car I have ever owned", they are far more prevalent in the AMG camp than the M-Tech camp.
I think all of us would agree that a 997 or a M3/4 would be the victor in an out-and-out track dash. If nailing the apex to the inch and executing the shortest possible shift is where you get your jollies then you are definitely not an AMG man. I actually think that the late TopGear gang summed it up rather well with their review of the M3/C63/RS4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaZExdTHHjY
I'd refer you back to my original post on the 4th February as well.
@james22[/b] though to answer your questions:
Can you hussle a C63? - Yes. On a motorway, definitely (within the constraints of the national speed limits obviously), it carves precisely and the pick up is instantaneous. I have never driven a car that accelerates so briskly at the upper ranges of the national speed limit. On an A road, definitely. The chassis is beautifully balanced and the throttle actuation long and smooth. Braking is excellent and stability also. On a B road, hmmm, sometimes. Let us not forget the weight of the C63 (and an M3/4 for that matter). I was travelling briskly down a Cornish B road and could not shake off the lights behind me on a damp evening, only to be overtaken on the next straight by a well-driven RS6 V10. I have never taken my car on a track so cannot comment there.
Does it really need a diff? - Apparently yes. Every review I have read from PH to EVO to Autocar to Chris Harria says that it's a must have and I respect their judgment far more than mine. When buying my car, as with any purchase, I made sure that for subsequent resale my car had the HK Stereo, Slippy diff and power pack fitted. As a result I was very lucky and ended up with a car fitted with virtually every option fitted - Speed Pack, Carbon Pack, PPP, HK, COMMAND, sunroof etc..
Is the updated suspension of the PPP just too hard for everyday driving? - I would say no, not at all. My wife would disagree with me! Our previous daily driver was a Renaulsport Megane 250 and that was for me on the cusp of acceptability with every pothole sending the whole car dipping into the hole in true racecar fashion but then on the one track expedition I undertook it was exceptional. I think the C63 PPP suspension is not as stiff as the RS250 and as long as you drive around the big potholes and submerged manhole covers it is very comfy (trying to ignore the most comfortable seats I have ever experienced of course). My wife thinks it is too stiff, my newborn son seemingly loves it and falls to sleep all the time. Worth pointing out that the 19" wheels are in fact seemingly made from tin foil and they hate pot holes, I have just replaced all four. Or is it the suspension....:shrugs:
Is it the best car I have ever owned? - Aside from my blue shouty thing obviously, it is easily the best car I have ever owned by quite a huge margin. Alas I know which side of my bread is buttered and SWMBO was always going to win the suspension discussion and the family wagon will likely be turning into a Range Rover Sport in the summer. Would I come back to an AMG at some point in the future? I hope so. Would I make it a C63? For sure!
IMHO I also think the Pre-Facelift cars looks so much better, but yes the interior is not anywhere near as sharp (still not that bad though!).
I think all of us would agree that a 997 or a M3/4 would be the victor in an out-and-out track dash. If nailing the apex to the inch and executing the shortest possible shift is where you get your jollies then you are definitely not an AMG man. I actually think that the late TopGear gang summed it up rather well with their review of the M3/C63/RS4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaZExdTHHjY
I'd refer you back to my original post on the 4th February as well.
@james22[/b] though to answer your questions:
Can you hussle a C63? - Yes. On a motorway, definitely (within the constraints of the national speed limits obviously), it carves precisely and the pick up is instantaneous. I have never driven a car that accelerates so briskly at the upper ranges of the national speed limit. On an A road, definitely. The chassis is beautifully balanced and the throttle actuation long and smooth. Braking is excellent and stability also. On a B road, hmmm, sometimes. Let us not forget the weight of the C63 (and an M3/4 for that matter). I was travelling briskly down a Cornish B road and could not shake off the lights behind me on a damp evening, only to be overtaken on the next straight by a well-driven RS6 V10. I have never taken my car on a track so cannot comment there.
Does it really need a diff? - Apparently yes. Every review I have read from PH to EVO to Autocar to Chris Harria says that it's a must have and I respect their judgment far more than mine. When buying my car, as with any purchase, I made sure that for subsequent resale my car had the HK Stereo, Slippy diff and power pack fitted. As a result I was very lucky and ended up with a car fitted with virtually every option fitted - Speed Pack, Carbon Pack, PPP, HK, COMMAND, sunroof etc..
Is the updated suspension of the PPP just too hard for everyday driving? - I would say no, not at all. My wife would disagree with me! Our previous daily driver was a Renaulsport Megane 250 and that was for me on the cusp of acceptability with every pothole sending the whole car dipping into the hole in true racecar fashion but then on the one track expedition I undertook it was exceptional. I think the C63 PPP suspension is not as stiff as the RS250 and as long as you drive around the big potholes and submerged manhole covers it is very comfy (trying to ignore the most comfortable seats I have ever experienced of course). My wife thinks it is too stiff, my newborn son seemingly loves it and falls to sleep all the time. Worth pointing out that the 19" wheels are in fact seemingly made from tin foil and they hate pot holes, I have just replaced all four. Or is it the suspension....:shrugs:
Is it the best car I have ever owned? - Aside from my blue shouty thing obviously, it is easily the best car I have ever owned by quite a huge margin. Alas I know which side of my bread is buttered and SWMBO was always going to win the suspension discussion and the family wagon will likely be turning into a Range Rover Sport in the summer. Would I come back to an AMG at some point in the future? I hope so. Would I make it a C63? For sure!
IMHO I also think the Pre-Facelift cars looks so much better, but yes the interior is not anywhere near as sharp (still not that bad though!).
Thanks for the info so far. I have my eye on a 2014 C63 with around 7k miles on the clock , it will turn one year old at the end of the month, does it need a service? Are the intervals 12 or 24 month? Also are the tyres likely to be finished at that mileage , probably too few miles to change them yet, but I can't imagine there being much meat left. The dealer has said they are fine but they all say that. Thanks.
There was a guy today when I was in Newark town centre showing off in one just constantly revving it as he was driving around and the noise it made was awesome! 
I would imagine most people thought he was a total clown but I loved it and I used to do exactly the same when I had my TVR! 
I would imagine most people thought he was a total clown but I loved it and I used to do exactly the same when I had my TVR! Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff