Help! C63, A45 or RS3???
Discussion
Hi Guys,
New to PH, but need a little help/advice/ideas on a couple of cars.
Within the next 2-3 months I'll be looking to buy, but haven't yet decided what. I've had my eye on a C63 for some time not, looking around the £35k mark. Should be able to get a good '12 to '13 for that sort of price. Been looking at them from Mercedes Approved Used on a PCP deal, approx. £5k down and then around £500 a month.
Is there any better way of financing, such as a car loan rather than Merc's massive APR?
I'm also on the verge of turning 25, will be by the time I've bought one, any cheaper insurers you could recommend?
Also looked at the A45, and going to look at the new RS3, assuming better APR on new cars? Thoughts on this?
And thoughts on a similar sort of car?
Apologies for the barrage of questions, but any opinions would be gratefully received!
SW.
New to PH, but need a little help/advice/ideas on a couple of cars.
Within the next 2-3 months I'll be looking to buy, but haven't yet decided what. I've had my eye on a C63 for some time not, looking around the £35k mark. Should be able to get a good '12 to '13 for that sort of price. Been looking at them from Mercedes Approved Used on a PCP deal, approx. £5k down and then around £500 a month.
Is there any better way of financing, such as a car loan rather than Merc's massive APR?
I'm also on the verge of turning 25, will be by the time I've bought one, any cheaper insurers you could recommend?
Also looked at the A45, and going to look at the new RS3, assuming better APR on new cars? Thoughts on this?
And thoughts on a similar sort of car?
Apologies for the barrage of questions, but any opinions would be gratefully received!
SW.
I was in a similar situation 8 months ago, although I was looking at C63 / RS5 / Jag F-type... I went with the C63 in the end purely down to personal preference after driving all 3. Never driven the A45 or RS3, as hatches have never appealed to me, but they're both supposed to be great cars.
Regarding the best way of borrowing the money, I think that would depend on what options are available to you at the time and what movement you can get from Merc / a bank etc. You should definitely push them as far as they will go if you're financing the car though, as there's always room for a bit more movement. Always study the numbers and get a feel for the overall deal based on GFV etc, very easy to get blinded by the fact you're moments away from getting your hands on a quality motor
I too was 25 when I bought the C63 and got a suspiciously good price from QuoteMeHappy for my insurance. Around £500 for the year. Didn't really ring around, just did an online quote and took best price. I had 4 years no claims but 3 points. Quotes that low were few and far between though!
I can honestly say that I've never driven anything which is quite so good in every respect as the C63. Running costs excluded! It is the last of a dying breed of big naturally aspirated V8s, and it's an absolute monster. All down to opinion though I guess!! Good luck with it
Regarding the best way of borrowing the money, I think that would depend on what options are available to you at the time and what movement you can get from Merc / a bank etc. You should definitely push them as far as they will go if you're financing the car though, as there's always room for a bit more movement. Always study the numbers and get a feel for the overall deal based on GFV etc, very easy to get blinded by the fact you're moments away from getting your hands on a quality motor
I too was 25 when I bought the C63 and got a suspiciously good price from QuoteMeHappy for my insurance. Around £500 for the year. Didn't really ring around, just did an online quote and took best price. I had 4 years no claims but 3 points. Quotes that low were few and far between though!
I can honestly say that I've never driven anything which is quite so good in every respect as the C63. Running costs excluded! It is the last of a dying breed of big naturally aspirated V8s, and it's an absolute monster. All down to opinion though I guess!! Good luck with it
Thanks for the reply! I had considered an RS5, and would like to try one before making a decision. But had a look around a C63 at the weekend and when I started it up i felt my hairs stand on end. RS5 would have to be pretty special to top that sound.
Yeah I looked at the bank, for around the same monthly payments as PCP I could buy the car without the final balloon payment always looming overhead. And then have peace of mind that I could sell the car at any time and not rely on Mercedes's valuation.
That's a really good price actually, I don't have any no claims apart from a named driver on a car, I wrote my Harley off a year or so ago, which begs the question if a motorcycle policy counts along with a car one. But I've started to see a trend in that I like big shouty things that are expensive to run ha! I've just done the standard Go Compare search and got it to around £800, telematics was obviously cheaper but F**K THAT!
That's good to hear, and I honestly haven't heard of anyone that has a bad word about them. Not too fussed about running costs as I do minimal mileage and can't really put a price on enjoyment. Guy in the merc garage did worry me when he said that I'd get about 7-8k miles out of the rears.
But thanks for the reply.
SW
Yeah I looked at the bank, for around the same monthly payments as PCP I could buy the car without the final balloon payment always looming overhead. And then have peace of mind that I could sell the car at any time and not rely on Mercedes's valuation.
That's a really good price actually, I don't have any no claims apart from a named driver on a car, I wrote my Harley off a year or so ago, which begs the question if a motorcycle policy counts along with a car one. But I've started to see a trend in that I like big shouty things that are expensive to run ha! I've just done the standard Go Compare search and got it to around £800, telematics was obviously cheaper but F**K THAT!
That's good to hear, and I honestly haven't heard of anyone that has a bad word about them. Not too fussed about running costs as I do minimal mileage and can't really put a price on enjoyment. Guy in the merc garage did worry me when he said that I'd get about 7-8k miles out of the rears.
But thanks for the reply.
SW
As somebody who has had both the C63 and A45 i think you need to decide what tricks you want your car to perform.
C63: Awesome machine, very capable, sounds lovely, status etc. But not that much fun around town or on busy roads. Just too big an engine to enjoy at legal speeds. Rear tyres don't last long but that engine gives a real sense of reliability and ability.
A45: Doesn't have the banging V8 of the 63 but the little 4 pot turbo does impress aurally. Pops and bangs galore. Interior quality is better than the C63, fuel is better, it's easier to drive around town and with the performance exhaust ticked you can either pootle quietly around or apply the beans and make a racket. It is a quicker car than the C63 with a better box too. Add a stage 1 piggyback map and you are looking at 3.6s to 60 and 8.8 to 100. Much quicker than the C63 even when mapped.
As for the RS3. Having read only reviews I won't say anything other than go drive one. It's a different animal with different targets to the merc.
Eddie
C63: Awesome machine, very capable, sounds lovely, status etc. But not that much fun around town or on busy roads. Just too big an engine to enjoy at legal speeds. Rear tyres don't last long but that engine gives a real sense of reliability and ability.
A45: Doesn't have the banging V8 of the 63 but the little 4 pot turbo does impress aurally. Pops and bangs galore. Interior quality is better than the C63, fuel is better, it's easier to drive around town and with the performance exhaust ticked you can either pootle quietly around or apply the beans and make a racket. It is a quicker car than the C63 with a better box too. Add a stage 1 piggyback map and you are looking at 3.6s to 60 and 8.8 to 100. Much quicker than the C63 even when mapped.
As for the RS3. Having read only reviews I won't say anything other than go drive one. It's a different animal with different targets to the merc.
Eddie
Those insurance quotes are insane!! My wife and I are both old as fook (over 40) with Max no claims, live in the country, car parked on the drive etc etc and put premium (with Merc Insurance) is over a grand!!
Had a C63 and went to E63. E63 was cheaper on the insurance. Just gone back to C63 and the premium has gone up again.
How can a 25yr old with no no claims discount be £800??????
Had a C63 and went to E63. E63 was cheaper on the insurance. Just gone back to C63 and the premium has gone up again.
How can a 25yr old with no no claims discount be £800??????
Those insurance quotes are insane!! My wife and I are both old as fook (over 40) with Max no claims, live in the country, car parked on the drive etc etc and put premium (with Merc Insurance) is over a grand!!
Had a C63 and went to E63. E63 was cheaper on the insurance. Just gone back to C63 and the premium has gone up again.
How can a 25yr old with no no claims discount be £800??????
Had a C63 and went to E63. E63 was cheaper on the insurance. Just gone back to C63 and the premium has gone up again.
How can a 25yr old with no no claims discount be £800??????
jackwood said:
Those insurance quotes are insane!! My wife and I are both old as fook (over 40) with Max no claims, live in the country, car parked on the drive etc etc and put premium (with Merc Insurance) is over a grand!!
Had a C63 and went to E63. E63 was cheaper on the insurance. Just gone back to C63 and the premium has gone up again.
How can a 25yr old with no no claims discount be £800??????
Crikey Jack, do you live in Baghdad? Thats outrageous. Had a C63 and went to E63. E63 was cheaper on the insurance. Just gone back to C63 and the premium has gone up again.
How can a 25yr old with no no claims discount be £800??????
For context, I'm not quite dead yet (36) and have just been quoted £691 to insure my GT S for me and the other half (who is 30).
She has just been quoted £780 for her new GLE63 Coupe, again covering both of us.
Eddie - you say the A45 interior quality is better than the C63 - was this a mistype?
I had a couple of months in two A45's earlier this year, both brand new (sub 100 miles on the clock when I was given them) and both rattled and buzzed from a variety of places (instrument panel, B Pillars and front door trims) right from the off, and got noticeably worse after a couple of k's. Tremendously good fun to drive, probably one of the fastest point to point cars I've driven but I reckon the quality of trim in both examples is potentially the worst I've experience in any new car in recent years.
I'd bite their hands off at £800 for insurance with no NCB!
I took out gap insurance also (got up-sold it with the car purchase). Probably a bit of a con, but seemed worth it at the time.
I would also agree with the C63 interior not being quite up to scratch. It certainly isn't bad, but it's not the best of all the cars I've owned, and it's by far the most valuable car. I do think this maybe just applies to Mercedes in general though.
Just to clarify, there is the odd creak every now and again, and some bits feel a bit plastic-y. It's certainly a step up from the standard C-class though (as it should be). It's still a great place to be, with a lot of nice touches - the seat belts giving you a little squeeze when you put them on etc (might be common nowadays but new to me!).
It just feels classy and simple. In contrast with the RS5 which was full of buttons and settings. Being a computer geek I genuinely thought the Audi would be right up my street but I much prefer the simplicity of the 63.
I've just put a set of rears on, so I'll be interested to see how long they last (ones on the car were slightly worn when I got it). Fortunately they're not 'too' expensive, certainly not compared to the runflats I had to put on my previous BMW!
I took out gap insurance also (got up-sold it with the car purchase). Probably a bit of a con, but seemed worth it at the time.
I would also agree with the C63 interior not being quite up to scratch. It certainly isn't bad, but it's not the best of all the cars I've owned, and it's by far the most valuable car. I do think this maybe just applies to Mercedes in general though.
Just to clarify, there is the odd creak every now and again, and some bits feel a bit plastic-y. It's certainly a step up from the standard C-class though (as it should be). It's still a great place to be, with a lot of nice touches - the seat belts giving you a little squeeze when you put them on etc
(might be common nowadays but new to me!).It just feels classy and simple. In contrast with the RS5 which was full of buttons and settings. Being a computer geek I genuinely thought the Audi would be right up my street but I much prefer the simplicity of the 63.
I've just put a set of rears on, so I'll be interested to see how long they last (ones on the car were slightly worn when I got it). Fortunately they're not 'too' expensive, certainly not compared to the runflats I had to put on my previous BMW!
i can throw in a curve ball.
i handed back my fully loaded 2012 CLS63 back in may in that listed at around 93K when optioned up, such as radar cruise, ventilated/massage seats, full leather upgrade etc etc, I had 16k on the clock, gtechniq new car detail protected for 5 years paint etc. Hand back price was 38k. Dealer would not offer me that.
anyway saw my car a few weeks back at Stevenage Mercedes. at around 40k (tenerite grey).
faster than than everything you have mentioned and will get a lot more attention (in my eyes) , and also more economical than the C63.
cheers
i handed back my fully loaded 2012 CLS63 back in may in that listed at around 93K when optioned up, such as radar cruise, ventilated/massage seats, full leather upgrade etc etc, I had 16k on the clock, gtechniq new car detail protected for 5 years paint etc. Hand back price was 38k. Dealer would not offer me that.
anyway saw my car a few weeks back at Stevenage Mercedes. at around 40k (tenerite grey).
faster than than everything you have mentioned and will get a lot more attention (in my eyes) , and also more economical than the C63.
cheers
m2m said:
i can throw in a curve ball.
i handed back my fully loaded 2012 CLS63 back in may in that listed at around 93K when optioned up, such as radar cruise, ventilated/massage seats, full leather upgrade etc etc, I had 16k on the clock, gtechniq new car detail protected for 5 years paint etc. Hand back price was 38k. Dealer would not offer me that.
anyway saw my car a few weeks back at Stevenage Mercedes. at around 40k (tenerite grey).
faster than than everything you have mentioned and will get a lot more attention (in my eyes) , and also more economical than the C63.
cheers
Heard good things about the cls63. good value at sub 40k.i handed back my fully loaded 2012 CLS63 back in may in that listed at around 93K when optioned up, such as radar cruise, ventilated/massage seats, full leather upgrade etc etc, I had 16k on the clock, gtechniq new car detail protected for 5 years paint etc. Hand back price was 38k. Dealer would not offer me that.
anyway saw my car a few weeks back at Stevenage Mercedes. at around 40k (tenerite grey).
faster than than everything you have mentioned and will get a lot more attention (in my eyes) , and also more economical than the C63.
cheers
£35-36k will also get you an audi S7 which also look lovely.
jackwood said:
Those insurance quotes are insane!! My wife and I are both old as fook (over 40) with Max no claims, live in the country, car parked on the drive etc etc and put premium (with Merc Insurance) is over a grand!!
Had a C63 and went to E63. E63 was cheaper on the insurance. Just gone back to C63 and the premium has gone up again.
How can a 25yr old with no no claims discount be £800??????
MB Insurance is a rip-off though - they quoted me £5k for my C63 and I was 37, max no claims, no convictions, car on drive etc, the only driver of high cost that I can think of is that I lived in London. Most other quotes were in the range of £400 - £800.Had a C63 and went to E63. E63 was cheaper on the insurance. Just gone back to C63 and the premium has gone up again.
How can a 25yr old with no no claims discount be £800??????
I couldn't help myself but laugh when they asked whether I wanted to proceed with the policy...
jackwood said:
Those insurance quotes are insane!! My wife and I are both old as fook (over 40) with Max no claims, live in the country, car parked on the drive etc etc and put premium (with Merc Insurance) is over a grand!!
Had a C63 and went to E63. E63 was cheaper on the insurance. Just gone back to C63 and the premium has gone up again.
How can a 25yr old with no no claims discount be £800??????
MB Insurance is a rip-off though - they quoted me £5k for my C63 and I was 37, max no claims, no convictions, car on drive etc, the only driver of high cost that I can think of is that I lived in London. Most other quotes were in the range of £400 - £800.Had a C63 and went to E63. E63 was cheaper on the insurance. Just gone back to C63 and the premium has gone up again.
How can a 25yr old with no no claims discount be £800??????
I couldn't help myself but laugh when they asked whether I wanted to proceed with the policy...
Are we talking new car or old car??
RS3 = not a chance for me, nothing remotely exciting about that car and it's on a very old chassis and interior
A45 = overpriced and not worth the £££ in my opinion, certainly doesn't have the interior quality of the RS3. Quick but a bit one dimensional and I think it would bore after a while (I am talking stock)
C63 = epic engine, and contrary to what others have said, the C63 is a special occasion whenever you get in the car and fire up that 6.2 V8 - the sound even at slow speed in town is epic, letting off in 1st or 2nd with all the deep crackles and pops from the exhaust is childish and fun. The mpg isn't fun though, but the car is certainly worth paying the extra for.
On a side note I drove the new C63-S back to back with the CLA45 on Saturday and not only was the C63-S a truly amazing machine it made me wonder why anyone would buy a CLA45. Given the small price difference when specced similarly.
The C63-S was an absolute monster, a complete rocket ship. All the perceived negatives with the old C63 have been resolved - better mpg, better interior (nicer than the M4 too), better gear change. What an epic car - I drove the S63 and E63 on the same day and the new C63-S is easily Mercedes greatest ever all round achievement in my opinion.
RS3 = not a chance for me, nothing remotely exciting about that car and it's on a very old chassis and interior
A45 = overpriced and not worth the £££ in my opinion, certainly doesn't have the interior quality of the RS3. Quick but a bit one dimensional and I think it would bore after a while (I am talking stock)
C63 = epic engine, and contrary to what others have said, the C63 is a special occasion whenever you get in the car and fire up that 6.2 V8 - the sound even at slow speed in town is epic, letting off in 1st or 2nd with all the deep crackles and pops from the exhaust is childish and fun. The mpg isn't fun though, but the car is certainly worth paying the extra for.
On a side note I drove the new C63-S back to back with the CLA45 on Saturday and not only was the C63-S a truly amazing machine it made me wonder why anyone would buy a CLA45. Given the small price difference when specced similarly.
The C63-S was an absolute monster, a complete rocket ship. All the perceived negatives with the old C63 have been resolved - better mpg, better interior (nicer than the M4 too), better gear change. What an epic car - I drove the S63 and E63 on the same day and the new C63-S is easily Mercedes greatest ever all round achievement in my opinion.
I had a similar dilema not so long ago...A45 or c63 507. Drove both many times, back to back, even took the a45 on a track day AND threw the c63s into the mix! The 507 won out as although it's an outgoing car and probably not as fast as the 45 on track, it's an icon, is better built and specced (imo) and will be more fun to use.
RS3 is dull as dish water...even typing about it make..yawn.
Depends what you want, a45 also for me is a little boy racer now, I'm 37 and will be touching 40 when I sell on.
RS3 is dull as dish water...even typing about it make..yawn.
Depends what you want, a45 also for me is a little boy racer now, I'm 37 and will be touching 40 when I sell on.
Thanks for the replies.
I drove the A45 and then the C63 back to back and there isnt any comparison. C63 is an absolute beast. I tend to think that as soon as more used A45s come onto the market, alongwith the facelift version, there will be a hefty drop in values.
But a change in circumstances means i will have to do circa 15k miles a year. Is this feasible in a C63, or something of that nature? And i assume its better to buy a facelift model a these will be easier to sell on?
I drove the A45 and then the C63 back to back and there isnt any comparison. C63 is an absolute beast. I tend to think that as soon as more used A45s come onto the market, alongwith the facelift version, there will be a hefty drop in values.
But a change in circumstances means i will have to do circa 15k miles a year. Is this feasible in a C63, or something of that nature? And i assume its better to buy a facelift model a these will be easier to sell on?
sw28 said:
Thanks for the replies.
I drove the A45 and then the C63 back to back and there isnt any comparison. C63 is an absolute beast. I tend to think that as soon as more used A45s come onto the market, alongwith the facelift version, there will be a hefty drop in values.
But a change in circumstances means i will have to do circa 15k miles a year. Is this feasible in a C63, or something of that nature? And i assume its better to buy a facelift model a these will be easier to sell on?
We did 65k miles in 3 years in our first C63. The car is pretty much bulletproof and runnign costs, other than fuel and rear tyres, are pretty low for the level of performance. For example we only replaced the first set of brake pads at 62,000 miles. I drove the A45 and then the C63 back to back and there isnt any comparison. C63 is an absolute beast. I tend to think that as soon as more used A45s come onto the market, alongwith the facelift version, there will be a hefty drop in values.
But a change in circumstances means i will have to do circa 15k miles a year. Is this feasible in a C63, or something of that nature? And i assume its better to buy a facelift model a these will be easier to sell on?
Having had pre-facelift and now facelift cars, I would go for the facelift purely on the basis of the MCT gearbox. It is far superior to the old 'box.
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