C63 as a daily ?

[nick996tt]

I'm thinking of buying a 2015/6 C63, probably saloon and using as a daily driver. I had an M4 and more recently a GT-R. I found the M4 ride (and seats) very hard and although handling was brilliant, it never felt in any way relaxing to drive. So.... I wondered what C63 owners thought in terms of ride quality and every day useability.

Cheers
Nick

[VX0075]

Hi,

I don't have a new shape (4.0) c63 but I daily an old 6.2 2012 car and use it to drop the kids off at nursery and collect most days.

Ride wise, its pretty hard (I have the 19" wheels)...I would say its pretty hard suspension/ride (compared to my Jag XFR) previous. Was thinking of moving to a GTR but kids won't fit in the back comfortably...C63 felt harder than the GTR I test drove in normal mode.

However I don't mind the hard ride, as when making progress its a nice feeling, feels quite planted for a RWD.

All the best!

[BigR]

I do (more or less). In comfort mode its fine, its firmer than your average car, but certainly not uncomfortably so, and cruises along effortlessly and quietly. And when you get bored you can press the magic buttons and have an awful lot more fun!

The only downside is that its not exactly economical, but then I guess you'd be aware of that. On a careful motorway cruise I can get 30mpg out of it, but realistically on a day to day basis its more around the 25ish mark.

[nick996tt]

Thanks very much for the replies/info. Drove one today and loved it. I know that ride comfort is very subjective but I thought the c63 was brilliant - so much more compliant than the M4 which was harsh and very fidgety. But handling didn't seem compromised. It reminded me of the 997TT i had some years ago that seemed to absorb bumps etc on crap B roads like witchcraft.

Interior is fantastic, and the sound amazing and I really think it's the closest thing to an all rounder you can get (there's always some compromise). I've had an RS3 and RS4 before but rides were rock hard and mpg horrific and drive and sound were relatively dull.

In 2003 I had an E55 amg which i sold after a couple of months - epically fast in a straight line, but tried to kill me whenever i went round a corner and in the wet it was plain lethal. With the progression of tech over the years and clever diffs etc etc, i really think MB have nailed it now.

I'm buying the one i drive today which is black, matt black cross spoke 19s, premium, perf exhaust etc etc.

Cheers
Nick

[Captain Smerc]

BigR said:

I do (more or less). In comfort mode its fine, its firmer than your average car, but certainly not uncomfortably so, and cruises along effortlessly and quietly. And when you get bored you can press the magic buttons and have an awful lot more fun!

The only downside is that its not exactly economical, but then I guess you'd be aware of that. On a careful motorway cruise I can get 30mpg out of it, but realistically on a day to day basis its more around the 25ish mark.

How in God's name do you achieve 30 mpg ? I've often seen 25 on a run and averaging 19.9 , which I'm very happy with considering the near constant urge to 'bring the noise'

[Terminator X]

RS3 now has optional mag ride so you can soften it to "comfort" or dial it up to "dynamic".

TX.

[mike_e]

Captain Smerc said:

How in God's name do you achieve 30 mpg ? I've often seen 25 on a run and averaging 19.9 , which I'm very happy with considering the near constant urge to 'bring the noise'

Can be done, well almost!

[nick996tt]

I'll take a look at the manual when I get the car, but can you put regular unleaded in the C63? I always use tesco 99 or shell V power (failing that, super UL) , but i've got a couple of road trips coming up in Wales and Scotland and in some places you're lucky if you can get coal or logs for fuel :O)

[krisdelta]

I have a C63 Wagon as a daily - the ride is firm, but not as firm as my previous Z4M and very similar to my old V8V, if you're looking for any semblence of economy, look elsewhere. I am currently averaging 18mpg pottling around with youngsters on-board. It is however an brilliant car, refined and well equiped as standard with a silly turn of speed when you're 1-up.

I am planning to get some 18" wheels to improve the ride a little.

[JimmyR1]

Perhaps still relevant to the OP but I am replying to the last post.
I would try to drive a C63 with the 18 inch wheels before shelling out for 18 inch wheels. I have owned a pre FL with 18s and a post FL C63 with 19s and my seat of the pants impression was that any difference in ride quality was pretty small. Road/tyre noise and steering feel? Yes perhaps. I reckon you are as well off running lower inflation pressures to see if this changes things for you.

[swilding]

I've a C63 with the new 4 litre turbo charged engine. Its a non S car in estate form. Absolutely great as a everyday car. Just do it. Just make sure you get the switchable sports exhaust for the noise. Every journey is an event. I've hardly used some of the other toy cars in the garage since I've had it.

Edited to add that the ride is great in comfort. Perfectly useable everyday. I tend to use S+ and then switch the suspension to comfort.

[nick996tt]

swilding said:

I've a C63 with the new 4 litre turbo charged engine. Its a non S car in estate form. Absolutely great as a everyday car. Just do it. Just make sure you get the switchable sports exhaust for the noise. Every journey is an event. I've hardly used some of the other toy cars in the garage since I've had it.

Very interesting and exactly what i wanted to know. I'm collecting on Tues the one I test drove. It's not an S and its the saloon. I think the coupe looks better, but for me the character of the car suits saloon or estate. The perf exhaust was a must and the car i'm having is well specced with cross spoke 19's (i was surprised that the ride was so good). My thinking was at some point a GAD map can give me another 100hp if i really wanted it (unlikely). I've had quite a few cars inc 1M, 968CS track car, four 911's, 996tt , 997tt, rs3 rs4, a few m3's an m4 etc etc. For cornering the gtr was outright amazing, but all the downsides outweighed the performance for me. The M4 i had for 4 mths and was very disappointing ( unless on track). It's impossible to say after just a short test drive, but i won't be surprised if the C63 is the best car i've had, taking all things into consideration. I cannot wait to pick it up!

Here's another (dumb) question... when you start up, does it remember the settings you had last time, or (like the M cars) re-set to default settings every time?

Cheers

[swilding]

nick996tt said:

when you start up, does it remember the settings you had last time, or (like the M cars) re-set to default settings every time?

It does remember the setting for a short period. Not sure how long to be honest. But lets say if the car was still unto temperature. But when i return to the car in the morning or after work its usually back in comfort.I just switch to individual every time i start the car. Settings for me were sport+ for everything apart from suspension in comfort. Then select manual shifting when i want to press on. Exhaust on all the time!

Enjoy

[nick996tt]

swilding said:

.I just switch to individual every time i start the car. Settings for me were sport+ for everything apart from suspension in comfort. Then select manual shifting when i want to press on. Exhaust on all the time!

I'll almost certainly do exactly the same.


Thanks very much.

[krisdelta]

JimmyR1 said:

Perhaps still relevant to the OP but I am replying to the last post.
I would try to drive a C63 with the 18 inch wheels before shelling out for 18 inch wheels. I have owned a pre FL with 18s and a post FL C63 with 19s and my seat of the pants impression was that any difference in ride quality was pretty small. Road/tyre noise and steering feel? Yes perhaps. I reckon you are as well off running lower inflation pressures to see if this changes things for you.

Thanks Jimmy - appreciate it

[BigR]

swilding said:

It does remember the setting for a short period. Not sure how long to be honest. But lets say if the car was still unto temperature. But when i return to the car in the morning or after work its usually back in comfort.I just switch to individual every time i start the car. Settings for me were sport+ for everything apart from suspension in comfort. Then select manual shifting when i want to press on. Exhaust on all the time!

Enjoy

I think its after 4hrs of not being used that it resets.

As an aside, mine is the Saloon (non S) and doesn't have the optional exhaust button. However, I borrowed one which did and I must say mine sounded better and more raucous, once in Sport+ mode. I'm not sure why, but I seem to have a really raspy exhaust, which is epic on the down change. Perhaps they accidentally drilled a few holes in it or something :-)

[BigR]

Captain Smerc said:

How in God's name do you achieve 30 mpg ? I've often seen 25 on a run and averaging 19.9 , which I'm very happy with considering the near constant urge to 'bring the noise'

Have you the V8 twin turbo, or the earlier model? I've never seen mine average below 20, even when driving it in a somewhat more 'flamboyant' fashion.

[Zanderman]

I currently have a 2016 non S saloon as my daily drive and its a great car. Can get all the family in it, is fairly comfortable in comfort mode and in sports + mode is just mental. I have no sports exhaust and in sports + mode it snarls, cracks and pops more than you could ever need, I have never wished it sounded more agressive!!

I am looking to change mine soon but just thinking about moving to a 'super' GT type car. Of this type I think the C63 is hard to beat!

[Captain Smerc]

BigR said:

Have you the V8 twin turbo, or the earlier model? I've never seen mine average below 20, even when driving it in a somewhat more 'flamboyant' fashion.

W204 6.3 (I know , it's really a 6.2) It's doing what I thought mpg wise , about double on a run compared to what I get round town . But , whatever I have to put in it is more than worth it

[BigR]

Captain Smerc said:

W204 6.3 (I know , it's really a 6.2) It's doing what I thought mpg wise , about double on a run compared to what I get round town . But , whatever I have to put in it is more than worth it

Well that absolutely goes without saying!!!