C63...I'm in love

[crosseyedlion]

First post in the Merc section but could do with few pointers.

Went into a mercedes dealers on the weekend looking for a C250CDI coupe. Explained the C63 was my dream merc and didn't actually have a strict monthly budget.

Anyway, one thing led to another, a few test drives and a deposit was placed on a red c63 2011 edition 125 saloon, with 18's, wood trim and the driving assistance pack. Exactly the spec I would have wanted.

Eventually got approved for finance but they wanted a bigger deposit, as a contractor I wasn't comfortable doing that at this point. So im going to wait a few months put some more money by and find another c63.

I'm in love with the C63, it feels like I've finally found the car that ticks every box for me.

But I have a few questions.

-What kind of MPG are C63 owners seeing with the facelift (mct) gearbox? I'm a fairly sedate driver with occasional squirts of throttle...no hooligan.
-Are there any common problems/major potential issues/costs with them?
-When are the details of the new AMG C class going to be announced? If its soon surely just after would be a good time to buy?

Also, any advice in general. I think I want a very early facelift car (Edition 125 or similar) as, although buying on PCP, if I gel with the car I'd be looking at buying it outright in the future.

Edited by crosseyedlion on Wednesday 9th April 12:51

Edited by crosseyedlion on Wednesday 9th April 12:51

[Pib1978]

crosseyedlion said:

Went into a mercedes dealers on the weekend looking for a C250CDI coupe.

a deposit was placed on a red c63

Good man!
Shame about them moving the goal posts though.

crosseyedlion said:

-What kind of MPG are C63 owners seeing with the facelift (mct) gearbox? I'm a fairly sedate driver with occasional squirts of throttle...no hooligan.
-Are there any common problems/major potential issues/costs with them?

I just picked up a new Edition 507 and on my daily commute to work (8 miles, A-Road, counterflow to traffic) I'm getting around 18-19mpg.
Pretty much getting straight up to 50mph on leaving the house for 1.5 miles, 2 minute max wait to get out of a junction. Back up to 50mph for the next 5 miles.
Last 1.5 miles is through a residential area.

I just did a return trip from Aberdeen to Manchester and was getting around 23-24mpg average.
Best I managed the whole weekend was 24.9mpg.

Haven't owned mine long enough to comment on problems / major issues but the dashboard squeaking is apparently quite a common thing with all the C Classes; including mine!
In 4 weeks of ownership and driving it every day, the squeaking has only made itself apparent maybe 4 or 5 times and eventually goes away after a few minutes.
Sounds like one part of the trim rubbing against another and seems to be more apparent after being left overnight or on a particularly cold morning.
Its going back to Mercedes to get looked at though.

Other than that, its an absolute hoot to drive - especially when you become brave enough to turn traction control off!

[eztiger]

crosseyedlion said:

Anyway, one thing led to another

Brilliant

Good work, enjoy the car. Hope to get into one of these soon myself.

[crosseyedlion]

Pib1978 said:

Shame about them moving the goal posts though.

Yea, I was initially rejected by MB finance (possibly due to the fact that less than a year ago I was an impoverished (mature) student with a terrible credit rating, or my unusual tax-efficient income)

Blackhorse where fine though, came back with a better rate than MB!!! They just wanted a 7200 deposit instead of 1000 (so I suppose it'll never be in negative equity). I figured I'd save up for 3/4 months instead of eating into the savings that provide my job security.

Never the less I'm very excited to be getting one. The fuel consumption sounds in-line with what I expected too.

[ghibbett]

Mine has averaged 19.something (calculated) in the last 10k miles. The OBC is a little optimistic, however don't think you can granny along and achieve 30mpg. You won't. Taking it very easy you can get 25mpg, but you'd be basically just keeping up with traffic rather than enjoying the engine.

Interestingly, using the performance isn't too detrimental to the economy. On a 150 mile run which is mainly motorway / dual carriageway, plodding along will see 24-25mpg, whereas blasting along will see 21-22mpg. Might as well enjoy it!

Dashboard rattles seem to affect most cars (mine too until I got it sorted) but that's about it.

Make sure you drive cars with both 18s and 19s if you're sensitive to ride.

ETA - just seen you're based in Warwick (as am I). Feel free to pop over if you want a nose around mine.

[crosseyedlion]

ghibbett said:

Mine has averaged 19.something (calculated) in the last 10k miles. The OBC is a little optimistic, however don't think you can granny along and achieve 30mpg. You won't. Taking it very easy you can get 25mpg, but you'd be basically just keeping up with traffic rather than enjoying the engine.

Interestingly, using the performance isn't too detrimental to the economy. On a 150 mile run which is mainly motorway / dual carriageway, plodding along will see 24-25mpg, whereas blasting along will see 21-22mpg. Might as well enjoy it!

Dashboard rattles seem to affect most cars (mine too until I got it sorted) but that's about it.

Make sure you drive cars with both 18s and 19s if you're sensitive to ride.

ETA - just seen you're based in Warwick (as am I). Feel free to pop over if you want a nose around mine.

Thanks for the reply!

20mpg ish would be perfectly acceptable, Ive just come from a run of v8's and a V12 - until my current clio RS200.

I'll watch out for dashboard rattles, although I assume there's a known fix by now?

I specifically want the 18's - not a fan of compromising ride and extra unsprung weight for the hell of it. I also think the 18's suit me much better.

I've had test drives of 2 cars at MB Coventry now, but thanks for the offer!

http://inchcamercedesben3-px.rtrk.co.uk/used-car-s... this is the car I placed a deposit on and so very nearly ended up buying. Absolutely perfect (for me)

[rgw2012]

2012 facelift car - I regularly get 25 mpg on a decent run (200 miles)even when hooning along at every opportunity (avg speed ending up at about 62mph for the journey).

I get the dash rattles - didn't know there was a fix but will wait for the service coming due to get that sorted.

Servicing seems to be about £600 and you can spread the cost of that through the service plan at about £40 per month depending on the number of services you want covered.

Pads, Discs & Tyres will be costly but you sound like you're expecting that anyway.

Otherwise it is a pure grin machine and I'm seriously struggling to think of anything in the same budget that ticks so many boxes. I never keep my cars for more than about a year but this one has got under my skin and could be sticking around for longer. Enjoy it when you get one

[ghibbett]

That's a lovely looking car however...no LSD.

[steve-p]

I'm getting around 20 mpg overall which is 1 mpg better than the 5.0 XKR and XFR but 1 mpg worse than the SLK55 I've had previously (with the same usage pattern). I think economy (using the term loosely) is acceptable, but then I don't do a huge mileage these days. It will do 25+ on a longer run. Mine's nearly new, but still has occasional intermittent rattles. Tyre noise can be quite poor on some road surfaces with 19s too, and I'm sure that will translate into short tyre life. However, one thing the C63 has in spades is character, and it seems to me that isn't so easy to find in a car nowadays.

[AndyTR]

I'm getting around 24 on a run and 19 if I'm having some fun. Had my 63 for a month now and it's the exact spec I wanted, coupe, fire opal with PPP and the diff. I'm in awe of the car to be honest as it does everything well, don't find it too crashy on the 19s either.
It's a great time to buy an ex demo, got a very good deal on mine and personally I don't really care about residuals as I never want to part with it. Goes like poo off a shovel, room for four, big boot and endless smiles. Oh and the noise...a little bit of wee comes out every time I boot it

[crosseyedlion]

ghibbett said:

That's a lovely looking car however...no LSD.

Ahhh which brings another question. I'm not fussed about the LSD myself, I like the back moving a little and adjusting mid corner - but i'm not into full on journo style powerslides. I've driven plenty of the same model of car with and without an lsd, at pace. And I dont really miss it apart from on junctions.

Is the LSD really essential on this?

[TackMEU]

I see an average of 18mpg indicated, but if you calculate it, it is less, around 15. I don't do much city driving, virtually none in fact. You say you are a sedate driver? I doubt you will drive one of these sedately. You would need the patience of a saint in order to drive slowly in these.

Total running costs for me over 11000 miles this year are around £5000 or so on fuel, £700 on service, £500 road tax, £300 insurance and about £1200 on tyres (2 sets of rears and 1 set of fronts). Bear in mind that every one of those pounds is worth it to hear the noise and the velocity that accompanies it.

My car is fully loaded pp+ car with a LSD. The Pp+ is a fantastic option and I would not have a C63 without it. The LSD is not all about journalist style drifts, it's about getting the car to move forward without the traction control light being on constantly.

The spec you looked at sounds great apart from the wood trim, that would not be a popular option come resale, but you buy a car for yourself, not the next guy.

Jason

[crosseyedlion]

TackMEU said:

You say you are a sedate driver? I doubt you will drive one of these sedately. You would need the patience of a saint in order to drive slowly in these.

My day job is mostly driving/assessing even more powerful RWD cars on the road...this'll be a little step down in performance when I get in to drive home to be honest. I know I have indeed developed the patience of a saint, not to say I don't enjoy driving.

Also, the wood trim was a major attraction to that car! Really lifts the cabin imo.

I haven't yet heard any owner say anything bad about the C63, this is exciting!

[TackMEU]

crosseyedlion said:

My day job is mostly driving/assessing even more powerful RWD cars on the road...this'll be a little step down in performance when I get in to drive home to be honest. I know I have indeed developed the patience of a saint, not to say I don't enjoy driving.

Also, the wood trim was a major attraction to that car! Really lifts the cabin imo.

I haven't yet heard any owner say anything bad about the C63, this is exciting!

What do you do for a job? Sounds a great job if your drive home in a 500bhp car is a step down in performance.

To add to some of the comments, my car has no rattles or seeks whatsoever. Unless you found the squeeling from the long suffering tyres.

[ecain63]

Another satisfied Fire Opal PPP customer here. Miles of smiles (and burnt rubber).

[crosseyedlion]

TackMEU said:

What do you do for a job? Sounds a great job if your drive home in a 500bhp car is a step down in performance.

Primarily test engineer for a large british luxury, 4x4 and sportscar manufacturer (midlands based) - with my role focussing on a recently launched coupe.

Its a lovely way to make a living, although because of this I need a big v8 in my life to play with in my own time.

[Booyakajon]

On a 3 mile commute not really getting above 40mph I get 15mpg in my 507 C63 - but who cares!

[simontrent]

Could I please ask what rates they were quoting for finance. I've seend 4.9% quoted but this appears to be on new cars.

Thanks

[crosseyedlion]

simontrent said:

Could I please ask what rates they were quoting for finance. I've seend 4.9% quoted but this appears to be on new cars.

Thanks

Managed to get the rate from MB finance to 8.9%, however blackhorse subsequently offered slightly less (not sure how much though). Interestingly blackhorse was cheaper than MB, but the dealers are obliged to pursue Mercedes finance first.

When I make the move to purchase again, they'll be going straight to black horse.

[Stonic]

What's the saying. If you have to ask you can't afford it? Not being rude but the c63 is a hooligan of a car and just demands to be used. I've a number of cars and the c63 is the weapon of choice to get somewhere cross country quickly. 18-20 is probably best you get. Also managed to get a B service and brake fluid for 420 from local main dealer so servicing v cheap relative to other performance cars.