Tuesday 14th July 2015

Mercedes C63 AMG Estate: Spotted

A C63 wagon with the all important limited-slip diff, a great spec and a price less than £25K - winner!

---

The Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is a car that's often being discussed around PistonHeads. Dan's long-term 507 wagon remains sorely missed by all who experienced it, AMG driving experiences on-road and off it have shown the car off perfectly and it's just, well, quite fabulous actually. That there is a new car, the AMG-C63, now available simply proffers another opportunity to talk about a PH icon.

6.3 litres (OK, 6.2) in a C-Class; still mad

This is not to besmirch the already excellent reputation of the new C63 by crowing on about the old days; that's clearly a very good car and tangibly improved in all the important areas. Instead, it's chance to celebrate the car that really established AMG as a genuine M rival, its pugnacious character and also that engine. Just once more. Plus with the earliest cars now alluringly close to £20,000, it's probably a car worth revisiting.

This car appealed because its spec is nigh-on perfect. What do you want from a C63? Got to be an estate, hasn't it? Rarer, cooler and more practical. Crucially though, the limited-slip diff is a must too. Not for extravagant oversteer from every roundabout but because it allows the power to reach the road more smoothly and makes the C63's dynamics more incisive. Obviously if you want extravagant oversteer from every roundabout...

Here we have an estate with the differential and a whole lot more as part of a £12K option splurge when new. Furthermore, despite the popularity of the C63 to find one thus equipped is hard; there are just 17 in the PH classifieds with the LSD, and only two estates. If you can stretch to the facelift then it's considered worthwhile with the nav improvements.

Here is where the giveaways start

But then this pre-facelift '63 is £24,000, so not only is a very nice specification but also one of the cheapest cars available. Win-win, right? Certainly sounds that way with a full service history (it will be sold with a fresh 'A' service), a safe colour combo and reasonable miles.

Yes, it will continue to depreciate and of course fuelling that M156 V8 is never going to be cheap but all the best things in life tend to cost, don't they? It's a very tempting car; for AMG enthusiasts, for the family man still keen to have some fun, for the (really) fast estate connoisseur.

Ah yes, the fast estate. There's just something about them, isn't there? And of course the C63 isn't the only V8 German uberwagon with more than 400hp. Though they were never on sale at the same time, it's hard to mention the C63 without considering the B7 Audi RS4 also. £24,000 buys this stunning black Avant, with a V8 that revs even higher and a manual gearbox too. Or if the additional size (and probably more fuel) isn't an issue, there's a lot of M5 Touring available for the same money as well. We've never had it so good!

---

MERCEDES-BENZ C63 AMG
Engine: 6,208cc V8
Transmission: 7-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 457@6,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 443@5,000rpm
MPG: 23.1mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 285g/km
First registered: 2009
Recorded mileage: 64,000
Price new: £55,875
Yours for: £24,000

See the original advert here.

[FastRich]

I see the RS4 is being sold by Southern Sky. I bought my M3 from them - what an utterly fantastic experience and set up they have. If anyone's in the market for an RS4 wagon, you need to be calling these guys!

[FastRich]

^^ Agree. They did me a good deal too, gave a decent P/Ex price, fitted the car with new rear tyres (Michelin Cups - the right tyres) and new front discs & pads, using BMW parts. The car was presented beautifully too, when I picked it up I felt guilty as it was utterly perfect and couldn't help but think "this is criminal, it should be in a museum"...Then drove it enthusiastically and realised I was wrong

[FastRich]

Ross350 said:

The fog lights seem to have a mind of their own (they're on, they're off or just one of then is on!)

Is that not part of a cornering lighting function? I.e. does one or the other come on when you're going round a corner? It could be supposed to do that....