Thursday 4th August 2011

Driven: Mercedes C63 AMG Estate

Minor tweaks for Merc's C-class super-estate - is it still as good as ever?

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Nothing new here...

As every chef (or diner, for that matter) knows, a judiciously applied sprinkling of salt can transform a dish. The ingredients remain the same, but a spot of salt can markedly improve your experience of already-present flavours.

So it is with the new Mercedes C63 AMG, which now receives the mid-life refresh that was applied to the rest of the rest of the C-class range back in the spring.

Essentially, that means a mild nose-job, with reworked headlamps, and a spruced-up interior. On the C63 there's also a newly styled bonnet, with an angular 'power' hump similar to the treatment of the C63 AMG Coupe's bonnet, where once were two bulbous, bulging lines.

...or here...

But by far the most significant change for the C63 is the new gearbox. The old 7G tronic has been replaced by Merc's latest MCT-7 gearbox (which you'll also find, among other places, in the C63 AMG coupe).

The main technological difference is that the torque converter of the old car has been dropped in favour of a wet start-up clutch. This means that shifts between ratios are faster and more decisive. It's only a relatively minor change, but it has quite a significant effect the way the whole car feels.

Where the otherwise much-beloved C63 AMG on the PH Fleet can occasionally feel a little disjointed (searching for a ratio in automatic mode, or taking too long to give you one when requested it via the wheel-mounted paddles), the new gearbox is much more intuitive, helpful even. In essence, you are in the right gear quicker, more smoothly and for longer with the MCT-7 whichever of the four gearbox modes you pick (Comfort Sport, Sport Plus and Manual).

...ah, so that's what they've done...

Our only gripe is that Sport Plus is perhaps a little too eager to provide maximum engine braking by changing down super-early, but this would doubtless be most useful on a track - and you can save Sport Plus for just that eventuality.

The glorious 451bhp 6.2-litre V8 carries on unchanged, too, so other than that minor niggle, the new transmission adds an extra layer of sheen to what is already a polished - and deeply appealing - riot of a V8 estate (and saloon, for that matter), albeit one with a marginally lumpen ride at lower speeds. Oh, and the new dash is much more befitting of what can easily become a £70k car if you plunder the options list too heavily, while the redesigned steering wheel is both a pleasant thing to hold and to behold.

The facelifted of the C63, in short, does exactly what a good facelift ought to: improves upon the flavour without spoiling the taste. Delicious.

 

 

[MagicalTrevor]

I have to say, I like that very much! Not normally a Merc fan but have a real soft spot for the C63 AMG, especially in it's estate guise

[JCW]

I actually think Mercedes produce better cars than BMW these days; certainly better uber-Estates than their German counterparts.

[5MUG]

I still think it looks dated compared to others in it's class.

[UltimaCH]

I like and want but roll on Euromillion

[MagicalTrevor]

JCW said:

I actually think Mercedes produce better cars than BMW these days; certainly better uber-Estates than their German counterparts.

I've never driven a Merc so I can't comment on that but I just can't get over the (IMO) hideous nose on the latest breed of cars



whereas the old SL had quite a nice, maybe 'soft' nose to it.

[skilly1]

Great car, but feel the interior lets it down. Very busy and crap plastics.

[AyBee]

I'm a BMW fan but I really like this

[A Scotsman]

skilly1 said:

Great car, but feel the interior lets it down. Very busy and crap plastics.

I agree.... Particularly don't like all that chrome on the steering wheel.

[MattDell]

This article clears up why I had thought our PH C63 had changed to a German number plate.

[Scooby P1]

MagicalTrevor said:

I've never driven a Merc so I can't comment on that but I just can't get over the (IMO) hideous nose on the latest breed of cars



whereas the old SL had quite a nice, maybe 'soft' nose to it.

Agree with several points. The C63 estate is one of the nicest looking mercs they have ever made.
But agree with MagicalTrevor that the SL facelift is HIDEOUS. Nothing would make me buy one. If i was given one i'd sell it without even driving it. AMG or not.
Dont make the same mistake with the C63 Mercedes!

[E21_Ross]

interior looks like a nice place to be to be honest. i'm not a fan of the front end straight on, i think it's a bit vulgar to be honest, but at least it's not bland. absolutely lovely car and if you want a small fast estate BMW or Audi don't offer anything any more so it practically makes this the default choice.

[sv]

Nice. Judging by the pictures, though, it's a PPP-equipped car that was driven which means that the bhp figure in the text is slightly understated.

[M4RK1986]

Iv always had a soft spot for estate cars and this is the bees knees. Would look good in white to

[Hellbound]

Just went out and poured some salt in the petrol tank. Hope it works when I drive home later.

As for the new SL nose, I think they've made them more menacing compared to the old car. Especially in dark colours.

[IanO]

In my dream garage this is my daily driver alongside the usual line up of exotica.

[MagicalTrevor]

sv said:

Nice. Judging by the pictures, though, it's a PPP-equipped car that was driven which means that the bhp figure in the text is slightly understated.

[FamilyDub]

I actually really like these revised lamps on recent Benzs' at the moment...

What I don't like is it seems every manufacturer is doing these silly aluminium-effect bits down each side of the bottom steering wheel spoke... cheapens the look of the wheel IMO.

[GFWilliams]

MattDell said:

This article clears up why I had thought our PH C63 had changed to a German number plate.

Riggers - you missed the money shot of the two C63 estates next to each other in the PH car park

[rob.e]

GFWilliams said:

Riggers - you missed the money shot of the two C63 estates next to each other in the PH car park

Yep, that's what this article is missing i think - side by side, before and after pics.

[rob.e]

ha ha.. just for a giggle i popped one of these in to comcar so see what it would work out for compared to my Vrs wagon company car - er.. an additional £1,100 per month. Ouch!

Vrs has a bigger boot anyway..