RE: God bless the V8! PH Blog

RE: God bless the V8! PH Blog

Friday 4th October 2013

God bless the V8! PH Blog

Dan does an about face; prefers his AMGs with a sod-off V8 after all



Look, I know this time last week I was waxing lyrical about new-school AMG and the A45’s clever reboot of brand values for the modern age. And I stand by that – it’s a deeply impressive car.  

But, push to shove, it’s still a skinny hazelnut latte to the ristretto hit delivered by a proper Affalterbach V8. Actually, wrong drink. The latter is more like a thick, glutinous hot chocolate. With cream. And marshmallows. In one of those cups so big it needs two handles.

Turbo four-pots impressive, V8s still better
Turbo four-pots impressive, V8s still better
I say this based on the fact earlier in the week a nice man from Mercedes swapped our A45 for a C63 507Coupe. More on which in due course. But it’s been a while since I drove a proper V8 and after the pummelling, high intensity workout the A45 delivered it was like sliding slowly into a warm and luxuriant bath.

There are many reasons to love a proper full fat AMG with a sodding great V8 under the bonnet. Mine over the last few days might sound strange but the overriding satisfaction it’s given me is how nice it is to drive slowly in the daily trundle round the M25.

This is no mean feat. Making a fast car isn’t that difficult, accepting that you need a degree of expertise and the raw materials to make it happen. But there’s a theme developing in modern fast cars and a growing disconnect between their incredible abilities and the opportunities in which most, if any, of us actually get to enjoy that. A 458 Speciale would be, indeed, a special thing to get on a track. But even if you had the brass ones to risk it in such a situation you’d be black flagged on noise before you even crossed the threshold. Leaving … what? First gear blats to and fro on the Kings Road?

Meanwhile the C63 driver will be wuffling past, beaming contentedly to himself at 20mph just … happy.

Accept no substitute, and all that
Accept no substitute, and all that
How so? I think it’s because the C63 doesn’t try and overcomplicate things. There aren’t 50 modes and a personalisation setting for every control. Big V8. Automatic gearbox with comfort, sport and manual modes. Beautifully weighted steering. Passive dampers set up properly by people who know what they’re doing. That ever-present rumble that tickles your innards in a lovely, relaxing fashion. And the knowledge that massive, elastic acceleration doesn’t require anything more than a stretch of your right foot, with no need to fumble for your preferred ‘individual’ throttle map first.

The C63 is very simple: the harder you push the pedal, the faster you go. Once per journey you might find an opportunity for that to be at the ‘very’ end of the spectrum. And have a little chuckle before reverting back to a relaxed cruise with a big grin on your face.   

Obviously it’s incorrigibly thirsty and there’s absolutely no rational argument for carrying round a 6.2-litre engine with over 500hp and raving about using barely a fifth of that most of the time.

But since when did logic come into it? Make mine a wagon please, he said, heading off into the classifieds

Dan

Author
Discussion

Konan

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

145 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
Really? Marshmallows?

wink

JohnT993

101 posts

152 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
lovely car, really fancy a C63 wagon in a few years if kids happen

Vetteran

238 posts

176 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
All these characteristics but more so SL65 AMG. Great lazy low speed wafting then on the motorway warp speed at the flex of your right foot sooo addictive.

GBB

1,737 posts

158 months

Friday 4th October 2013
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Don't tell everyone, values might firm up from the rock bottom they are at the moment.

Agree that for sheer fun, you can't really beat the kick in the back acceleration and noise you get from a V8. I fear their days are over though. Buy one now whilst you still can.

Garlick

40,601 posts

239 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
TVR owners have been saying this for years. Welcome to our world.

Can't beat plodding in a big V8 knowing you can....if you want to.

Ruaraidh_Gamma

69 posts

218 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
Hey where'd my comment go? I'll add it again!!

You definitely nailed the C63 experience here Dan, totally agree! You can be happy just firing up or trickling along with the V8 in the 63:

From the way the 6.3 bursts into life and the car twists as the crank spins up. To bimbling along in Comfort with the clutch in controlled slip mode at 1200rpm with the exhaust rumbling. To the resonance between 2-3krpm as you hear that characteristic V8 woofle to the full house shove at 5k which crescendos all the way to the madness of a 6l engine turning at 7.2krpm as it "pop-bangs" its way up a gear in Sport Plus. V8 madness every time please!

A four pot turbo? No thanks. I'll keep my M156 ta!

Dan Trent

1,866 posts

167 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
Blimey; main dealer one just like 'ours' for less than £50K here! Not bad given the bottom line on the press car pictured is £74,200! Mental.

Dan

f328nvl

507 posts

217 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
I have a C63 PPP (the mid-fat 487bhp version) estate. I own it because nobody is likely to put a 6.2litre V8 engine in a mid sized family car again.

It is sometimes uncomfortable, usually noisy and always marginally more thirsty than Oliver Reed, with some of the same manners. It is ruined by loads of pointless technology that you pay extra for. However, the other day I was giving some people a lift home, and when they asked how fast it was, a prod of the accelerator brought shock and awe to the journey.

it is a totally ridiculous. Why for example call a 6.2 litre car a C63? It was on any rational scale a waste of money, and I am delighted that I had the nerve to buy it.

http://www.honestjg.com/2013/02/c63-amg-507-editio...

Pittsy98

26 posts

151 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
I picked up my new C63 coupe 507 Edition last Friday. I too have a big V8 grin on my face, unfortunately I am only a third of the way through the 1000mile run-in period. I can't go above 85mph, can't go above 4500rpm, can't use full throttle and have to build the load slowly. It's so frustrating, but a lovely thought to know that in a couple of weeks I can unleash it! Can't wait... anyone fancy a few laps of the M25?

Dr Interceptor

7,743 posts

195 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
Yes sireee... and hence why I have three V8s in the garage, in 3 litre, 4.3 litre and 7.2 litre varieties smile

(and a Shell fuel card account)

Clivey

5,108 posts

203 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
Garlick said:
TVR owners have been saying this for years. Welcome to our world.

Can't beat plodding in a big V8 knowing you can....if you want to.
Indeed; with a manual gearbox too. - None of this ghey paddleshift rubbish. rolleyestongue out

BRMMA

1,845 posts

171 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
That 507 is epic, would have to scrap the decals though

jamespink

1,218 posts

203 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
Dr Interceptor said:
Yes sireee... and hence why I have three V8s in the garage, in 3 litre, 4.3 litre and 7.2 litre varieties smile

(and a Shell fuel card account)
Stag, 430 and Jensen?

Tomatogti

362 posts

168 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
Lovely to have as a family wagen but the estates are rare (and almost all on PH classifieds are sold). Was the colour range very limited as seems >50% white and remainder black/silver/grey. Only a couple of brand new red ones. The Black Series ones just look stunning. The sound of the V8 is glorious.

The press one you have looks a bit naff for some reason. Sticker kit and a bit limp!


PascalBuyens

2,868 posts

281 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
Garlick said:
TVR owners have been saying this for years. Welcome to our world.

Can't beat plodding in a big V8 knowing you can....if you want to.
Anything under 5 liter doesn't qualify as "big V8" loool :-)


Garlick

40,601 posts

239 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
PascalBuyens said:
Anything under 5 liter doesn't qualify as "big V8" loool :-)
Loool, OK!

Dr Interceptor

7,743 posts

195 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
jamespink said:
Dr Interceptor said:
Yes sireee... and hence why I have three V8s in the garage, in 3 litre, 4.3 litre and 7.2 litre varieties smile

(and a Shell fuel card account)
Stag, 430 and Jensen?
Indeed... The middle one is an E430, lovely old bus...

XJ Flyer

5,526 posts

129 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
GBB said:


Agree that for sheer fun, you can't really beat the kick in the back acceleration and noise you get from a V8. I fear their days are over though. Buy one now whilst you still can.
It's up to customers.If they buy a car on that basis then it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.Whereas if they refuse to listen to all the PC bullst concerning downsizing being best and demand what they've always had then the manufacturers will just have to listen and provide what the customers want.It's probably a case of continue to buy it or lose it.

gumsie

680 posts

208 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
I love the description given by the author about the drinks.

A real woffling V8 though is what's found in an SL55, what kind of drink is that?

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Friday 4th October 2013
quotequote all
gumsie said:
A real woffling V8 though is what's found in an SL55, what kind of drink is that?
Better be a bit more descriptive there, this is PH you know?!