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!

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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!

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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!

[Cassius81]

I can only agree re Southern Sky. Bought my B7 RS4 Avant from them a few months back. V helpful and willing to do a deal, with servicing, brake replacements etc as part of the package. And they normally have a good selection of low mileage RS4s available.

[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

[northerner]

The C63 estate is the best high performance estate of that vintage. I should know - I've got one

[gumsie]

northerner said:

The C63 estate is the best high performance estate of that vintage. I should know - I've got one

Only things wrong are the cramped interior, (though I will admit to having long legs), and the rattles and squeaks from the trim.

[Hackney]

C63 is definitely on the want list

[amusingduck]

northerner said:

The C63 estate is the best high performance estate of that vintage. I should know - I've got one

E63?

[Axionknight]

Hackney said:

C63 is definitely on the want list

Same here, big, big want!

[adzpz]

Stupid question: Why does it say 6.3 on the wing when it is 6.2?

[MrOrange]

gumsie said:

Only things wrong are the cramped interior, (though I will admit to having long legs), and the rattles and squeaks from the trim.

And the crap "pleather-quality" of the seat covering and flimsy feel to almost every interior part.

[Gorbyrev]

adzpz said:

Stupid question: Why does it say 6.3 on the wing when it is 6.2?

[scherzkeks]

MrOrange said:

And the crap "pleather-quality" of the seat covering and flimsy feel to almost every interior part.

The only flimsy elements in the interior are the door handle grabs. Everything else is quite solid, and the pre facelift interior feels very utilitarian (which I like) vs. the semi chintzy facelift version.

[Ross350]

gumsie said:

Only things wrong are the cramped interior, (though I will admit to having long legs), and the rattles and squeaks from the trim.

Absolutely agree with this. Bought mine last summer on a 10 plate with 33k miles for £27k which I thought was great value but there are niggles. The fog lights seem to have a mind of their own (they're on, they're off or just one of then is on!) and the rattles can drive me insane if the stereo or exhaust aren't masking them.

Wife's seat has to be very far forward to get a rear facing baby carrier in the back.

Still the most engaging car I've owned.... when it's not goading me into driving like a loon

[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....

[Martin_M]

FastRich said:

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....

Doesn't that only apply to the headlights?

[Ross350]

FastRich said:

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....

You might be onto something. This page seems to imply it controls the fog lights

http://m.mercedes-benz.de/techcenter/cornering_lig...

Will have to give it a test, I'll be happy if it isn't gremlins

[SwissJonese]

I still really want one of these, but being close to 15K more expensive to buy than my current C350 which has all the same goodies, warp factor speed, but just without the V8 noise and looks.

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!) and the rattles can drive me insane if the stereo or exhaust aren't masking them.
Wife's seat has to be very far forward to get a rear facing baby carrier in the back.

The fog lights are the same as mine, they are on when slow speed cornering e.g. turn left, left fog lights comes on. Can't stand it as at a junction just look like a n00b with one fog light on when turning.

I agree the back seats are a little tight, but we managed with twins in the back in their Maxi-Cosi and IsoFix.

[scherzkeks]

Ross350 said:

Absolutely agree with this. Bought mine last summer on a 10 plate with 33k miles for £27k which I thought was great value but there are niggles. The fog lights seem to have a mind of their own (they're on, they're off or just one of then is on!) and the rattles can drive me insane if the stereo or exhaust aren't masking them.

Wife's seat has to be very far forward to get a rear facing baby carrier in the back.

Still the most engaging car I've owned.... when it's not goading me into driving like a loon

It is the turn assist function and the description is in the manual.

When you turn right, the right fog light will switch on to illuminate the road fully.

[GXMAMG]

The estates are IMO the better looking option and seem to be holding their value much better than the pre-facelift saloons. This one seems a tiny bit expensive for the mileage to me but am happy the residuals are holding up 6 months into ownership! Reference rattles - I see this a lot on forums but mine doesn't have a single one, despite performance pack suspension!

cramped interior and the fact the seats won't go low enough are my 2 big issues, that and the gearbox is a bit slow but its an old design!

[garylythgoe]

Drove a C63 Coupe last week, with a view to getting into one in the next few months.

Loved it.

Looking to change from my 05 S2000, and get a Coupe C63.

I loved the interior, didn't hear any rattles/squeaks after reading about them... And I am obsessed with noises like that. Drives my Mrs insane.

The noise is mega, not as loud in the car as I was expecting, but still epic.

I really want one at the minute, but the Coupe prices still seem a bit steep from a Main Mercedes Dealer. Ideally I see it being better personal value at 3-5k less than they are currently. Need to see what the new car does to the residuals of the older one. The car I tested was £38k.