Sunday 9th October 2016

Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe: PH Videoblog

We're all about C63 Coupes, Dan pondering whether our Edition 1 test car is an M4 fighter or GT-R chaser

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It looks like AMG is working on an even hotter C63 R but, for now, we're more than happy with the 'regular' 510hp S version. In its matt grey paint and resplendent in contrasting yellow graphics our Edition 1 test car certainly isn't shy, a point underlined by the noise from its quad exhausts.

We'll be compiling a full review on the car shortly, this being our first drive in the C63 Coupe since the Spanish launch event last year. Ahead of that Dan's collected some of his thoughts thus far in another videoblog. Never one to hold back when it comes to his love of AMGs there's a lot to discuss, not least whether this particular car has ambitions loftier than just giving its direct BMW rival a bloody nose.

Full video here...

Photo: Sim Mainey

[TurboZamboni]

So, Mercedes is building Mustangs now...?

[big_rob_sydney]

Interesting to see the potential combatants; m4 and GTR. If you had around 80k to spend, which of the 3 would you buy?

Shame that the review didnt really answer that question other than to follow the stereotypical "buyer of one wouldnt be target market for the other". Pretty sad to be honest. Can people really be that shallow?

[Roma101]

Just can't get over the looks I'm afraid. I'd actually say the Laguna coupe is better proportioned.

[Hitch]

See I disagree with that. I think the C is an epic looking coupe and even more so in proper AMG guise. It's tight, tight like a tiger!

[HeMightBeBanned]

I'd be more than happy with the 'cooking' model. Nearly 480bhp is plenty to be going on with.

[AndySheff]

TurboZamboni said:

So, Mercedes is building Mustangs now...?

My first thought.

[T1berious]

I must need to go to specsavers as I find the previous gen C Coupe and Saloon better looking. I keep looking at the new C class coupe and thinking the rear was an after thought.

80K hmmm

surely you'd stump up the extra 15K and go AMG GT? (if it had to be a merc) yes, I know you lose 2 seats but *most people with that sort of disposable income wouldn't be using it as a daily driver plus the elephant in the room is the 991 if you had to have a single car with 4 seats.

to each their own but if it was my 80K I'd be going to the Porsche Center.

• there will be the exception to any rule

[kambites]

The 911 is pretty good as 2+2s go but it's hard a proper 4 seater and the boot is tiny compared to anything in the compact exec segment.

[B.J.W]

Roma101 said:

Just can't get over the looks I'm afraid. I'd actually say the Laguna coupe is better proportioned.

Funny, but the coupe is the first Mercedes Benz in years that i would actually be interested in buying. I think the styling looks great!

[HighwayStar]

Roma101 said:

Just can't get over the looks I'm afraid. I'd actually say the Laguna coupe is better proportioned.

I agree... we all like different things but I don't like the looks at all... big, heavy and unbalanced looking. Nah. I know they have a V8 and a noise but not a noise that does nothing me either.

[ben5575]

Great video Dan + team. Keep it up.

Can't get away with the new c class design at all, however flared arches do improve it somewhat. Like it. I'll have mine debadged and without the stripe please.

[alpinab3]

Its an ugly car. The whole profile is horrible.

[irocfan]

T1berious said:

I must need to go to specsavers as I find the previous gen C Coupe and Saloon better looking. I keep looking at the new C class coupe and thinking the rear was an after thought.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one, depending on the next job situation I'm seriously going to be looking for one of the last old model V6's. The new coupes just look like someone has attached an airline to the rear of the old one and blown really hard

[anonymous-user]

alpinab3 said:

Its an ugly car. The whole profile is horrible.

And the stripes are frankly totally tasteless. Coming to "footballers wives" near you soon i suspect..........

[likesachange]

After seeing one in the flesh last week. I am converted... all the pics i saw i thought it was pretty ugly. But the white one with black accents i saw was sublime! Makes the previous one look so dated already. And the fact they have made the effort with the wider arches and quilted buckets etc makes it more special, in fact its better looking than the GT IMHO.

and 3k for the performance pack !! that is a bargain. BMW charge around 13k for ceramics and 15bhp on the M5/6 for example.

Id reserve judgement to anyone who hasn't seen one in the flesh

[AH33]

One day Merc may get back to building nice looking cars, but I have my doubts.

[stuckmojo]

I like but not as much as I like the Giulia.

[Onedesi]

Great review Dan, thanks.

I'm a big BMW fanboy but this C63 has turned the tide, I'd have it over an M4 any day of the week.

I have To agree with an earlier list, the rear doesn't look like much design thought went to it.

[Roma101]

likesachange said:

After seeing one in the flesh last week. I am converted... all the pics i saw i thought it was pretty ugly. But the white one with black accents i saw was sublime! Makes the previous one look so dated already. And the fact they have made the effort with the wider arches and quilted buckets etc makes it more special, in fact its better looking than the GT IMHO.

and 3k for the performance pack !! that is a bargain. BMW charge around 13k for ceramics and 15bhp on the M5/6 for example.

Id reserve judgement to anyone who hasn't seen one in the flesh

This is a fair point. I have seen a non-AMG in the flesh and it didn't change my mind. But I haven't seen an AMG version yet. I am sure it is better than the non-AMG, but not sure it would be enough to convince me. I think the M4 looks way way better.

Just as a random thought - if this car had the same engine as an M4 or just a Merc 6 cylinder turbo, would people still be so enamoured with it? Take the V8 out of the equation and the only noticeable improvement over the M4 that I can recall from the video is the damping. Are you then primarily basing your decision on looks, luxuriousness of interior and price? I know this is a rather pointless question (it is Friday though!), but just wondering how much the V8 makes this car for people - is it the main factor or just a partial factor?

[HighwayStar]

Roma101 said:

likesachange said:

After seeing one in the flesh last week. I am converted... all the pics i saw i thought it was pretty ugly. But the white one with black accents i saw was sublime! Makes the previous one look so dated already. And the fact they have made the effort with the wider arches and quilted buckets etc makes it more special, in fact its better looking than the GT IMHO.

and 3k for the performance pack !! that is a bargain. BMW charge around 13k for ceramics and 15bhp on the M5/6 for example.

Id reserve judgement to anyone who hasn't seen one in the flesh

This is a fair point. I have seen a non-AMG in the flesh and it didn't change my mind. But I haven't seen an AMG version yet. I am sure it is better than the non-AMG, but not sure it would be enough to convince me. I think the M4 looks way way better.

Just as a random thought - if this car had the same engine as an M4 or just a Merc 6 cylinder turbo, would people still be so enamoured with it? Take the V8 out of the equation and the only noticeable improvement over the M4 that I can recall from the video is the damping. Are you then primarily basing your decision on looks, luxuriousness of interior and price? I know this is a rather pointless question (it is Friday though!), but just wondering how much the V8 makes this car for people - is it the main factor or just a partial factor?

Good question... I suspect a good few will be because of the V8, the noise... because you'd have to be at the limits to enjoy the BMW and the V8 makes it's presence felt and heard all the time at any speed. I'd take the M4 if I was in the market for this type of car.