From S3 to C63...
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Discussion

hondafanatic

Original Poster:

4,969 posts

225 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
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...gone from a slightly tweaked S3




Which I enjoyed massively... I bought it out of spite because a Merc dealer pissed me off when I’m trying to shove money in his pocket for an A45. I knew nothing about S3s but liked the look it from a Indy dealer website. I was driving it back home after about an hour from seeing the advert. No test drive or anything, just drove off in it.

It had a fair bit of optional extras ticked and I soon worked out the launch control and really took to the DSG box. I think I still slightly miss it... nicer interior than my C63, better tech, faster 0 to 60. Certainly more economical and with 19k service intervals it was cheap to run which should have factored as I do an 80 miles a day round commute.

However... having a nosey at the dealers website and spotted the now mine C63. I’ve got a puppy lab and plonking her on the front seat in Audi when she’s wet and muddy was doing my head in.

So once again I talk to the chap at the dealer...an hour later keys are swapped and I’m heading home in a thumping V8 RWD old person’s looking car.

In the snow.

With not much tread left on the rears.

I was really regretting my decision as I tried to figure out how the hell Mercedes manage to put every bloody control on one stalk. I missed my autohold. What the fk is this footbrake thing. I missed the sense of grip. I missed the mpg. I missed the nicer sat nav and media interface. I missed a lot of things. (We’re comparing 2011 tech to 2015 tech to be fair)

Then I found a dry bit of very straight and very long bit of road... and then I forgot everything I missed about the Audi.

It was a proper fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuukin ‘elllllllll moment.

Then I came up to an empty roundabout. It blips on the downshift.... o my god o my god o my god it just went cracklebangpoppop. The dash goes red when you need to shift up... unlike the Audi it doesn’t autoshift up so the first time I nearly lost my front teeth on the steering wheel as I’m in first banging off the limiter hehe

Againagainagain!!!!

And then the low fuel light. That comes on an awful lot. More than my man maths allowed for.

But what hell... This might be the last opportunity for me to own a proper V8 and I’m so glad I have.

Anyway... I’ll do some proper photos soon. I want to fit some spacers, drop it a little, get a remap, get rid of the secondary cats, debadge as much as I can...and work out how I’m going to afford to run the bloody thing. hehe

Here’s one photo of it parked up and one photo that shows the benefit of being first at work this morning.






O and the reason for getting an estate... the puppy seems happy enough to jump in and out of the boot. I just keep having to remind myself that she’s in the boot or my lab will end up looking like a massive pug.

jsims1

291 posts

142 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
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I love the noise these things make, it's unreal! Great choice, hope you enjoy it.

The1Driver

729 posts

176 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
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Considered one of these shortly after getting an M135i... And by shortly I mean a couple of months lol!

Great cars. Enjoy!

hondafanatic

Original Poster:

4,969 posts

225 months

Tuesday 27th February 2018
quotequote all
Cheers chaps beer it’s a little bit old, looks a bit pedestrian but the noise is very addictive and it puts a smile on my face everytime. I even like the way it puts an unnecessary blip on the throttle on start up. hehe

I’ve read a few threads on here bemoaning the fact that no kids are interested in cars etc... well I’m happy to report that’s total nonsense. Some of the secondary kids I teach were straight at me the first day I got it... ‘is that your amg sir?’... ‘what speed have you had it?’... ‘can I have a lift home?’... ‘epic car choice sir’.

All any staff have asked me is ‘what’s the mpg?’ grumpy

hehe

moffat

1,020 posts

249 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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Good work.

The C63 is the best car I've ever owned and has one of the best engines ever made. Everytime I started the engine I'd leave the door open biggrin

Miss it a lot, struggled to make the funds work when I got rid of my 640d (big mistake) to get a C63 507, but pretty determined to get back into a C63S is my next car - the W205 as the 507 will be too old in 2019 when I change.

Have fun and enjoy that glorious 6.2 V8, it's a memory you'll never forget!

covmutley

3,294 posts

214 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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estate= correct choice

irocfan

46,794 posts

214 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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hondafanatic said:
Cheers chaps beer it’s a little bit old, looks a bit pedestrian but the noise is very addictive and it puts a smile on my face everytime. I even like the way it puts an unnecessary blip on the throttle on start up. hehe

I’ve read a few threads on here bemoaning the fact that no kids are interested in cars etc... well I’m happy to report that’s total nonsense. Some of the secondary kids I teach were straight at me the first day I got it... ‘is that your amg sir?’... ‘what speed have you had it?’... ‘can I have a lift home?’... ‘epic car choice sir’.

All any staff have asked me is ‘what’s the mpg?’ grumpy

hehe
To be fair I can see the mpg question coming up at some point but not before all the important stuff (have you taken off the secondary cats, put on an x-pipe, fitted an lsd, fitted a tubular manifold, done the..... ).

AyBee

11,193 posts

226 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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hondafanatic said:
I just keep having to remind myself that she’s in the boot or my lab will end up looking like a massive pug.
laugh Did you bother looking at a S4 or was it straight to C63?

Jamesgt

849 posts

257 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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moffat said:
Good work.

The C63 is the best car I've ever owned and has one of the best engines ever made. Everytime I started the engine I'd leave the door open biggrin

Miss it a lot, struggled to make the funds work when I got rid of my 640d (big mistake) to get a C63 507, but pretty determined to get back into a C63S is my next car - the W205 as the 507 will be too old in 2019 when I change.

Have fun and enjoy that glorious 6.2 V8, it's a memory you'll never forget!
I remember your post about your 640d replacing your c63. How did you get on with the 640d in the end? I often think about selling my c63 estate for one. I cover 20-25k a year and think a diesel would probably be a better choice!

krisdelta

4,664 posts

225 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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Fantastic cars and in estate form look spot on - I've not stopped grinning driving mine in 15 months. The engine is the last we'll see of this type and size in a mainstream car for sometime (if ever).

G13NVL

3,756 posts

108 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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Approaching a year with mine now and still love it. Ditto the comments of leaving the door open when starting it never get tired of that noise! Looks like you have pre facelift there, from 12’ onwards the interior was greatly improved, imagine traction may seem awful coming from the s3?

moffat

1,020 posts

249 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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Jamesgt said:
I remember your post about your 640d replacing your c63. How did you get on with the 640d in the end? I often think about selling my c63 estate for one. I cover 20-25k a year and think a diesel would probably be a better choice!
That's the reason I did it - for the mileage (and for the amazing looks inside and out) as I was going to be doing and long 300 mile return trip journeys 2-3 times per week. It did it effortlessly and I loved the car on the motorway. With hindsight I'd have gone for e Gran Coupe as the back seats are useless. I had it chipped and the performance was decent but it never really made me smile and I never wanted to find an excuse to go for a drive.

They are amazing used buys though and £30k-£35k will get a loaded low mileage example.

My problem was the lack of steering feel and diesel. Much happier to be in a smaller car with a great sounding engine!

hondafanatic

Original Poster:

4,969 posts

225 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
quotequote all
G13NVL said:
Approaching a year with mine now and still love it. Ditto the comments of leaving the door open when starting it never get tired of that noise! Looks like you have pre facelift there, from 12’ onwards the interior was greatly improved, imagine traction may seem awful coming from the s3?
The S3's main party trick was the launch and grip. Didn't matter what the weather you could just mash the gas and away you went. I'm very much softly-softly in the Merc. I'm still learning how to use the car but unless all four wheels are point in the same direction I can't get on the accelerator as quickly.

But I don't care because the noise knocks everything else out...and the S3 was sorely let down by the noise.

Jamesgt

849 posts

257 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
quotequote all
moffat said:
That's the reason I did it - for the mileage (and for the amazing looks inside and out) as I was going to be doing and long 300 mile return trip journeys 2-3 times per week. It did it effortlessly and I loved the car on the motorway. With hindsight I'd have gone for e Gran Coupe as the back seats are useless. I had it chipped and the performance was decent but it never really made me smile and I never wanted to find an excuse to go for a drive.

They are amazing used buys though and £30k-£35k will get a loaded low mileage example.

My problem was the lack of steering feel and diesel. Much happier to be in a smaller car with a great sounding engine!
I guess it’s what I expect. They are beautiful looking cars, the Gran Coupe especially. I love the c63 so I hope to hold on to it for a bit longer.

Jamesgt

849 posts

257 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
quotequote all
hondafanatic said:
The S3's main party trick was the launch and grip. Didn't matter what the weather you could just mash the gas and away you went. I'm very much softly-softly in the Merc. I'm still learning how to use the car but unless all four wheels are point in the same direction I can't get on the accelerator as quickly.

But I don't care because the noise knocks everything else out...and the S3 was sorely let down by the noise.
You will get more used to it. When the weather is good these cars don’t struggle for traction. They do chew up rear tyres though! I typically get about 6 months out of my rear tyres. I stupidly got to October and needed new tyres. I went for ContiSportContact 6, they’ve lasted until now. I may as well put a winter set on.

Hoofy

79,423 posts

306 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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hondafanatic said:
or my lab will end up looking like a massive pug.
hehe

cerb4.5lee

41,794 posts

204 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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Absolutely love these and the engine is just awesome. thumbup

If they had offered them with a manual gearbox I would have much preferred it to the E92 M3 I had. The M3 was as flat as a pancake low down...these aren't! biggrin

Enjoy it. cool

SiT

1,242 posts

225 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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I love these especially in estate guise, such a monumental car - an estate with a 6.2 V8 engine!!!!

Often dabble with man maths on these, think I would have to run a cheap daily for my 6 days at work and then look forward to my 4 days off driving the C63.......hmmmmmm......

Keep the thread updated!

Si

ZX10R NIN

30,060 posts

149 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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The car is a cracker & I loved the OH's one but I love my CLK63 more wink good choice OP beer

superkarl

60 posts

161 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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hondafanatic said:
with 19k service intervals it was cheap to run
Just plain wrong. Audi’s longlife intervals should be abolished.
Anyone who thinks 19k is a good thing, let alone on a performance car driven with any real intent, should be beaten around the head with an oil filter. Sorry