C63 Coupe - some help with options, please
Discussion
After an enjoyable test drive yesterday in a C63, I'm thinking of buying a brand new coupe.
I'd been considering used, but with the dealer desposiit contribution of offer, new works out about acceptable for me.
So, I was wondering if people would be willing to help me to understand which options are popular, and useful. Mainly I want a car that's exactly right for me (which is one of the reasons I am looking at brand new), but I do want to have one eye on ease of sale afterwards. I'd hate to save £150 now to find that it turns most potential buyers off the car later.
I think that I will be going for a diamond white coupe, with black wheels (which unfortunately means I have to have nineteen inch ones), carbon interior trim, HK stereo, interior lighting package, phone prep, and possibly, maybe, the diff lock.
The car's already at the firmer end of what I'm looking for, so I don't think that I want "performance suspension" (which I assume is firmer yet), but I do like my interior technology, mood lighting, iphone connectivity, MP3 player, etc. I can't see if I've missed any opportunity to specify any of these things in the above choices.
So, has anyone any input? Is the diff lock pointless on the road, or does it improve handling? Is there anything obvious I've forgotten?
Thanks for any thoughts.
Edited to add, has anyone had alcantara instead of leather for the seats? There was a very nice C-class inn the dealers with this choice, but it seems unavailable on the configurator.
I'd been considering used, but with the dealer desposiit contribution of offer, new works out about acceptable for me.
So, I was wondering if people would be willing to help me to understand which options are popular, and useful. Mainly I want a car that's exactly right for me (which is one of the reasons I am looking at brand new), but I do want to have one eye on ease of sale afterwards. I'd hate to save £150 now to find that it turns most potential buyers off the car later.
I think that I will be going for a diamond white coupe, with black wheels (which unfortunately means I have to have nineteen inch ones), carbon interior trim, HK stereo, interior lighting package, phone prep, and possibly, maybe, the diff lock.
The car's already at the firmer end of what I'm looking for, so I don't think that I want "performance suspension" (which I assume is firmer yet), but I do like my interior technology, mood lighting, iphone connectivity, MP3 player, etc. I can't see if I've missed any opportunity to specify any of these things in the above choices.
So, has anyone any input? Is the diff lock pointless on the road, or does it improve handling? Is there anything obvious I've forgotten?
Thanks for any thoughts.
Edited to add, has anyone had alcantara instead of leather for the seats? There was a very nice C-class inn the dealers with this choice, but it seems unavailable on the configurator.
Edited by NorthernBoy on Monday 23 September 10:09
Hi
I just picked up my coupe - I went for:
Privacy glass - I think it looks great and had it on my m3
HK stereo - it's pretty good but I got it as it is a bit of an expected dealer option to have come resell/trade in
Black wheels (19 is standard on 507)
LSD - purely personal choice
Alcantara seat inserts - I love that - looks great.
I would also say, the car is firm enough so I would not recommend any further stiffness in the car with AMG performance suspension - I had the equivalent option on my RS4 and it was too harsh over bad roads imo and I am quite used to hard suspension and have fitted konis to my cars in the past.
I also have the 507 so it has quite a few options over standard in terms of trim anyway so didn't bother with lighting/carbon trim etc as I have black mirrors, piano trim and so on.
I just picked up my coupe - I went for:
Privacy glass - I think it looks great and had it on my m3
HK stereo - it's pretty good but I got it as it is a bit of an expected dealer option to have come resell/trade in
Black wheels (19 is standard on 507)
LSD - purely personal choice
Alcantara seat inserts - I love that - looks great.
I would also say, the car is firm enough so I would not recommend any further stiffness in the car with AMG performance suspension - I had the equivalent option on my RS4 and it was too harsh over bad roads imo and I am quite used to hard suspension and have fitted konis to my cars in the past.
I also have the 507 so it has quite a few options over standard in terms of trim anyway so didn't bother with lighting/carbon trim etc as I have black mirrors, piano trim and so on.
How do you feel it compares to your RS4?
I sold my mint 20k mile RS4 last year (along wiith my SLK55), which I'd owned from new, to move to a 911 GTS, which I just never fell in love with.
I'm still half thinking of spending £200k on a good RS4 to see me through the next year, then thinking again. It's a hard decision between that and the C63, and I'm still not decided.
I sold my mint 20k mile RS4 last year (along wiith my SLK55), which I'd owned from new, to move to a 911 GTS, which I just never fell in love with.
I'm still half thinking of spending £200k on a good RS4 to see me through the next year, then thinking again. It's a hard decision between that and the C63, and I'm still not decided.
I sold the rs4 two years ago - had 25k miles on it, 07 black saloon with black optics - loved it and has a special place in my car history for me.
Then went to m3 - superior car, class leader etc etc (it really is).
Now in c63 - tough to compare, the m3 handled better than the rs4, felt quicker and more nimble,front end grip instantly better and I hope the c63 is more like the m3 than the rs4 but still running the c63 in. C63 does remind me of the rs4 more than the m3...
C63 507 is much more raw than the m3 - I think the rs4 is just too old for me to compare now to a 2013 car. Would I swap my c63 for a 2006/2007 rs4 - no way, unless it was purely a financial decision of course...
Dunc
Then went to m3 - superior car, class leader etc etc (it really is).
Now in c63 - tough to compare, the m3 handled better than the rs4, felt quicker and more nimble,front end grip instantly better and I hope the c63 is more like the m3 than the rs4 but still running the c63 in. C63 does remind me of the rs4 more than the m3...
C63 507 is much more raw than the m3 - I think the rs4 is just too old for me to compare now to a 2013 car. Would I swap my c63 for a 2006/2007 rs4 - no way, unless it was purely a financial decision of course...
Dunc
Edited by Bradders901 on Monday 23 September 10:59
Part of the reason that I'm struggling wiith the choice is that as I'm dropping down (in price terms) from a new 911 GTS (£106k list with the options mine had), all options are equally "affordable", so I can't work out any more which provides best value for me.
I know it's very much a first world problem...
I know it's very much a first world problem...
Loads of previous threads on this but......
1. people used to say you have to have PPP........can't get it anymore as they've gone over to the 507
2. everyone obsesses about the LSD...........buy one without and get a Quaife put on if it offends you with the rear end dynamics
3. HK definitely
4. 19's look fabulous and the ride is absolutely fine
5. Don't need more than the standard phone set up
6. Privacy looks great on the white cars IMO
7. I had the interior lighting on my e-Class, don't miss it on the '63
8. theres a dead horse on "Motorway Cops" at the moment
9. Can't remember
Overall, I've always been very precise with specs in the past. My car I bought from the showroom pre-specced by the dealer. I was after the colour/wheel combo with HK and Privacy. Anything else on these is pretty much superfluous I think as they are just so well equipped as standard. Also, more than anything else, they're just so great to own that you don't get too bogged down in the "I wish it had x, y, or z"
Am I alone in not completely feeling at ease with the nostrils on the 507? I always loved the Black '63 aesthetics but it doesn't seem to translate to the 507 in the pictures that I've seen. Absolutely no offence to anyone that has one, I haven't seen one in the flesh and, yes, I would have bought one if it had been around when I bought my "slow" '63!
1. people used to say you have to have PPP........can't get it anymore as they've gone over to the 507
2. everyone obsesses about the LSD...........buy one without and get a Quaife put on if it offends you with the rear end dynamics
3. HK definitely
4. 19's look fabulous and the ride is absolutely fine
5. Don't need more than the standard phone set up
6. Privacy looks great on the white cars IMO
7. I had the interior lighting on my e-Class, don't miss it on the '63
8. theres a dead horse on "Motorway Cops" at the moment
9. Can't remember
Overall, I've always been very precise with specs in the past. My car I bought from the showroom pre-specced by the dealer. I was after the colour/wheel combo with HK and Privacy. Anything else on these is pretty much superfluous I think as they are just so well equipped as standard. Also, more than anything else, they're just so great to own that you don't get too bogged down in the "I wish it had x, y, or z"
Am I alone in not completely feeling at ease with the nostrils on the 507? I always loved the Black '63 aesthetics but it doesn't seem to translate to the 507 in the pictures that I've seen. Absolutely no offence to anyone that has one, I haven't seen one in the flesh and, yes, I would have bought one if it had been around when I bought my "slow" '63!
Just about the LSD...
Like some posters before me have said, don't bother with the factory LSD as it is:
1 - something only a few will really miss
2 - not all that good quality. It is quite an agricultural design and the plates are stamped as opposed to actually CNC machined. It is also a service item so needs extra care and attention. If you need one go for Quaife. Too many reasons to list why (check out the forums or start a new thread just about Quaife LSDs!), but from my experience on a number of AMG cars, there is nothing better. Some MB dealers will even fit it and are happy to continue guaranteeing the upstream mechanicals. Quaife will guarantee the components downstream from the LSD.
The other options are personal preference. Brilliant cars and have found them not to be so spec sensitive after the move to 507.
Enjoy!!!!
Like some posters before me have said, don't bother with the factory LSD as it is:
1 - something only a few will really miss
2 - not all that good quality. It is quite an agricultural design and the plates are stamped as opposed to actually CNC machined. It is also a service item so needs extra care and attention. If you need one go for Quaife. Too many reasons to list why (check out the forums or start a new thread just about Quaife LSDs!), but from my experience on a number of AMG cars, there is nothing better. Some MB dealers will even fit it and are happy to continue guaranteeing the upstream mechanicals. Quaife will guarantee the components downstream from the LSD.
The other options are personal preference. Brilliant cars and have found them not to be so spec sensitive after the move to 507.
Enjoy!!!!
To add balance I think the LSD is terrific. But then it suits the way I drive. As with all the other options. You really need to try them yourself to make your mind up.
However one option that is universally agreed upon is that PP does have a noticeable improvement on performance.
However one option that is universally agreed upon is that PP does have a noticeable improvement on performance.
The Noise said:
...the plates are stamped as opposed to actually CNC machined.
Erm, you may want to check that statement!ghibbett said:
To add balance I think the LSD is terrific. But then it suits the way I drive. As with all the other options. You really need to try them yourself to make your mind up.
However one option that is universally agreed upon is that PP does have a noticeable improvement on performance.
You are probably right! I'm not an engineer and when I was deciding on my first LSD many years ago my recollection of the conversation I had with the guys doing the work back then is cloudy at best today... Anyway the point I am trying to make is that although the option LSD is up to the job, the Quaife is so much better. Much more refined. The biggest difference I saw was when I fitted it to my CLS63 AMG which had the factory option LSD. The two where night and day.However one option that is universally agreed upon is that PP does have a noticeable improvement on performance.
The Noise said:
...the plates are stamped as opposed to actually CNC machined.
Erm, you may want to check that statement!Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff