RE: Driven: Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe Black Series

[caine100]

SWoll said:

Gorbyrev said:

Tired old comment but - why no manual option? Those V8 63s are some of the best sounding engines ever fueled. Would be nice to drop down a gear or two and floor it! Might need that rear spoiler for moments like that!

At what point can you not "drop down a gear or two and floor it" in a car with an auto/dct box? Fair enough MB's gearboxes are renowned for not being the best around (SLS) but it doesn't stop you doing this.

It's interesting that despite journalists and customers alike complaining about it Mercedes hasn't done anything about it. I mean, the SLS (and this C63 Black) uses the same Getrag dual-clutch gearbox that Ferrari use in the 458 Italia. In the Ferrari it's brilliant but in the Mercedes it often won't change down when you tell it to.

This is a reoccurring theme with AMG cars so the only conclusion I can come to is that they do it on purpose for some reason or another, I have no idea.

[SWoll]

Gorbyrev said:

There is a world of difference selecting yourself and waiting for the gearbox to sort things out, even with a modern flappy paddle arrangement. If I was looking for something that raw I would prefer to select manually.

Having driven a few I'm afraid I cant agree. Even a modern auto box does a decent job of downshifts via paddles or stick (push/pull), a decent DCT is far quicker than changing manually. Perhaps not as ultimately satisfying for some, but better.

caine100 said:

It's interesting that despite journalists and customers alike complaining about it Mercedes hasn't done anything about it. I mean, the SLS (and this C63 Black) uses the same Getrag dual-clutch gearbox that Ferrari use in the 458 Italia. In the Ferrari it's brilliant but in the Mercedes it often won't change down when you tell it to.

This is a reoccurring theme with AMG cars so the only conclusion I can come to is that they do it on purpose for some reason or another, I have no idea.

I thought it was the same gearbox as the California rather than the 458, but could well be wrong. I'm assuming their software is just different to try and keep things as smooth as possible or perhaps extend the life of the box. A C63 Black/SLS would probably be expected to do bigger mileages than a 458?

[The Stiglet]

SWoll said:

The Stiglet said:

Don't get me wrong, I'd tear off your arm for the 'Blood Red' one if it was free but I like the 'Silver' one here. It's muscular and understated, hinting at the power encapsulated inside rather than the 'Blood Red' one and the other 'Black' one, which are a little bit naff - a bit too techno-GTR.

But it would have to be in the right colour... I wouldn't want it causing fashion difficulties with my herringbone.

Any better?

I think I could cope

[Mastodon2]

Gorbyrev said:

Tired old comment but - why no manual option? Those V8 63s are some of the best sounding engines ever fueled. Would be nice to drop down a gear or two and floor it! Might need that rear spoiler for moments like that!

I would not worry about it getting in the way of the fun too much; on his "Thriller" dvd, Clarkson said a Black edition C was the most thrilling, invigorating car he had even driven. Sounds like the autobox is not the source of too much misery!

[anniesdad]

wtdoom said:

anniesdad said:

wtdoom said:

Cant wait for this car , the Black Series cars rock .

It looks amazing! Sounds even better than that!!

You got one on order?

Yes sir , I cant resist the Blacks .
Getting Black with silver wheels , 2 seats , full aerokit , telemetry , track pack . Thats why I sold the Gts
and ST .

Edited by wtdoom on Friday 18th November 16:39

Your spec. sounds suitably hardcore! Why am I not surprised!

[wtdoom]

Gents fyi the gearbox in the black is not the same as in the sls . the black has an auto box with the torque converter replaced by a wet clutch pack it is not the california / sls gearbox .

i havent found the sls gearbox to be nearly as bad as the press seem to think . you just need to time it very well and that just adds to the fun .

these boxes really suit the character of these cars , the clk black gearbox cant even blip on downshifts and yet that car is the most fun car i have ever been lucky enough to drive ...

if this is more fun , dear God can the heart take it ?

[wtdoom]

anniesdad said:

Your spec. sounds suitably hardcore! Why am I not surprised!

I think it needs to be mad dont you my friend ? The black series cars ARE mad , they remind me of a huge powerlifter or american wrestler but wearing a lovely saville row suit .
Even the auto box is perfectly suited to the big hearted , loveable nature of these Blacks . I truly love them but unfortunately they are the kind of car people either get or they dont . They are hard to put into a category .

[SFO]

wtdoom said:

Yes sir , I cant resist the Blacks .
Getting Black with silver wheels , 2 seats , full aerokit , telemetry , track pack . Thats why I sold the Gts
and ST .

when do you expect delivery?

do you know how many coming to the UK?

what is the price? option pricing?

thanks.

[wtdoom]

SFO said:

when do you expect delivery?

do you know how many coming to the UK?

what is the price? option pricing?

thanks.

66 cars for uk , 600 worldwide .
115000 EU basic exact UK price not confirmed regardless of what you may hear . Expecting mine in Feb .
It truly sounds fantastic btw .
your welcome .

[benzito]

http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/24725/C63_black...



looks great in general, the spoiler doesn't look right though, maybe a smaller spoiler would look better, I prefer this to the M3 GTS thats for sure

[The Stiglet]

benzito said:

http://images.pistonheads.com/nimg/24725/C63_black...



looks great in general, the spoiler doesn't look right though, maybe a smaller spoiler would look better, I prefer this to the M3 GTS thats for sure

yeah, like a retractable one to stop people putting their pint glasses on it 'down the pub'.

[j123]

Ok so many are saying this is meant to be pitched at the 911 GT3. Sounds like a nice comparison test. Is this finally the first front engine rear drive car that is designed to out handle a 911? In some ways it seems like it might- more predicable and progressive in its handling. I really hope someone like Barker or Meaden will do the comparison right. j

[Pesty]

Don't know is driving this direction at merc but whoever he is, he needs a pay rise.

These recent mercs are epic.

[F1GTRUeno]

It's ugly as sin.

Much rather an older CLK Black.

[whoami]

oola said:

Want.com

Me too.

[SFO]

wtdoom said:

66 cars for uk , 600 worldwide .
115000 EU basic exact UK price not confirmed regardless of what you may hear . Expecting mine in Feb .
It truly sounds fantastic btw .
your welcome .

Sounds like you've ordered one and will have to pay whatever price Mercedes UK wants to charge .. can you pull out if you think it's too expensive?

Heard it was 120k.

[wtdoom]

SFO said:

wtdoom said:

66 cars for uk , 600 worldwide .
115000 EU basic exact UK price not confirmed regardless of what you may hear . Expecting mine in Feb .
It truly sounds fantastic btw .
your welcome .

Sounds like you've ordered one and will have to pay whatever price Mercedes UK wants to charge .. can you pull out if you think it's too expensive?

Heard it was 120k.

You can pull out , theres no " have to pay whatever price Mercedes UK wants to charge " at this stage anyway . The 120k figure is being bandied about but I stress there is no fixed price yet for this car .
I am expecting over 100 for sure ( the clk black was 103 000 in 2007 ) . There are more options for this car though .

[whoami]

wtdoom said:

SFO said:

wtdoom said:

66 cars for uk , 600 worldwide .
115000 EU basic exact UK price not confirmed regardless of what you may hear . Expecting mine in Feb .
It truly sounds fantastic btw .
your welcome .

Sounds like you've ordered one and will have to pay whatever price Mercedes UK wants to charge .. can you pull out if you think it's too expensive?

Heard it was 120k.

You can pull out , theres no " have to pay whatever price Mercedes UK wants to charge " at this stage anyway . The 120k figure is being bandied about but I stress there is no fixed price yet for this car .
I am expecting over 100 for sure ( the clk black was 103 000 in 2007 ) . There are more options for this car though .

With only 66 UK cars, I wonder how bad the depreciation will be?

[SFO]

wtdoom said:

66 cars for uk , 600 worldwide .
115000 EU basic exact UK price not confirmed regardless of what you may hear . Expecting mine in Feb .
It truly sounds fantastic btw .
your welcome .

Sounds like you've ordered one and will have to pay whatever price Mercedes UK wants to charge .. can you pull out if you think it's too expensive?

Heard it was 120k.

[Bund]

I loved this car from the moment I saw it at the motor show. I think I had just seen the new 991 previously which apart from the interior I wasn't as impressed as I wanted to be.

I do not like reading about the car not taking downshifts when asked as apart from a car not going from 4th to 1st instead of 3rd I want it to do as asked. I imagine Mercedes great west road will see a few of those 66 cars, I'd be very interested in driving it myself. I have always admired the black series and the clk variant was a contender to a few of my past cars yet lack of cars on offer held me back from driving one.

Personally next to a 991 it's more to my liking but the jury's out on the drive.