C63 Estate - the "sensible" family car
Discussion
Kewy said:
krisdelta said:
I can strongly recommend a Tag if you’re driving in France, during holidays it can save 10 minutes at a toll station, swanning though a TAG lane at 20mph is amongst the best feelings you can get whilst fully clothed.
We got tags for both France and Italy for our Euro trip back in May. Became a bit of a game seeing how fast we could go through the TAG lane. Foot hovering over the brake incase the barrier didn't go up, the anticipation and build up waiting for the 'BEEP', to be followed by a cheer and flooring it it when it did beep last minute 
joropug said:
C350 said:
As a fellow W204 owner, I’ve been watching this thread with envy...
I have the little brother C350 petrol, and you’re not that far behind mpg wise. This is one of my recent efforts on a long run
Here's my effort , admittedly my engine is a third of the size of the OPs....I have the little brother C350 petrol, and you’re not that far behind mpg wise. This is one of my recent efforts on a long run
*other genders are available.
B'stard Child said:
joropug said:
Here's my effort , admittedly my engine is a third of the size of the OPs....
What's with the tea cup symbol - is that to tell you you need to take a break - sheesh that is going a bit far !!!!
No harm and you get a little cup and saucer on the display, very civilised really.
Just an update as we reach it's 3rd anniversary as my sensible car. MOT is booked for the weekend, the only potential surprise on these is the very inside of the tyres (you know, the bit you can't see - of course!), but having checked thoroughly, it doesn't seem to have any additional wear there. Phew.
Now, mileage is down, because my new daily is an even more sensible car - a 2007 V8V, this gets wheeled into the garage at weekends and the C63 gets on with its duty as family steed. Now I love the Aston, but it does highlight just how absurdly fast and refined the Merc is. A really chalk and cheese pair, but lovely V8 action no matter what I need to do. Bliss!
My jobs over the winter are:
1) Giving the leather a really deep clean and moisture treatment - it's standing up well, but could use a top-up after a busy summer
2) Selling the 19" wheels cluttering up my garage (or just holding on until I eventually sell the car)
3) Seeing if I can get something car-play like to integrate into the Nav - a local company is working on something apparently
So in summary, all good - nothing has broken as I approach 50k, I have used a lot of fuel, it sounds amazing all the time and I can't think of anything that could possibly replace it - so I had to add another car, just to be safe.
Now, mileage is down, because my new daily is an even more sensible car - a 2007 V8V, this gets wheeled into the garage at weekends and the C63 gets on with its duty as family steed. Now I love the Aston, but it does highlight just how absurdly fast and refined the Merc is. A really chalk and cheese pair, but lovely V8 action no matter what I need to do. Bliss!
My jobs over the winter are:
1) Giving the leather a really deep clean and moisture treatment - it's standing up well, but could use a top-up after a busy summer
2) Selling the 19" wheels cluttering up my garage (or just holding on until I eventually sell the car)
3) Seeing if I can get something car-play like to integrate into the Nav - a local company is working on something apparently
So in summary, all good - nothing has broken as I approach 50k, I have used a lot of fuel, it sounds amazing all the time and I can't think of anything that could possibly replace it - so I had to add another car, just to be safe.
StevieT735 said:
65 Cm measured parallel to the ground from the rearmost point of the back of the drivers seat (behind the shoulders), to level with the bottom of the rear seat back.
Basically the space you would have as a rear seat passenger if you sat bolt upright and put your arms out in front of you....
I’m talking about extended rear facing seats like the britax maxway and the like, rather than infant carriers btw.
I’m 6’ tall and gives 57cm clearance behind driver Basically the space you would have as a rear seat passenger if you sat bolt upright and put your arms out in front of you....
I’m talking about extended rear facing seats like the britax maxway and the like, rather than infant carriers btw.
The C63 hasn't been used huge amounts in the last few months, I've been using every opportunity to drive the Vantage when Dad taxi duties aren't required.
The Merc flew through it's MOT in November and besides being cleaned and polished a few times it's had an easy ride of late.
When I set out to replace my Vantage in 2016, I purchased the red beast over a similarly priced (albeit newer) ST Estate / R estate on the basis it would cost about the same over 3 years - which felt a little optimistic man-mathy at the time, but I think it will be borne out.
It's an amazing car for the money (now low 20's in value), it's only failing now is that my kids are 3 years older and shoulder width + girls = tempers, it's time to sell up and think about what "sensible" car can replace it. My current AT searches include GLS63's and Cayenne's - I just don't like the E63's (that I can afford) - although a 4-Matic S estate will be on the list in a few years.
In the just over 3 years I've had it, over and above consumables (by which I mean ALL THE PETROL) it's only had a single sensor fail on the A/C unit, it's swallowed family and gear for several weeks away, trips to Le Mans and entertained on every drive irrespective of the speed. The engine is just astonishing and news that the next C63 will be a four pot hybrid make me glad I managed to sneak this bad boy in when I did.
If you're on the cusp of "should I / shouldn't I" for a car like this with a big NA engine, be it a Merc a V8 M3 or an Aston - get on with it before we're all driving 900cc turbo cars that wont go over 70mph.
The Merc flew through it's MOT in November and besides being cleaned and polished a few times it's had an easy ride of late.
When I set out to replace my Vantage in 2016, I purchased the red beast over a similarly priced (albeit newer) ST Estate / R estate on the basis it would cost about the same over 3 years - which felt a little optimistic man-mathy at the time, but I think it will be borne out.
It's an amazing car for the money (now low 20's in value), it's only failing now is that my kids are 3 years older and shoulder width + girls = tempers, it's time to sell up and think about what "sensible" car can replace it. My current AT searches include GLS63's and Cayenne's - I just don't like the E63's (that I can afford) - although a 4-Matic S estate will be on the list in a few years.
In the just over 3 years I've had it, over and above consumables (by which I mean ALL THE PETROL) it's only had a single sensor fail on the A/C unit, it's swallowed family and gear for several weeks away, trips to Le Mans and entertained on every drive irrespective of the speed. The engine is just astonishing and news that the next C63 will be a four pot hybrid make me glad I managed to sneak this bad boy in when I did.
If you're on the cusp of "should I / shouldn't I" for a car like this with a big NA engine, be it a Merc a V8 M3 or an Aston - get on with it before we're all driving 900cc turbo cars that wont go over 70mph.
Ninjacj said:
This does look epic in Red, and it would be shame to replace it with an SUV! Which E63's don't you like? I think the facelift S212 5.5tt are rather attractive, and decent ones are approaching low to mid twenties now which seems rather good value! Downside of E55/E63 is no one in the UK ever seemed to pick them in interesting colours from new!
I don't like the interior in the 5.5's and the new 4l are out of my reach without selling the Aston. And you're right, no interesting colours until the much newer ones. Court_S said:
Nice update; sounds like it’s been a cracking car to own. Will you be sad to see it go?
Very, longest ownership of a car so far. If you aren't too worried about economy, they are fantastic cars.Tin Hat said:
I sold my C63 PP estate December, I had owned it for 8 years and 49k miles, they are great cars, always an event.
I now have a C63s estate, try one before you commit to a lifetime of SUV use (few seem to return from that choice!?), I have found it to be a stunning replacement for the W204 which I felt was the perfect car! ( they are also 20% kinder when fuel shopping )
My big problem is shoulder width with 3 kids in the back now, the C-class is just too small to be comfortable for them all - they just about managed France in the summer but it was tight - two of them have shot up size wise since autumn so need to go up a size (or sell one of the kids...) I now have a C63s estate, try one before you commit to a lifetime of SUV use (few seem to return from that choice!?), I have found it to be a stunning replacement for the W204 which I felt was the perfect car! ( they are also 20% kinder when fuel shopping )
Just to close this topic off, I sold the C63 over the weekend and listened to it rumble off down the road. What. A. Car! My longest ownership of a car to-date (3.5 years) and it's done everything I've asked of it and allowed me to take everyone along too. Highlights have been taking it to Le Mans and do numerous family holidays.
If you get the chance to own one of the NA monsters, just get it done.
Definately sad to see it go, but kids just outgrowing the space in the back (particularly middle seat with the driveshaft "lump") so rather than see it resigned to an occasional car, it was time to move on.
I never did get all the glitter from those "frozen" dresses out of the rear carpets
If you get the chance to own one of the NA monsters, just get it done.
Definately sad to see it go, but kids just outgrowing the space in the back (particularly middle seat with the driveshaft "lump") so rather than see it resigned to an occasional car, it was time to move on.
I never did get all the glitter from those "frozen" dresses out of the rear carpets
hyphen said:
Whats replacing it Kris?
Nothing for now, we've got a Touran which handles the practical stuff and I've just wheeled my Vantage out of the garage. In the longer term... tough to call, I'd love a Macan Turbo, but it's probably a bit small for 5 and the GL63's are fantastic but I only really need the space once in a blue moon. It's hard to replace what was a pretty perfect all-rounder (except for the space!)krisdelta said:
TL:DR; Dad sells impractical V8 GT, tries to fill gap with a range of (mostly) nice cars that are too small and impractical still and ends up with another V8 that everyone can enjoy, even if they didn't want to.
I then got some "advice" that suggested an estate was the way forward if I expected the car to be usable for us all - so out went the M cars and I looked at the new ST with Sync 2 (nice enough), the Golf R estate (lovely and golfy quality inside) and randomly the X3 35d because I like BMW's.
But then two things came to mind 1) Depreciation 2)That emotion thing. I was pretty sure that a £21k Focus (cheapest Sync2 ST estate) or a £30k Golf (cheapest R estate) would lose around £10k in 3 years / 20k miles and would be competent, but not set my world alight whilst losing £300 a month - not ideal.
Just to revisit the 2016 man-maths here for anyone thinking that a C63 estate is a ridiculous way to spend money for transporting a family.I then got some "advice" that suggested an estate was the way forward if I expected the car to be usable for us all - so out went the M cars and I looked at the new ST with Sync 2 (nice enough), the Golf R estate (lovely and golfy quality inside) and randomly the X3 35d because I like BMW's.
But then two things came to mind 1) Depreciation 2)That emotion thing. I was pretty sure that a £21k Focus (cheapest Sync2 ST estate) or a £30k Golf (cheapest R estate) would lose around £10k in 3 years / 20k miles and would be competent, but not set my world alight whilst losing £300 a month - not ideal.
- £7.5k depreciation in 42 months
- £1.2k for 3 services at Mercedes
- £460 to repair a cracked alloy and replace an A/C pressure sensor
- Absolutely loads of fuel
Now, if I look at the 30k Golf R's estates / 3 years old (my benchmark) - they are selling for @£1k less than I sold my C63 for, so financially it's been pretty much the same to run an absolute belter of a car, factoring in fuel.
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