C63s (205) Potential Buyer

[rs4al]

I’ve got a w205 wagon with 18” wheels, the ride is absolutely sublime but doesn’t look as good as the 19”s

[anonymous-user]

rs4al said:

I’ve got a w205 wagon with 18” wheels, the ride is absolutely sublime

Was your previous transport an ox and cart used exclusively on cobbled streets?

[Fat hippo]

Freakuk said:

I've just stumbled across this thread, and a bit of a hijack (maybe I should start a new thread), but I'm looking to replace my Cayman 981 GTS and a new C63S looks like it could fit the bill, I know nothing about them other than a few reviews, comments on here for example.

There seems to be some good deals on currently for a brand new car, dealer contributions up to 12K on certain specs from what I have seen, but then I've spotted a few demonstrators, less than 6 months old 5-8K cheaper than the new car deals.

Does anyone have any useful information I should be aware of, running costs, common issues, servicing etc. Also, in our current climate I am guessing this could be a remote purchase (some cars are 150-200 miles away that float my boat), so I don't really want to arrange a test drive, get caught on non-essential travel etc, does anyone have any advice/experience regarding this?

Many thanks

Interesting that you want to replace a Cayman with a C63.
I have a 993 and a C63 and would suggest that, although the C63 is a LOT more powerful/faster. Its also much heavier and is not a sports car.
Its a very firm riding sports saloon. I can’t emphasise that point enough. I do really like it, the engine is a masterpiece, its pretty sharp steering and handling wise (the ride is much firmer than the 993), but its not a sports car.
Also, I would suggest that the AMG tax on consumables is more than the Porsche tax (both are serviced at main dealers).

[Welshbeef]

The service plan from Merc still has 20% off. It’s a very good deal + you know what it’s going to cost you.

Tyres are indifferent
Brakes and discs frankly these will still be lasting good mileage/ down to your driving.

[rs4al]

01WE01 said:

Was your previous transport an ox and cart used exclusively on cobbled streets?

Haha. No, a 340i and before that an M4 but seriously the C63 rides so nice on 18”s bet you haven’t tried one.

[matt3001]

I have had 4 of these now over the years and collected my latest one yesterday morning.

MY18 C63 Saloon (pre-facelift)
MY19 C63S Coupe (facelift)
MY20 C63 Saloon
MY21 C63S Coupe

A lot has already been covered but a few other considerations:
- Pre-facelift non-S's dont have the upgrade rear diff which has a big impact on handling. Manual diff also requires extra servicing.
- The car handles significantly better on the standard wheels but looks better on the bigger wheels
- Pre-facelift cars are significantly louder; my original MY18 had a proper growl on it.
- Post-facelifts generally better on fuel
- Non-S is definitely better on fuel (if that is of importance, 2-3mpg better)
- Sports exhaust is a must
- Sports seat upgrade looks great if your usage is low, but they are very uncomfortable on long journeys (just FYI). I think its worth the pain.
- HUD is a must-have option for me
- C Class generally has cabin rattles (E Class is a much better made product)
- All cars devour rear tyres
- In comfort mode you could be driving a C300 so if your O/H drives the car its very easy to use day to day

if you have any specific questions I am happy to answer them.

[Fat hippo]

Welshbeef said:

The service plan from Merc still has 20% off. It’s a very good deal + you know what it’s going to cost you.

Tyres are indifferent
Brakes and discs frankly these will still be lasting good mileage/ down to your driving.

Agreed re service plan - I took it out when I got mine.
But consumables will be more expensive due to weight and performance of the car.
I replaced rear discs couple of months ago at £900. Car has done 17k ish miles.
Paid £500 fitted for 4 discs on the 993 albeit 10 yrs ago admittedly this was at an independant dealer where i’d bought the car from so had reduced labour rates, but also reflects the fact that I’ve decided to extend the Mercedes warranty indefinetly and as part of that am continuing to use a main dealer for servicing whereas the 993 i’m taking to a combination of main dealer and independant.

Likewise, tyres are probably double the amount but that is because the 993 has 17” wheels that are probably smaller than most superminis these days.

[anonymous-user]

rs4al said:

01WE01 said:

Was your previous transport an ox and cart used exclusively on cobbled streets?

Haha. No, a 340i and before that an M4 but seriously the C63 rides so nice on 18”s bet you haven’t tried one.

I owned an S205 c63 on 18"s and did about 40k, bone shaking, miles in it.

[Welshbeef]

https://youtu.be/n4XUTu2lzTo

OP watch this Monkey Harris review of the pre facelift.

It’s performance is frankly very fast road car first and foremost. It sounds the dogs
Easy to drive
Great tech
Strong brakes
Good front end handling
Wild if you want it to be
It will do good MPG when you don’t use all the performance / actually using all the horses in the U.K. on public roads is questionable as your into 3 numbers really quickly. These are 8.5-9second cars to 100mph 12.4 seconds on the quarter mile (that’s Wagon times too).


This video, seeing a few and then a single test drive I bought on the spot at frankly nearly 50% above what I’d had in my mind as a next car budget.

[anonymous-user]

That's the review that made me buy one. Even though my day with one as a test left me cold.

However, after owning one for quite a while, Clarkson's review is the one that actually rang truest.

www.driving.co.uk/car-reviews/the-clarkson-review-...

[Welshbeef]

01WE01 said:

That's the review that made me buy one. Even though my day with one as a test left me cold.

However, after owning one for quite a while, Clarkson's review is the one that actually rang truest.

www.driving.co.uk/car-reviews/the-clarkson-review-...

It doesn’t do 34.5mpg per that article.
I’m around 28mpg on my commute - much longer runs for sure into the low 30’s mpg ... but i don’t granny drive.

[matt3001]

Yeah 34.5 isn’t obtainable. You’d need a C43 for that.

Expect 28-31 depending on how you drive. 31-33 on a 50 mile mway run at 70

Photo from Skye last summer

Edited by matt3001 on Thursday 25th February 19:38

[anonymous-user]

Matt. Straight up question- do you work for MB?

I have never seen anything like those MPG figures. Run exclusively on Shell V power and not driven hard all the time.

Eta: also, surely the article is quoting MBs published figures?

Edited by 01WE01 on Thursday 25th February 19:42

[matt3001]

This was the trip from that Scottish trip. Including the NC500, Orkney and plenty of Sport+ offset with comfort/mway work to and from.



Standard 95RON the whole time

[anonymous-user]

OK, but do you work for MB?

[Tim bo]

Fat hippo said:

Freakuk said:

I've just stumbled across this thread, and a bit of a hijack (maybe I should start a new thread), but I'm looking to replace my Cayman 981 GTS and a new C63S looks like it could fit the bill, I know nothing about them other than a few reviews, comments on here for example.

There seems to be some good deals on currently for a brand new car, dealer contributions up to 12K on certain specs from what I have seen, but then I've spotted a few demonstrators, less than 6 months old 5-8K cheaper than the new car deals.

Does anyone have any useful information I should be aware of, running costs, common issues, servicing etc. Also, in our current climate I am guessing this could be a remote purchase (some cars are 150-200 miles away that float my boat), so I don't really want to arrange a test drive, get caught on non-essential travel etc, does anyone have any advice/experience regarding this?

Many thanks

Interesting that you want to replace a Cayman with a C63.
I have a 993 and a C63 and would suggest that, although the C63 is a LOT more powerful/faster. Its also much heavier and is not a sports car.
Its a very firm riding sports saloon. I can’t emphasise that point enough. I do really like it, the engine is a masterpiece, its pretty sharp steering and handling wise (the ride is much firmer than the 993), but its not a sports car.
Also, I would suggest that the AMG tax on consumables is more than the Porsche tax (both are serviced at main dealers).

Yes I also came from a Cayman to a C63, albeit a 718CS not a 981. I concur with your points, the two are very different animals. The C63 is no lightweight, nimble sportscar like the Porsche.

I loved the Cayman, it was a fabulous car, but two seats in a one-car household proved far too restrictive, so the Cayman only lasted 12 months from new.




No regrets over the C63 however, owned 3 years from new now, and this is the longest I've ever held on to a car.

Edited by Tim bo on Friday 26th February 08:06

[Welshbeef]

I personally prefer the grill of the pre facelift & absolutely love the 19” wheel design (5 spoke)