Wednesday 5th February 2014

Chris Harris video: Mercedes C63 AMG 507

With a week of M3 love on PH, Harris makes the case for its AMG nemesis

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I wanted to say a proper goodbye to the W204 C63. Mainly because I think it's a stand-out product that bought much joy to my life over the past seven years, but also because D. Trent Esq. has spent the past week eulogising over the E92 M3 as it ceases production.

The BMW won many of the original magazine group tests, but having run both for longer periods as everyday wheels, I think the Merc is a better all-rounder.

AMG's launch strategy has been frantic since the C63 arrived, so it's easy to forget just how differently the company is perceived now, compared to 2007. Where once we had vast engines and little attention paid to chassis dynamics, now the cars are genuine M rivals.

And there have been some absolute belters too - but even among E63s and SLSs, the C63 has always had an inherent rightness to it that makes it, for me, the best AMG product ever made. It just looks right, feels right, sounds right and goes like someone inserted a hot poker in its exit-hole.

So whereas D. Trent uses the medium of the blog to say his farewells, I've used a short film.

Bet a few of you search for a used C63 in the classifieds after watching it.

Enjoy.

[RSbandit]

Great cars no doubt but how can the RS5 not be included in this discussion??
It seems the only criteria used is how far the car can hang it's back out...gets a bit tiresome

[BrewsterBear]

I absolutely adore the C63 AMG. Not enough to throw £30k away on a three year lease, but once prices have dropped to mid-twenties I can see this being my everyday car.

[Carlique]

Don't know why but that little cry at the end really tickled me!
The gent that lives two houses up from me has a lovely C63 saloon. Lovely sound hearing it blast off down the street every morning.

[davepoth]

RSbandit said:

Great cars no doubt but how can the RS5 not be included in this discussion??
It seems the only criteria used is how far the car can hang it's back out...gets a bit tiresome

He mentioned the RS4 - pretty much the same thing.

For a "helmsmith" AWD does tend to ruin the balance of a car a bit; with all of the power on the back wheels and all of the steering (and nearly all of the braking) on the front, everything is much more adjustable. The RS5 is likely much faster cross country though, although in fairness the S-Line TDi will probably do even better due to the fuel economy.

Basically, it comes down to Massive Skids/£.

[richs2891]

Another brilliant video - well done Chris

[MDubyaB]

I used to look really forward to your videos Chris. Now I just tend to hope you do something other than drift round a track. It's all a little stale at the moment.

[BeirutTaxi]

That engine is truly amazing. I think the EVO long term test '63 did several thousand miles without using a drop of oil.

[braddo]

Chris Harris said:

Enjoy.

Thanks. I did, very much.

I like that the C43 like mine was the first (factory) car of this size/class to have a V8 shoved in, but it's only a matter of time before it is going to have to replaced by the car which will hold the all-time, never to be bettered, record of biggest engine to be fitted to this size car - the C63.

I'm sure there must be 1cm extra rear legroom or 5 litres of extra boot space that makes it a completely practical upgrade too. Right?

[0a]

The m3 ended with the e90, the m5 ended with the e60, properly mental C classes will end with this car. Very sad that emissions and regulations have finally killed off the over engined naturally aspirated German mega car. Now all we have are auto turbo clones of VW group Audis

I will own a c43.

[TheTromboner]

BrewsterBear said:

I absolutely adore the C63 AMG. Not enough to throw £30k away on a three year lease, but once prices have dropped to mid-twenties I can see this being my everyday car.

Think you need a trip to the classifieds then chap! Prices have already dropped into the low-twenties if you'll settle for a high miler, mid-twenties gets you a rather clean example. Hasn't depreciation been nice to us eh

[Leins]

braddo said:

I like that the C43 like mine was the first (factory) car of this size/class to have a V8 shoved in

I really love the C43, but the Alpina B8 predates it by a couple of years, and with a bigger V8

N.B. Alpina is a manufacturer in its own right, before anyone throws a "tuner" jibe at it

[Presuming Ed]

Great car but where's the rest of the vid. Off to the classifieds I go.

[RSbandit]

davepoth said:

He mentioned the RS4 - pretty much the same thing.

For a "helmsmith" AWD does tend to ruin the balance of a car a bit; with all of the power on the back wheels and all of the steering (and nearly all of the braking) on the front, everything is much more adjustable. The RS5 is likely much faster cross country though, although in fairness the S-Line TDi will probably do even better due to the fuel economy.

Basically, it comes down to Massive Skids/£.

I own a RS5 so a little biased of course but wouldn't swap it for either of the above...I've driven an M3 on a racetrack ( palmersport so lighter car and other mods), wonderful experience no doubt but as an everyday proposition the RS5 works better...and how anyone can call a car with such a terrific engine and gearbox bland ( the noise on downshifts/upshifts is fantastic ) is really stretching credibility!

[WCZ]

imo there's no comparison with the RS5, drove one and hated it

[0a]

RSbandit said:

I own a RS5 so a little biased of course but wouldn't swap it for either of the above...I've driven an M3 on a racetrack ( palmersport so lighter car and other mods), wonderful experience no doubt but as an everyday proposition the RS5 works better...and how anyone can call a car with such a terrific engine and gearbox bland ( the noise on downshifts/upshifts is fantastic ) is really stretching credibility!

Audis are different though

[405dogvan]

TIL that the C Class kept the 6.2 (6.3 on the badges?) rather than swapping to the 5.5 TT as the E did - you live and learn eh?

Eighty grand tho - they're having a giraffe - they'll be sub £30k soon enough and very tempting there I imagine

[PunterCam]

MDubyaB said:

I used to look really forward to your videos Chris. Now I just tend to hope you do something other than drift round a track. It's all a little stale at the moment.

That's cars I'm afraid! Individually we find them interesting, but in company we tend not to talk about them much - what is there to say? And apart from driving the cars, what else can a car presenter do? Host Top Gear and drift minivans full of assassins into North Korea I guess...

Not sure the issue is Chris anyway - cars are a little stale themselves at the moment. It's all too thought and deliberate. Even the Italians, when given the chance to make a mini supercar, made an effin turbo4 automatic. Give me strength! Apart from Porsche is anyone making a n/a 6 cylinder anymore?!

Last big V8 estate - god love em'. The last slice of humour leaves the automotive world!

[YankeePorker]

No manual version then? Shame, that means it doesn't tick an essential box on the checklist as far as a Luddite like me is concerned.

[Veeayt]

BeirutTaxi said:

That engine is truly amazing. I think the EVO long term test '63 did several thousand miles without using a drop of oil.

I'm sorry, but what exactly is amazing about engine not burning oil? Some of the best engines (Busso, Mezger, LSes etc.) are renowned for their use of oil, and some of the most boring are not (4A's, VW etc). If I'd go for the amazing bit, it won't be it

[Dave Hedgehog]

such a dirty dirty noise

you can keep you EV cars