The old PH Fleet C63 507 wagon is for sale
Longtermers, Mercedes-AMGs, estates - none come much more awesome than the 507 that used to be ours...
Even in these leaner times for enthusiast cars, any opportunity to run one for an extended period of time is always a privilege. You discover traits that don’t reveal themselves in a brief test, you make memories, and you might even form a bit of a bond if it’s something really special. Plus it means a couple more months to put off what needs fixing on your own car…
We’re lucky at PH to have run some fantastic long-term test cars over the years, from Mazda to McLaren and RS3 to M340d. But one tends to stand out as the ultimate ‘choose just one’ selection: the C63 AMG 507 Edition estate, on fleet for six months from March to September 2014. A brief period a long time ago, sure, but very fondly remembered.
See the 507 wasn’t like most final editions. Yes, it received some dubious cosmetic add-ons, as is tradition, but crucially it was also treated to some significant mechanical upgrades: 507 was for 507hp, up from 457hp as standard thanks to the same lighter internals as found in the Black Series (and the regular Performance Pack, but with further fettling to get over the big five hundred).
So here was a compact estate with one of the great V8s in pretty much its ultimate tune, optioned up to the nines and without a mileage restriction. It’s little wonder that the 507 wagon was so popular with us (or indeed why so many Editions sold, with saloons and coupes offered). Back as a 23-year-old whippersnapper, everything with a V8 seemed spectacular, but it didn’t take long after the 507’s departure to realise just what a machine it was. Nothing came close to rivalling its blend of hooligan-grade entertainment, ludicrous performance and genuine usefulness.
You can probably guess which 507 estate this is - welcome back to PH, KY63 ZRK, it’s been too long. A little more than 60,000 miles and a couple more owners since Mercedes took it back (plus the 12 years), it’s back for sale. Looking, it must be said, as good as ever: the stickers and the vents are still a bit iffy - they always will be. But for a 75,000-mile, 2013 estate car, it scrubs up brilliantly. And a button-heavy dash that was very outdated by then looks like a lovely slab of traditional Merc now.
The overall condition, and the impressive state of the MOT history, would suggest some very conscientious owners over the past decade and a bit. This was a car, after all, for the most dedicated AMG aficionados: most would have been more than content with a standard C63. You only went for a 507 (and paid a significant amount extra) if you really, really loved them.
The advantage to forking out more to own one has always been 507 residuals. The market realised soon after launch how significant they were, and they’ve carried a premium over regular stuff ever since. More than the initial RRP difference, in fact. This one, with 73,867 miles on it, is £48,490; a comparable standard car in terms of age and mileage is £30k.
The other two 507s in the classifieds (like buses, these AMG specials) are both around £50k. So it would seem like they’re going to remain valuable for a while yet, particularly with the future of AMG C-Classes unclear. One thing’s for certain, though: the 507 is undoubtedly one of the greats. And faithful old ZRK in particular…
SPECIFICATION | MERCEDES-BENZ C63 AMG EDITION 507 ESTATE
Engine: 6,208cc, V8
Transmission: 7-speed auto with wet clutch (MCT), rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 507@6,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 450@5,200rpm
MPG: 23.2
CO2: 280g/km
First registered: 2013
Recorded mileage: 73,867
Price new: £68,470 (before options, this one was £80k!)
Yours for: £48,490
I had a PPP saloon & an edition 125 estate…
Both brilliant, really miss these fabulous cars, I didn’t pay for my fuel in either of them when I had them - joyous…
I’ve been tempted to get another one, but the Boxster 25 flat six I have gives pretty good normally aspirated ICE rasp, but nothing beats the M156 to my ear - love them…!
Didn’t you have some trouble with someone fiddling with your tyre pressures during the test period??
As a serial BMW M fanboy I got into one of these when Mercedes did a crazy cheap PCP deal, it was a lovely car to sit in and look at but in many ways one the most dissapointing new cars I've ever had. The build quality and reliability were iffy at best and the dealer backup massively worse, I thoroughly enjoyed my two years in it but was very happy to get back into my next series of BMW Ms after it went back.
I did pay for my own petrol (maybe that was it!!) but to me it was just an incrediby expensive way to make a lot of (admittedly absolutely lovely) noise, one thing in parallel though - like OP1 I have also now ended up with the almost ubiquitous (but simply unbeatable, for the price) Boxster 718 GTS 4.0 which does everything brilliantly, including the noise.
Maybe I was just very unlucky and my C63 AMG was a friday car...
As a serial BMW M fanboy I got into one of these when Mercedes did a crazy cheap PCP deal, it was a lovely car to sit in and look at but in many ways one the most dissapointing new cars I've ever had. The build quality and reliability were iffy at best and the dealer backup massively worse, I thoroughly enjoyed my two years in it but was very happy to get back into my next series of BMW Ms after it went back.
I did pay for my own petrol (maybe that was it!!) but to me it was just an incrediby expensive way to make a lot of (admittedly absolutely lovely) noise, one thing in parallel though - like OP1 I have also now ended up with the almost ubiquitous (but simply unbeatable, for the price) Boxster 718 GTS 4.0 which does everything brilliantly, including the noise.
Maybe I was just very unlucky and my C63 AMG was a friday car...
As you know - as you had one - these are pretty hard cars to rag around and abuse on a demo or any other lengthly type of drive, simply because they are so fast and strong at three figure speeds - if you really went banzai - you’d probably end up in prison!
I used to have a lot of fun - I never really bonfired the rear tyres, I liked getting mine on the pipe whilst rolling and managing the torque in and out, the worst tyres I got was about 3500 miles and best was around 8500 miles on the rears, fuel economy, yeah that’s a laugh right!! Best I got was 26 mpg, worst, and easily achieved, was well into single figures…
I also went M after these M2Comp and a G82 M4 Xdrive Comp, I’d hoped the M4 would be like a modern C63, and they do go like the clappers of course, but I never really felt the M4 tbh. The M2 Comp was much more like a junior C63 in many ways, I found that lairy as hell - it was a manual… loved it also…
Yeah the 4.0 Box/Cay product - I had 2 GT4’s and they are brilliant, loved them - but I must say I like the 25 year better overall, is just a bit softer and slightly less harsh for most drives. I think they are the bargain of the century - but let’s not tell everyone…!!
Whilst I’m on ownership, the feature on the Ogier GRY - is interesting, I have a last build Gen 1 GRY - very late car, I personally wouldn’t see the better value in an Ogier or the Rovanpera - I think the standard GRY is all you’d need - but that’s the beauty of choice - which is getting thinner on the ground these days for cars like these.
I am not into EV’s, driven a lot of them, just not for me. Although having said that - my good lady will soon be nailing a Honda Super-N - so I will report back in time on how that ‘goes’… I think I’m pretty well qualified to report on the gearbox (ahem) ‘simulation’…
Keep enjoying your GTS 4.0…!
At the time I worked more or less 100 miles from my home at one site, if I filled up on leaving the house, I would have to fill up 1/3 of the way home at night also…
HR got rather fed up with my fuel receipts - it was legit as I was going to a different site location from a HMRC perspective - in the end, I bought a Fiat Twinair (Aswell) to appease the HR & bean counter crew…
But I would still use the AMG as liberally as I wanted to… Single figure MPG was stupidly easy to achieve if it was clear at the right time of day…
At the time I worked more or less 100 miles from my home at one site, if I filled up on leaving the house, I would have to fill up 1/3 of the way home at night also
HR got rather fed up with my fuel receipts - it was legit as I was going to a different site location from a HMRC perspective - in the end, I bought a Fiat Twinair (Aswell) to appease the HR & bean counter crew
But I would still use the AMG as liberally as I wanted to Single figure MPG was stupidly easy to achieve if it was clear at the right time of day
Price of this one is silly, pushing it for the 507 rarity when a remap on a ‘normal’ one will make more power.
It is an epic car, I even almost like the greabox, despite my usual preference for manuals. But I have averaged 14mpg over my 18 month ownership, so for a daily it is thirsty. I don't do many miles and my other cars are no better, so I live with it.
The one in the ad is great, the only issue is with the price. PP versions like mine can be had for £20k, with a simple remap to 510bhp.
Of course the 507 has rarity on its side, so will appreciate quicker, but the initial outlay is a bit pointless.
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