The outpouring of goodwill and sympathy that followed my last update on the C63 and the story of its keying by a local vigilante 'parking warden' objecting to its presence has restored my faith in humanity somewhat. Though I still walk the street with suspicious eyes, wondering which of the residents it was who decided sabotage and criminal damage was a grown-up way to deal with a petty parking dispute. But the annoying thing is they've won and I now park elsewhere. Mercedes took the car away and fixed the scratch but the truth is I dare not risk testing that generosity again and tempting as it is my DIY skills aren't quite up to installing a more 'South African' form of car security involving flame throwers or large voltages. Can't stop me dreaming though.
507 coupe comparison enlightening
Anyway. To happier times. Goodwood. Sunshine. Hot and cold running AMGs. And a special pass for me to gatecrash Mercedes' on-track press event with 'my' long termer.
It was certainly interesting to chart the rate of progress within the AMG range. Some cars, the SLK55 and the C63, feel distinctly old school compared with the newer models like the turbocharged E63 S and '45 range represented here in CLA, A and GLA forms. With a new C63 coming soon with the turbocharged 4.0-litre 'hot V' AMG V8 the day also had the sense of a swansong for the mighty M156 6.2 and a chance to appreciate its talents one last time.
I started out in the E63 S, the mentalist 585hp twin-turbo version that unlike those sold in left-hand drive markets is still rear- and not four-wheel drive. It's a big old lump on track the E-Class and though the thrust - thrust is the right word, too - up the straights was almost comedic it didn't feel entirely at home on a track and even on a flowing circuit like Goodwood the brakes were basically on fire after just a few laps.
Out of its depth on track? Not at all!
Much more impressive was the A45, the engine for which is essentially one cylinder bank of the forthcoming 4.0 V8. If the character carries over we've nothing to worry about and on track the A45 feels entirely at home. The annoying multiple downshifting that happens on the road in manual mode didn't seem to be an issue and the engine pulls unbelievably hard with very little lag. Fast, pointy and fun these '45s continue to impress.
So to 'my' C63 though. After the gadgets and sophistication of the newer cars and in a repeat of my fears after driving the new M3 and M4 I was afraid what feels appealingly old-school on the road might feel a little crude and outdated on track. I was glad to be proved wrong.
For starters it felt a lot sharper than I expected, crisp passive damping, excellent body control, chunkily weighted steering and surprisingly keen turn-in all providing a solid foundation for That Engine to really shine. That Engine does mean the front end is pretty weighty though and you need to get it properly slowed down and settled before turning into the faster corners like the opener at Madgwick to avoid it dragging the front end wide.
Driver aids on meant no sideways silliness
But there's always an answer to that, courtesy of the right pedal. Now I'd love to say I spent the whole day on opposite lock and bonfired several sets of tyres (I would have been up for this as the car clearly was) but the rules of the day dictated we couldn't even switch to the ESP Sport mode. Though AMG's ESP settings are less finger wagging than most the huge low-end torque of the turbo V8s in the E and SL63s meant it was easy to wake the stability control and then have to sit out the reduced power until the car was through the corner.
Not so in the 507. The mechanical diff plays a part long before the ESP cuts in and the more top-end power delivery means you can progressively feed the power in and use the rear axle to influence the line of the car much more subtly. Subtly enough not to alarm either the electronics or chaperone in the passenger seat.
It meant adopting a super smooth driving style but that's no bad thing and the very gentle sense of rotation on the throttle as the corners opened out was totally addictive, Goodwood's long sweepers offering plenty of opportunity to enjoy it. Eventually the ESP would cut in but with commendable subtly and very little impact on speed. Truly, the diff makes this car and am I ever in the position to make good on my dream of buying one the first thing I look for on the build sheet will be option #471.
The progress of Mercedes-AMG in 20 years...
It was interesting to drive my wagon back to back with an equivalent Edition 507 Coupe too. I love the incongruity of punting a family estate around a track at daft speeds and the surprise factor on the road too but it's clear the coupe is a sharper driving tool. It's a little lower and 65kg lighter (if no featherweight at 1,730kg) but after putting in a call to Mercedes it was able to confirm AMG has also stiffened up the rear axle, which would explain why it felt a little sharper and more agile than the wagon. In both cars though the engine remains absolutely stand-out and a bittersweet reminder that whatever the benefits of the new wave of turbo engines in terms of torque, CO2 and fuel consumption there remains nothing quite so satisfying as a sodding great V8 that's happiest revving all the way out to a 7K-plus redline. Chances to spend more than fleeting seconds beyond 5,000rpm don't come often on the road in the 507 - at least if one wants to retain one's licence - but the 507's SLS internals make the big V8 even more of a rev hungry mentalist than it is in standard tune. A mentalist with a big boot, bike racks and equal ability to make a trundle round the M25 fun.
I really, really don't want to give it back.
FACT SHEET
Car: 2013 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Edition 507
Run by: Dan
On fleet since: March 2014
Mileage: 12,204
List price new: £68,470 before options (£80,075 as tested, comprising Privacy Glass £330, reversing camera £390, Lighting Package £150, three-zone climate control £590, Keyless Go £665, AMG Performance Media £2,040, Comand Online with six-disc changer £250, DAB £335, Harmon Kardon surround sound £650, phone pre-wiring with roof aerial £290, Designo Magno Platinum paint £3,660, rear axle limited-slip differential £1,745 and 19-inch wheels £510)
Last month at a glance: Track session at Goodwood proves SLS-engined family estate works on circuit too - result
