Another E63s leaving and the new car is........?

[Pondman]

Do we have an emoji for flailing yourself with sharpened wire yet?

No, just driving a Renault is enough!

 

[Pondman]

Of course - just curious as usually practical reasons dictate our choice of car. An estate car is usually chosen firstly for families/load lugging etc and the engine choice/trim etc being the secondary consideration.

If I could get three kids plus myself and the wife and all the paraphernalia in an SL I may be driving that instead of the E63 wagon

An E-class estate and a Megane really are two totally different cars

Indeed they are and that contrast is where the interest lies. They say that “a change is a good as a rest” well this is a prime example. I no longer need to carry 2 kids and all there school bags/boarding + other to the bus in the mornings. Only one kid will be a regular the other is now boarding weekly so only one trip and one child + luggage will travel at one time, QED - less luggage space required = more fun to be had in a 1300kg car rather than a 1900kg car.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Fair play to you for stating your reasoning behind such a move, I’ve personally never struggled to enjoy powerful RWD cars but I can see why, if you’re not that way inclined, you prefer something more naturally restricted.

Anyway, good luck with it and stick around...

 

[Pondman]

Best of luck with your new purchase,,,,
We have a vw mk5 R32 [2007] as our daily for the last 5 years and find it to be a bit of a trail [my wife and i are in our 50s lol] with the drama and keeping it under 30 most of the time,,,
makes me wonder how you will get on with it in that respect?
i imagine its great for track days etc also,,,,,,

Fortunately Jason I’m the right side of 50 so INcan just about get away with it. As for keeping me and it below 30mph - LOL
Tere are a few things that need replacing on the suspension - age related, so once done I might well do a track day or two

 

[Pondman]

Fair play to you for stating your reasoning behind such a move, I’ve personally never struggled to enjoy powerful RWD cars but I can see why, if you’re not that way inclined, you prefer something more naturally restricted.

Anyway, good luck with it and stick around...

I’ve had FWD, RWD and 4WD cars they all have their own personalities, I don’t find either particularly “restricted” just different. I ordered my new Transit van as a RWD because of many factors, and yes drivability was one, but sometimes FWD does have the edge in certain circumstances. I will drop in from time to time, but not as often as I was going to the petrol station! Thank goodness!

 

[Will]

Fair enough - I think the main problem you had with the ‘63 was keeping it as a weekend car? Especially as you seem quite an enthusiastic driver.

My ‘63 isn’t a daily drive but it’s not the sort of car I’d go for if I was keeping it just for weekend blasts or track days etc, especially if I didn’t need the space.

I think you made the right move for you

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I’ve had FWD, RWD and 4WD cars they all have their own personalities, I don’t find either particularly “restricted” just different.

I didn’t make myself clear enough - when I say restricted I mean as in power; you stated in your OP that you feel as though there’s nowhere you can use the power in the E63 to its potential and at least with the Renault you can use the maximum power because of how low it is compared to the E63.

 

[mounty3279]

“Better to have loved and lost than never loved at all...”

 

[Daveuk]

Always had a soft spot for them would love a Clio 182 In blue as a toy!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Nat]

In other words you're too young for one I'm not normally a fan of most cars from France but quite like the lightweight sporty stuff that occasionally comes out of there.

At least you've ticked it off your list and can always get another at some stage. Blooming bright this one

 

[Pondman]

In other words you're too young for one I'm not normally a fan of most cars from France but quite like the lightweight sporty stuff that occasionally comes out of there.

At least you've ticked it off your list and can always get another at some stage. Blooming bright this one

That’s the thing, the Megane is in much lesser numbers than the various incarnations of a full fat AMG V8, so whilst I have the chance, let’s have some fun
And yes, you won’t miss it out and about! But then I’ve never been a shrinking violet
This was another car on th list, so another tick.

 

[mounty3279]

I’ve had FWD, RWD and 4WD cars they all have their own personalities, I don’t find either particularly “restricted” just different. I ordered my new Transit van as a RWD because of many factors, and yes drivability was one, but sometimes FWD does have the edge in certain circumstances. I will drop in from time to time, but not as often as I was going to the petrol station! Thank goodness!

How do you like your tranny?
I keep thinking about one but i’d have to sell my beloved pickup that ive had forever. They’re a lot of money for a van but i like ‘m.

 

[Gbrowncls55]

I kind of agree with you. As a daily driver I like big comfortable saloon cars (need to carry others ) with a sideline of occasional bonkers fun hence the CLS55. I'm not sure you will find many more opportunities for fun in the new one given the nature of our roads today. It is still possible if you have route that takes in the right sort of roads and you will probably get more out of the new one in such conditions. I have a route for when I want a bit of real driving (handling) fun, but I don't take the CLS, to big and too heavy. I take the 996.

 

[Will]

Ironically for me, the ‘63 is my family car and the 911 should be for weekend blasts and stuff - but currently I hardly get the time to drive it, not the car’s fault and I can’t blame the roads etc either

But it’s there for when I want it, that’s a bit like the ‘63 wagon - a great spacious and comfortable car with all the practicality you need, and the big thumping heart up front is only a prod away if and when you need it

That’s what AMGs do so well, they tick numerous boxes in one package

 

[JDL60]

Well here goes;
One of my petrolhead bucket list cars was to own an AMG V8 - Done
Initially the novelty of owning an estate with super car performance was fun, but after a while the novelty wore off. The opportunity to enjoy the performance and make the most of what I owned never really arose. Family and other work commitments didn’t allow for any road trips or track type opportunities. So I’m left lamenting what might have been when given the opportunity. Personally I feel that the “fun” operating window of the E63 starts at 60mph and above which, with the current speed hating/adverse society today, really isn’t feasible to explore, especially on the crowded roads of southern England.

As to those who were wondering if it was a cash flow crisis? NO! it certainly wasn’t, the car was bought outright at the point of purchase. I always monitor closely the sale price of cars which I own so as to not loose too much money on them come resale, I have a depreciating price point when reached, I will decide to sell at and the E63s had reached that point and as a matter of fact, I did rather well on part-ex and came away smiling for once. I also wished to free up some capital to buy the wife’s new family car - Jaguar iPace that is when Jaguar pull their finger out and allow for test drives to occur

When driving the E63s, it was always pleasant, but rarely involving due to its massive capabilities, there in lies the conundrum! I wanted something that was fun, practical, involving, unique and would be a decent investment, i.e. not loose too much money! I did indeed look at the BMW 130i, Golf GTi Edition 30, Golf R32, AUDI S3, Volvo V50, Saab 9-3, MB A200Turbo, MB A45 and others. All were on a downward slope that I didn’t like the look of, or they were just too common, or just too dull! I fancied a frisson of excitement. So the Megane R26 F1 230 offers all of the the things I was after.

It is regarded as one of the best handling hot hatches of its time, it is rare in this colour (by the way it is a fabulous pearlescent yellow, the most sort after colour - the photos don’t do the colour justice unfortunately) especially with the full sticker pack, which this has. It’s a very low mileage example in excellent condition and was a bit of a bargain with more than 10 people chasing it if I didn’t follow through with the purchase. Ok, yes it will let me down at some stage, and yes, it will have electrical gremlins, but the reward for every time you push the start button more than makes up for the slight hesitation of will it or won’t it?

All in all it makes me smile when I drive it and it makes me smile when I look at it. Oh to be back in control of a car again with very little nannying from the electrics, it’s a breath of fresh air. A big PLUS is that now, the values of these Mk2 Megane have started to rise. So if I take good care of her and drive sensible mileage (5-6k is my average personal mileage) it should be a fun and cheap if not free driving experience, here’s hoping!

Prior to buying this I had a Fiat Coupe 20VT Limited Edition for 10 years it was fun, fast and great to look at. I did shows, track days and went round Spa in it. After that it was a Subaru Forester STi - absolutely fabulous to drive, very much in the same vein as the Megane is as it had been track modified, then came the MB C350 CDi Sport Plus, lovely car until the red paint fell off - thanks for that MB! Then I went onto Jaguar XF 3.0TDi V6S Portfolio Sportbrake great car but lacked a personality, then the E63S. Four estates on the trot, the last 3 were autos, although they all had manual modes, I think I’ve just had enough of automated gearboxes for a while and feel the urge to get back some of the control a manual affords. My daily drive is a 2018 diesel Ford Transit and that can also be “fun” on the right road.

So there you are, those are the main reasons for the decision that the time had come for a change. Don’t get me wrong the AMG E63S is a great car, but I just wasn’t able to fulfill its or my imagined potential that it offered.
I hope that it brings further happiness to the next owner.

P.S. there are no baseball caps allowed in the car, nor dodgy Pssssst dump valves!
P.P.S MB don’t give a hoot over customer/brand loyalty, so why should we the purchasing public?

To be fair, a huge amount of what you say resonates with me and I’d guess most 63 owners.
Like you I don’t get the time to track mine and you’re right that a lot of the true performance is released above 60....actually the honest response is above 90 which of course I’d never dare do...
I do love the 212 though , it’s a special place to be which quite honestly is as big a part of its appeal to me as the blindingly quick pace...
Downside mainly is the challenges from the list of cars you mentioned when I’m trying to mind my own business - how very dare they!

 

[Pondman]

How do you like your tranny?
I keep thinking about one but i’d have to sell my beloved pickup that ive had forever. They’re a lot of money for a van but i like ‘m.

Indeed they are expensive, but all vans are if you look at list price. I tested the VW Crafter 2017 model + the MB Sprinter 2016 and neither could cut it against the Transit. What sold me on the Ford was the driver was focused upon, not just the vehicle. It's so much nicer inside the cab of the Transit. And it had options that worked for me and what I do - pond maintenance.
The new Transit was involved in a bad accident 6 weeks after getting it, not my fault I hasten to add!
£10,000 worth of repairs! It has come back just as new and doesn't feel any different, unlike me! But it did its job and we all survived. Whilst it was off for 8weeks I had a Sprinter courtesy van, the 2.1L Mercedes engine is better than the 2.0 panther Ford diesel (more torque), but that was the only thing I missed once back in my Transit.
I managed to get £10k off list by trading in my old transit during their diesel scrappage scheme - happy days
Go test drive one, I'm sure they'll go you a good deal. If a new one doesn't do it for you I can also highly recommend a Mk7 with RWD, excellent van and GREAT FUN to drive, I personally think they drive better than the new Mk8. I should know, I had a L1H1 2.4 RWD 130bhp for 10 years, it really handled well

 

[Psilonaught]

Why not have both!?

I have an e63 estate and also fancy something smaller and more immediate. I'm also buying a Porsche 968 manual.

 

[Pondman]

1) because I don’t have that amount of disposable income
2) maintenance on both vehicles would add a lot of cost
3) I can only drive one vehicle at one time, so I’d like to enjoy just one and not know I’ve got to tax and insure 2 cars. I already run 2 vans for my company + the maintenance on my wife’s car.
4) I like clean cars so it’s double the cleaning as I don’t have a garage for both
5) if I kept the E63 it will continue to depreciate

I think that’s enough reasons for me not to have 2 cars!

 

[french]

Well it’s been a very pleasant interlude between cars the E63s has, but frustration has got the better of me. The E63s is such a mighty motor trapped on a tiny island of fun. It just sits behind the dawdlers at 40-50mph and windows of opportunity are rare and fleeting. Time to reconnect with my inner boy racer and have the fun of tinkering with my new toy to get the perfect balance. I’m sure most of you will feel I’ve gone mad! Yes, mad with frustration being trapped in such a capable car with nowhere to enjoy her full fat capabilities. So I’ve gone for a Zero calorie Red Bull instead
2007 Renault Megane F1 230 33,500 miles in liquid yellow.
View attachment 79146
View attachment 79147

Looks great, fast N fun...on another note I received my Nip today, in a 20 mph doing 26mph...now you mind you dot have to much fun or you'll be alongside me at the Speed awareness thingy

 

[clk320x]

Looks great, fast N fun...on another note I received my Nip today, in a 20 mph doing 26mph...now you mind you dot have to much fun or you'll be alongside me at the Speed awareness thingy

Ouch! I’ve personally never seen a speed camera in a 20mph zone!