C63 admission.

[SportsCoupeRich]

I think I find my c63 a bit dull. I am not in love with it as much as I wanted to be. I find it a bit painful in London traffic and not that exciting on A and B roads.

Hoping when I move to the countryside (imminent) I will learn to love it, or else-wise it is off to find the damage of getting shot of it for something else.

I cant really put my finger on the reason - we just haven't gelled. I think it might be because I sensible head talked myself out of a Maserati or 911.

 

[Palmball]

I'm surprised to hear this as I've previously had two C63's, replaced since with a wave of what should have been much better cars....but not because I didn't like the C63 as I loved it; I just fancied a change after having two of them over 18 months.

And in many cases, the replacements were better but only in some ways - the 911 Turbo which immediately followed my last C63 was just brilliantly engineered and the most capable car I've ever had (and probably will have for some time), the Maserati that followed that had the looks (but not a lot else) and the Jags were dynamically much better. But these were nearly all considerably more expensive cars and many aspects of owning them were less satisfying than the AMG....

The 911's looks never did it for me, it was more noisy, more rattly (a nearly-new 997.2 too!) and was the only car that's ever broken down on me!

The Maserati was just sh!t....a Grantursimo S and very expensive it was too. Average at best to drive, lots went wrong with it and any German sports saloon could run rings round it.

The Jags (XFR, XKR and XKR-S)....well, I really liked them and apart from brand image and build quality, were probably better all round cars to drive. But a Jag isn't for everyone and I always had that 'image' issue in the back of my head. No such problems with an AMG!


But, if the C63 isn't doing it for you then fair enough....I would seriously avoid the Maserati though as, from my own experience owning a Granturismo S, once the novelty wears off (and I have to admit, there is a monumental amount of novelty at first!), you're left with a very average and expensive Fiat (even the so-called leather dash is obvious plastic which on my car even started peeling!). The 911? Well, I can't knock this car too much as it's probably the best car I've had from a dynamic and performance perspective - it really is a very well engineered piece of kit. I was just in a similar situation to you where I just didn't gel with it...you on the other hand may love it.

Out of interest, what bothers you about the C63 in town driving as in this respect I found it a very inoffensive car?

 

[SportsCoupeRich]

Thanks for the great response.

I am really surprised too - I really thought that 24 months would be too short in this car! I normally get bored of cars after 12 months, 18 at most.

I cant put my finger on the true reason - it is a lot of little ones really, but mostly I just find it a bit 'c-classy'. I don't really get any sense of occasion out of it other than on start up.

I hope moving to an area of A and B roads with corners and long straights will make me love it more.

In town - the ride is not to my tastes really, not because it is firm but I just don't like the damping of it. The s5 and the 997.1 C2S I had for 6 months on loan were both firmer and on the same or bigger wheels but their damping was far more compliant.

The gearbox is not great for London traffic, lots of clumping together the coupling in slow traffic.

I think I am just, 1200 miles in, a bit under-whelmed by it.

I think I will give it another 6 months and see if I get used to it. I keep seeing the new CLS and thinking I should have got one of those instead. Or really the 991 I wanted really....

 

[seven]

I must admit that,at times i have felt the same. Sometimes find myself thinking that it's not that quick. Then i find myself on a great road and all those feelings melt away. I really wanted a GT3 but it just was not practical. I think that after a while almost any car will make you feel the same way.

 

[Palmball]

Thanks for the great response.

I am really surprised too - I really thought that 24 months would be too short in this car! I normally get bored of cars after 12 months, 18 at most.

I cant put my finger on the true reason - it is a lot of little ones really, but mostly I just find it a bit 'c-classy'. I don't really get any sense of occasion out of it other than on start up.

I hope moving to an area of A and B roads with corners and long straights will make me love it more.

In town - the ride is not to my tastes really, not because it is firm but I just don't like the damping of it. The s5 and the 997.1 C2S I had for 6 months on loan were both firmer and on the same or bigger wheels but their damping was far more compliant.

The gearbox is not great for London traffic, lots of clumping together the coupling in slow traffic.

I think I am just, 1200 miles in, a bit under-whelmed by it.

I think I will give it another 6 months and see if I get used to it. I keep seeing the new CLS and thinking I should have got one of those instead. Or really the 991 I wanted really....

I do understand what you mean about the suspension and ride....you may not know if you're a reasonably new member (as it was two years ago I posted about this) but one of the first things I did with my C63 was ditch the standard suspension for KW V3 coil-overs. It transformed the ride and handling (it's the suspension used on the CLK Black so was good and kind of AMG-approved) which, coming from an M3 previously, is the only thing it needed. The Jag's are what really show it up though. Oddly enough, my first C63 was an early Performance Pack (pre PPPlus) when they fitted harder suspension to the PP cars. This was much better and had spot-on body control - it shows AMG could do it and I really don't understand why they ditched it. The press gave them a hard time and used to say it was too hard but that was rubbish - it was no harder than an EDC-equippeed M3 in it's middle 'normal' setting'! Suepsnsion wise, if I could have my time again with my second C63, I would not do the KW V3's (too much manual setting up needed!)....I'd just buy AMG's own stiffer springs as fitted to the early cars (in fact, did I hear these are now an option on new C63's again?)

I have also since driven a current shape E63 (with the 6.2) for a whole day and a current 5.5 CLS63 (very briefly) and both are considerably better in the suspension and gearbox dept (although consider that my C63 at the time had the older non-MCT box....I believe new ones are much better but I guess you have that box and it;s that you don't like!). These are easily as good as their BMW equivalents in the dynamic stakes and, contrary to you, I personally love Merc's MCT gearbox.

As for it being C-classy......erm, well.....that is what you bought after all


ETA - just realised you're not a new member...ignore my first sentence!

 

[SportsCoupeRich]

I hoped the engine and drivetrain lifted it above c-class for me, and in test drives and early owning it did. And when I am away a lot it doesn't bother me. However just spent 70% of the last 2 months in the UK and it did bug me.

I think it will grow on me. It was a decision led by the head and once I have reconciled that I hope I will really get into it...probably just in time to give it back!

Interesting re the Maserati - it is the one car i would buy knowing it probably isn't that good! Maybe the new Bentley CGT too, though I dont really like them just yet.

I am likely being fussy with the c63. I wanted it to be all things (quick, practical, reasonably priced, comfortable, cruiser and supercar thrills) which is unfair.

 

[SportsCoupeRich]

I think that after a while almost any car will make you feel the same way.

This is true I think, other than the super different.....I actually get a lot of joy out of the boot doors to the GFs Mini Clubman. 2 doors opening out is so much more practical for loading than a hatch, and I enjoy it every time!

 

[Palmball]

I think that after a while almost any car will make you feel the same way.

This is true I think, other than the super different....

100% true. I swap and change far too much and in the end, the cars all end up feeling so similar in so many ways that you end up looking for perfection, and are disappointed when every aspect of a car isn't the perfection you're looking for.

The similarity in cars these days also means the novelty wears off quickly so, for the likes of us who like to swap and change (or am I just speaking for myself here?), it becomes a fruitless chase for perfection.

I actually thought the Maserati would be sooo different it would keep me entertained. And different it was, but for all the wrong reasons - after being used to well-enginereed German cars, I am confident that one month into Maserati ownership, you'd hate it!

Hopefully the SLS will be sufficiently different but for all the right reasons - early indications highlight it will but then I'll consider this view again 4-6 weeks into ownership! If not, then I need to find a new interest and hobby

 

[st4]

What about a used Audi R8. Proper sports car and money wise lightly used ones are now top end C63 money. HTH

 

[Spin_bowler]

I really enjoyed reading this thread. Genuine petrolheads swapping experiences. It's what cars like the C63 should be about and the kind of debate they should prompt.

If in 4-6 weeks you're not sold on the SLS Palmball I've got a monkey in used notes you can have for it, I'll even get the train to come and pick it up.

 

[st4]

I've driven a C63. They are over engined for the car. They are very squirmy in a way a CLS55 ain't. I'd maybe look at an M3, Cayman, R8, 911 if B road driving thrills are the number one priority.

I love C classes, but that engine is too much for them IMHO