ghibbett
Active Member
I thought I'd take the time to start and maintain a monthly running report of my C63. I appreciate it's not of interest to many, but perhaps it may help out the odd person who's looking to make the move to MB or indeed to an AMG. So here goes:
Length of ownership = 1 month
Mileage = 560
Fuel economy = 20.8mpg (20.58mpg calculated)
Faults = 'The Rattle', COMAND rattle
So now I've had the C63 for 1 month, I thought I'd write a few bits about it. Rather than talking about the engine or the noise, I thought I'd share some other observations I've made during my ownership of her.
SIZE
Sitting in the car, especially with the high dash cowl, it feels really quite a large vehicle, both in length and width. I'm not really sure why but it just does. I came from a BMW 330i (E46), which isn't much smaller, but it's just the way the car feels. You certainly sit down low in the car, more so than in the BMW, and it also feels quite wide, although I think this is down to the ridges in the bonnet giving that impression. Once underway it soon feels much more normal size-wise, however once you start any steering inputs it really shrinks itself around you.
STEERING
This really is a major attribute of the car. I haven't yet figured out how much feel filters through to the wheel, but the steering is not only very accurate and direct, but it's also very quick. In combination with the stiffness of the chassis, it gives a very quick turn-in and really contributes to the wrap-around feeling of the car. It also makes catching small slides a doddle.
GEARBOX
The balance between super-fast racy upshifts and comfort orientated easy going-ness is very good. I feel the gearbox sits in the middle; it does a great job of fast upshifts (less so on the downshifts) but also can waft around very comfortably in auto. However the gearbox can be caught out. After a bout of light throttle pootling, and at crawling speeds, the request for power (even only 25%) can catch it napping slightly. We're not talking dangerous levels of delay or anything like that, but just a noticeable lag as it takes its time to respond to the sudden change in input. I will add that this is not the normal, and only something that I've found once or twice. It can of course be completely overridden by using an alternate mode, but was just something I thought I'd point out. Overall I'm very impressed with the 'box.
LIGHTS
I'm seriously impressed with the Intelligent Light System. I never used the auto lights function on my BMW, mainly because I liked to be in control and know what it was doing, but I have yet to fault the system on the C63 with regards to which lights it deems suitable for the time and conditions. This includes the High Beam Assist which also works brilliantly. I'm very impressed with this!
FUNCTIONALITY
- The bluetooth works seamlessly at both making and receiving calls, and always instantly connects to my phone as soon as I start the car.
- The folding mirrors, whilst of limited use in narrowing the car, do give a great visual identifier that the car is locked.
- The auto-tailgate works well, but be extremely cautious of opening it when, for example, parked close to a wall or garage door; the arc the tailgate scribes takes it further rearwards that the bumper, therefore meaning it's possible to park close to an object and then have the tailgate hit said object upon auto-opening. I came within half an inch of this happening and am now super aware of it for the future.
- The MFD graphics in the instrument binnacle are very clear and attractive. One thing that annoys me is that there is no permanent temperature display. It in only on the odometer screen that it can be seen. If it could have also be incorporated into the COMAND screen, I feel that would have been better.
- Also when setting off, the display shows a seatbelt graphic which can only be cancelled by pressing OK on the wheel. Ok so this isn't a major hardship, but it is annoying nevertheless.
OTHER
- One very annoying aspect of the design is that the horizontal bumper lip is exactly that; horizontal. This means that any rainfall washes the dirt off the tailgate/rear window down onto this recess and, due to it being horizontal, it does not drain away. This leaves a dirty pool of water to collect. Not a very clever design feature!
- Another annoying aspect is the lack of a proper footrest. Yes there's a flat section to rest your left foot, but it could not only be wider but also have an aluminium treadplate covering it.
- Also I find the bonnet shut a bit ridiculous. You have to positively slam the bonnet to shut it.
- Aside from the few interior rattles (COMAND unit and the centre stack to centre console interface rattle aka 'The Rattle') the car itself feels extremely solid. I also love the fact that the key, rather than being a push-into-the-slot and then press a button type affair, is something that you actually turn to engage the starter motor. And how solid is the key in the ignition?! Wow, that feels really well engineered with absolutely zero lateral movement.
Finally the car will soon start paying me back as it'll be used for a small business venture that'll pay for a good 6 tanks of V-Power. It is an interesting venture that I cannot talk about until the non-disclosure agreement date has passed, however it'll make my car famous in that it'll be heard all over the World.
So overall I'm very happy with her. Talking of 'her', I'm still yet to think of a name. It's got to be a Germanic female name but of a more masculine nature. I know Brunhilda is already taken, so the search continues.
Length of ownership = 1 month
Mileage = 560
Fuel economy = 20.8mpg (20.58mpg calculated)
Faults = 'The Rattle', COMAND rattle
So now I've had the C63 for 1 month, I thought I'd write a few bits about it. Rather than talking about the engine or the noise, I thought I'd share some other observations I've made during my ownership of her.
SIZE
Sitting in the car, especially with the high dash cowl, it feels really quite a large vehicle, both in length and width. I'm not really sure why but it just does. I came from a BMW 330i (E46), which isn't much smaller, but it's just the way the car feels. You certainly sit down low in the car, more so than in the BMW, and it also feels quite wide, although I think this is down to the ridges in the bonnet giving that impression. Once underway it soon feels much more normal size-wise, however once you start any steering inputs it really shrinks itself around you.
STEERING
This really is a major attribute of the car. I haven't yet figured out how much feel filters through to the wheel, but the steering is not only very accurate and direct, but it's also very quick. In combination with the stiffness of the chassis, it gives a very quick turn-in and really contributes to the wrap-around feeling of the car. It also makes catching small slides a doddle.
GEARBOX
The balance between super-fast racy upshifts and comfort orientated easy going-ness is very good. I feel the gearbox sits in the middle; it does a great job of fast upshifts (less so on the downshifts) but also can waft around very comfortably in auto. However the gearbox can be caught out. After a bout of light throttle pootling, and at crawling speeds, the request for power (even only 25%) can catch it napping slightly. We're not talking dangerous levels of delay or anything like that, but just a noticeable lag as it takes its time to respond to the sudden change in input. I will add that this is not the normal, and only something that I've found once or twice. It can of course be completely overridden by using an alternate mode, but was just something I thought I'd point out. Overall I'm very impressed with the 'box.
LIGHTS
I'm seriously impressed with the Intelligent Light System. I never used the auto lights function on my BMW, mainly because I liked to be in control and know what it was doing, but I have yet to fault the system on the C63 with regards to which lights it deems suitable for the time and conditions. This includes the High Beam Assist which also works brilliantly. I'm very impressed with this!
FUNCTIONALITY
- The bluetooth works seamlessly at both making and receiving calls, and always instantly connects to my phone as soon as I start the car.
- The folding mirrors, whilst of limited use in narrowing the car, do give a great visual identifier that the car is locked.
- The auto-tailgate works well, but be extremely cautious of opening it when, for example, parked close to a wall or garage door; the arc the tailgate scribes takes it further rearwards that the bumper, therefore meaning it's possible to park close to an object and then have the tailgate hit said object upon auto-opening. I came within half an inch of this happening and am now super aware of it for the future.
- The MFD graphics in the instrument binnacle are very clear and attractive. One thing that annoys me is that there is no permanent temperature display. It in only on the odometer screen that it can be seen. If it could have also be incorporated into the COMAND screen, I feel that would have been better.
- Also when setting off, the display shows a seatbelt graphic which can only be cancelled by pressing OK on the wheel. Ok so this isn't a major hardship, but it is annoying nevertheless.
OTHER
- One very annoying aspect of the design is that the horizontal bumper lip is exactly that; horizontal. This means that any rainfall washes the dirt off the tailgate/rear window down onto this recess and, due to it being horizontal, it does not drain away. This leaves a dirty pool of water to collect. Not a very clever design feature!
- Another annoying aspect is the lack of a proper footrest. Yes there's a flat section to rest your left foot, but it could not only be wider but also have an aluminium treadplate covering it.
- Also I find the bonnet shut a bit ridiculous. You have to positively slam the bonnet to shut it.
- Aside from the few interior rattles (COMAND unit and the centre stack to centre console interface rattle aka 'The Rattle') the car itself feels extremely solid. I also love the fact that the key, rather than being a push-into-the-slot and then press a button type affair, is something that you actually turn to engage the starter motor. And how solid is the key in the ignition?! Wow, that feels really well engineered with absolutely zero lateral movement.
Finally the car will soon start paying me back as it'll be used for a small business venture that'll pay for a good 6 tanks of V-Power. It is an interesting venture that I cannot talk about until the non-disclosure agreement date has passed, however it'll make my car famous in that it'll be heard all over the World.
So overall I'm very happy with her. Talking of 'her', I'm still yet to think of a name. It's got to be a Germanic female name but of a more masculine nature. I know Brunhilda is already taken, so the search continues.
