C63 estate W204 or W205

[BLACKSILVER]

Hello one and all..

Im after a C63 estate either a w204 or w205. What are peoples opinions? What are the pros and cons of each one. I would love to hear from those who have experienced or owned both.

Which one would you go for and why?

Thanks in advance

 

[Jobsworth]

Oooo, you’ve poked the bear

I like ‘em both, but currently the 205 has my heart.

 

[BLACKSILVER]

Why do you say the 205 over the 204? Blimey, you have loads of cars!

 

[Jobsworth]

Gratuitous pic of my current one.

 

[Jobsworth]

Why do you say the 205 over the 204?

I can’t live with the fuel consumption of the M156. It’s also a little dated for me. Some don’t like the look of the 205. Each to their own

 

[Jobsworth]

Blimey, you have loads of cars!

I have a disease.

 

[Steve84N]

Some of this is subjective and it's my perspective as a 5 year owner of an S204 and a couple of test drives in an S205.

- 205 looks better outside, I prefer the pre-facelift though especially the grille.

- 205 rides better even in the stiffer suspension modes. 205 handles way better, I think it moved to double wishbone front suspension.

- Seats are better in the 204. Amazing comfy buckets with the biggest side bolsters I know of. 205 sports seats look cool but 204 are more comfortable. Both cars you sit too high, even more so in the 204. You only have to step into a BMW to realise how it should be.

- 205 interior is more chintzy. I like both the 204 and 205 interior.

- People cite better tech on the 205 but quite frankly I'm not missing anything in the 204. It has cruise control, Bluetooth audio, speed limiter and decent enough maps or you can add a box for Android Auto. Not interested in lane keeping assist etc although HUD would be nice.

- Steering is delicious on the 204 with its hydraulic rack. On the 205 it's too light a lot of the time but alright at speed.

- I think the 204 creaks and rattles less from the number of people I've seen moan about the 205 compared to the 204.

- I'm not head over heels in love with the M156 sound, it's a bit too American like for me. However, it does sound epic with the windows down/boot cracked open. Driven normally it's too quiet inside and you don't get to enjoy it as much as I'd like. The 205 has less variation in the noise it makes but it sounds nice too.

- The 204 only really flies when you rev it out. The 205 is more torquey and is better suited to use as a family car.

- The 204 is more of an event more of the time, including at low speed. For this reason it makes a compelling argument for a low use special car. The fuel consumption is high, low twenties driving like a granny and mid to low teens pressing on. With lowish miles per annum that's not an issue.

- The 205 is quite a lot more money, which may be a consideration.

On balance I'd pick the 204 if you're doing under 10k miles a year and you want something different. It feels like nothing else and is a visceral experience. The 205 feels quite like an ordinary car in normal driving but it's ultimate capablities are epic.

I'm selling my S204 if you're interested here: Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[BLACKSILVER]

Some of this is subjective and it's my perspective as a 5 year owner of an S204 and a couple of test drives in an S205.

- 205 looks better outside, I prefer the pre-facelift though especially the grille.

- 205 rides better even in the stiffer suspension modes. 205 handles way better, I think it moved to double wishbone front suspension.

- Seats are better in the 204. Amazing comfy buckets with the biggest side bolsters I know of. 205 sports seats look cool but 204 are more comfortable. Both cars you sit too high, even more so in the 204. You only have to step into a BMW to realise how it should be.

- 205 interior is more chintzy. I like both the 204 and 205 interior.

- People cite better tech on the 205 but quite frankly I'm not missing anything in the 204. It has cruise control, Bluetooth audio, speed limiter and decent enough maps or you can add a box for Android Auto. Not interested in lane keeping assist etc although HUD would be nice.

- Steering is delicious on the 204 with its hydraulic rack. On the 205 it's too light a lot of the time but alright at speed.

- I think the 204 creaks and rattles less from the number of people I've seen moan about the 205 compared to the 204.

- I'm not head over heels in love with the M156 sound, it's a bit too American like for me. However, it does sound epic with the windows down/boot cracked open. Driven normally it's too quiet inside and you don't get to enjoy it as much as I'd like. The 205 has less variation in the noise it makes but it sounds nice too.

- The 204 only really flies when you rev it out. The 205 is more torquey and is better suited to use as a family car.

- The 204 is more of an event more of the time, including at low speed. For this reason it makes a compelling argument for a low use special car. The fuel consumption is high, low twenties driving like a granny and mid to low teens pressing on. With lowish miles per annum that's not an issue.

- The 205 is quite a lot more money, which may be a consideration.

On balance I'd pick the 204 if you're doing under 10k miles a year and you want something different. It feels like nothing else and is a visceral experience. The 205 feels quite like an ordinary car in normal driving but it's ultimate capablities are epic.

I'm selling my S204 if you're interested here: Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Wow. Can’t express my thanks. Great feedback on both cars from your experience. This really helps. I’m considering buying either of the two.

Budget is not an issue. I won’t be doing more then 3/4k miles per annum.

I’ll be test driving both so hoping it will help. It will be my first AMG. I’ve had loads of BMs, e46 M3 > m140i > f80 M3 > e92 M3 > carrera 997.2 next AMG! From the BMs, I enjoyed the e92 the most for similar reasons you like the w204.

 

[ALFAitalia]

I've been lucky enough to have shortish drives in both recently....but both were saloons....and would agree with the above. Somewhere middle ground would be nice....not quite so old tech and firm as the 204....but without all the unnecessary (in a sports saloon at least IMO) electronics, screens and ambient lighting!! Although the 204 is visually dated to many I still prefer the more aggressive look of a (facelifted) 204 than the "left in front of the fire too long and just started to melt" look of the 205 (and many modern Mercs come to that)....but that's probably just my age! Sharp edges give a car body definition and also historically (with obvious exceptions like the E Type) more angular designs don't seem to age as fast as more blobby shapes....to my eyes at least. and of course the M156 sounds SO good....if you can afford the fuel!
Of course, from the drivers seat both are great drivers cars.

 

[Steve84N]

@BLACKSILVER I forgot to mention the gearboxes. The 204 shifts are plenty quick enough but in manual mode there's a frustrating delay between pulling the paddle and it doing the change. The auto modes have very good intelligence. For example in Sport it quickly shuffles up if you're cruising but remains responsive if poked.

The pre-facelift 205 is essentially the same gearbox as the 204, but it is improved. The facelift 205 gets the 9spd which is very smooth and responsive. I'd say it's worth getting a facelift for that alone but it's not a deal breaker as the pre-facelift generally sound better outside. Facelift 205 gets piped in sound which actually sounds half decent.

I had a series of BMWs before including e46 330Ci, e91 330i and e86 3.0Si. I've never driven an M car, something I need to rectify! I did try a B8 RS4 when buying my C63 but it didn't measure up. Now I've got a 535i Touring manual which better suits my use of mainly long motorway journeys to Europe with family in the car. Going to get a Lotus Elise next year to replace the fun from selling the C63, it's been too long since I've had a light car.

 

[Skd884]

No brainer - 204 m156.

 

[Jobsworth]

The single wet clutch box in the 205 is much sharper than the mct in the 204. Shifts are nearly as quick as the dct in the BMW product. It has the same slight lack of smoothness at manoevering speeds too. I’m also a fan of an M car, although that can be a dirty word around here

My other baby. Manual gearbox, natch

 

[ALFAitalia]

And Q plates.....

 

[Jobsworth]

And Q plates.....

Yup. Built it myself

 

[Jobsworth]

A little background if you are interested. The car was built in 2008 as a reaction to the financial crisis when my regular work dropped of a cliff. Built to demonstrate what we could do, it brought in a lot of interest and we built quite a few cars to our “clubsport” spec. Essentially a car for an enthusiast and their partner to drive to various racetracks here, and in Europe in relative comfort, participate in trackdays, and drive home again. We continued this kind of work until 2018, but I don’t have the energy for it anymore. This car was built from a written off accident damaged 2005 M3 CS, and a stolen and stripped shell, both bought from insurance companies. It needed an SVA test to get a new chassis number and a Q plate. I’ve been asked many times to sell it, but I want to hold on to it as there is so much history attached.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Cool....

 

[rOckyAMG]

Hello one and all..

Im after a C63 estate either a w204 or w205. What are peoples opinions? What are the pros and cons of each one. I would love to hear from those who have experienced or owned both.

Which one would you go for and why?

Thanks in advance

Both!!

 

[Engadine]

I had a 204 estate as a daily driver for seven years til last year, now have a 205 Brabus Cabrio which is a different type of beast, but I had a 205 non S saloon for a few months in between.

A facelift 205 is a palpably more modern car if that’s important to you. Satnav, refinement, gearbox in a different league.

The steering on the 204 is much more organic and feelsome.

205 objective handling is far superior but as someone above said, in low speed day to day driving it feels like an ordinary car, while 204 always feels sporty and more raw. But, counterpoint is the brilliant diff on the 205 with its many settings, which gives fantastic rotational feel under load - any roundabout or junction exit puts a smile on your face, more so than 204.

Thanks to its torque the 205 is way faster in everyday driving. But, on a feisty country lane drive, you don’t have the thrill of the changing timbres and feel of the 204 engine at different points in the rev range. At 2000, 3000 and 4000 it changes characteristics, while the 205 is just very muscular In a flat torque curve way. However it does rev beautifully for a turbo V8.

On a fast cross country drive with no traffic or, er, speed limits, it’s a very close call - 205 has more ability and more tail wagging joy, 204 is more feelsome and real, although the extra understeer is very noticeable.

Ultimately I prefer my 205 by a long way for the driving I do. It’s a very sophisticated and satisfying car, as well as a kind of refined muscle car. But, sometimes, like a weekend day time drive on crowded motorways and busy A roads, I sit in the 205 and think, well, this is boring. Because on that kind of drive I am unable to do the driving the 205 excels at. I never got bored in the 204.

 

[Jobsworth]

I had a 204 estate as a daily driver for seven years til last year, now have a 205 Brabus Cabrio which is a different type of beast, but I had a 205 non S saloon for a few months in between.

A facelift 205 is a palpably more modern car if that’s important to you. Satnav, refinement, gearbox in a different league.

The steering on the 204 is much more organic and feelsome.

205 objective handling is far superior but as someone above said, in low speed day to day driving it feels like an ordinary car, while 204 always feels sporty and more raw. But, counterpoint is the brilliant diff on the 205 with its many settings, which gives fantastic rotational feel under load - any roundabout or junction exit puts a smile on your face, more so than 204.

Thanks to its torque the 205 is way faster in everyday driving. But, on a feisty country lane drive, you don’t have the thrill of the changing timbres and feel of the 204 engine at different points in the rev range. At 2000, 3000 and 4000 it changes characteristics, while the 205 is just very muscular In a flat torque curve way. However it does rev beautifully for a turbo V8.

On a fast cross country drive with no traffic or, er, speed limits, it’s a very close call - 205 has more ability and more tail wagging joy, 204 is more feelsome and real, although the extra understeer is very noticeable.

Ultimately I prefer my 205 by a long way for the driving I do. It’s a very sophisticated and satisfying car, as well as a kind of refined muscle car. But, sometimes, like a weekend day time drive on crowded motorways and busy A roads, I sit in the 205 and think, well, this is boring. Because on that kind of drive I am unable to do the driving the 205 excels at. I never got bored in the 204.

That’s a very fair review imo.

 

[BLACKSILVER]

I had a 204 estate as a daily driver for seven years til last year, now have a 205 Brabus Cabrio which is a different type of beast, but I had a 205 non S saloon for a few months in between.

A facelift 205 is a palpably more modern car if that’s important to you. Satnav, refinement, gearbox in a different league.

The steering on the 204 is much more organic and feelsome.

205 objective handling is far superior but as someone above said, in low speed day to day driving it feels like an ordinary car, while 204 always feels sporty and more raw. But, counterpoint is the brilliant diff on the 205 with its many settings, which gives fantastic rotational feel under load - any roundabout or junction exit puts a smile on your face, more so than 204.

Thanks to its torque the 205 is way faster in everyday driving. But, on a feisty country lane drive, you don’t have the thrill of the changing timbres and feel of the 204 engine at different points in the rev range. At 2000, 3000 and 4000 it changes characteristics, while the 205 is just very muscular In a flat torque curve way. However it does rev beautifully for a turbo V8.

On a fast cross country drive with no traffic or, er, speed limits, it’s a very close call - 205 has more ability and more tail wagging joy, 204 is more feelsome and real, although the extra understeer is very noticeable.

Ultimately I prefer my 205 by a long way for the driving I do. It’s a very sophisticated and satisfying car, as well as a kind of refined muscle car. But, sometimes, like a weekend day time drive on crowded motorways and busy A roads, I sit in the 205 and think, well, this is boring. Because on that kind of drive I am unable to do the driving the 205 excels at. I never got bored in the 204.

Great feedback. Thank you