C63S thoughts vs 507

[DuncS3]

Right guys - 2 weeks in - car is run in so I feel I can make a comparison to my last 507 Coupe:

Pros:
Interior - is far nicer, dash covered in leather is nice - seats are good if not sitting a little high.
Technology - the 360 camera is the best toy ever. Then you have the LED Intelligent light option - not 100% sure how well they work over the long term as need more time with them but they do this crazy dancing thing at night to allow you to keep high beam on but not blind other users.
Saloon - actually quite like having 4 doors - nice and practical for now.
Looks - yes I'd say it looks quite nice with the black wheels, carbon bits etc
Speed - oh yes - it is blisteringly fast - no question there and the power delivery is very linear so I wouldn't say there is any noticeable lag then turbo rush - it revs right round to 7k with no discernible drop off.
Noise - AT LOW SPEED - deep bass rumble - sounds good - louder than the W204. Also, the party trick on the 4.0 TT is if you accelerate and let off then you get this loud crack/pop/bang from the exhaust - it will make you laugh out loud.

Cons:
Looks - My 507 looked better - more aggressive but subjective.
Noise - there I will say it - it does not sound as good as the old 6.2 - it just doesn't. There is something artificial about the sound in my opinion - it still sounds better than 90% of cars on the road - it is good - but its not better - it doesn't have that gurgle of the old car or real sound of the old 6.2.
Ride - I honestly think the ride is poor - even in comfort but who knows, if my car had no undertray maybe they left the transport blocks in the springs as well (I actually checked that so they didn't!)
Handling - thought it was great on my test drive - better in fact but not convinced with it yet - had a couple of occasions where I have been surprised by not so great on road manners but too early to say.
Fake exhausts tips - no words to describe this - frankly ridiculous.
Comfort mode laggy throttle - nearly drove me crazy running it in using comfort mode - the throttle is so lazy in this mode - I was getting really depressed with the car.

So two weeks in my overall reaction is a bit 'meh' - It is a blinding car in its own right absolutely and maybe I am picking on things a touch more as I am comparing directly with its predecessor. I am also not convinced about the Turbo engine - my last 3 cars were big engines NA cars - RS4, M3 and C63.

I might have to do a Palmball and swap it out (joke - guess I'm stuck with it for now).

Dunc

 

[Deleted member 91561]

Interesting review, this make me think I may stick with the W204. M156 is god.

 

[DuncS3]

You should check it out yourself of course but the best would be the new car with the 6.2 engine - that would be heaven - notwithstanding though the new car is flippin fast - I assume it is faster than the 6.2 - it certainly feels extremely quick.

There is no way traction control can stop the rear wheels spinning either - the torque just spins them up even more than the old car used to. I also have noticed a bit of axle tramping type noise when that happens as well - not sure what that is.

Not slating the new car - just being detailed in my thoughts.

 

[Puzzle]

Although I cannot comment on the previous model I agree with all of your points on this the latest!

I am used to modern high compression, twin scroll turbo engines, although a little smaller in capacity and this engine is a peach.

Traction is a big problem and you have to feather the throttle. Breaking traction when upshifting into fourth when overtaking is a bit disconcerting. Then add wet and greasy roads and its not relaxing. Probably same as old model.

Suspension is stiff in comfort but the car still rocks in bends, odd feeling and I am sure it is something to do with the diff locking etc as it still grips well.

Problem for me is this is my daily driver and my commute is now so congested I cannot use the car enough and the brakes are already starting to moan at ties, easily sorted with a few hard applications on my local roads but still an indicator the car hates the journey.

But I love it

 

[Robby122]

The M156 is going to be missed very much, the only reason I got w204 was purely because of that engine. However I do think new w205 coupe looks stunning (well in pictures atleast it does)

 

[DuncS3]

Agreed - the new Coupe will be a head turner in the flesh I reckon.

 

[matt1977]

Having had a 204 before and am now 4,500 miles into my new C63 S I'd tend to agree with most of your points except the handling - I find it to be a dream to drive, predictable, stable at fast and slow speeds and very responsive.

Regrading the throttle lag, have you had the software update? Mine was terrible and even felt it was unsafe in certain situations so I took it into the dealers and applied a software update - the issue has totally gone.

 

[DuncS3]

I thought the handling was better on my test drive also - so it should be. There is a slim chance my opinion is being biased by my M3 track car which handles superbly.

When my car goes in for the under-tray and new arch liners I will ask about any software updates.

 

[matt1977]

I do agree the fake exhausts are so embarrassing!

 

[Bron]

Interesting read nice to know

 

[Deleted member 37751]

It's sometimes possible to romanticise about your old cars, the best way to really compare would be to step into a W204 C63 and compare them back-to-back.

 

[The _Don]

You should check it out yourself of course but the best would be the new car with the 6.2 engine.

Amg Gt3 retains the 6.2 v8 -


http://www.topgear.com/car-news/motorsport/close-merc’s-amg-gt3-racer

 

[DuncS3]

It's sometimes possible to romanticise about your old cars, the best way to really compare would be to step into a W204 C63 and compare them back-to-back.

True - although I did drive up in my old car then leave in the new one - although I had to run the new one in which is not apples to apples comparison but when I got my E92 M3 I instantly knew it was better than the B7 RS4 it replaced and when I got my 507 I was over the moon - no regrets (still the best car I have had next to the E46 M3). Now with the new one after two weeks if I'm being brutal, I am dissatisfied with it.

I think it's the engine - the old 6.2 had so much character but so far I am still trying to unearth that in the 4.0 TT. I'll get over it - I mean 3rd world problems right! Poor me having to slum it in a new C63 - I'm sure I can learn to live with it.

Dunc

 

[DuncS3]

Although I cannot comment on the previous model I agree with all of your points on this the latest!

I am used to modern high compression, twin scroll turbo engines, although a little smaller in capacity and this engine is a peach.

Traction is a big problem and you have to feather the throttle. Breaking traction when upshifting into fourth when overtaking is a bit disconcerting. Then add wet and greasy roads and its not relaxing. Probably same as old model.

Suspension is stiff in comfort but the car still rocks in bends, odd feeling and I am sure it is something to do with the diff locking etc as it still grips well.

Problem for me is this is my daily driver and my commute is now so congested I cannot use the car enough and the brakes are already starting to moan at ties, easily sorted with a few hard applications on my local roads but still an indicator the car hates the journey.

But I love it

One thing I like about the AMG traction control is that it cuts in but you dont notice that nasty power cut feeling - which the new M3 defintiely has. I'm not sure how long my rear tyres will last on this one. Talking of tyres it is on Dunlops and I am not sure if they are a decent tyre as I would not normally even look at Dunlops (other than slicks or Direzzas for track use).

 

[DuncS3]

Oh and big PRO to the gearbox on the new car - just works perfectly - DCT quality

 

[Puzzle]

I was also surprised by the Dunlops. Work fine in the dry of course but looking at the tread pattern they shall be useless in the tricky weather.

Mind you I shall most probably be taking the car off the road in a few weeks and then using our mundane 15 year old Focus to take the bad weather

 

[AshC63]

Nice write up as always Dunc .

There's a lot of chat & banter over the 4.0tt & the M156. At acids we had a chance to listen to the exhaust on their Edition 1 & I would agree the element of artificialness was apparent but I must say the interior was spot on.


Personally i don't like the shape , no aggressive AMG look that we are all use too. Today driving back from Milton Keynes I was behind a new C63s & honestly if it weren't for the badges I wouldn't of looked twice.Why the tame look I really don't understand.



Hoping the coupe has more to show .. Let's see what AMG are lining up?!

 

[james.raban]

Maybe the 205 is a true Q car then? I quite like a bit of understatement.

 

[DuncS3]

I'd like to have the secondary cats removed - worked wonders on my last car but need to look into it as I dont yet know of anyone who has done it yet.

 

[nico2014]

Nice write up as always Dunc .

There's a lot of chat & banter over the 4.0tt & the M156. At acids we had a chance to listen to the exhaust on their Edition 1 & I would agree the element of artificialness was apparent but I must say the interior was spot on.


Personally i don't like the shape , no aggressive AMG look that we are all use too. Today driving back from Milton Keynes I was behind a new C63s & honestly if it weren't for the badges I wouldn't of looked twice.Why the tame look I really don't understand.



Hoping the coupe has more to show .. Let's see what AMG are lining up?!

I agree with you, the new shape is not aggressive enough and personally I prefer the previous shape, far more beautiful and beauty. This new one is too 'posh'. One thing I would also want to add is the rear windows appear to be a magnifying glass when you view them from inside mirror. I do not like that...