Looking to buy a C63 estate (w204)

[ZeeDee]

Hi all,

So, after selling my lovely 2013 C63 coupe back in October the withdrawal symptoms have really started to kick in A lot has been going on in the interim and I'm hopefully going to be a proud new dad this summer.

Naturally my thoughts have turned towards what the new family car should be. We'll only have the one car so it needs to be something fairly practical for baby carrying duties, and something that my wife can easily drive as she'll be using it just as much as me. The thought of an estate does appeal as we can just shove everything in the back and I can also carry my mountain bike back there.

My friends who all have kids have made a few suggestions... Kia sportage, Nissan qashqai, VW Tiguan etc erc but they all seem so utterly bland and soulless I think I'd die a slow death if I had to drive around in something like that or similar (no offence to anyone who owns one).

I've always hankered after the B8 RS4. I think they look the business, and much better than the C63. But the more I look in to them, the more I'm not so sure. It seems they can throw up big bills with suspension and gearbox issues and an Audi warranty is a must. From what I've read and experienced, the facelift C63 is generally reliable with no obvious faults. The RS4s also seem about £5k more than a similar C63. I also took one for a drive and it just didn't have the drama of my old C63 (hopefully the estate sounds similar to the coupe?). The traction was brilliant and it seemed very surefooted - definite plus points for me as my wife will be driving - but I found my C63 coupe perfectly fine in comfort mode (though it did have a quaife lsd).

Sorry for the long ramble... If anyone's looking to sell their car soon then give me a shout. I wouldn't mind the 18s this time as hopefully they should give a bit more comfort and I think they suit the more conservative look of the estate a bit more (the 19s on the coupe were a must for me). It seems there are hardly any estates for sale compared to the coupe and saloon so I may need to be patient. Not too fussed about colour, the condition, history and spec are more important. That said, I would love one in palladium silver!

 

[Gazwould]

No arguments there..

 

[ZeeDee]

No arguments there..


View attachment 83019

Now that looks perfect! Somebody put something similar up for sale please!

 

[SmartAmg]

That's nice! Looks good in estate form.

 

[Gazwould]

Title needs correcting to S204 .

 

[Neiltodd]

No arguments there..


View attachment 83019

Looks just like mine!

 

[Neiltodd]

Hi all,

So, after selling my lovely 2013 C63 coupe back in October the withdrawal symptoms have really started to kick in A lot has been going on in the interim and I'm hopefully going to be a proud new dad this summer.

Naturally my thoughts have turned towards what the new family car should be. We'll only have the one car so it needs to be something fairly practical for baby carrying duties, and something that my wife can easily drive as she'll be using it just as much as me. The thought of an estate does appeal as we can just shove everything in the back and I can also carry my mountain bike back there.

My friends who all have kids have made a few suggestions... Kia sportage, Nissan qashqai, VW Tiguan etc erc but they all seem so utterly bland and soulless I think I'd die a slow death if I had to drive around in something like that or similar (no offence to anyone who owns one).

I've always hankered after the B8 RS4. I think they look the business, and much better than the C63. But the more I look in to them, the more I'm not so sure. It seems they can throw up big bills with suspension and gearbox issues and an Audi warranty is a must. From what I've read and experienced, the facelift C63 is generally reliable with no obvious faults. The RS4s also seem about £5k more than a similar C63. I also took one for a drive and it just didn't have the drama of my old C63 (hopefully the estate sounds similar to the coupe?). The traction was brilliant and it seemed very surefooted - definite plus points for me as my wife will be driving - but I found my C63 coupe perfectly fine in comfort mode (though it did have a quaife lsd).

Sorry for the long ramble... If anyone's looking to sell their car soon then give me a shout. I wouldn't mind the 18s this time as hopefully they should give a bit more comfort and I think they suit the more conservative look of the estate a bit more (the 19s on the coupe were a must for me). It seems there are hardly any estates for sale compared to the coupe and saloon so I may need to be patient. Not too fussed about colour, the condition, history and spec are more important. That said, I would love one in palladium silver!

What age/miles/budget are you looking at?

 

[ZeeDee]

What age/miles/budget are you looking at?

Would prefer max 50k miles, 2011 to 2014. Willing to pay the market rate for the right car. I've noticed that asking prices do seem to vary a lot - maybe because there's not that many about. Would prefer a private sale from a fellow enthusiast if possible.

 

[ZeeDee]

Title needs correcting to S204 .

My mistake, I was thinking of the coupe. Can't seem to edit the title anymore.

 

[Gazwould]

Coupe is C204 .

 

[Neiltodd]

Would prefer max 50k miles, 2011 to 2014. Willing to pay the market rate for the right car. I've noticed that asking prices do seem to vary a lot - maybe because there's not that many about. Would prefer a private sale from a fellow enthusiast if possible.

Mine is too old but fits all the rest of your requirements

 

[Will]

Have you considered an E63 wagon?

They tick all the boxes of a C63 with just a bit more room and comfort. Either 6.2 or 5.5 bi-turbo start at 525hp and up, some nice kit available on the E-class too. I’m sure you wouldn’t be disappointed

Congratulations on the impending new arrival btw. I can promise you the extra space from the E-wagon wouldn’t be wasted. It’s surprising how much space little ones take up with all the usual paraphernalia - buggies and car seats seem to be getting chunkier all the time and that’s before you either go away somewhere for a few days or do any bit shopping trips...trust me they are coming with a family as it grows!

Good luck

 

[Steve84N]

The estate sounds even better as the sound travels through the open space in the boot to the front of the car. Crack the boot open when you start it using the button in the driver's door for the full effect. Go for a drive with the boot cracked open and you will be amazed what it really sounds like.

My journey started out speccing up a new BMW 340i but I couldn't get a decent test drive in one. I got bored on my birthday and test drove what became my S204 C63 and a B8 RS4 afterwards. They were both far more interesting but it was no contest.

- I agree the RS4 looks better outside, inside I prefer the Mercedes but both are nice.

- The extra price of the RS4 doesn't seem justified though.

- The electric steering on the Audi is awful compared to the lovely hydraulic setup on the C63.

- The 4.2 is exciting over 6krpm but very anodyne in normal use, whereas the 6.2 is special all the time at any revs.

- The seats lack support in the RS4 unless you find the rare buckets from the B7. The C63 seats are super huggy and very adjustable.

- The RS4 understeered badly at moderate speed on a roundabout whereas the C63 has options for how you handle it.

- The gearbox is better on the RS4 but on the plus side the MCT doesn't have any common faults.

- The C63 is remarkably reliable and apart from fuel has very reasonable running costs for the performance/excitement.

- You can add a differential for £1,600. I'd recommend a Wavetrac over a Quaife but either are good.

- The traction plus stability control do a very good job and when left fully on I've yet to experience any major wheel spin or slip so it's fine for the Mrs to drive. If you want to stay mobile in snow get winter tyres, job done.

Well done on fighting a move to boredom. The S204 is a family car that will do all you need it to but still thrills.

Here's a couple of pictures showing 19" summer wheels and the 18" winter wheels I'm on at the moment.

Good luck with your search.

PS: We have a 28kg dog as well as a baby and if I'm brutally honest the extra room in an E63 would be nice but with just a baby I'd stick with a C63.

 

[mark44]

C63 estate + cheap run-about is the perfect solution IMO. You can get a lot of car these days for the cost of that differential!

 

[ZeeDee]

The estate sounds even better as the sound travels through the open space in the boot to the front of the car. Crack the boot open when you start it using the button in the driver's door for the full effect. Go for a drive with the boot cracked open and you will be amazed what it really sounds like.

My journey started out speccing up a new BMW 340i but I couldn't get a decent test drive in one. I got bored on my birthday and test drove what became my S204 C63 and a B8 RS4 afterwards. They were both far more interesting but it was no contest.

- I agree the RS4 looks better outside, inside I prefer the Mercedes but both are nice.

- The extra price of the RS4 doesn't seem justified though.

- The electric steering on the Audi is awful compared to the lovely hydraulic setup on the C63.

- The 4.2 is exciting over 6krpm but very anodyne in normal use, whereas the 6.2 is special all the time at any revs.

- The seats lack support in the RS4 unless you find the rare buckets from the B7. The C63 seats are super huggy and very adjustable.

- The RS4 understeered badly at moderate speed on a roundabout whereas the C63 has options for how you handle it.

- The gearbox is better on the RS4 but on the plus side the MCT doesn't have any common faults.

- The C63 is remarkably reliable and apart from fuel has very reasonable running costs for the performance/excitement.

- You can add a differential for £1,600. I'd recommend a Wavetrac over a Quaife but either are good.

- The traction plus stability control do a very good job and when left fully on I've yet to experience any major wheel spin or slip so it's fine for the Mrs to drive. If you want to stay mobile in snow get winter tyres, job done.

Well done on fighting a move to boredom. The S204 is a family car that will do all you need it to but still thrills.

Here's a couple of pictures showing 19" summer wheels and the 18" winter wheels I'm on at the moment.

Good luck with your search.

PS: We have a 28kg dog as well as a baby and if I'm brutally honest the extra room in an E63 would be nice but with just a baby I'd stick with a C63.

Thanks for that post, it's really useful! Your car looks lovely in the pics - nice to see the full red leather rather than the boring black (or the two tone leather).

I agree with your points about the RS4. I really wanted to like it more than I did, but there's just something so special about the C63 x204 that gets under your skin.

I had a couple of questions if you didn't mind:

1) I've never actually driven a C63 without an lsd - the one I drove before I bought my coupe had the factory lsd option, and my car already had a quaife lsd fitted by the previous owner - so not sure how different they are without one. I'll see how things go without one and then look to get one fitted if needed. Do you have the wavetrac one fitted to your car? Any reason for that over the quaife?

2) Is there much difference in ride quality (over bumps etc) between the 18s and 19s? I suppose the handling may be different as you've got winters on the 18s. I have to admit the 19s in your top pic look the absolute dogs danglies and really suit the proportions of the car.

3) Love the colour coordinated rear facing seat The little one looks really excited to be there with arms raised lol. Is the passenger seat pushed all the way forward with the rear facing seat behind it? Is there still enough room for someone small (aka my wife who's 5'2) to sit in the passenger seat?

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[ZeeDee]

Have you considered an E63 wagon?

They tick all the boxes of a C63 with just a bit more room and comfort. Either 6.2 or 5.5 bi-turbo start at 525hp and up, some nice kit available on the E-class too. I’m sure you wouldn’t be disappointed

Congratulations on the impending new arrival btw. I can promise you the extra space from the E-wagon wouldn’t be wasted. It’s surprising how much space little ones take up with all the usual paraphernalia - buggies and car seats seem to be getting chunkier all the time and that’s before you either go away somewhere for a few days or do any bit shopping trips...trust me they are coming with a family as it grows!

Good luck

Thanks Will. I did consider the E63 but I'm already pushing the boundaries with my wife in terms of size with the C class estate. She's used to driving tiny little cars and the step up to something the size of the C Class will be a shock in itself - The E63 can happen in a few years once she's had time to adjust

 

[cobra7]

Looks just like mine!

And mine!!

 

[Castor79]

I have a C63 wagon for similar family reasons. As others have said; slightly better interior exhaust sound compared to the coupes I have driven and mine is on the 18" wheels so much more compliant/cheaper tyres.

Normally kept very clean as driven by my wife during the weekends but currently sporting this kind of look... It's Cavansite Blue with gunmetal grey wheels.
View media item 7501

 

[SmartAmg]

I have a C63 wagon for similar family reasons. As others have said; slightly better interior exhaust sound compared to the coupes I have driven and mine is on the 18" wheels so much more compliant/cheaper tyres.

Normally kept very clean as driven by my wife during the weekends but currently sporting this kind of look... It's Cavansite Blue with gunmetal grey wheels.
View media item 7501

Still nice, even mingin.

 

[Steve84N]

Thanks for that post, it's really useful! Your car looks lovely in the pics - nice to see the full red leather rather than the boring black (or the two tone leather).

I agree with your points about the RS4. I really wanted to like it more than I did, but there's just something so special about the C63 x204 that gets under your skin.

I had a couple of questions if you didn't mind:

1) I've never actually driven a C63 without an lsd - the one I drove before I bought my coupe had the factory lsd option, and my car already had a quaife lsd fitted by the previous owner - so not sure how different they are without one. I'll see how things go without one and then look to get one fitted if needed. Do you have the wavetrac one fitted to your car? Any reason for that over the quaife?

2) Is there much difference in ride quality (over bumps etc) between the 18s and 19s? I suppose the handling may be different as you've got winters on the 18s. I have to admit the 19s in your top pic look the absolute dogs danglies and really suit the proportions of the car.

3) Love the colour coordinated rear facing seat The little one looks really excited to be there with arms raised lol. Is the passenger seat pushed all the way forward with the rear facing seat behind it? Is there still enough room for someone small (aka my wife who's 5'2) to sit in the passenger seat?

Thanks for all the advice!

I really dislike all black interiors so would give up exterior colour choice for a better interior. Most sporty cars have dark headlining and plastics so it's even more important to get some colour to avoid it being like a cave.

1) I drove it for around 7 months with the open differential, starting in January 2018 so including some winter driving. It's not that bad if you leave traction on or in Sport. I don't do lurid slides everywhere so the main difference is better traction off the line and when powering out of a corner. With the open diff you could feel the inside wheel spin up when it gets unloaded in medium speed corners, which led to a loss of forwards traction but the car quickly regained grip, albeit with a bit of snap. With the Wavetrac or a Quaife you get that beautiful sense of connection between your right foot and the rear end. The more you gently apply power the tighter your line.

I got the Wavetrac fitted by Regal Autosport in Southampton as they are the UK dealers. It's £1,600 drive in/drive out. The basic principle is the same as a Quaife but it has a wavy ring to still transfer some torque across the axle under light/zero load conditions (wheel in the air/on ice). It also has carbon fibre bias plates to maintain a constant friction level over the lifetime of the unit, where the Quaife wears the metal housing smooth over time.

I had a Quaife fitted to my previous car which was a Z4 Coupe and I'd say the Wavetrac feels slightly more aggressive in it's operation. It does seem to pass more power to the outside wheel in scenarios like pulling out of a junction and going over the crest in a road which lightens the inside wheel. As the price difference is minimal over the Quaife (if at all) I don't see a downside to choosing the Wavetrac.

Wavetrac® Differential - A torque biasing differential with a difference

2) There is a an improvement in ride with the 18s over the 19s but not so much as to not want to run the 19s in better weather. The 19s are from the 205 C63 and are 0.5" wider front and rear so perfectly matched to 245 and 265 tyres compared to the 235/255 standard setup. The offsets push the rears out by around 4.3mm each and the fronts by 13.4mm each, which still fits within the arches.

3) The seat isn't pushed all the way forward. My wife can sit in the front without hitting the dash and she's taller than 5'2". If I sit there my knees are brushing the dash and I'm 5'11" with long legs. It is quite tight but not a deal breaker and it should improve as they switch to a forward facing seat.

Be careful choosing a car seat as most don't give the baby a reclined enough position, so their head can flop onto their chest. We ended up with a Cabriofix on a Family Fix base. A lot of seats didn't work, especially those designed to last for longer as they grow. The problem is the rear bench has a slight recline but then so does pretty much any car including family buses like the Zafira etc so it's a car seat design problem.