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New C63 estate - buying journey and initial impressions

JH63

New Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2018
Messages
7
Location
Bristol
Car
BMW 1M
Hi all,

After a 3 month wait (it felt longer), I was very pleased to take delivery of a C63 estate last week and thought I would share details of the experience. Apologies, its quite a long read. I have always favoured smallish cars but with growing children and the recent addition of a dog it was time to admit defeat and embrace a more sensible car.

I had a BMW 1M for the last 4 years which was a great blend of everyday practicality and exciting performance. Unfortunately the one thing the 1M didn't have an abundance of was space and squeezing luggage in for a week away was becoming a chore. With a deposit placed on a puppy in December it was then necessary to decide upon a suitable replacement. Another BMW was quickly dismissed as spending a decent chunk of cash on a 3 series touring didn't excite - the 340 is a quick car but devoid of any wow factor. An RS4 was initially tempting but the older B7 variant is now long in the tooth and buying a perfect example as a daily driver didn't feel right. The B8 looks great but reviews are somewhat mixed as a result of too many driving modes getting in the way of things. Reviews of the B9 weren't available last December however my expectation was another very fast Audi that would be capable and fast but devoid of character. Nothing I have subsequently read has changed my opinion.

Whilst I was vaguely aware of the C63 I had always dismissed them as being a bit soft and inferior to say an M3. However, after reading copious tests and wasting many an hour on Youtube it was clear my view was misguided and a C63 emerged as the main option. Fast, well resolved and with bags of character.

In the usual manner serious mission creep then took hold. Having started searching for a low mileage, late model W204, the allure of a W205 took hold. The problem is there are not many estates available for sale and tracking down the right spec. was proving a challenge. A trip to my local M-B dealer and some research on carwow confirmed it would be possible to do a decent deal on a new car and achieve the exact spec. I wanted. A test drive, a few hours on the AMG configurator and the order was placed. Fast forward to March and the 1M was sold (back to the dealer I had the car from for £250 less than I paid for it 24,000 miles previously) and the agonising wait was almost over. The law of sod, and some snow, dictated that the car came in the day after leaving for a family holiday so pick up would have to wait. 2 hours after landing back in the UK and we were on our way to the dealership at last......

So, initial impressions:

Interior - the cabin is a lovely place to sit. I wanted the performance seats on the basis I am a sucker for 'proper' seats and I think they help make the cabin a special place to be. I know there is a new & improved C63 coming along however the existing model is still attractive. I have a keen ear for squeaks and rattles and touch wood it all seems well put together although I guess time will tell. I never thought I would say this but a regular shaped boot and pressing a button to close the boot lid are both welcome additions.

Driving - clearly a spirited drive will have to wait until after the run in period however I have managed to drive the car on a mix of city roads, country lanes and on the motorway. I am already loving the deep burble which is evident from 750 rpm, even when easing away from traffic lights. I am surprised how quiet the car is, even with the performance exhaust activated. I am guessing that a combination of not squeezing the throttle very hard, limiting the revs and only using comfort modes is behind this? The car feels effortless and nicely refined when cruising. Around town I am conscious the car is a little larger than what I have come from but it doesn't feel like a barge. The perpetual winter continues so experiencing the handling will have to wait. I had read about the gearbox being 'slow and dimwitted" at low speed and can now appreciate what this means as reversing uphill is an odd experience. Once up to speed the changes in auto mode are silky smooth, certainly in comfort mode anyway.

Other - perhaps controversially I didn't select 19" wheels as I think the standard 18's help disguise what the car is. I like the idea of a wolf in sheeps clothing and who knows they may even improve the ride. Mercedes Me - I am sure M-B are not renowned for cutting edge technology however being able to check fuel and whether I definitely did lock the car is surprisingly helpful. Keyless go - I must be a luddite as I cannot see how such technology is of any benefit so the start/stop button has been removed and I am using the key in the traditional manner.

I am hoping to book my AMG driving day for next week in order to get a better understanding of what a C63 is really capable of and then roll on better weather and the end of the running in period!
 
Hi and welcome,
Great review thus far, please keep it going as it will be interesting to follow the story as the layers of character are revealed, like skin on an onion.
I was amazed to hear that you managed 24,000 miles with £250 worth of depreciation on your 1M. I’m not sure you will get as good a trade in when you move on from your current beast, but you might enjoy it more?

I too looked at the Audi B7 A4 estate before plumping for my ‘13 plate E63s. I don’t need huge amounts of space, but I don’t like to be caught out when I do need it and as I drive a Mk8 transit as my daily, size isn’t an issue ;)

Have fun and enjoy :)
 
This bit made me smile.....

"I have always favoured smallish cars but with growing children and the recent addition of a dog it was time to admit defeat and embrace a more sensible car."

Since when has a C63 been a sensible car? :D

Good review.
 
hi i'm new here. just last week i picked up a c63 estate (2008), so far its been an impressive machine.
Introduce yourself in the “AMG Lounge” with a description and pictures for a proper welcome :thumb:
 
Congrats on the new purchase.

Coming out of a 1M must have been tough; an absolute classic these, and I totally get their all-round brilliance. I ran a 135i Coupé for a couple of years, so a less-hardcore variant of the same car, and I think it is indeed the best overall package I've owned - it's the only car from my history that I hanker after still. And that's despite owning more powerful M-variant beemers since, and latterly a new Porsche Cayman S.

Not at all surprised your dealer took it off your hands for just about the same price as you paid for it 24k miles earlier. 1Ms still command huge markups.

Since when has a C63 been a sensible car? :D
I think by 'sensible' he means it has a big boot as an estate. :)
 
I had a new c63 estate behind me on the M11 this weekend. I thought the front looked virtually identical to mine. What is the bhp of these??
 
Since when has a C63 been a sensible car? :D

5 seats and a proper boot is what I mean...I have had 2 door cars for the last 8 years and having to slide seats forwards for children to get in the back eventually becomes tedious.

I was amazed to hear that you managed 24,000 miles with £250 worth of depreciation on your 1M. I’m not sure you will get as good a trade in when you move on from your current beast, but you might enjoy it more?

I have a feeling you are going to be right regarding the resale value. I plan on keeping the car for a good few years rather than chopping and changing so I should get maximum value out of it. Motoring in the UK isn't going to get any better (ave. speed cameras, congestion, potholes, numpties) so may as well make the most of it before enjoying oneself is outlawed.

Coming out of a 1M must have been tough; an absolute classic these, and I totally get their all-round brilliance.

The 1M was a fantastic car but 4 years was sufficient to scratch that itch. What it did do is introduce me to the addictive hit that is low down torque - good training for a C63 no doubt. Whilst bhp usually gets the headlines I think that in todays environment having instant go cannot be beaten. A deserted moorland road is obviously great but how often do most of us have regular access to such a thing?
 
Motoring in the UK isn't going to get any better (ave. speed cameras, congestion, potholes, numpties) so may as well make the most of it before enjoying oneself is outlawed.
Enjoying one's self is already outlawed. Why do you think you get fined for every little thing you do? And if you don't have a sympathetic SO, you're up sh**'s creek...
 
The emergence of the sun last Saturday provided a good excuse for a drive in the Cotswolds. Although I am still running the car in I was impressed with the way the car covers ground. It is very easy to pile on the speed and it is certainly deceptive as it feels like you are going slower than the reality. That was on some wide A roads, I am sure a twisty B road gives a different impression. I am also impressed with the steering. Although there isn't much feedback it is nicely weighted and the car responds quickly. Still another 400 miles to go before I can begin to extend into the higher reaches of the rev range........

Speaking of which I visited Brooklands this morning for my AMG driver training freebie and that provided plenty of opportunities to give it some beans. Handily they had an estate for me to drive which was helpful whilst I am still getting to grips with a car that is larger than I am used to.

The session was brilliant and it gave me an insight into how high the capabilities of a C63 are. I think the braking impressed me more than the acceleration as I find it unusual to really lean on the brakes in everyday driving and so doing a emergency stop from high speed was an eye opener. The ability to stop 1.8 tonnes (or whatever they weigh) in such a short distance was amazing. I could have done with a good few hours in order to master the art of powersliding but it was interesting to feel the impact of the different driving modes and ESC on/off.

I won't be getting the call up from the f1 team but it was a good day nonetheless.
 

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