Test drove a C63 AMG with PP and bought

[donshl]

A smart car!


Neither I (nor my friend) liked the feel of the C63, it felt too disconnected when driving and I didn't feel the power, compared my CLS. The gearbox was very nice with quick changes, and so were the electronics, but the overall impression was very underwhelming. I know driving a forced induction is different to NA, but this was beyond what I hoped...

 

[prm]

Your title suggests you bought it?

 

[npuk]

See 1st line, he bought a SMART car.

 

[c63chris]

LOL did you really buy a Smart car

 

[The _Don]

Congrats.

 

[st4]

I've driven both the CLS and the C63 with the new MCT box. The MCT bix is great but the 55k has more lower end shove.

At the end of the day, the base cars are quite different. The CLS is much nicer inside than the C63 although both are nice places to be, but the CLS is much more discrete and classy inside and out.

Both have bags of power and are loony tunes fast. Steering wise, I didn't drive the C63 enough to say for sure, but the CLS felt it gave more feedback.

 

[donshl]

Steve I completely agree! Although it had lots of power, it didn't "feel" powerful, and I like the torque from from the 55k, have yet to drive a new 63 bi turbo car to compare.

Yes I really bought a smart car! £0 road tax, 0% interest, no congestion charge and ~80mpg from a tiny diesel engine makes it perfect for me to drive to work, and works out cheaper in the long term than losing money on public transport. I still have the CLS55 for my weekend fun!

 

[bes1110]

Steve I completely agree! Although it had lots of power, it didn't "feel" powerful, and I like the torque from from the 55k, have yet to drive a new 63 bi turbo car to compare.

Yes I really bought a smart car! £0 road tax, 0% interest, no congestion charge and ~80mpg from a tiny diesel engine makes it perfect for me to drive to work, and works out cheaper in the long term than losing money on public transport. I still have the CLS55 for my weekend fun!

Makes sense when you put it like that.

 

[st4]

Yes I really bought a smart car! £0 road tax, 0% interest, no congestion charge and ~80mpg from a tiny diesel engine makes it perfect for me to drive to work, and works out cheaper in the long term than losing money on public transport. I still have the CLS55 for my weekend fun!

Have you seen last weeks autocar? If Gordon Murray gets building these little cars on the iStream method, lots of people will share your thinking.

 

[ghibbett]

I've driven both the CLS and the C63 with the new MCT box. The MCT bix is great but the 55k has more lower end shove.

At the end of the day, the base cars are quite different. The CLS is much nicer inside than the C63 although both are nice places to be, but the CLS is much more discrete and classy inside and out.

Both have bags of power and are loony tunes fast. Steering wise, I didn't drive the C63 enough to say for sure, but the CLS felt it gave more feedback.

Wow, it would be interesting to hear a CLS55 vs CLS63 comparison as, if your comments were regarding a C63 vs CLS63 (which I know they're not), then I wouldn't be able to disagree more! And this comes from back-to-back experience test driving both cars yesterday. Interesting!

Anyway, will write up my C63 vs CLS63 experience in a separate thread.

 

[st4]

Wow, it would be interesting to hear a CLS55 vs CLS63 comparison as, if your comments were regarding a C63 vs CLS63 (which I know they're not), then I wouldn't be able to disagree more! And this comes from back-to-back experience test driving both cars yesterday. Interesting!

Anyway, will write up my C63 vs CLS63 experience in a separate thread.

Which CLS, W219 or W218?

My comments come from driving a 2012 C63 and a 2006 CLS55AMG.

The 55AMG had more low down torque, and the steering seemed to give more feedback. Never tested the C63s outright grip or anything like that.

Both were stupid fast and the MCT box in the C63 really is awesome.

 

[mika]

ive driven 32,000 miles in a C63
how does that compare with other owners/drivers/keepers?
i find it a quite remarkable car not like anything else ive driven
never driven a CLS but i would imagine its a very different proposition
..delightful but different to a C63

 

[C240Sport97]

when he/she grows up, a C63 driver becomes a CLS55/63 driver

 

[mika]

Sean ..what if he doesnt!
what if he just grows old

 

[C240Sport97]

Sean ..what if he doesnt!
what if he just grows old

patience, you're still young ..

I just matured early

trust me, it's the law

 

[ghibbett]

Which CLS, W219 or W218?

My comments come from driving a 2012 C63 and a 2006 CLS55AMG.

The 55AMG had more low down torque, and the steering seemed to give more feedback. Never tested the C63s outright grip or anything like that.

Both were stupid fast and the MCT box in the C63 really is awesome.

The CLS I drove was the latest (W218?) 2012 MY car. I've not driven a W219 therefore your comments are very interesting. I'll write up my experiences in another post and link from here

 

[donshl]

My next test drive will be the w218 CLS63 AMG, just to see how they compare. I'm not sure of the exact suspension setup on the new CLS63, hope it compares well to the airmatic which I think is fantastic.

At the end of the day it's horses for courses, before buying the CLS I test drove the M5, M6 before deciding on the CLS.

Looking forward to our writeup ghibbet!

For me I think getting a smart car is the smart choice

 

[donshl]

Have you seen last weeks autocar? If Gordon Murray gets building these little cars on the iStream method, lots of people will share your thinking.

Nope haven't seen it yet, on my reading list now!

 

[ghibbett]

Have posted my thoughts. Grab a cup of tea (or maybe coffee if you're prone to boredom) before reading: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/132263-c63-vs-cls63-my-thoughts.html