W204 C63 or w212 E63?

[Greens1886]

Hi all, long time lurker but first time poster... thinking about returning to the Mercedes fold and specifically back to AMG (having had an R170 SLK32 AMG years ago)

I’m currently driving a 997 generation Porsche 911, which is a wonderful car, but too small for two young kids in the back and so it doesn’t get used as much as it should.

I’m contemplating either a w204 generation c63, or a biturbo facelift 212 e63, and have a handful of questions I thought you might be able to help with...

- the car is going to be used for weekends and occasional work duty...Both cars are going to feel less “immediate” than the 911, but is there so much difference between E and C as driving machines day-to-day?

- has anyone used forward-facing child seats in a 204 coupe? Is there really much more space than a 911 behind a 6’+ driver? (Have tried the seats and there seems to be more, but keen to hear from anyone who uses a coupe with kids!)

- if I go for a 204 (coupe or saloon), what’s the general opinion on the 507 edition over standard? Worth the extra £10k they’re fetching, or just likely to hold value better long term?

Any help much appreciated!

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Initial reaction: C class every time if you're coming from a 997.

The E is a better car but you'll find it WAY too big, unless you're into family touring holidays.

With size and build quality comes weight.

.

 

[PhilLinda]

C204 coupe is big enough for 4 adults, unless they are all 6 foot tall.

Buy a 507 if you want one [I did] but Performance Pack Plus is close on spec and can still be remapped further to give more power if you so desire.

 

[AMGeed]

Lol...I'd go for the E63 Biturbo over the C63 every day of the week. It's not that big You really need to drive both before making a decision.
I would say don't go for a C63coupe if you are putting a child seat in the rear. So impractical folding the front seat and climbing in to do up the seat belt.
The 4 door is far more practical.

 

[c_200k]

Go for the W212 E63 and after a few mods you can be around 750bhp. Not too shabby for a taxi.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I'd go for the E too

 

[daveenty]

I'd also go for the W212 but I may be slightly biased. Two very different cars, the E Class being the "grown up" version.

Go for the W212 E63 and after a few mods you can be around 750bhp. Not too shabby for a taxi.

I agree with this also after owning quite a nippy taxi.

 

[Psilonaught]

Plus the w212 looks way better, especially the facelift version.

 

[c_200k]

Make sure it's a facelift, even look into the E63S better steering rack, lsd from factory and more power too. Some have even been dyno'd over 600bhp stock.

 

[adz87kc]

- if I go for a 204 (coupe or saloon), what’s the general opinion on the 507 edition over standard? Worth the extra £10k they’re fetching, or just likely to hold value better long term?

Any help much appreciated!

I'm not sure what premium the 507 holds but you could get a standard model and get a Eurocharged map for £550 from MSL at the minute and have 95% of the 507 performance (all the bhp but not the lightweight engine internals) and have a wad of change if £10k is the premium. Doubt you could notice the difference between a mapped C63 with the standard internals and a 507 on the road; track day might be different.

 

[MACC]

212 E63 for me. We had a 204 C63 saloon for 2 years and it was great, but, the E63 is a step up in almost every way except maybe that I miss some of the rawness the C63 had. The E63 is more extreme Jekyll and Hyde from super sedate cruiser to absolute beast and it carries is size very well, the C63 always felt a little to small.

 

[JDL60]

Biased but E63 bi turbo.... just awesome

 

[JimmyR]

I have recently purchased a 2015 W212 E63S, replacing a 2013 C63 PP Estate and prior to that I owned a 2010 C63 sedan. Love the E63, a very different car to the C63 in so many ways. But it is impossible for me to answer which is the better car for you - it will really boil down to what it is YOU need from the car, most of the time, for the majority of the driving YOU do in it. You will need to list the key features you need/want, start ticking off boxes, and then go and drive both of them.
I can however help with some of your specific questions to hopefully narrow down the search.
(1) I would not go for the coupe if you need to use child seats in the rear. It was not until my kids were quite independent and able to get in and sort out their own seatbelts that it became liveable day to day. Strapping em in with both the W204 sedan and estate was a PITA - the seats are relatively narrow and the wide base of a child seat makes it difficult to locate and latch the seat belt buckle - and this would be a nightmare in the coupe. And there is little room back there if the front seats are occupied by even moderately tall driver/front seat passengers - be prepared to have those hard plastic seat covers kicked and scratched by little feet.
(2) I had the Performance Pack version of the face lift W204 C63. The 507 replaced the Performance Pack option. There was a slight increase in power output between the PP and the 507 engines - about the same as that from a standard C63 to the PP - but apart from that the differences were purely cosmetic (wheels, bonnet vents and some go fast stripes). Depending on how you value these cosmetic add ons and the increased power output should answer whether it is worth paying a premium for the 507 option, but having said this I believe tidy examples of either version are relatively hard to come by so it might be a case of grabbing the right one when it comes along.

 

[ChrisCLS55]

I have an E63 and I have to say, the rear seats are quite big and great for the kids. It’s an amazing car, ticks all the boxes, but I do feel a tad underwhelmed by it in terms of performance following on from my CLS55. Higher up the rev range and speeds it rapid, but lower down and it just doesn’t feel as powerful nor as quick. I love the look of the C63 coupe, but I’ve looked in the rear and it would be a right faff on getting the kids in and out. My two are 5 and 4. I’m told they are bonkers mind, those cars and extremely fun. The E63 is quite big, but it’s not noticeable as it’s so easy to drive and get one with a reverse camera and parking a doddle. Good luck with whatever you choose. Btw I’m finding MPG with mine is quite decent, got 29 on the motorway a few weeks back and have had as high as 18 around the doors. It’s a clever engine, especially in eco mode.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Separate to the engine dilemma (which I’d recommend the E63), getting kids in and out of a car that’s that bit too small becomes very tiring very quickly and if you’re more than 5’10” in the driving seat, the back of a C-Class is not a nice place.

 

[Greens1886]

Thanks so much everyone for the replies - really helpful.

To be honest I’m quite surprised that there’s as much support for the E - I had anticipated a lot of comments around the C being the last of the big-bore atmospheric V8s and how the turbo’d M157 doesn’t compare, so really appreciate the counter perspective.

Shows why it’s so helpful getting real owners’ opinions, rather than rely on road test reports from journos driving them for a few hours on tracks and specially-selected mountain roads!

Next step for me will be a thorough test drive of them both, ideally back-to-back... will let you know how I get on (if there’s interest!). That said, i did see a beautiful (hyacinth?) red E63s this morning while out and about and have to say it looks rather more special in the “wild” than the photos do it credit for... errring that way right now!

Cheers

 

[Cyclone1]

Think TexasJohn on here has just purchased a hyacinth Red E63, wonder if it’s the same one as there can’t be many about?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Thanks so much everyone for the replies - really helpful.

To be honest I’m quite surprised that there’s as much support for the E - I had anticipated a lot of comments around the C being the last of the big-bore atmospheric V8s and how the turbo’d M157 doesn’t compare, so really appreciate the counter perspective.

Shows why it’s so helpful getting real owners’ opinions, rather than rely on road test reports from journos driving them for a few hours on tracks and specially-selected mountain roads!

Next step for me will be a thorough test drive of them both, ideally back-to-back... will let you know how I get on (if there’s interest!). That said, i did see a beautiful (hyacinth?) red E63s this morning while out and about and have to say it looks rather more special in the “wild” than the photos do it credit for... errring that way right now!

Cheers

I think the clearest message I take from member's posts above is that the C-coupe is too small for young children, and the E-saloon makes it much easier.

IMHO the M156 6.2 is the better, more soulful engine, and will be better remembered in future, but the M157 5.5 is more flexible and as it's more cost-effectively tuned, offers better performance (tweaked).

 

[sirius9]

As JimmyR mentioned, it all depends on what you expect out of driving. There is a certain unpredictability and rawness in the W204 C63 and how the big lump V8 reacts.
A saloon guise is more than adequate for family of 4 unless all of you are more than 6 foot tall each.
I have 2 car seats in the rear of mine and it has not been a problem for me.
I love the front seat as to how it wraps around you and its a 1 piece seat.
Test drove the E63 as well and found the biturbo power delivery to be different and not to my taste. But it is a different kind of beast as others mentioned.

 

[C36fan]

Have Both lol!