C63 Black Series - First Drive Impressions
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C63 Black Series, Magno Alanite Grey
C63 Black Series - First Drive Impressions
Stopped by the dealer today that sold me my 2012 C63 Sedan, as they got the new BS, and initially that was my order but I opted to go to a different dealer for my BS order.
The car was still in the plastic, they unwrapped it enough so that I could take it out for a spin. Im sorry if I am all over the map, but I wanted to get my impressions out there.
The car sits considerably lower then my C63, side by side, my car was very high off the ground comparatively. The mesh is obviously different in front, and you can see through there that there is a considerable amount of thought into airflow below the car, and also through the mesh (as to where the air should be directed)
It sounds completely different, a little louder but not too loud. I really dislike the seating, no bolster controls, and I felt a little naked without those big bolsters I have in my Edition 1 sedan. No leather, its obvious they had to cheapen a few things, that being the SEATS. I think they are horrible and are perfect candidates for replacement with at least a euro spec seat. I dont understand why no leather and why crappy seats. Big disappointment.
Its nice to see they have the sliding cover over the cup holder, when I sit down into driving position foot flat on dead pedal, there is good enough room for rear passengers. The Panoramic roof also looks good.
Driving Impressions:
This thing is a racecar, there is nothing similar between the cars, the suspension is amazing, and the car responds well, great feedback, and while not spot on in its steering response (as I wished it was), it was still a day and night improvement over the sedan. Its pretty fast, felt similar to my tuned 2010 in terms of speed, but because of its lower stance, and less air under the bottom of the car at high speed, I felt a greater amount of stability and confidence. I did get a little understeer (oddly), but it could have just been cold tires or road (50 degrees F when I drove it). Braking is superb, really amazing brakes. Handling is great, and lets you snap it where you can break the tires loose but still have great control over the car and get it back to sticking to the ground when you ask it to.
The car that I drove was the standard black series, no AMG Telemetry, no carbon on the exterior, the mirrors are painted the same color as the car, and the diffuser and side skirts are finished in black, as is the front splitter. THe rear lip is also the color of the car.
The one at AutoHaus on Edens (Northbrook, IL) is available for 107K sticker, and is the base black series. Kevin James was the person who sold me my last one (Edition 1) and is the AMG specialist there, if anyone is interested in picking it up, you may want to give him a call.
All in all, I love it. However the seats really are terrible. But they will work better on a bigger guy, I am 5-7 138, and I think the sedan seats are perfect because of the ability to adjust them in so many ways to fit my size.
I will wait for the delivery of my Matte Silver one
-Faraz
The car was still in the plastic, they unwrapped it enough so that I could take it out for a spin. Im sorry if I am all over the map, but I wanted to get my impressions out there.
The car sits considerably lower then my C63, side by side, my car was very high off the ground comparatively. The mesh is obviously different in front, and you can see through there that there is a considerable amount of thought into airflow below the car, and also through the mesh (as to where the air should be directed)
It sounds completely different, a little louder but not too loud. I really dislike the seating, no bolster controls, and I felt a little naked without those big bolsters I have in my Edition 1 sedan. No leather, its obvious they had to cheapen a few things, that being the SEATS. I think they are horrible and are perfect candidates for replacement with at least a euro spec seat. I dont understand why no leather and why crappy seats. Big disappointment.
Its nice to see they have the sliding cover over the cup holder, when I sit down into driving position foot flat on dead pedal, there is good enough room for rear passengers. The Panoramic roof also looks good.
Driving Impressions:
This thing is a racecar, there is nothing similar between the cars, the suspension is amazing, and the car responds well, great feedback, and while not spot on in its steering response (as I wished it was), it was still a day and night improvement over the sedan. Its pretty fast, felt similar to my tuned 2010 in terms of speed, but because of its lower stance, and less air under the bottom of the car at high speed, I felt a greater amount of stability and confidence. I did get a little understeer (oddly), but it could have just been cold tires or road (50 degrees F when I drove it). Braking is superb, really amazing brakes. Handling is great, and lets you snap it where you can break the tires loose but still have great control over the car and get it back to sticking to the ground when you ask it to.
The car that I drove was the standard black series, no AMG Telemetry, no carbon on the exterior, the mirrors are painted the same color as the car, and the diffuser and side skirts are finished in black, as is the front splitter. THe rear lip is also the color of the car.
The one at AutoHaus on Edens (Northbrook, IL) is available for 107K sticker, and is the base black series. Kevin James was the person who sold me my last one (Edition 1) and is the AMG specialist there, if anyone is interested in picking it up, you may want to give him a call.
All in all, I love it. However the seats really are terrible. But they will work better on a bigger guy, I am 5-7 138, and I think the sedan seats are perfect because of the ability to adjust them in so many ways to fit my size.
I will wait for the delivery of my Matte Silver one
-Faraz
#7
I'm shocked they let you test drive a BS. Enthusiasts who buy those cars would be fanatical and would expect that no one would have been allowed to drive it on test drives... especially during break-in. It's fantastic that they allowed it but I'm very surprised and jealous
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SLS Irridium silver,2014 GL350 BT Irridium, 2015 White Dodge RAM Hemi Quad
I still like the look of irridium silver for this car, the driving impressions seem accurate that you described.
#10
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Thx for sharing your impression... on the other hand, I'm very surprised the dealership is letting you test drive a BS, you must have great relation with the dealer.
I love the color matching mirrors, never been a fan of CF mirrors except on dark color car.
I love the color matching mirrors, never been a fan of CF mirrors except on dark color car.
#11
Considering the OP ordered his car from a different dealership, I would say he doesn't have great relationship with the dealer that let him test drive the car . Either they are just a really easy going dealership or they don't know he ordered elsewhere and think he may buy it.
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C63 Black Series, Magno Alanite Grey
I happend to catch them as they took delivery of the car, before it made it to the showroom floor.
I have a great relation with both dealers, and funny enough those two particular dealerships are very big rivals of each other and will do anything not to let someone buy a car at either of the others.
I've gone through 2 C63's in 2 years, so they know I'm ready to play if the numbers are right.
Faraz
I have a great relation with both dealers, and funny enough those two particular dealerships are very big rivals of each other and will do anything not to let someone buy a car at either of the others.
I've gone through 2 C63's in 2 years, so they know I'm ready to play if the numbers are right.
Faraz
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C63 Black Series, Magno Alanite Grey
Just an opinion.....
An opinion I would like to add is, I think dollar for dollar, a fully loaded car with nappa leather, sedan/coupe with all the options, has more value in it than a black series, I honestly do not think it is worth what they are asking, especially since it is very stripped down on the interior. (Cheap mb tex seats)
You cant get lane tracking, parking assist, etc etc.
I have to deal with an issue now, that I have one coming in about 4 weeks, and I'm left to decide whether I even want it anymore.
Lots of options out there at 117K. . . . .
You cant get lane tracking, parking assist, etc etc.
I have to deal with an issue now, that I have one coming in about 4 weeks, and I'm left to decide whether I even want it anymore.
Lots of options out there at 117K. . . . .
#14
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An opinion I would like to add is, I think dollar for dollar, a fully loaded car with nappa leather, sedan/coupe with all the options, has more value in it than a black series, I honestly do not think it is worth what they are asking, especially since it is very stripped down on the interior. (Cheap mb tex seats)
You cant get lane tracking, parking assist, etc etc.
I have to deal with an issue now, that I have one coming in about 4 weeks, and I'm left to decide whether I even want it anymore.
Lots of options out there at 117K. . . . .
You cant get lane tracking, parking assist, etc etc.
I have to deal with an issue now, that I have one coming in about 4 weeks, and I'm left to decide whether I even want it anymore.
Lots of options out there at 117K. . . . .
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'09 SL Black, '12 ML63, '13 SL63, '14 E63 Wagon, '14 458 Italia
I really don't understand why dealers spec their builds so poorly - anyone that will buy this off a lot will probably spring for more of the fun stuff.
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C63, CLS550, CLK BS, Sprinter Passenger Van, Odyssey
Let's be honest that it is still only a Mercedes. If you are allowed to test drive a Ferrari or a Lamborghini, I am pretty sure you can test drive any other cars.
#17
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^^ very true, I understand your point. But in my case, I like to buy cars that are not test driven by other customers.
The BS is a limited production car, and if I was in the market for one... at that price range, I would hate to buy one with 100 or so miles test driven on it... unless they sell it for a great discount, which I doubt they will. Just my opinion though.
The BS is a limited production car, and if I was in the market for one... at that price range, I would hate to buy one with 100 or so miles test driven on it... unless they sell it for a great discount, which I doubt they will. Just my opinion though.
#18
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I'm with you ^^^ I would be pissed to find out that someone had taken a serious joyride in a car I was about to buy.
From the description of all of the driving attributes of the car it doesn't exactly sound like you were observing the break in of the car.
From the description of all of the driving attributes of the car it doesn't exactly sound like you were observing the break in of the car.
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Vath ML63 Brabus C63 SL63 CLK63BS C63BS
If the dealer i bought my BS off let some random jagoff come in and "test" drive it before i took delivery i would ga farking ballistic - thats my farking property!
The nerve of these people. Absolutely disgraceful
The nerve of these people. Absolutely disgraceful
#21
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Are you guys saying a dealer let people drive someones "Special Ordered" Black Series?
Even if so, that's only partly wrong as the car is not owned until paid for.
A small deposit with no sales contract does not really give someone ownership of the car.
However, the person who ordered should be notified of arrival and be the first offered to drive and buy it.
If not, I think people should be warned, not to order from that dealer.
However, if a car is ordered as dealer inventory, then they can let whoever drive it they want.
As we all know, Mercedes dealers are pretty selective on qualifying who they let test drive the higher end cars, let alone even talk to.
Even if so, that's only partly wrong as the car is not owned until paid for.
A small deposit with no sales contract does not really give someone ownership of the car.
However, the person who ordered should be notified of arrival and be the first offered to drive and buy it.
If not, I think people should be warned, not to order from that dealer.
However, if a car is ordered as dealer inventory, then they can let whoever drive it they want.
As we all know, Mercedes dealers are pretty selective on qualifying who they let test drive the higher end cars, let alone even talk to.
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C63 Black Series, Magno Alanite Grey
Good thing I'm not a random "Jagoff"
That BS was initially my order, and the dealership knows that. I dont think they will let anyone else drive that car, its in the showroom - and we were pretty close to a deal happening that night. As I said before, it happened to be the right timing as the car just got to the dealership just an hour before I got there.
I have also purchased vehicles from this dealership before, including my current 2012 C63 Edition 1, which I bought just a few months ago.
That BS was initially my order, and the dealership knows that. I dont think they will let anyone else drive that car, its in the showroom - and we were pretty close to a deal happening that night. As I said before, it happened to be the right timing as the car just got to the dealership just an hour before I got there.
I have also purchased vehicles from this dealership before, including my current 2012 C63 Edition 1, which I bought just a few months ago.