FBTO

My warranty is coming up on my 2010 c63. I have a deal pending to upgrade to a 2012 c63 with perf pack. But I am wondering if I should stick with the C or consider other options? So many C class on the road! Looking at maybe a ML or the E 550 coupe.

Or leave the brand and try something else. Also if the C is moving to the 5.5, the 6.2 will be a treasure!!

What to do what to do!

I put over 2500 km a month! So a bit of gas savings would be nice, but I will miss the power! Should go ML to give my kids more space. The ML63 is too expensive.

emericr

I was in the same boat and decided on a new CLS63PP. It should be coming in a few months.
From the coupe perpective, the RS5 looks awesome and if you like the look, the CTS-V or GTR are beasts.

FBTO

CLS is beautiful but way too expensive for me. Trying to stay under $80k.

-=Hot|Ice=-

Well, you're kind all over the place. Prioritize what is most important to you at this point in time and go off that. If kids are really important, an ML/X5/Q7 sounds like the logical move.

If you still want gas guzzling fun, a 2012/2013 C63 AMG PP/RS5/M3 is what you're looking for.

FBTO

I know! I am fighting my practical responsible mind! My passion for performance is kicking its ***!

PetroC63

I switched to A CTS-V. It's a beast.

I took it to the track a couple of weeks ago and ran a 12.18 @ 119 bone stock on street tires.

JM

You will regret getting the E class... I have one and I love it but once I get back in the C63 that smirk on my face....

m a x i m u s

Jeffield, which E class exactly? Just curious. And apologies if you have your cars listed in your sig, I am on my iPhone viewing the mobile format.

FBTO

Ok, prob solved. Had my car in for some warranty work. And after not seeing my baby for a day, an now back in it. I love my c63! So upgrade to another C63 is my plan!

rage2

The CLS550 is a nice hidden gem in the MB lineup. It doesn't have the handling fun that the C63 has, but that 4.7L TT motor is a beast. It's comfortable to drive, and a chip brings that up to 530hp. I picked up the 4Matic model and it's been awesome in the winter.

Fung63

good plan. If i was in the market for another car.... atm, it will be another C63.

abcut973

For 80k you could go for a SUV (family and mpg oriented) + a beast (for yourself to enjoy). Obviously you'll have to go for pre-owned cars preferably CPO both. You can find a 2012 C63 CPO for less then 60k i guess which gives you 20k room for a decent SUV.
That's what i would do if i was car hunting. Good luck for your search.

JM

The E350 Cabriolet!

-=Hot|Ice=-

The C63 is a beast.

GMW

To be honest I would seriously consider the 2014 E63 AMG 4matic. If the picture that was revealed yesterday is anything to go buy...its a STUNNER!! plus the 0-60 in 3.4 seconds doesn't sound too bad ;-)) I've ordered an ML63PP so that I can fit the family in comfortably and use it on safari too. The C63 was and is FUN but I needed a 4X4 (ground clearance and space). Surprisingly, now that I've ordered the ML I've found out that reviews are rather few on it. Though I did read a good article on it in the recent EVO magazine where they complimented it quite a lot on steering feel and handling for a 4X4! This should be interesting. Plus I wonder if the fact that the boot is more or less not separated with the main cabin, then the exhaust will sound louder. Like it was when I folded the rear seats down in the C63. :-))

rory breaker

I was in the same boat. Decided there was nothing else out there that gave me all the things I wanted in a car as accurately as the C. The Caddy is a burner, but I hated the interior, overall the car didn't feel as well put together, it just wasn't for me. E feels a bit big. CLS is nice but to me, also kind of a yacht and not worth the extra $30k. M3 is a dog. New M5 wasn't out at the time.

I'm very happy....still have the same smile on my face every time I drive as I did the day I got my first C63 back in 09, except the 12 is much nicer all around.

jtrichel

I just went through and analyzed the h*ll out of it. Previous: Acura MDX SUV + Porsche 911. Sold the Porsche 911. Was debating whether or not to sell the Acura also and buy one car. Or to get a weekend toy to replace the Porsche 911. Ultimately that is what I did. But in the process, I really looked close at which "one car" I would get.

My findings:

Audi: The S6/S7 cars have the best interiors of any German brand. The new turbo v8 makes them very tunable. I think that they LOOK the best interior/exterior. The drive is ok. Wheels make or break an Audi...so with the big 20 inch wheels these are cool cars. But not particularly exciting. The RS5 was a disappointment to me when I drove it. It looks gorgeous, but was very anemic. Felt the same as my 2008 RS4. I also had a 2003 RS6. So I am an Audi RS fan. That car disappointed.

BMW: They lost me a long time ago with the swoopy style of everything. I like my German cars crisp and taut But seriously, the M3 driving experience is very different, high revving, etc. And there are just so many of them. The new M5 was on my list. A close contender. But in the end I could not get over the fact that they synthesized exhaust sound through the speakers into the car. To me it is the pinnacle of cheeseball.

Porsche: I thought that the Panamera GTS was the best 4 door driving experience I had. It was amazing. The turbo obviously is too, but the GTS is a real drivers car. You would swear you were driving a miata. But I just couldnt get over the look of the rear of that car. So ugly. Only a mother could love. And very expensive for an ugly vehicle. At this price, I expect beauty. I toyed with a 911 turbo, but as an only car, its just so impractical.

Other exotics: Maserati, Aston, etc. I just didnt have the cajones in terms of reliability, maintenance, excess optics to the neighbors, etc.

SO - MB AMG. I drove the pants off the E63 AMG, CLS63 AMG, C63 AMG, etc.
Favorite interior? CLS, no question. Like being sewn into the cockpit. So cool.
Favorite exterior? Well the front of the CLS looks means, but I just couldnt get over the back. Once someone described those rear lights as alien eyes or a female body part, that is all I saw, everytime I looked at them. They are HUGE! They wrap around the car! My dealer thinks they will tone them down in the future, but for now, I just couldnt get over them.
Favorite drive? Has to be the E63 AMG. I actually came close to not getting the Black Series and selling the SUV and Porsche to buy the E63. Yes it looks a bit plain on the inside/outside. Yes they are coming out with a new one soon. But if I had to buy a 4 door it would be it. With the performance pkg., it was the fastest car I have ever driven. Seat of pants tells me it is definitely faster in a stratight line than my Black Series. Unholy torque/speed. I might do a short lease and turn in for a newer one, but that is what I would do.

rory breaker

Well said. If it helps you decide, I agree with just about everything jtrichel just posted. I actually prefer the C63 to the E63 in terms of favorite drive however, just more fun & nimble.

And extra special ditto on the Audis - looking forward to the new crop, as it stands now it's so disappointing to have a car look that good inside/outside and have no guts/grunt behind it.

Patrick B

I've gone through similar debates over the past several months as well.

My own restrictions were a little different....part of it was an optics issue with customers (hard to negotiate with your customers in either a 911 or Aston Martin), and part was down to the dream house that my wife wanted (which naturally, we bought). No garage, and only parking readily for two vehicles (though three could be squeezed in if done right).

Ideally, I'd go back to being a dual-vehicle person, which would make life easy. The Range Rover for day to day duties (and with the SC 5.0L V8, it's still a beast), and the Aston Martin for weekend / toy duty. But the lack of parking and my wife's insistence on spending money on everything else (despite her not working....) scuppered that idea.

I looked at a number of cars....Audi S5, RS5, RS4, BMW M3, M5 (E60, not F10) amongst others. My thoughts were the same on the S5 / RS5 / RS4....just didn't have the punch I was expecting.

In the end, there were very few cars that would have satisfied me if I could only have ONE vehicle. So I went back to my default of the C63 Coupe and sold the Range Rover (wife already has a BMW X6).

Whenever I get around to replacing the C63, I will probably give some serious consideration to the E63. Other options might be the F10 BMW M5, despite my annoyance at some of the direction that BMW has gone.

Another car that I find stunning is the BMW 650i Gran Coupe. It has a gorgeous interior....was checking one out last week when I was picking up some stuff for my wife's car.

Honestly, precious few cars appeal to me enough to replace the C63. The Aston Martin V8 (or V12) Vantage....but optically it's a non-starter. Just can't show up at my customer in one. Same goes for a 911 Turbo, unfortunately.

I'd go back to a Range Rover in a heartbeat....awesome cars. It's one of the few vehicles that could replace my C63.

The new Audi S8 looks pretty sharp as well, and bloody quick. That one tempts me as well.


One thing I forgot to add....had an ML when I was living in Europe. While it was an okay car all-around, I did have some serious reliability issues with it (lost a transmission to the tune of 7,000 Euros) in the 2 years we had it. I like the new ones, but I'm not convinced that I would pick an ML over a Rangie.



Patrick

driftmotion

why not just keep your car and get an extended warranty ..... no point in loosing your shirt just to get new headlights and slightly different seat (ya ya i know there's more) specially if your happy with your current one!

FBTO

Because the extended warranty will cost about $5k! And if I throw in another $2k I can end up with a newer model, full warranty (3 yrs instead of 2), new transmission, reverse camera, 19 inch wheels, new tires, new brakes....and more!! Oh, launch control.

Make sense?

Sidv22

How so? 7k will get you in a new C63? isn't depreciation on our cars, a big deal?

FBTO

2 other details. I put a huge deposit on my current car. And the 2012 I am working is a demo, so huge discount.

bmoney12

The only other car currently out that I'd look at and could afford would be the RS5. From what I've read it's doesn't seem to be a real screamer. Love the looks and sound of it though. I'd go with the 2012 or roll the dice on the warranty and upgrade next year to the new C!

-=Hot|Ice=-

It revs to 8300 RPM - it's a screamer.