c63amgs4

Hi Guys,

So I am interested in the C63 but I have a few questions. First of all, how does the C63 handle all weather conditions. I live in Cleveland where it snows a lot. A little bit about me. I have a 70 mile commute. Main roads, and mostly freeway. This is going to be my only car. I know that many have a second car but I like to have one so I can put all my time and money into one car instead of two. I really need to be able to get to my destination 360/365 days a year. If there is more than 6 inches of snow, I am not going to leave. Now as far as maintenance, it seems that people talk about these being more expensive to maintain, but how much more than an Audi or a BMW. Should I expect a couple grand a year with tires and maintenance if I have a warranty. If I drive conservatively can I get 20k out of the rears and 30k out of fronts or much less. Also do head bolt failures only effect 08-09. I would probably be looking at a 10-11. I like the facelift but it is not in my price range. Lastly what should I expect as far as condition. I am a perfectionist and most seem to have had a panel resprayed or a bunch of rock chips or a couple scratches. What should I accept.

Thanks

tofu-

you're going to have a hard time in the snow without snow tires. LSD would help.

expect 10k miles on a set of rears.

as far as how much damage on a used car is acceptable, well that's up to you. if you can clearly tell a panel has been resprayed, then that should be reflected in the price.

c63amgs4

Yes I would of course have snow tires. That was my question is if I had a dedicated set of Blizzaks would I be good?

Thanks for the other info!

Rafiki

Get a cheapie Honda as a second car,

Rafiki

you will be good with the blizzarks but will have to change out during the spring /summer,

c63amgs4

Ok cool! Thanks! Any comments on the other points.

Also one thing I have noticed is that most of the cars are 2-3 owner cars. I was confused by that because many people seem to keep these for a year and then sell. Is the reliability just not that good?

c63amgs4

Although I could do that, I want to enjoy my car daily.

avery.whss

my c63 sucked *** in the snow but i was using PSS as tires so that's why..I'm sure it handles fine with the proper tires..other then that it's fine in every other condition

KIS007

I've had the car for less than a year and the car has thus far been bullet proof. From what I know, enthusiasts tend to turn cars more frequently because it is more of an emotional decision. Many want to drive a variety of cars and don't care about the economics. I use it as a daily driver and love it. In Houston, snow is not a consideration, melting in August is more of a problem.

Rafiki

Just always make sure u get a PPI done before buying any AMG as they get very costly if the prior owner skipped on any crucial maintanace, other than that pretty solid cars, also make sure to see of the Headbolt issue had been taken care off, if not just save up and get it some ASAP,

b16

Personally I would rather own something with AWD in the snow.

PCHMerc

I live in SoCal and have a 1 mile commute, so weather and mpg are not an issue. Not sure I would have bought a c63 if I had a long commute and snow to deal with. We have a 4 wheel drive SUV that gets us up to the mountains and goes on long trips. Maintenance is comparable to a BMW or Audi but a lot of that depends on the car. Everyone is different.

You might be better off with a 4matic e class. That was my second choice.

tofu-

beyond an inch of snow i think you're in for trouble. having the LSD might help.

if it were FWD or AWD, it'd be a different story.

fraktv

70 mile commute.....be ready to become intimately aquainted with your local gas station.

c63amgs4

Ok even with snow tires? Is this just due to the high horsepower and torque?

c63amgs4

Haha! So basically look at an Audi or a Merc like an E class or C Class? C350 maybe?

BD-C63

I run Michelin Alpins in the winter and have had no issues driving in the last 2 years of southern Ohio winters. My opinion is that the C63 is an very passable winter vehicle. You just have to be gentle off the line. Some people use comfort mode, but I run around town in sport mode with traction control off (I turn TC on for high speed driving such as the highway). I love the slow motion drifting around corners when no one is around!

Diabolis

I have a 2013 coupe with an LSD, and use it as a DD. Winter tires are a (new) set of MB-supplied Pirelli Sottozeros (winter performance rubber so not the absolute best in terms of grip in the snow, but proper winter tires nonetheless). We had a fair bit of snow this year. While the city streets and highways are regularly plowed and on shallow or packed snow the car is OK as a DD, there's far too much torque and driving in anything over 2-3" deep is not exactly without challenges. If you've driven a high torque, RWD vehicle before then it many not be much different, but don't expect anything even remotely Audi-esque. Even a "one-wheel-drive" FWD Volvo is far superior in the white stuff.

If you have a long commute that's anything but perfectly flat on roads that are not cleared relatively quickly, I would seriously consider getting a second vehicle or something else instead. Getting moving on an incline in 2" of snow usually results in not going anywhere if the TC is engaged or going only sideways if you turn the TC off. With studded tires - if they're allowed in your area - and some sand in the trunk you'll do considerably better, but if you're coming from an Audi and expect something even remotely similar, I'd look elsewhere. Just a word of warning.

BK63amg

Agree this may not be your best choice. A dedicated set of winter tires/wheels will be very helpful but deep snow and hills will still be an issue. Also, a 70m daily commute will put a serious hurting on your pockets and you're probably looking at 2-3 fill-ups per week. The added wear and tear may also surface maintanence issues more quickly than you'd otherwise encounter.

You should consider getting a cheap beater as a commuter car or mentally prepare yourself for the significant running costs that lie ahead.

tw2

As far as performance goes i can't think of anything better than a 4matic e550 bi turbo. That would be a much better compromise for the snow. Add an ecu tune for extra fun.

Diabolis

I can. An E63S.

AWD, 640+ hp (it is very conservatively underrated) and no ECU tune needed.

Don't make the mistake of driving one if you can't afford it and have no children or organs you can sell on the black market.

tw2

No doubt. I am thinking this might be a price bracket or two up from c63/e550 territory, maybe haha.

Diabolis

Yeah - it's not a cheap car. Almost double the price of a new C63 if you want it loaded and with the carbon ceramic brakes. Still - it's arguably one of the very few cars that demonstrate that the "Jack of all trades, master of none" saying is not always correct. The car is simply awesome.

Homey63

In my view, if you are looking at owning one vehicle with a reasonable commute and winters, I would recommend an E5504M. You will not be disappointed with the torque off the line, highway mileage is not that different than an E350 and it is just a much more practical car than the C63. the 4M in the winter is great off the line. I run 225/40/18 Michelin X Ice on my C63 in Toronto winters. Light snow is OK, slightly deeper snow and hills are difficult. 100 lbs of weight in the trunk help but no match for the E5504M. I love the C63 but it would be the first to go if we went to one car.

Diabolis

In terms of the best all-around car and bang for your buck, I agree with tw2 and Homey about getting a (new-ish) E550 4Matic. From your original post though, I suspect that a 2012 or newer car with the TT motor is likely out of your price range as well, so you're probably looking at an earlier (2009-2011) model with the NA engine. Not a bad car by any means (I have driven one on several occasions), but it is not a sporty sedan like the new E550 - in fact, it's quite the opposite. It is more sedate than anything else. If you're looking for something that you can occasionally toss around for some fun, the older cars are probably not your best choice either.