glennhl

I've run Solo 2 autocrosses off and on for the last 40 years. I've run the following cars over the years: 1968 Firebird, 1973 Z28, 1974 914, 1974 911S, 1994 Z28, 2001 Z28, and a 2006 Corvette.

I read a number of posts where people said the C63 was a terrible Autocross car. Well, it certainly doesn't compete with the little cars, but in F Stock with the Camaros and Mustangs, I'd say it's very competitive. Plus it is an absolute BLAST TO DRIVE! As you can see, I've run a number of F Body GM cars in the past and I'd say the Mercedes felt smaller than those cars.

I ran with ESP complete off and tranny in M. It was very controllable, the car turned in nicely and you had to be easy on the throttle to keep it controlled coming out of the turns. The course didn't have a lot of places to accelerate, which is fine with me, because it's so darn hard to get the car to hook up coming off the line. It was hard to compare to the other F Stock cars today because some of us were on "street" tires while others ran R Compound tires. I'm looking forward to 2015 because they are outlawing the R compound tires. It's about time. It costs an arm and a leg to be competitive, you go through the R tires so quickly.

For anyone wondering whether they should run an autocross, don't wait, go do it. What a great car!!!!

D C

I'm in the "it's not competitive" camp. It just weighs too much. The Mustangs are coming across the scales at 3400-3500 in FP trim, better hp/weight ratio, and better overall balance.
While my region doesn't have a large FP class, those that are in it are top 5 National level drivers.

It is a fun car to autox, and depending on drivers, may win occasionally. But in a region with cars built to the class rules and good drivers, I just don't think it's competitive.

glennhl

But I'm running FS, not FP. So the new Mustang weighs over 3700 pounds and the Camaro is almost 3900 pounds. So yes, you give away a little weight. The good news is I didn't think the car "felt" heavy to me at all. I guess what I was trying to do was to encourage people to autocross their C63 and enjoy it and not get beat down from the purist that say it's just not competitive.

Have you autocrossed your C63? If so, how did you do?

D C

Oops, I meant FS in my comments. Sorry. The weights given by Ford at least on their cars, is heavier than people are actually seeing once they get them on the scales apparently. At the National Tour event 2 weeks ago, one of the nationally prepped FS Mustangs went across the scales at 3450lbs.

I agree that people just need to get out and AutoX their cars. Heck, run them in a "Time Only" or novice class. Just come out and have fun.

For reference, I normally run in Street Mod, in a very well prepped EVO at Tour. I used to run my own car for regional events which was a fully STi swapped Subaru RS. So 300whp/wtq in a 2900lb car. The EVO I run 2950lbs with closer to 400whp/wtq.

I ran my C63 for 1 weekend just to see what it would and wouldn't do. I was on stock sized Michelin A/S 3s. I ran it in manual mode as well with ESP off. Obviously the tires were the biggest issue. It definitely doesn't feel as big as you would think. Slaloms we negotiated pretty quickly without the rear end turning into a giant pendulum. Some of the bigger sweepers were challenging getting the power down, and not having a LSD was the only place I would have a tendency to get some one-wheel spin. Most everything else, I would get both tires to break traction. But even the sweepers I could give it a little flick and get both tires to spin. On that course, on that day, a very low angle drift seemed the fastest way thru the corner.

Here's vid from my last run when I said "F" it. I was in it to have fun, not be fast. You can see that by not having an LSD, wasn't an issue.

glennhl

Thanks for the video. I think that's why I don't have a Gopro. I don't want to see how far from the cones I am in reality. I hit them occasionally as it is. Your video does show how easy it is to overdrive the C63.

The nice surprise I had was that the car turned in very well, much better than the F bodies I auto crossed and just as good as the Vette. I personally feel that a LSD would allow me to put down more power out of the corners.

D C

As a comparison, on the same course, I was 9sec faster in the EVO with 150 run, dead BFG R-comps.

-Marlin-

I never get tired of watching smoke billow from the rear tires, effortlessly. It's a constant reminder of the beast under the hood. I had an Evo 8. Didn't auto cross it but can totally relate to how different of a car it is. Go Cart on roids comes to mind.

Auto crossing the 63 looks like a blast. But I can imagine it must be hard on the wallet when it comes to tires and brake pads. 63 eats tires like pop tarts for breakfast.

glennhl

Of course, smoke coming off the rear tires means the run is going to be slower. The real challenge is to keep this from happening. When you are going sideways, you are not going forward as quickly. But it is fun.

AMG Boost

C63 is surprising on Autox. It is super fun but it is also pretty fast! My bone stock C63 was able to beat alot of cars at my last event, Including a full bolt on Evox on advan AD08 tires as well as a bunch of BRZs.

kent426

If you stack up the C63 to camaro's and mustang's, power and weight are close, but grip is not even close. Mustang's can fit 285's up front and 315's in the rear.

Sky Hye

Not stock. Widest I could fit without issues was 285 rear. Any wider and you start modding and hop out of F stock. The advantage of mustangs is that you can get a boss or a GT with the track pack and still compete in FS and be factory modded and kick serious butt compared to the other FS cars. That's how I was able to get an edge in mine. But again, I don't think our cars are built for autox as well as Japanese cars. Road courses are a different story...

yazid

That looks so much fun!

AMGangster

I autocross mine on Dunlop Direzza ZII's with the factory wheels and factory size tires. I would say I'm competitive. I generally place in the top 1/3rd. No chance against purpose built Miatas or anything like that though.