W57thNY

From what I've seen so far as a member of this forum, it looks like a majority of you are more interested in making your cars stand out, and perform better, than just perform better, but look the same as the day they rolled off the assembly line.

I may be alone here, but do any of you think it would be neat to have a C63, with an exterior that looks like that of a regular W204 Sport? If I had a C63, I'd probably go as far as doing this myself. I love the idea of having the ultimate sleeper.

Imagine being at a light, someone in the next lane guns their engine, goading you on, thinking that you won't take them on. The light changes. You leave them in the dust.

Thoughts?

batkoski

ha!

Would be hilarious!

However, as someone who doesn't have the cash for a C63, if I had one I wouldn't mind people knowing. :P But I can see some others who would love to mess with people.

SMOKEY300

I'd just de-badge the fenders and trunk lid, convert the rear valance to dual tip exhaust instead of quad - and most people wouldn't be able to spot the difference.

A lot of people in Europe actually do this - de-badge their M/AMG/R cars.

Although I think I'd get more enjoyment out of walking up to my loud'n'proud AMG than I would surprising a few people at traffic light GP's.

FFM

A main part of the appeal of AMG/M/S etc cars is there appearance from the factory. People love the aggressiveness that they suit those vehicles with to match the performance. If I wanted to look like a base model I would buy one haha.

As is, the fact that Merc offers the AMG sport packages much like the "M-sport" packages you can damn near get a lookalike as is.

W57thNY

I love performance that comes with the full-bore AMG cars, but I've always loved the idea of having a sleeper, and unleashing it on some unsuspecting person.

lionheart_

i understand where you're coming from and the appeal of having a sleeper, but i agree 100% with FFM. you've already hinted that it's counter intuitive to buy an amg line and put the work in to make it look like a base model, at which point, i am not exactly sure who would pick on a base c-class to race.

FFM

I guess if I wanted a sleeper I would buy a stock Honda Civic and turbocharged it. Long as everything was kept non flamboyant 600whp isn't hard to do these days and neither is the myth that FWD doesn't hook up.

When it comes to flagship models though the outer appeal of the design is just as important to me as the guts which propel it haha.

W57thNY

Hinted? I am d*mn well aware it is. So maybe no one would be challenging what looks like a base C to a street race, but it is fun to run through traffic unnoticed.

I've had the idea of a sleeper on my mind since I was able to spend a good bit of time behind the wheel of a 2005 W203 C55. Aside from the wheels, front clip (which if you look closely, is that of a CLK), and exhaust, you can't tell it's an AMG car. It was fun keeping up with people in fast cars who thought I was driving nothing more than a regular C.

W57thNY

A Civic is not going to drive anywhere nearly as nicely as a Merc does. I also prefer the build of a Mercedes-Benz, and rear wheel drive.

FFM

Well obviously haha. I merely was stating sleeper status are generally beaters with some *****.

I just couldn't justify dumbing down a nice car.

W57thNY

From what I can tell, you'd have to change the front bumper, hood, grille, fenders, and change the exhaust tips, and possibly wheels (I've always been a fan of the 18" 7-spoke wheels that were an option after the 2012 refresh - which I actually have on my car). It's not like any of the changes can't be undone. I speed, and the more I can fly under the radar, and not be noticed, the better.

I don't think a sleeper has to be a beater. Check out Toyota's Camry tube frame drag car that debuted at SEMA.

cfmistry

The reason people don't do this is because to most the C63 looks better. Nobody wants to make their car look worse, even if that means sleeper.

FFM

Lol tube frame anything is no longer the chassis it claims to be. Just a race chassis with a Camry shell.

Unless you found someone to trade, which is very possible, the body pieces you speak of new and painted would cost thousands. Too rich for my blood to devalue a car. Whether reversible or not

W57thNY

Guess it's just personal preference. I think the W204 Sports are pretty sharp.

W57thNY

Very true on the Camry, but it's still a sleeper.

I don't think the price of the body pieces, even OEM pieces, would be cost prohibitive if I had the money for a $70k car.

Just for fun, I looked. C63's are going for $75k. I think I could get away with just changing the front bumper, and grille. That would make the car a bit more discreet.

I just can't help but think how fun it would be to chase down a good many cars in something that doesn't look like it could do that.

FFM

Not to offend our Merc brethren but I think already the C63 is the least discernible of its class from its little brothers. Unlike M cars which are substantially different cosmetically.

Until you hit the 507 chassis there's really very small differences than an optioned out C3X0 Sport.

TheRulesLawyer

With a c63 all you'd really need to do is debadge. Put a c300 badge on the back if you want to confuse them. The c63 is still a pretty conservative car that a non-car guy would have a difficult time picking out.

W57thNY

You're right, there is little difference, but I do prefer the look of the black tri-bar grille, and bumper from the regular sport models - the C63 bumper is a bit too aggressive, I don't like the extra slats in front of the wheel opening. Minor detail.

I don't have any plans to spend $75k on a car, but it's fun to think about.