Maritime

Sigh, first world choices....

inhartwetrust

I'm not sure of the exact costs of the mods mentioned (parts + labor), but the mental block I've had on this concept is that the C43 + upgrades very quickly begins to exceed the cost of a 2015 CPO C63S, and still falls short in everything except winter driveability...not the mention the residual resale value on mods, I assume, is pretty poor (and taking the Yr 1 and 2 depreciation on a C43 is a bigger hit than a Yr 3+ depreciation on a C63S).

I have no doubt I'll find a gently used CPO C63S for around $60Kish in July/August when the MY17's start shipping (or even leading up to it), the C450 with options I wanted is already $63K+ not including any extra mods.

Just doesn't make sense to me...I'd rather just throw some sand bags in the trunk, get a set of square studded Hakkapeliitta's on the C63S, and drive cautiously. Maybe two times a year I would endure a snow storm that would really cause me issue...

autopal

I see your point of view. I guess it boils down to where you live, here in Saskatoon, with 5 months of brutal winter, most days hovering in the minus 20 to minus 30 range, I could do it. I thought about getting the C63 as well, but I would also get a winter beater for those terrible days, in the end, it was just too much for me, and the C450 was just the right compromise. I do feel, though, the the AMG guys could have made the C450 exhaust a little more vocal, but the power is more than enough for me.

inhartwetrust

I'm with ya 100% on the last part, the power of the C450/C43 is more than enough for me as this will just be my DD that I want to have fun in sometimes...more than anything, I just want the C63S loud *** exhaust. I want my car to look like a luxury sedan (and not draw much attention), but I want the sound to make people's heads turn after I'm past them thinking "WTF?!" Don't get me wrong though, in the summer have the 510hp of the C63S would be a blast, too.

Here in Columbus, Ohio, winters are very hit or miss and the bad periods aren't that bad and they are usually short lived. Some winters are very mild with only 1, maybe 2, bad snow storms (and by "bad" I mean 3-5 inches). Some winters we get slammed, but still nothing like Northern Ohio and definitely NOTHING like Canada. Our "snow season" is usually December-February, at worst...so 3 months.

stixpicks

Just paid my deposit for a C450/C43 that doesn't yet exist for Australia!

autopal

Great! I am sure it's gonna be a long wait! I have been driving mine now for 3 months and absolutely love it! Just curious, what is the price like, converted to US dollars?

stixpicks

Don't know pricing yet. Mercedes Australia have no idea when they will be available here, nor the options or pricing. At least I am one of the first on the list before the rush when it is released! Evidently there was an 18 month wait here for A45s when they first came out!

Word on the street is low A$100,000, so $US70 - $80,000. Cars always more here, smaller market and further away!

autopal

Great man, I hear you guys live in a beautiful country, even though you drive on the wrong side of the road I am hoping to make the trip down under one of these days to take in a cricket match at the Waca in Perth, the trouble is, my team (the West Indies) is not very good!

stixpicks

I certainly do enjoy it here, except for the C450 delay!

As for the cricket, the Windies are struggling at the moment, need to travel back to the '80s!

tmoneyC450amg

Having taken the first batch of deliveries of the C450 back in september, I was completely blindsided by the announcement of the C43. I do feel a bit hosed as well because 1.) C450 value just decreased, I've only driven my car 2050 miles in 5 months and I feel like I could've waited and gotten it for less now (I have a 48mo finance not lease on mine) 2.) if they were to put in a better transmission in the C43 (which some on here claims) then I'll be royally hosed because the current transmission is the bottleneck in this car's performance

Maritime

What he said....

tmoneyC450amg

Good luck finding a CPO C63S later this year or 2017 for 60k range. At best you're going to find one with 15k miles and going for 70k, this is the S version we're talking about. You may be able to find a non S 2015 C63 for 63-65k in 2017. And you said your C43 will be priced to high 60k with all the options you want, you're not gonna get anywhere close in those options in a 60k range C63S even if you do find one. I see that there is currently only one CPO C63S going for 70k but barebone with 8500miles and another loaded C63S with 11k miles going for 80K. Technically price can hit the 60-65k range if you're talking about 30-35k miles but I don't trust used German cars. They are usually sold because the previous owner was unhappy with something about it and that in itself a whole world of problems thats not worth it. Always buy new with German cars.

Also, if you want a louder exhaust you can always go after market.

Evo2Benzo

Hello,

Die-hard Mitsubishi fan here since the 90's, but obviously that ship has sailed. Or should I say steamed away...like the titanic...

So, since my next car isn't going to be some badass re-imagined Evo or 3000GT, and the GT-R is now an over-priced dinosaur, it was time to branch out...

Being me, coming from a '13 Evo X MR (my third turbocharged beast adorning the diamond-star), and living in Oregon, I basically want more of the same. Some luxury wouldn't hurt either; amazing rattle-boxes are still just that.

Anyway, there I was, sitting in this A45 AMG thinking I couldn't possibly pay $60K+ for another ****box-turned-race-car, which judging from the interior is exactly what that thing is, when the salesperson said, "What about a C450?"

...A what? Is that like your version of the most boring ****ing BMW I've ever been in ala the 340i X-drive? Because I just drove one of those and let me tell you I'd rather drive a ****ing Kia Optima and save some money...

"No it's like a C63 but with AWD like you want..."

What? Dude there's no such thing as something *like* an AMG 63...

"Yes there is, it's basically an AWD C63 but it's got a V6... It's lighter..."

What... In... The... ****... Are... You... Even.. Talking... About...

So we went to see this "AWD C63 with a V6" and I was completely blown away. V6 TURBO no less! And it sounds wicked as hell and gets power down really nicely. It's been 2 days since i drove it and I'm still so impressed with how it looked, handled, accelerated, sounded... Everything but the weird column shifter. Well that and the fact the paddles aren't on the damn column where they belong, so I left it in auto after I about redlined it accelerating out of a turn and couldn't find the damn upshift button...

But yeah that car is amazing. It's my next car. 100%. Everything about it is either badass or fancy AF.

tmoneyC450amg

I would wait for the C43. Same car but with possible upgrades i.e. Better transmission perhaps

Evo2Benzo

The transmission is great i wouldn't change it. I know it's not a dual clutch but it feels better than the Mitsubishi TC-SST.

Maritime

What he said-go to eBay and buy just the badge.

z28lt1

You guys are a little nutty with the feeling "hosed" thing and losing value. For a name changed from AMG Sport to 450 and to AMG 43? Anyone who understand the difference will understand its the same car. Manufacturers make running changes all the time. The 2017 may or may not have a new transmission (so far, only a dealer in a country that doesn't even have the car has made that statement). Even with the C450 name, the 2017 may or may not have had a transmission change. The 2018 will have some other changes. Maybe engine tuning, maybe radio changes, maybe even in the US we get vented seats.... Stop driving yourself crazy, although I am pretty mad at Apple because it seems they've renamed and improved the iPhone since my iPhone 3.

My second ordered C450 is due in April -- Don't have second thoughts about waiting for a rename that I don't know when it will come.

Maritime

Gee, aren't you clever with your pejorative, conclusory horsecrap.

Evo2Benzo

On the flip side there won't be a new Evo for the foreseeable future, so I currently own the most technologically advanced example there is or will be.

What do I win?

You guys should be happy your favorite platforms continue to evolve. Meanwhile the poor Evo not only has ceased advancement, but was even robbed of its characteristic Recaro seats in the name of safety. Seeing base lancer seats in an Evo makes me sad.

Maritime

What's an EVO?

Evo2Benzo

It's a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X in this case. The word Evolution in this context has its roots in motorsport to indicate plateaus or versions of a platform. There was at least one Mercedes I can remember that had the "Evolution" designation. The main reason street cars were ever designated as such was due to homologization rules that forced manufacturers to sell race cars to the general public in order to race them in a given series.

Maritime

Uh, don't ask, don't tell....

nvestr

Don't mind Maritime, Evo - he lives in his own parallel universe and continues to have schizophrenic conversations with those unfortunate enough to have fed the troll...

z28lt1

Yes, an he used to post under another user name, so if you see similar words from someone else....ignore....

The Evo hit its target market perfectly and was great for what it was designed to be, with lots of fans and access to (relatively) cheap speed. That market segment appears to be dying somewhat. Glad you'll be stepping up to a C450, and hopefully it will provide you with lots of smiles.

inhartwetrust

The CPO 2015 C63S with only 8.5k miles on it for $70K list price on Mercedes CPO website currently isn't exactly bare bones, it comes with Designo interior, 19" wheels, Burmeister, HUD, rearview camera, pano roof, etc... plus the 2017's aren't out, so there's no push to decrease the value of the 2015's yet. I think I'll be alright targeting $65K, and I'll have a significantly better car than the C43.

If I can't make that happen, I'll settle for the C43.