Hello,

My lease is coming to a close in 5 months. I have the 14' C300 Sport. I like the suspension, especially when I'm driving it hard. However I need your input on whether I should get a 1. C300 with std sport susp., or 2. C300 with airmatic, or 3. C450 with the susp. it has. What are the differences with each? Will I be able to drive an airmatic C300 hard, while taking it down a notch with the comfort setting to enjoy the ride? Will I be able to have a comfort ride in the C450?

I need a car that goes from a sporty setting for fun, to a comfort setting for a lower variable heart rate.

I remember in the past when I drove an S500 sport, when changing the suspension setting (airmatic) it would REALLY stiffen up on the hardest setting. I wonder if the new system on the 16'-17' suspension would mimic the 01' S500 ride changeability.

Thank you!

 

Same boat except my dealership has been calling me since last month to pull ahead and they will cover the next 4 payments, you can do the same I think it's upto 5 payments. I also have a 2014 C and love how the suspension feels tight.

C300 Airmatic will definitely give you a big boost in comfort in the comfort setting and tighter handling when lowered in sport mode much more than a standard sport suspension.

The C450 suspension is in a league of it's own as it is lifted entirely from the C63 with adapative dampers and all. The entire suspension will be stiffer and more sporty than even what airmatic could provide. Comfort on the C450 is probably equal to Sport on the airmatic.

My suggestion would be to try to test drive each individual option but finding a C300 with airmatic on a lot will be difficult as it is usually a custom order.

 

Looks like I'm going with the C3 then, for the comfort setting. The C3 has plenty of passing power and acceleration to get you into the highway flow off the ramp. I don't see a point in owning the C450, unless you want bragging rights for your 0-60 time. If you want sport you should go all out and get a C63. C450 is not that much faster than a C3. I test drove my friends '15 335xi with comparable 0-60 as the C450 and I didn't really notice a big diff from my C300 on Sport mode, wasn't a dramatic difference.


What do you think?

 

My honest opinion is I love speed so the faster the better, I wanted a C450 really badly but I can't swing the payment. C450 is great for those who don't want ***** to wall C63 with a V8 and who would like AWD. C300 has adequate speed but my V6 in my 2014 definitely pulls off the line faster and the power is more linear.

The W205 C300 does 0-60 in about 6.5 seconds and the C450 is hitting it in 4.6 seconds definitely a significant difference, as they say there is no replacement for displacement. I'll be getting the C300 and when I can afford it I'll move up to the C43.

 

http://www.caranddriver.com/mercedes-benz/c-class

C&D say 6.1. I have heard torque braking gets you 5.75 (https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...60-anyone.html)

Do you think with Sport+ on its 6.5? I think 6.0.

I agree the 2014 C300 pulls.. I raced a 14'-15' 328xi with sport tires and we were neck n neck. That car has a stated time of 5.5 to 60.

 

2 reasons for picking a C450 over a C63:
Daily driver in all types of weather
Price

 

There is a very noticeable difference in acceleration between the C350 Coupe and the C450sedan. There is an even bigger difference between the C300 and the 450. Go test drive them, you'll see what I mean. The steering in the 450 was what really won me over. I am not a big fan of the steering response in both the C300 and the C350.

 

Exactly......and one of my primary reasons for swapping an '09 C63 with 52K on it for a C450 Almost-AMG - the 67/33 4Matic, that is. Of course, what regular Joe would not be for saving some cash; more for upgrades (more on that later).

And yes, they're badging it C43, but I don't know that it's a full-on AMG.......while at the same time being a better all-arounder. So between the great upgrades from the C400 for way less than individually optioning up (base price goes up about $2-3K), in comparison with the C63, I will:

Lose:
Only 15-20% hp and torque

But gain:
67/33 4matic......while losing 200 lb. of curb weight. Fair trade.
V-8 power via ECU reflash and/or raising boost.
C63's 3-stage adjustable dampers.
C63 steering setup.
C63 body cladding (except grill).
Suspension retuned with more negative camber to enhance roadholding.
Stiffer springs, bushings and steering knuckles.
And something else I know I forgot.

Very true again. Missing is the brutal shove of the M156, but the C450 power levels, if you recall, are essentially equal to the MB 550 models of the late 2000s.....before the 4.7 TT V-8s, albeit delivered a bit more smoothly. (About 380 HP / 390 lb. ft.)

And yes, steering is superb. Love it.

But, if you want more power with a reliable warranty attached to the upgrade? RennTECH. Sure, some may question the cost of adding 40 hp / 70 lb.ft. @ the crank for $22-2300 (to 402/454), but I like the founder & owner truly coming from AMG. (Hence the warrantied work.)

ECU
http://www.renntechmercedes.com/inde...c450-bt-detail

Owner/Founder
http://www.renntechmercedes.com/index.php/about-us

So, in the final analysis........C63 AMG or C43 RennTECH? (Or could they badge it a C45 RennTECH in the old MB tradition for AMGs? I like that uniqueness better.)

 

The C450 also has the SLK55 transmission, C63 (not S) front brakes, and C63 steering rack.

 

c63 has 6 piston standard and the 450 has beefed up 4 pistons I think

 

 

What I meant, and stated in my post, was that the its is not dramatically faster than a C300 based on the 0-60 time. I'm sure a C63 or M4 would be strikingly faster. I'm just not that sensitive to a 1.5 second time difference. I tried the '15 335xi m-sport, and it didn't pull NOTICABLY faster than my '14 C300 4m. I once drove a '15 Vanquish and you could feel the pull was faster than a C300 for sure, it was strikingly faster. But a C450 given its similar performance to a 335, I didn't notice that much more speed.

Plus I'd rather have the C300 with airmatic and enjoy more comfy rides, than have a sport tuned susp. that that C450 offers.

 

I might test drive the C450. But can't the steering feel (on C3) be adjusted via mode selection on the car?

 

Yes it will artificially tighten up on Sport but steering feel on the C450 will be in a different league because it's pulled straight from the C63.

 

the difference is that the c300 has a variable rate rack and the amg steering setup does not

 

Ahh thanks for the info

 

You will with all 3 german that the 2L I4 is 85% as good as the 3L 6 cylinder in 85% of driving conditions, especially city.

But when the road opens up and you are clear to take off? No contest.

 

Yes, thank you both. Forgot to include the brake and exhaust upgrades, both of which help make the point even better; all those extra "standard" upgrades from the C400 4Matic with only about a $2-3K increase in base price.

Works for me. For instance, though I can't seem to find what the 12.5" rear brakes might be replacing, but I know the 14.2" front brakes are the same as my last-gen C63, which has hellacious stopping power. (Or should that be had?)

All that said, if you like the C450 packaging for the price - needless to say, get one. If not, that's cool, too. I, for one, while I do miss the M156, can still feel power equivalent to the Mercedes 5.5 liter V-8s from 6-7-8 years ago (approx. 381 hp/390lb.ft).........minus the brutal V-8 shove and stronger top end speed.

Still, it delivers the power as a 3.0TT should and questions this previous comment: C450 is not that much faster than a C300. (Whaaaat?) Depends on what 'not that much' means.

But that's it........and who wouldn't miss a 1st ballot Hall-Of-Fame performance engine?? That's the heart speaking; the mind knows, however, that this consumer is getting so much more in return that he need not miss the C63 much at all.

Went from one car that liked sending me constant reminders of "I am full-fledged, old school, rear-drive, AMG; I will kill you" on any given day..... to one that seems hell bent on keeping my - and the wife's - happy *** alive.

Nuff said.

 

The C63 has different fenders as well. They are longer and have wider flares to accommodate longer engine. The hood line is also meets up differently with the fenders in grill area.

 

Right, right......although I was thinking more along the lines of the cosmetic/appearance sport package. 450 and 63 rears and sides are about the same, with a slight variance in the front end, but all 3 of which you can see clearly come from the same design theme (the latter 2 front ends slightly lower than the C400).

But, touche' on the fenders; you're definitely correct.......as with all C-Class AMG transformations of late. That's part of the special AMG performance touches, right? For instance:

• C55 had the CLK55 front end.
• C63 essentially had the CLK63 Black's front end, ending up with about a 3" longer front end and 1.5" wider front track.
• And of course the C450 is more C400 than C63 in that regard.

I mean seriously, our C450s are really a Junior Varsity AMGs, while still - thankfully and amazingly! - offering some frickin great upgrades and enhancements to slot us right in-between the other civilized and insane C-Class offerings. So as I've said before, don't miss the W204 C63 a lick.

And here go your C400 - C450/43 - C63 fronts & rears side by side: