CARS YOU CROSSED SHOPPED w/ the C43?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 196
Likes: 37
From: Hainesport NJ
'19 C43 AMG Coupe
For me I never drove or even sat in a Tesla 3. But I think overall it’s a cool car especially the performance numbers. And my understanding is it now comes with autonomous features and things like 20” wheels as standard.
But I wanted a coupe, and if I’m being honest, not really crazy about the styling even as a sedan. The bigger issue for me is the interior. Not a fan of everything being on the giant center screen...including the gauges. And from what I’ve read the interior is not luxurious and felt cheap inside. Pictures of the steering wheel look like it came out of a 1995 Pontiac. And there actually is noise/sound and not the good kind. Since there is no engine to cover it up, I’ve read you hear a lot of tire/road noise in the cabin.
Then there are stories about people who have tried to order a new 2019 model at full price only to be told they are getting a 2018 demo car. Not cool...
And for me, since these cars are so new, the jury is still out on the reliability or long term quality of these cars. I usually keep my cars 6-10 years.
I just feel like Tesla isn’t 100% there yet. Like a pie that needs to bake a little longer. They are certainly on the right track and what they’ve accomplished in a short time is astonishing really.
If if they can improve on their shortcomings, in 6-10 years my next ride might be Tesla.
Last edited by PFEAMG; Apr 27, 2019 at 09:58 AM.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 4
Likes: 2
2015 GT-R
M340 - Pros - best driving experience, very smooth
- new interior is really nice and a step up from prior models
Cons - Leases right now are terrible, at a sticker of $64,000 with me paying taxes (in MD we pay full tax on price of car up front), tags, first month payment, lease payment on a 3yr./36k mile lease comes out to be around $840 (terrible money factor, great residual, ok lease incentive)
- Exterior looks are ok, kind of plain
S4 - Pros - good driving experience
- my favorite interior, had massage seats and many adjustments to the seats including bolsters, etc. I also loved the carbon fiber interior and alcantara seats and doors.
- I loved the virtual cockpit and all of the things you could do with it.
- Had the most features for the money.
- I also loved the amount of customization with the ride, engine, tranny, etc.
- Leases pretty good, with a sticker of $64,000 with the same upfront payment above, the monthly lease would be around $700 (great money factor, terrible residuals, ok lease incentive)
Cons - Out of the three, looks the most boring and looks like it needs to be lowered an inch to look right.
C43 - Pros - Exterior looks the best and most aggressive.
- Leases the best out of the three. With a sticker of $64,000 with the same upfront payment above, the monthly lease would be around $630 (ok money factor, great residual, good lease incentives and since my friend is a GSM at the dealer, great discount)
- Cons - Ride was much rougher than the other three even in comfort mode and a lot more road noise as well.
- Interior was just ok, looked a little dated.
- Didn't like the column shifter.
- No option for heated rear seats or usb ports in the rear.
My wife and I agreed that out of the three with cost not being factored in, we would pick the BMW. I liked the S4 but my wife hated it, she just doesn't like the way it looks and couldn't get comfortable in it. We liked the C43 but agreed it was a little rough and the road noise was a little louder than we would have liked.
We have had a long history of having Lexus' and right now we have a Lexus IS350 and the lease is up in two months. We both are just done with it and can't wait to get out of it, it's the slowest 300hp car and gets terrible gas mileage and are just done with the brand in general since they are way too boring and haven't changed with the competition. We also daily drive a Durango SRT and have GTR that doesn't get driven much so we were hoping try out a new German brand this time around.
At the end of the day since cost is a factor and all have pluses and minuses, I think we will likely get the C43. I don't think the additional cost of the BMW is worth it to us.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 4
Likes: 2
2015 GT-R
Well my wife and I test drove all three yesterday. All three have pluses and minuses. All three are equally as fast based on specs online so that wasn't a factor.
M340 - Pros - best driving experience, very smooth
- new interior is really nice and a step up from prior models
Cons - Leases right now are terrible, at a sticker of $64,000 with me paying taxes (in MD we pay full tax on price of car up front), tags, first month payment, lease payment comes out to be around $840 (terrible money factor, great residual, ok lease incentive)
- Exterior looks are ok, kind of plain
S4 - Pros - good driving experience
- my favorite interior, had massage seats and many adjustments to the seats including bolsters, etc. I also loved the carbon fiber interior and alcantara seats and doors.
- I loved the virtual cockpit and all of the things you could do with it.
- Had the most features for the money.
- I also loved the amount of customization with the ride, engine, tranny, etc.
- Leases pretty good, with a sticker of $64,000 with the same upfront payment above, the monthly lease would be around $700 (great money factor, terrible residuals, ok lease incentive)
Cons - Out of the three, looks the most boring and looks like it needs to be lowered an inch to look right.
C43 - Pros - Exterior looks the best and most aggressive.
- Leases the best out of the three. With a sticker of $64,000 with the same upfront payment above, the monthly lease would be around $630 (ok money factor, great residual, good lease incentives and since my friend is a GSM at the dealer, great discount)
- Cons - Ride was much rougher than the other three even in comfort mode and a lot more road noise as well.
- Interior was just ok, looked a little dated.
- Didn't like the column shifter.
- No option for heated rear seats or usb ports in the rear.
My wife and I agreed that out of the three with cost not being factored in, we would pick the BMW. I liked the S4 but my wife hated it, she just doesn't like the way it looks and couldn't get comfortable in it. We liked the C43 but agreed it was a little rough and the road noise was a little louder than we would have liked.
We have had a long history of having Lexus' and right now we have a Lexus IS350 and the lease is up in two months. We both are just done with it and can't wait to get out of it, it's the slowest 300hp car and gets terrible gas mileage and are just done with the brand in general since they are way too boring and haven't changed with the competition. We also daily drive a Durango SRT and have GTR that doesn't get driven much so we were hoping try out a new German brand this time around.
At the end of the day since cost is a factor and all have pluses and minuses, I think we will likely get the C43. I don't think the additional cost of the BMW is worth it to us.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 196
Likes: 37
From: Hainesport NJ
'19 C43 AMG Coupe
I liked the interior of the new M340 a lot. I'm not sure what happened to my other post so let me try again.
Well my wife and I test drove all three yesterday. All three have pluses and minuses. All three are equally as fast based on specs online so that wasn't a factor.
M340 - Pros - best driving experience, very smooth
- new interior is really nice and a step up from prior models
Cons - Leases right now are terrible, at a sticker of $64,000 with me paying taxes (in MD we pay full tax on price of car up front), tags, first month payment, lease payment comes out to be around $840 (terrible money factor, great residual, ok lease incentive)
- Exterior looks are ok, kind of plain
S4 - Pros - good driving experience
- my favorite interior, had massage seats and many adjustments to the seats including bolsters, etc. I also loved the carbon fiber interior and alcantara seats and doors.
- I loved the virtual cockpit and all of the things you could do with it.
- Had the most features for the money.
- I also loved the amount of customization with the ride, engine, tranny, etc.
- Leases pretty good, with a sticker of $64,000 with the same upfront payment above, the monthly lease would be around $700 (great money factor, terrible residuals, ok lease incentive)
Cons - Out of the three, looks the most boring and looks like it needs to be lowered an inch to look right.
C43 - Pros - Exterior looks the best and most aggressive.
- Leases the best out of the three. With a sticker of $64,000 with the same upfront payment above, the monthly lease would be around $630 (ok money factor, great residual, good lease incentives and since my friend is a GSM at the dealer, great discount)
- Cons - Ride was much rougher than the other three even in comfort mode and a lot more road noise as well.
- Interior was just ok, looked a little dated.
- Didn't like the column shifter.
- No option for heated rear seats or usb ports in the rear.
My wife and I agreed that out of the three with cost not being factored in, we would pick the BMW. I liked the S4 but my wife hated it, she just doesn't like the way it looks and couldn't get comfortable in it. We liked the C43 but agreed it was a little rough and the road noise was a little louder than we would have liked.
We have had a long history of having Lexus' and right now we have a Lexus IS350 and the lease is up in two months. We both are just done with it and can't wait to get out of it, it's the slowest 300hp car and gets terrible gas mileage and are just done with the brand in general since they are way too boring and haven't changed with the competition. We also daily drive a Durango SRT and have GTR that doesn't get driven much so we were hoping try out a new German brand this time around.
At the end of the day since cost is a factor and all have pluses and minuses, I think we will likely get the C43. I don't think the additional cost of the BMW is worth it to us.
Well my wife and I test drove all three yesterday. All three have pluses and minuses. All three are equally as fast based on specs online so that wasn't a factor.
M340 - Pros - best driving experience, very smooth
- new interior is really nice and a step up from prior models
Cons - Leases right now are terrible, at a sticker of $64,000 with me paying taxes (in MD we pay full tax on price of car up front), tags, first month payment, lease payment comes out to be around $840 (terrible money factor, great residual, ok lease incentive)
- Exterior looks are ok, kind of plain
S4 - Pros - good driving experience
- my favorite interior, had massage seats and many adjustments to the seats including bolsters, etc. I also loved the carbon fiber interior and alcantara seats and doors.
- I loved the virtual cockpit and all of the things you could do with it.
- Had the most features for the money.
- I also loved the amount of customization with the ride, engine, tranny, etc.
- Leases pretty good, with a sticker of $64,000 with the same upfront payment above, the monthly lease would be around $700 (great money factor, terrible residuals, ok lease incentive)
Cons - Out of the three, looks the most boring and looks like it needs to be lowered an inch to look right.
C43 - Pros - Exterior looks the best and most aggressive.
- Leases the best out of the three. With a sticker of $64,000 with the same upfront payment above, the monthly lease would be around $630 (ok money factor, great residual, good lease incentives and since my friend is a GSM at the dealer, great discount)
- Cons - Ride was much rougher than the other three even in comfort mode and a lot more road noise as well.
- Interior was just ok, looked a little dated.
- Didn't like the column shifter.
- No option for heated rear seats or usb ports in the rear.
My wife and I agreed that out of the three with cost not being factored in, we would pick the BMW. I liked the S4 but my wife hated it, she just doesn't like the way it looks and couldn't get comfortable in it. We liked the C43 but agreed it was a little rough and the road noise was a little louder than we would have liked.
We have had a long history of having Lexus' and right now we have a Lexus IS350 and the lease is up in two months. We both are just done with it and can't wait to get out of it, it's the slowest 300hp car and gets terrible gas mileage and are just done with the brand in general since they are way too boring and haven't changed with the competition. We also daily drive a Durango SRT and have GTR that doesn't get driven much so we were hoping try out a new German brand this time around.
At the end of the day since cost is a factor and all have pluses and minuses, I think we will likely get the C43. I don't think the additional cost of the BMW is worth it to us.
Best of luck with your c43 purchase. Enjoy!
Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 238
Likes: 67
From: Camas, WA
Current: 2024 GLE350W4, 2016 Audi A8L Previous: 2019 C43W4
I'm coming out of a MY17 C43 and decided to go into a MY19 C43. Before I picked the C43 (again) I was thinking long, long, and hard about an E300 4Matic--luxury styling was even in the cards.
I was drawn to the size and smoothness of the E. Honestly, I think the E is the perfect sized Mercedes. Arguably not too big, certainly not too small, just right. I appreciate its higher quality interior, roomier cabin, and the ride afforded by the longer wheelbase and softer sprung suspension. The great fuel economy and quiet, mature demeanor of the car were also a draw.
But at the end of the day, I decided to go the fun route instead. I have plenty of time left on this planet (God willing) to drive a luxo barge
I was drawn to the size and smoothness of the E. Honestly, I think the E is the perfect sized Mercedes. Arguably not too big, certainly not too small, just right. I appreciate its higher quality interior, roomier cabin, and the ride afforded by the longer wheelbase and softer sprung suspension. The great fuel economy and quiet, mature demeanor of the car were also a draw.
But at the end of the day, I decided to go the fun route instead. I have plenty of time left on this planet (God willing) to drive a luxo barge
Last edited by Grant Hummel; Apr 28, 2019 at 09:40 AM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 196
Likes: 37
From: Hainesport NJ
'19 C43 AMG Coupe
I'm coming out of a MY17 C43 and decided to go into a MY19 C43. Before I picked the C43 (again) I was thinking long, long, and hard about an E300 4Matic--luxury styling was even in the cards.
I was drawn to the size and smoothness of the E. Honestly, I think the E is the perfect sized Mercedes. Arguably not too big, certainly not to small, just right. I appreciate its higher quality interior, roomier cabin, and the ride afforded by the longer wheelbase and softer sprung suspension. The great fuel economy and quiet, mature demeanor of the car were also a draw.
But at the end of the day, I decided to go the fun route instead. I have plenty of time left on this planet (God willing) to drive a luxo barge
I was drawn to the size and smoothness of the E. Honestly, I think the E is the perfect sized Mercedes. Arguably not too big, certainly not to small, just right. I appreciate its higher quality interior, roomier cabin, and the ride afforded by the longer wheelbase and softer sprung suspension. The great fuel economy and quiet, mature demeanor of the car were also a draw.
But at the end of the day, I decided to go the fun route instead. I have plenty of time left on this planet (God willing) to drive a luxo barge
Also, and I know I’m in the minority here, but I didn’t like the digital dash on the E53 which as I recall was standard. My wife hated it.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 196
Likes: 37
From: Hainesport NJ
'19 C43 AMG Coupe
Wanted an F-type but sat in it and realized that at 6’4” it wasn’t going to happen. Thought the BMW interiors suck and since I’m sitting IN the car all the time I want a nice interior.
Wanted a coupe because I’ve been driving sedans my whole life and I’m on a minor midlife crisis (plus they just look so much better....).
Drove an S5 and was just unimpressed. Not as solid feeling or as fast as the C43, and I thought the interior was a step down too (I seem to be in the minority on that assessment).
So it was down to E400 and C43. Really thought I would get the E400 (same engine, not much more weight, figured I would tune it) but then I sort of drove the C43 on a whim and was sold.
In retrospect it might have been interesting to drive a Macan. Next year will probably be looking at Macan S, E53 coupe, 911, AMG GT53, GLC63s. Weird bunch but it is what it is.
Wanted a coupe because I’ve been driving sedans my whole life and I’m on a minor midlife crisis (plus they just look so much better....).
Drove an S5 and was just unimpressed. Not as solid feeling or as fast as the C43, and I thought the interior was a step down too (I seem to be in the minority on that assessment).
So it was down to E400 and C43. Really thought I would get the E400 (same engine, not much more weight, figured I would tune it) but then I sort of drove the C43 on a whim and was sold.
In retrospect it might have been interesting to drive a Macan. Next year will probably be looking at Macan S, E53 coupe, 911, AMG GT53, GLC63s. Weird bunch but it is what it is.
I considered an f-type. Awesome looking car. But the interior is pretty small and was starting to look a little dated. They also kept the entry level price the same and put a 4 banger in it. Waaayyy over priced imo.
And yes, completely agree the S5 interior was very disappointing. So much so I didn’t even bother test driving it.
The e class are beautiful cars. But unless you are looking at a E63s, I found them sorta boring. Even the E53.
Congrats on your C43!
Newbie
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 1
BMW M4\M340i
Well my wife and I test drove all three yesterday. All three have pluses and minuses. All three are equally as fast based on specs online so that wasn't a factor.
M340 - Pros - best driving experience, very smooth
- new interior is really nice and a step up from prior models
Cons - Leases right now are terrible, at a sticker of $64,000 with me paying taxes (in MD we pay full tax on price of car up front), tags, first month payment, lease payment on a 3yr./36k mile lease comes out to be around $840 (terrible money factor, great residual, ok lease incentive)
- Exterior looks are ok, kind of plain
S4 - Pros - good driving experience
- my favorite interior, had massage seats and many adjustments to the seats including bolsters, etc. I also loved the carbon fiber interior and alcantara seats and doors.
- I loved the virtual cockpit and all of the things you could do with it.
- Had the most features for the money.
- I also loved the amount of customization with the ride, engine, tranny, etc.
- Leases pretty good, with a sticker of $64,000 with the same upfront payment above, the monthly lease would be around $700 (great money factor, terrible residuals, ok lease incentive)
Cons - Out of the three, looks the most boring and looks like it needs to be lowered an inch to look right.
C43 - Pros - Exterior looks the best and most aggressive.
- Leases the best out of the three. With a sticker of $64,000 with the same upfront payment above, the monthly lease would be around $630 (ok money factor, great residual, good lease incentives and since my friend is a GSM at the dealer, great discount)
- Cons - Ride was much rougher than the other three even in comfort mode and a lot more road noise as well.
- Interior was just ok, looked a little dated.
- Didn't like the column shifter.
- No option for heated rear seats or usb ports in the rear.
My wife and I agreed that out of the three with cost not being factored in, we would pick the BMW. I liked the S4 but my wife hated it, she just doesn't like the way it looks and couldn't get comfortable in it. We liked the C43 but agreed it was a little rough and the road noise was a little louder than we would have liked.
We have had a long history of having Lexus' and right now we have a Lexus IS350 and the lease is up in two months. We both are just done with it and can't wait to get out of it, it's the slowest 300hp car and gets terrible gas mileage and are just done with the brand in general since they are way too boring and haven't changed with the competition. We also daily drive a Durango SRT and have GTR that doesn't get driven much so we were hoping try out a new German brand this time around.
At the end of the day since cost is a factor and all have pluses and minuses, I think we will likely get the C43. I don't think the additional cost of the BMW is worth it to us.
M340 - Pros - best driving experience, very smooth
- new interior is really nice and a step up from prior models
Cons - Leases right now are terrible, at a sticker of $64,000 with me paying taxes (in MD we pay full tax on price of car up front), tags, first month payment, lease payment on a 3yr./36k mile lease comes out to be around $840 (terrible money factor, great residual, ok lease incentive)
- Exterior looks are ok, kind of plain
S4 - Pros - good driving experience
- my favorite interior, had massage seats and many adjustments to the seats including bolsters, etc. I also loved the carbon fiber interior and alcantara seats and doors.
- I loved the virtual cockpit and all of the things you could do with it.
- Had the most features for the money.
- I also loved the amount of customization with the ride, engine, tranny, etc.
- Leases pretty good, with a sticker of $64,000 with the same upfront payment above, the monthly lease would be around $700 (great money factor, terrible residuals, ok lease incentive)
Cons - Out of the three, looks the most boring and looks like it needs to be lowered an inch to look right.
C43 - Pros - Exterior looks the best and most aggressive.
- Leases the best out of the three. With a sticker of $64,000 with the same upfront payment above, the monthly lease would be around $630 (ok money factor, great residual, good lease incentives and since my friend is a GSM at the dealer, great discount)
- Cons - Ride was much rougher than the other three even in comfort mode and a lot more road noise as well.
- Interior was just ok, looked a little dated.
- Didn't like the column shifter.
- No option for heated rear seats or usb ports in the rear.
My wife and I agreed that out of the three with cost not being factored in, we would pick the BMW. I liked the S4 but my wife hated it, she just doesn't like the way it looks and couldn't get comfortable in it. We liked the C43 but agreed it was a little rough and the road noise was a little louder than we would have liked.
We have had a long history of having Lexus' and right now we have a Lexus IS350 and the lease is up in two months. We both are just done with it and can't wait to get out of it, it's the slowest 300hp car and gets terrible gas mileage and are just done with the brand in general since they are way too boring and haven't changed with the competition. We also daily drive a Durango SRT and have GTR that doesn't get driven much so we were hoping try out a new German brand this time around.
At the end of the day since cost is a factor and all have pluses and minuses, I think we will likely get the C43. I don't think the additional cost of the BMW is worth it to us.
I regret not giving the C43 a test drive, I immediately dismissed it due to Mercedes having the gear shifter on steering column, can't stand that look, other than that the exhaust note is good.
So far I'm enjoying the M340, although I'm still getting over the sticker shock! Even with 7k off before incentives, lease payment is in the low 800s!! Not too far from my 2016 M4 that I just turned in...
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Newbie
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 4
Likes: 2
2015 GT-R
Very good assessment of the M340...
I regret not giving the C43 a test drive, I immediately dismissed it due to Mercedes having the gear shifter on steering column, can't stand that look, other than that the exhaust note is good.
So far I'm enjoying the M340, although I'm still getting over the sticker shock! Even with 7k off before incentives, lease payment is in the low 800s!! Not too far from my 2016 M4 that I just turned in...
I regret not giving the C43 a test drive, I immediately dismissed it due to Mercedes having the gear shifter on steering column, can't stand that look, other than that the exhaust note is good.
So far I'm enjoying the M340, although I'm still getting over the sticker shock! Even with 7k off before incentives, lease payment is in the low 800s!! Not too far from my 2016 M4 that I just turned in...
I also found the column mounted shifter on the C43 odd but wasn’t really that big of a deal to me. I loved the look of the ‘19 C43 and I will certainly miss that but I just like the way the BMW drives better and so does my wife. Plus the BMW has an option for heated rear seats for our kids and the C43 doesn’t. I just wished the BMW had power tilt, it’s absurd in this price range not to have it. I just feel the BMW is smoother and quieter and we already have a GTR and Durango SRT so we wanted something a little more civilized for our third car.
Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 238
Likes: 67
From: Camas, WA
Current: 2024 GLE350W4, 2016 Audi A8L Previous: 2019 C43W4
Very good assessment of the M340...
I regret not giving the C43 a test drive, I immediately dismissed it due to Mercedes having the gear shifter on steering column, can't stand that look, other than that the exhaust note is good.
So far I'm enjoying the M340, although I'm still getting over the sticker shock! Even with 7k off before incentives, lease payment is in the low 800s!! Not too far from my 2016 M4 that I just turned in...
I regret not giving the C43 a test drive, I immediately dismissed it due to Mercedes having the gear shifter on steering column, can't stand that look, other than that the exhaust note is good.
So far I'm enjoying the M340, although I'm still getting over the sticker shock! Even with 7k off before incentives, lease payment is in the low 800s!! Not too far from my 2016 M4 that I just turned in...
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 71
Likes: 21
From: Lake Forest, CA
C43
Agreed 1000%. I was skeptical at first but I've come to like the feature very much. I find myself driving our other car and keep reaching for it because it's so convenient.
Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 99
Likes: 6
C450
C450 lease is ending soon so I test drove a few cars:
Cadillac ATS: This is the best handling car for sure from steering to suspension tuning. Amazing how it handles around corners while not overly stiff like my C450. Too bad the engine, transmission, and especially interior is horrendous.
Audi S4: Does everything well but not the best. Handling was about same as C450. Steering is kind of light for my taste. Engine has more lag than I expected. Build quality for interior is TOP NOTCH. No creaking or rattles and just solid. Exhaust could be louder. Rides more compliant than my C450.
BMW M340i: Engine is a gem. Feels just as fast as C450/C43. Interior is such a big step up too. Build quality seems ok (not as solid as Audi but better than my C450). Rides more compliant than C450. Exterior kind of boring though.
Infiniti Q50 Red Sport: Horrible car. Transmission is sluggish. Steering though heavy, doesn’t spark joy. Exterior looks ok. Interior is a dated mess. It’s missing so much tech and I wasn’t impressed by a lot of the materials/creaks. The ride was horrendously harsh - probably just as harsh as my C450 but the body movement was much more violent over bumps.
I really want to get into a MY19 C43 AMG but the harsh ride and build quality issues on my current C450 is making me hesitate.
Cadillac ATS: This is the best handling car for sure from steering to suspension tuning. Amazing how it handles around corners while not overly stiff like my C450. Too bad the engine, transmission, and especially interior is horrendous.
Audi S4: Does everything well but not the best. Handling was about same as C450. Steering is kind of light for my taste. Engine has more lag than I expected. Build quality for interior is TOP NOTCH. No creaking or rattles and just solid. Exhaust could be louder. Rides more compliant than my C450.
BMW M340i: Engine is a gem. Feels just as fast as C450/C43. Interior is such a big step up too. Build quality seems ok (not as solid as Audi but better than my C450). Rides more compliant than C450. Exterior kind of boring though.
Infiniti Q50 Red Sport: Horrible car. Transmission is sluggish. Steering though heavy, doesn’t spark joy. Exterior looks ok. Interior is a dated mess. It’s missing so much tech and I wasn’t impressed by a lot of the materials/creaks. The ride was horrendously harsh - probably just as harsh as my C450 but the body movement was much more violent over bumps.
I really want to get into a MY19 C43 AMG but the harsh ride and build quality issues on my current C450 is making me hesitate.
C450 lease is ending soon so I test drove a few cars:
Cadillac ATS: This is the best handling car for sure from steering to suspension tuning. Amazing how it handles around corners while not overly stiff like my C450. Too bad the engine, transmission, and especially interior is horrendous.
Audi S4: Does everything well but not the best. Handling was about same as C450. Steering is kind of light for my taste. Engine has more lag than I expected. Build quality for interior is TOP NOTCH. No creaking or rattles and just solid. Exhaust could be louder. Rides more compliant than my C450.
BMW M340i: Engine is a gem. Feels just as fast as C450/C43. Interior is such a big step up too. Build quality seems ok (not as solid as Audi but better than my C450). Rides more compliant than C450. Exterior kind of boring though.
Infiniti Q50 Red Sport: Horrible car. Transmission is sluggish. Steering though heavy, doesn’t spark joy. Exterior looks ok. Interior is a dated mess. It’s missing so much tech and I wasn’t impressed by a lot of the materials/creaks. The ride was horrendously harsh - probably just as harsh as my C450 but the body movement was much more violent over bumps.
I really want to get into a MY19 C43 AMG but the harsh ride and build quality issues on my current C450 is making me hesitate.
Cadillac ATS: This is the best handling car for sure from steering to suspension tuning. Amazing how it handles around corners while not overly stiff like my C450. Too bad the engine, transmission, and especially interior is horrendous.
Audi S4: Does everything well but not the best. Handling was about same as C450. Steering is kind of light for my taste. Engine has more lag than I expected. Build quality for interior is TOP NOTCH. No creaking or rattles and just solid. Exhaust could be louder. Rides more compliant than my C450.
BMW M340i: Engine is a gem. Feels just as fast as C450/C43. Interior is such a big step up too. Build quality seems ok (not as solid as Audi but better than my C450). Rides more compliant than C450. Exterior kind of boring though.
Infiniti Q50 Red Sport: Horrible car. Transmission is sluggish. Steering though heavy, doesn’t spark joy. Exterior looks ok. Interior is a dated mess. It’s missing so much tech and I wasn’t impressed by a lot of the materials/creaks. The ride was horrendously harsh - probably just as harsh as my C450 but the body movement was much more violent over bumps.
I really want to get into a MY19 C43 AMG but the harsh ride and build quality issues on my current C450 is making me hesitate.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 72
Likes: 27
From: Southern Ontario
2019 C43 Wagon
Agree that you should give a '19 a test drive first. I had read on here for months before I picked up my '19 C43 that the ride was intolerable. It's a little busy, but pretty close on Comfort as my '12 A4 Avant was on "Dynamic".
No denying that the C43 ride leans to sport rather than luxury, but it's not anything close to intolerable.
No denying that the C43 ride leans to sport rather than luxury, but it's not anything close to intolerable.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 196
Likes: 37
From: Hainesport NJ
'19 C43 AMG Coupe
Yep agreed. When I first test drove the c63 I was like “what the hell is this...a shifter on the column?!? Is it 1983?” But after test driving three other MB’s, I actually found it very convenient and loved it.
