I honestly don't understand why anyone would choose S4 or M340 over the C43. The C43 is more expensive in leasing but it's completely worth it for what you get.

 

Have you driven both before? Be honest.

If the wagon is so significantly different to the sedan that I should not draw comparisons, then are you saying the coupe is closer to the sedan than the wagon? How many on this thread who have given their input are coupe owners.

Your argument is seriously flawed.

Coupe owners then shouldn’t even compare the seats!

The wagon is the closest to the sedan than any other model.

Drive both and have first hand knowledge before commenting.

 

I am saying no such thing. I AM saying, Stick to the seats TModelle, it's your only point of relevance in this thread. Your experience in an old s5 isn't relevant neither is your wagon a good comparison to sportier design.

 

But you are saying that coupe owners should not also be allowed to give their input. And also those who have not driven the current model S4 have no point of relevance.

You do know the S5 Sportback is basically the same car as the S4.

I don’t see how the C43 Wagon is not a relevant comparison to the Sedan, but the Coupe is.

So I can only surmise from your strong view that ONLY Sedan owners who also have first hand experience with a current model S4 and not any other related Audi model can give their opinion on this thread.

 

I am saying none of those things. I am speaking only to you because you are the only one complaining about stability at speed WITH YOUR WAGON. I have no idea what others in this thread drive. I only know that you are constantly complaining about YOUR WAGON and many of your complaints are common across sport wagons when compared to their sedan counterparts.

 

I think you do not have enough or relevant experience with sport wagons versus their sedan counterparts, to be honest.

If you are only speaking to me because I have a wagon, and are saying that I have no place making a comment in this thread because of this, even though I do drive a C43, and you are not concerned with what the other contributors to this thread even drive, then I would say you’re not being objective at all and really not constructive.

In any case this thread is about C43 versus S4 in terms of comfort. It’s quite established so far that the S4 would be a more comfortable choice.

 

I have plenty of experience with wagons and their advantages and disadvantages. I am not saying you have nothing to offer in this thread. I am saying you went beyond what is similar in the post I originally referenced and moved to wagon specific deficiencies when you mentioned stability. I agree the S4 is more comfortable because it is less sporty.

 

I have owned 2 S4's (2016 and 2017) and now I am on my second C43 (2018 and now a 2019) and I also had a 2017 CLA45 with the AMG performance seats and it was very uncomfortable.

Yes the S4 is definitely more "comfortable" to sit in but it's not nearly as fun to drive as the AMG. My 2018 C43 didn't have the AMG performance seats and I would say it was very close in terms of comfort to the S4's. I did 2 Calgary to Vancouver drives in it (close to 1000 km one way) and never complained. My 2019 has the AMG performance seats and yes it's not as comfortable as the S4 but when you get in you feel much more connected to the car and road.

But again, it's the experience of driving a AMG not the comfort experience of an AMG. Get in a C43, put it in Sport+ with the AMG PE and floor it....if you love cars and driving you will wonder why you were even considering the S4 too begin with.

Just my $0.02

 

Thanks for all the info and suggestions. It helped me to make a decision and what configuration to get. I did test drive again and I do think that S4 has more comfort and C43 has more fun.
And now I have made a decision to go for a lease, but ... I found that it's too expensive .

 

I'm with you on this. I'm so disappointed with the C43 that we have ordered a 2020 992 C4. Like you, I find the suspension most "dialed in" in Sport+ mode, where I turn of the ridiculous and juvenile farting Sport Exhaust. The rest of the time it just alternates between slamming on it's comically bad RF tires and wallowing around, not sure what to do with the hundreds of pounds of unnecessary weight it's carrying around. The ridiculous "brap" on upshift has become so annoying I rarely drive the car at more than 1/3 throttle. (For those that think this is the way to keep boost up between gears, try driving a 992 to see how it's done.) The C43 is clearly a parts bin car, built to a price point. On paper it looks impressive; in real life it doesn't do anything well. Mercedes should be ashamed of themselves foisting this under-engineered excuse for a performance car on the marketplace. I thought it might be 80 percent as enjoying and entertaining a driver's car as a 911 C4 at half the price. Turns out it's 50 percent of the car at 50 percent of the price. Flame away, AMG fanboys...I'm done with this tarted up, cheap C-class, and more than done with the AMG brand, which is all about style and noise over substance.

 

This post just reeks of ignorance, a lack of foresight, a lack of understanding in engeering/design, and also of value proposition.

Firstly, who buys an AMG and then complains that the soundtrack is too loud or obnoxious? You have to be blitheringly ignorant and uninformed to an alarming extent to buy a C Class AMG with the AMG Performance exhaust of all options, and then complain it sounds too boisterous lol.

That is literally what AMG is renowned for, especially in the C Class range that is traditionally more rawkus than the E Class AMG line, which in contrast is designed to be a tad more comfort orientated and ever so slightly less aggressive sounding and handling.

Then there's comparing a medium sized family sedan/coupe to a 2 door sports car that weighs 300+kg less and costs more than double. No surprise the latter performs better lol.

Physics are physics and there's only so much you can do with family saloon orientated levels of size and weight, hence the suspension is set up the way it is, to retain a sportier feeling and handling despite the weight and size, something the Porsche doesn't have to contend with. There's a reason the C43 comes out on top in almost every single comparison against its nearest rivals (S4/S5, 340i etc), because it does the best job of making the most of what it can in its class.

And that's just it, a 911 C4 and a C43 are vehicles for entirely different uses and purposes. The C43 is a family friendly daily driveable all season sports exec with a duality in personality and performance. It's something you can take the wife and kids around in, whilst having a boot stuffed full of luggage and your baby buggy, and still have a tonne of fun. The 911 C4 on the other hand is much more performance focused and sports orientated, hence it looks and weighs the way it does, and lacks the practicality in space that it does too.

You'd think these things would be painfully obvious, but I suppose money doesn't buy common sense, nor preliminary research either as evidence would have it.

 

lol. Predicitable blathering. I criticized the car, and made no ad hominum attacks. I've had 2 M3s, 2 S2000s, a 911 TT, a 911 GTS, A Cayman S, an MGB, A Spitfire MkIV, an MR2, 3 Nissan Zs, VW GTI, etc, etc. In total, 46 sports cars, sports coupes and sedans (plus a few race cars in the mix over the years). I understand where the C43 is positioned in the marketplace, and understand what it is trying to be. It fails. Miserably. The car is badly engineered and badly built; end of story. Closing account now. You are all welcome to your AMGs, your opinions and your delusions.

 

Your biggest and most consistent complaint about the C43 on these forums has been that the exhaust is too noisy, boisterous and playful. You quite clearly do not understand what this car is trying to be or why people buy it, if you did, you wouldn't be constantly complaining about what is otherwise one of AMG's primary USP's, nor would you have bought a C43 with the AMG Performance exaust in the first place.

And I do find your post and summary especially hilarious in light of basically every other major enthusiast car company or outlet concluding the C43 is the best vehicle in its segment or better than its nearest competitors, be it EVO, TopGear, CarMagazine, Throttle House, Motoring.com and more.

 

This attitude seems pretty ridiculous too me. I'm sure it's nice to be rich, but I doubt most people posting here are. I fact, just by reading posts you can tell a lot of them are in over their heads even buying a C43. That's another discussion altogether, but it's absolutely ridiculous to compare a $120k car to the C43. Yes, that's what the Carrera 4S will cost optioned out as I've taken a look at it any absolutely everything is a la cart. You can't even get parking sensors w/o paying something ridiculous. Options standard on KIA. It is a great car, but not a good value. 99% of the people looking at a C43 are not cross shopping a Carrera. It's a toy for rich folks. The C43 is a much much better value for any practical minded person.

As far as C43 vs S4, I was literally about to flip a coin between the two, but the Audi dealer refused to give more than 4% discount vs 11% for the MB. I agree the S4 is a bit smoother, but when I ditch the RFT's I have a feeling they'll be about the same. My previous BMW was a better drivers car, but it was a money pit and the way they treated me I'll never buy another. For the same price between the Audi and MB I think it's a toss up, whichever one you like sitting in and looking at more.

 

i'd certainly have the 992 over the c43 any day. lol

what?

 

Then why don't you?

 

Okay okayyyy, get off the lawn there ol' timer. Shot in the dark here, but I'm going to assume alexsa isn't siding with gcurnew and is simply calling out the ridiculous comparison. I'll happily f off if I'm wrong.

Let's let this dumpster fire of a thread die or get back on topic.

 

I own a 2019 C63S, and a 2018 911 Turbo, and my wife has a 2019 C43 without the RFT's. I've owned a 2009 Audi A5 and a 2014 S7. I think C43 is a fantastic car. Yes, its springs could be just a touch softer, but it is a bargain compared to the C63S. In everyday driving situations, it can stay very close to my car. I'm all in on Porsche, and to say the C43 is terrible is wrongheaded in my opinion. I think the car is great for its segment, just as the Porsche is for its, totally different segment. All cars can improve, but for me, driving is about fun, and the C43 does that well. I enjoyed my Audi's and think they make fine cars, but not particularly fun cars given the nearly nonexistent steering feel and desire to push.. You are entitled to your opinion and hope you enjoy your C4. My wife is loving her C43.