2019: MB C43 vs Audi S4 (comfort)
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C43 AMG
2019: MB C43 vs Audi S4 (comfort)
I did test drive both cars C43 and S4 and I am confused which one to go for. I understand the engine and interior comparison. But I am not able to judge which one is good for long drive (say around 8 hours with breaks (not everyday, just once in 3 months)).
As I can not test drive a car for 1 hour, I am not able to figure out. So the question basically boils down to which car has more comfort so that at the end of drive driver will not feel tired. For example Lexus is known for that comfort. But for S4 vs C43 which one will have better and comfortable steering wheel handling, comfortable room for driver and overall comfortable ride? Please help.
As I can not test drive a car for 1 hour, I am not able to figure out. So the question basically boils down to which car has more comfort so that at the end of drive driver will not feel tired. For example Lexus is known for that comfort. But for S4 vs C43 which one will have better and comfortable steering wheel handling, comfortable room for driver and overall comfortable ride? Please help.
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I did test drive both cars C43 and S4 and I am confused which one to go for. I understand the engine and interior comparison. But I am not able to judge which one is good for long drive (say around 8 hours with breaks (not everyday, just once in 3 months)).
As I can not test drive a car for 1 hour, I am not able to figure out. So the question basically boils down to which car has more comfort so that at the end of drive driver will not feel tired. For example Lexus is known for that comfort. But for S4 vs C43 which one will have better and comfortable steering wheel handling, comfortable room for driver and overall comfortable ride? Please help.
As I can not test drive a car for 1 hour, I am not able to figure out. So the question basically boils down to which car has more comfort so that at the end of drive driver will not feel tired. For example Lexus is known for that comfort. But for S4 vs C43 which one will have better and comfortable steering wheel handling, comfortable room for driver and overall comfortable ride? Please help.
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C43
I did test drive both cars C43 and S4 and I am confused which one to go for. I understand the engine and interior comparison. But I am not able to judge which one is good for long drive (say around 8 hours with breaks (not everyday, just once in 3 months)).
As I can not test drive a car for 1 hour, I am not able to figure out. So the question basically boils down to which car has more comfort so that at the end of drive driver will not feel tired. For example Lexus is known for that comfort. But for S4 vs C43 which one will have better and comfortable steering wheel handling, comfortable room for driver and overall comfortable ride? Please help.
As I can not test drive a car for 1 hour, I am not able to figure out. So the question basically boils down to which car has more comfort so that at the end of drive driver will not feel tired. For example Lexus is known for that comfort. But for S4 vs C43 which one will have better and comfortable steering wheel handling, comfortable room for driver and overall comfortable ride? Please help.
If I were you I'd get a C43 with the standard sport seats instead of the AMG Performance seats, and you're good to go. Reason being is that the C43 has far better duality than the S4/S5, in that the difference between Comfort and Sport+ modes is much more notable in the C43 vs the Audis, especially with the Sports Exhaust, and that duality adds a tonne of diversity, range and enjoyment in daily driving the car vs the S4/S5, which imo are a tad too dialled back even in their sportirst settings, especially in the exhaust notes and engine potency.
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In Comfort mode they're both very comfortable cars. Whilst the Audi may be slightly more comfortable overall due to slightly less stiff suspension (which also means less sporty driving dynamics), don't go for the Audi for its comfort for something you'll only be doing once every 3 months. At the end of the say, the C43 is going to be more fun, quick and rewarding for the majority of your driving.
If I were you I'd get a C43 with the standard sport seats instead of the AMG Performance seats, and you're good to go. Reason being is that the C43 has far better duality than the S4/S5, in that the difference between Comfort and Sport+ modes is much more notable in the C43 vs the Audis, especially with the Sports Exhaust, and that duality adds a tonne of diversity, range and enjoyment in daily driving the car vs the S4/S5, which imo are a tad too dialled back even in their sportirst settings, especially in the exhaust notes and engine potency.
If I were you I'd get a C43 with the standard sport seats instead of the AMG Performance seats, and you're good to go. Reason being is that the C43 has far better duality than the S4/S5, in that the difference between Comfort and Sport+ modes is much more notable in the C43 vs the Audis, especially with the Sports Exhaust, and that duality adds a tonne of diversity, range and enjoyment in daily driving the car vs the S4/S5, which imo are a tad too dialled back even in their sportirst settings, especially in the exhaust notes and engine potency.
I don’t agree in the seats, I have the standard full leather seats on my C43 and the Audi seats are far better in all ways especially the leather. The Audi leather is very fine is unbeatable in its class, the Merc is just so pedestrian in quality.
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C43
Also, I'm not driving naked so I don't know how the leather feels on my skin compared to all the different cars I drive, I just know that in terms of overall comfort, the C43 is definitely up there.
My only negative about the seats isn't necessarily with the comfort, but lack of even sportier positioning. I wish they were able to go even lower so the drive could be even more performance car like.
Last edited by Nib95; Dec 8, 2019 at 12:45 AM.
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I just hope he doesn’t make a decision he’s going to regret, like for me less than 6 months into C43 ownership I am already car shopping for a replacement while I drove my Audi for 9 years and never had a complaint. I can’t think of anything my C43 is better at except for the newer tech and safety features. I just came back from a 3 day drive with a group of high performance drives where we’re driving at speed over 200km/h for extended periods, and the C43 isn’t as confidence inspiring as the Audi was at those speeds. The C43 feels too light. Comfort wise, the C43 damping is really odd in Comfort mode, so I can only drive it is Sport+ and it feels more comfortable than Comfort Mode. Strange car honestly.
Last edited by TModelle; Dec 8, 2019 at 01:03 AM.
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C43
I just hope he doesn’t make a decision he’s going to regret, like for me less than 6 months into C43 ownership I am already car shopping for a replacement while I drove my Audi for 9 years and never had a complaint. I can’t think of anything my C43 is better at except for the newer tech and safety features. I just came back from a 3 day drive with a group of high performance drives where we’re driving at speed over 200km/h for extended periods, and the C43 isn’t as confidence inspiring as the Audi was at those speeds. The C43 feels too light. Comfort wise, the C43 damping is really odd in Comfort mode, so I can only drive it is Sport+ and it feels more comfortable than Comfort Mode. Strange car honestly.
My house is on this super hilly and bumpy little spot at the top of a hill, and it's honestly the perfect comfort test driving up to it. In Sport+ my C43 and X5 40D M Sport jerk and bounce around like mad. But like my previous XFS, the C43 in Comfort eats up the bumps surprisingly well.
I think this comparison video does a great and accurate job comparing the pros and cons of these vehicles.
2020 BMW M340i vs Audi S4 vs Mercedes C43 AMG // Performance Sedan Face-Off
Then there's these too.
Audi S5 vs Mercedes-AMG C43 vs BMW 440i - group test
Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe vs Audi S5 Coupe vs Infiniti Q60 S Sport 3.0t (2017) review
Twin-test: Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe vs Audi S5
Last edited by Nib95; Dec 8, 2019 at 01:22 AM.
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I don't know what region you're from, but my C43 seats are the standard sport seats that have leather and suede all over them, as well as contrast red stitching, and they're incredibly comfortable. I've never had any aches or pains even on longer journeys.
Also, I'm not driving naked so I don't know how the leather feels on my skin compared to all the different cars I drive, I just know that in terms of overall comfort, the C43 is definitely up there.
My only negative about the seats isn't necessarily with the comfort, but lack of even sportier positioning. I wish they were able to go even lower so the drive could be even more performance car like.
Also, I'm not driving naked so I don't know how the leather feels on my skin compared to all the different cars I drive, I just know that in terms of overall comfort, the C43 is definitely up there.
My only negative about the seats isn't necessarily with the comfort, but lack of even sportier positioning. I wish they were able to go even lower so the drive could be even more performance car like.
That being said, the Audi seats in the S4 and S5 are sporty yet luxurious, giving you the performance feel of a lower position yet super supportive like a luxury seat, a very good compromise. The AMG sports seats can be too hard for some, and the standard seats Have too little side bolstering. The Audi seats are pretty massive pieces by themselves, so this could one of the reasons when comparing to the slim and lean size of the C43 seats regardless of sports version or standard.
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Honestly, it sounds like you may have issues with your car or something. May be your suspension set up is borked or faulty, because there is no way Sport+ should be more comfortable than Comfort, unless comfortable to you means much stiffer suspension with far less give and road compliance.
My house is on this super hilly and bumpy little spot at the top of a hill, and it's honestly the perfect comfort test driving up to it. In Sport+ my C43 and X5 40D M Sport jerk and bounce around like mad. But like my previous XFS, the C43 in Comfort eats up the bumps surprisingly well.
I think this comparison video does a great and accurate job comparing the pros and cons of these vehicles.
https://youtu.be/ru2rDHzCfNM
My house is on this super hilly and bumpy little spot at the top of a hill, and it's honestly the perfect comfort test driving up to it. In Sport+ my C43 and X5 40D M Sport jerk and bounce around like mad. But like my previous XFS, the C43 in Comfort eats up the bumps surprisingly well.
I think this comparison video does a great and accurate job comparing the pros and cons of these vehicles.
https://youtu.be/ru2rDHzCfNM
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C43
Do a search in this subject, I am not the only one who finds Sport+ more comfortable than Comfort. It is a damping issue by design on the C43. If you’ve owned and driven a lot of cars, and I mean a lot of cars, the deficiencies with the C43 suspension setup become quite glaringly obvious.
Perhaps something about your particular anatomy or build doesn't gel with the C43? We're all biologically different after all.
On the topic of experience being the differentiator, I buy two luxury/performance vehicles every two or so years (one Sedan/Sports, one SUV), so my experience with different vehicles is fairly extensive, and I'd argue beyond the norm. I'm also constantly switching car brands too and would consider myself brand agnostic, so it's not an experience or brand loyalty thing.
All that being said, with other vehicles I've owned or tested, there have been times where like yourself I've preferred using Sport modes to Comfort with ordinary non spirited driving (usually when I want to minimise suspension travel or waft on motorways etc, eg like in my previous Jaguar XFS in dynamic vs comfort) and in that sense might consider Sport mode more appealing. I don't get that with the C43 however, where instead I find Sport+ is notably less comfortable and compliant than Comfort/ECO due to being far stiffer, but that I love using anyway due to the reduced body roll and more direct handling dynamics, plus the valves/engine notes opening up.
Last edited by Nib95; Dec 8, 2019 at 01:56 AM.
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I had a 18 S5 that I had lemoned. The 43 definitely rides stiffer and is much more fun to drive in all modes. I like the heavy leather seats personally in the 43 over the softer leather in the S5. The Audi drives smoother but does not have the level of handling or exhaust note the 43 has. I found the 43 to be faster and now much faster since I had the Renntech tune.
I would like to know about the comment of somebody in this thread saying they drove a S5 sport back for 9 years. That’s impossible. The sport back just came out in 2018.
I would like to know about the comment of somebody in this thread saying they drove a S5 sport back for 9 years. That’s impossible. The sport back just came out in 2018.
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I had a 18 S5 that I had lemoned. The 43 definitely rides stiffer and is much more fun to drive in all modes. I like the heavy leather seats personally in the 43 over the softer leather in the S5. The Audi drives smoother but does not have the level of handling or exhaust note the 43 has. I found the 43 to be faster and now much faster since I had the Renntech tune.
I would like to know about the comment of somebody in this thread saying they drove a S5 sport back for 9 years. That’s impossible. The sport back just came out in 2018.
I would like to know about the comment of somebody in this thread saying they drove a S5 sport back for 9 years. That’s impossible. The sport back just came out in 2018.
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Sport back was not available in the USA until 2018. My apologies. I found the Audi to drive to big. Hard to see out of. Suspension was very floaty and there was body roll. I did have the sport differential and liked that it could pull you through a corner if need be. The Audi’s AWD system does adapt better but I like the rear wheel drive feel of the 43. Also the driving modes are different and feel much better then that of the Audi. The runflat tires are the main contributor to the hard ride. I have the 18”s and just adjusting the tire pressure has a big impact on the ride quality. Obviously I’m comparing coupes. The S4 should be a little bit smaller. The tranny is smoother in the Audi as well. But the Mercedes tranny is much more performance oriented especially in sport plus. Totally different car. Although I do wish it was a DCT transmission.
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The full leather seats in the S4 are covered in fine Nappa leather, which is a higher end leather than the standard leather available in the C43, so you are not wrong. AMG only offers Nappa leather in the C63/S for the C-Class.
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2019 C43 Sedan
I have nappa in my c43 - $5,600 option with the performance seats
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Yes, I know, if you go for the designo program and are willing to pay the price then you can have it. The designo program is MB/AMGs individualization program. Audi has a similar program, so I'm not counting that, because the sky is essentially the lmit with those individualization programs. AMG offers a few designo choices in the order guide, but that's only a small subset of what's possible if you have the funds. With Audi you can even have the car painted in whatever exterior color you like. The designo program for the C-Class only allows interior individualization. Exterior color individualization is only available in the E-Class and higher.
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I just hope he doesn’t make a decision he’s going to regret, like for me less than 6 months into C43 ownership I am already car shopping for a replacement while I drove my Audi for 9 years and never had a complaint. I can’t think of anything my C43 is better at except for the newer tech and safety features. I just came back from a 3 day drive with a group of high performance drives where we’re driving at speed over 200km/h for extended periods, and the C43 isn’t as confidence inspiring as the Audi was at those speeds. The C43 feels too light. Comfort wise, the C43 damping is really odd in Comfort mode, so I can only drive it is Sport+ and it feels more comfortable than Comfort Mode. Strange car honestly.
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C450, GLC43
The C450/C43 has truly terrible suspension. It's the biggest drawback on these cars. It seems to have improved on the 2018 and later vehicles. It's still crashy as hell though.
Audi A and S models will be more comfortable as daily drivers. The C43 will have more of a performance edge and will be more fun to drive aggressively. I think the new M340 deserves a look if you're cross shopping this segment. The Bimmer suspension is more sorted than both the Audi and the Merc. There are definite drawbacks to the BMW but suspensions designs are something they usually excel at.
Audi A and S models will be more comfortable as daily drivers. The C43 will have more of a performance edge and will be more fun to drive aggressively. I think the new M340 deserves a look if you're cross shopping this segment. The Bimmer suspension is more sorted than both the Audi and the Merc. There are definite drawbacks to the BMW but suspensions designs are something they usually excel at.
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Last edited by TModelle; Dec 8, 2019 at 04:43 PM.
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The C450/C43 has truly terrible suspension. It's the biggest drawback on these cars. It seems to have improved on the 2018 and later vehicles. It's still crashy as hell though.
Audi A and S models will be more comfortable as daily drivers. The C43 will have more of a performance edge and will be more fun to drive aggressively. I think the new M340 deserves a look if you're cross shopping this segment. The Bimmer suspension is more sorted than both the Audi and the Merc. There are definite drawbacks to the BMW but suspensions designs are something they usually excel at.
Audi A and S models will be more comfortable as daily drivers. The C43 will have more of a performance edge and will be more fun to drive aggressively. I think the new M340 deserves a look if you're cross shopping this segment. The Bimmer suspension is more sorted than both the Audi and the Merc. There are definite drawbacks to the BMW but suspensions designs are something they usually excel at.
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It's heavier, slower, and has a rear profile that acts as a sail in cross winds. All things that do have a bearing on comfort and performance comparisons. Stick to the seats.
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C43
As even every comparison between these cars that I've read or seen concludes, the S4/S5 are simply not sporty enough, and this lack in the duality side of things is what let's them down vs the C43.
It's a positive that there's more of a difference between the C300 and the C43 than there is between the 330i and the 340i, or the 45 TFSI vs the S4. That's why the C43 wins most if not all of these press comparisons, predominantly for that added theatre and fun factor.
Last edited by Nib95; Dec 8, 2019 at 06:04 PM.
