Drop-a-Daimler

The September MotorTrend has a big story on two days of driving the C63 at the track. They say it'll do a traction limited 4.5 seconds 0-60 (estimated, I bet it's even quicker) with only a $63K price tag. Amazing! Best surprise? Not only will it wallop the new V8 M3 straight out but it's handling is said to be vastly improved. Dare we say better than the M cars? I love it!

drexappeal

Hmmm...Wow, I didn't really consider getting a w204 until now.

JRAMGV8

Drop-a-Daimler

Here's the article. This link is to the second page (more details there). Here's the tale of the tape ...

2008 Mercedes Benz C63 AMG

Addicted2Speed

I don't understand the fascination with 0-60 times, which are pretty much useless when comparing cars, especially 0-60 "estimates". Pretty much all performance cars in that price range do 0-60 in mid 4's, including: C6 corvette, E92 M3, Porsche 911S, Audi RS4, most 55 AMG's, etc. Also, 0-60 can very significantly due to traction... in a motortrend 200mph test, the 1,100whp Viper only managed a 0-60 time of 4.4 seconds, so does that mean its as fast as a C63 AMG? What you have to look at to really see the difference between these cars is 0-100, and 1/4 mile trap speeds. BTW, C63 will do 0-100 in 9.5 and 1/4 mile in 12.5 @ 116mph, which is almost identical to BMW M5/M6's acceleration and is much faster than E92 M3's 12.9 @ 111mph (5-mph difference in trap speeds is very significant).

Drop-a-Daimler

That'sa good point, on big displacement motors like these, first gear is almost a wash. But I like knowing what they can do 0-60, 1/4 mile, 0-100-0, and passing 50-70. Sadly I have yet to see the 1/4 mile times or 0-100 times on the C63. But 0-60 helps me a lot especially since I am driving a small V6 that is not really traction limited. For instance, I got into it through 1st and 2nd (maybe up to 70) with a G35 Sport today. Most of my street races are like that. I don't usually run it up to 100 or 150 on the street. So most races for me tend to be 0 to 60 or a roll 10 to 80, that kind of grudge matching. Both of us were pretty hooked up so it was more a slug fest -- nobody feathering any clutches. He was already rolling with the clutch out anyway when I went for him. So (short story made long savoring it), it was nice to know what his car is rated 0-60 as a way of estimating what my mods have gotten me down to. The way I figure things (my own voodoo really, nothing scientific here mind you) is if his car runs 0-60 in 5.2 or maybe 5.4 without a pro at the wheel, and I was about a car length in front, that means I've whittled mine down to around 5.0 or 5.2. At least in that neighborhood. Now I've done my share of runs at the track (several hundred trips down the 1320) and I hope to take this new care there too, but for now, I like knowing the ballpark. Best way for me is to keep abreast of what everything out there is doing.

360_iti

http://www.caranddriver.com/previews...mg.html?al=159

PUMes

Can't stand American car mags, read the C&D one and it gave no real driving impression, came across as more an afterthought than anything else. I'll wait for an EVO review.

erol/frost

That wasn`t much of a test. For the final verdict i`ll wait for UKs Car and Evo`s opinions.

Drop-a-Daimler

If there was ever a W204 I'd consider, it's this beast for sure. But at $63K (which is a lot lower than I thought), it will likely be $70K with options and that is defiantly out of my financial capability. But I won't mind waiting a few years to find one come in used. With 10K on the clock I bet they go for $40K in 2009. I'm definitely up for that! Imagine smoking the new 2008 6.2L Vette (only 425hp) with a 4-door luxo sedan. How frickin' sweet would that be. Just imagine pulling away hard from some dude in his brand new V8 M3! HAHAHA!

PUMes

^ The W204 C63 would most def make for a great secondhand car, as these things will be marked up the ying yang(especially for the first year). I can't think buying used right now though, I want the new car feel my next go round. Nothing like it!

Stormin

There is something to be said for being the first person to do everything in the car.