sprins

Good stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCg5iMKAc0Y

edit: Top Gear also has a nice and fun item. For those that missed it:

Part1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usQi1peqQOs
Part2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5nzEax87lw

ScottW911

Hmm...First off, when are they going to give up on the lame "drift" tests? What a waste of time and tire rubber. Second, did they run the laps with the ESP in full off mode? Why did the C63 look so ****-poor in the turns with tires smoking the entire way. I believe the car would have lapped much quicker with some electronic intervention.

The M3 would have still won the competition though.

Cylinder Head

iTrader: (1)

Why not deflate the tires on the M3, or stick bananas in its tailpipe? Bottom line is the suspension in the C63 isn't as poised or refined as the M3's, you can't expect that the first step towards track performance in a benz is going to immediately unseat the king. It's a learning curve, and you don't get there by taking shortcuts.

vb26

good vid, thanks for sharing.

MB has awesome torque, but BMW has unprecedented handling.

P.S. anyone else think MB driver was a little sloppy in the corners. at least it seemed like it anyway.

jay_mark_paul

Thanks for sharing that. Great Video. Comparing a two door chassis vs a 4 door chassis is not fair to begin with. Its not apples to apples!!

Cylinder Head

iTrader: (1)

You're kidding right, after 30+ threads in this very forum comparing the two cars, now it's unfair because the BMW came out on top. If the shoe was on the other foot, would you complain? These cars are meant to go head to head, says MB corporate.

jay_mark_paul

Of course we know that....

We're MB fans, so were gona be biased.

sprins

Dunno. The C63 AMG is more fun to drive (as per the experts) and more of a crowd pleaser.

AMGs are traditionally more fun than M cars. As AMG drivers are traditionally more fun that M car drivers.

STLTH_AMG

I agree with some comments here about the 2 cars being different. Personally, I would buy the C63 for comfort, luxury, straight line acceleration and good handling for every day use. I will buy a Porsche 911 and not an M3 coupe if I need a track car.

The C63 looked a little sloppy compared to the M3 while taking those corners. Nevertheless, the C63 did a great job keeping up in the track. I wouldn’t buy a 4 door sedan for track anyways so it's a pointless comparison IMO. They should compare the C63 to the sedan M3 and not the perfectly balanced 2 door M3! Now that would be a test I would be interested in.

Maybe they should compare the M3 coupe to a Porsche designed for track, and if the M3 does a better job then I might consider it for a track car instead of a Porsche. But for now, I would never consider a coupe M3 over a C63..... 2 different cars for two different purposes!!

Cylinder Head

iTrader: (1)

I stopped reading right there. Correct me if I'm wrong, but a common accusation against the C63 is its extremely harsh suspension. According to Top Gear, the M3 has a more comfortable ride due to the adaptive suspension. Remember they sacrificed ride for performance.

And yes I'm totally playing devil's advocate today but it's been fun to see this turnaround from an all out hatefest on the E92 to the current situation.

CynCarvin32

I have been trying to explain this point for months. I think that AMG missed the boat 100% with the C63 because it now rides poorly and drives poorly. Before we got a nice ride and poor chassis dynamics but now we have the worst of both worlds.

So in my book the C63 moves us further backwards than we were last time.

But I did ride in a C63 over the weekend and the sound it makes is beyond intoxicating. I could drive that car around all day long just going 0-60 for the sake of listening to it. That and because it is junk in the corners. It was an amazing car. The seats, transmission, motor, brakes all were excellent. I even think it drove well for a car with a three pointed star.

But I have to say it was the nicest driving MB to date (non black series). There was no question about that. (But no M3).

So it is the nicest driving MB ever but it still is not a BMW. Maybe next time!

But I am a former E55k owner who though it was like driving a GMC Tahoe with a huge rocket strapped to the rear. So I am not your normal MB/AMG owner.

sprins

I missed that comment in the Top Gear item:

Part1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usQi1peqQOs
Part2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5nzEax87lw

But I may have been distracted by Stigs girlfriend in the pool

STLTH_AMG

Maybe you should read the rest then... my point is, 2 dr coupe vs 4 door sedan is not the comparison I'm personally looking for! It’s only a plus if my 4 door can beat or even keep up in a track with a 2 door coupe that's designed for track use.

Carl Lassiter

Designed for track use? That would be the CSL. I really don't think having four doors is going to make it much less nimble. Look at big brother...

ItalianStallion

The M3 is definitely as much of a street car as the C63...if anything, like CH pointed out, it is more comfortable and suitable for the streets.

This 2 door vs 4 door argument is nonsense. Put the 4 door M3 against the C63 and the results will be the same. Put a 2 door CLK63 coupe against a 2 door M3 coupe and you'll see an even wider gap.

I'd still take the C63 just because I dig the looks and I feel that a modded 335i is too close for comfort to an M3.

As always, the M3 is the better all around car. The C63 is the torque monster and straight-line rapist. Both cars have gotten better at what they do best and have even stretched their capabilities out (C63 handles/steers much better than C55. M3 is a V8 and is much more powerful than E46 M3).

STLTH_AMG

Yeah, it's designed to give you the best of the 2 worlds but mostly a better track car IMO! Its well tuned suspension and perfectly balanced power to weight ratio definitely gives it the edge on a track. I wasn't surprised with the results of this test.

Cylinder Head

iTrader: (1)

An M3 is the furthest thing from a track car. Most owners never track them, the brakes would never hold up for track use, and it still has a radio and AC and all of the other creature comforts, not to mention it's overweight. The suspension isn't TRACK TUNED, it's just adjustable. Just because it's a coupe doesn't mean it's a track car. As previously mentioned, the CSL will be the track version, and it will be a complete monster. Expect the 4-door to have exactly the same performance as well, so there goes that argument.

sick430

they need to start comparing the m3 saden 4DOOR to the c63 its not fair to compare the 4 door to the 2 door. i love this comparesion thou!

dokotela

+1

dokotela

i tell you what.... take a "track tuned" M3 and put it up against a "track tuned" c63 aka DTM version, and see how the merc opens up a can of whip-*** on the beemer.

SolidGranite

These posts about it's not fair because the M3 is a 2-door are driving me insane! I can't read another one...

Correct me if I'm wrong but the last time BMW had a 4-door M3 (E-36), the track and acceleration numbers were identical to the coupe.

Give it up already!

Cylinder Head

iTrader: (1)

Sorry champ but I lost my ticket to fantasy land today. Such a car doesn't exist, comparing a tube framed race car to something that rolls off an assembly line is ridiculous. You're struggling, stop it. There are no plans for a C63 Black Series that I know of, but the M3 CSL is real and coming to a dealership near you.

AND STOP WITH THE 2 vs. 4 door argument!! The cars will weigh the same and perform the same! Sorry to disappoint, better luck next time, keep licking your wounds.

STLTH_AMG

I probably should’ve used the term twisties instead of track. If I wanted a fun car for the twisties then I will definitely get a coupe and not a 4 door sedan. I'm not speaking for everyone here... but when I'm out shopping for a 4 door sedan, I compare it to other 4 door sedans in the market and vice versa for a coupe. 2 different cars catering for 2 different needs and demands IMO. I will consider an M3 once they compare it to the sedan version, especially since I still have a bad taste in my mouth from the current ugly w204 interior design..... most likely I will choose the C63 for the better looking exterior and superior straight line power though!! . Can’t remember last time I lined up with an M3 in twisties…. It’s all about who’s king of the freeway in the real world for me, and the C63 is built for people who need a 4 door sedan that will spank a coupe\sedan M3 in a highway battle..lol

Cylinder Head

iTrader: (1)

Agree 1,000%

I've never been in a "twisty" contest with anyone, and I'd probably freak out and crash if I did.

Real world is very different from TV comparos. I like cars that bomb down highways, that's why I bought my M5!!!

sprins

It's all about what fits you best for whatever reason (looks, power, twisties performance, # doors, fun, feeling, etc). Who cares what anybody thinks of your choice. So there.

Anyway, back to the track/twisties performance: BMW M is traditionally the better car in the hands of a professional driver. Mercedes AMG is traditionally the better car in the hands of a recreational/amateur driver. On the same track.

I consider myself a recreational driver.