Picked up my C63 a couple of days ago. What an awesome car! The ride is more than acceptable, as is the auto gearbox coming from a manual driver (the only "auto" I have owned is a DSG Golf GTI). And the exhaust note and acceleration? To die for! I have had some nice cars, but this one is really fantastic. Love everything about it. For those who haven't pick up their cars, call your dealer and ask them to hurry up! Are there any other Aussies (particularly Melbournians) who have picked up their cars?

Congrats! More pics! Is that Steel Grey?

ye steel gray looks good

I just saw the price on MBUSA site its 54k only in the USA LOL.

54k with nothing on it... just speced mine out at 64k with not all that many options....

Can you get more pics of this color, would love to see more of the steel grey, not to many pics of this color, what color is your interior, congrats on the beast. So coming from a manual driver, you feel this will satisfy your urges, how is the gearbox.

I love that color!

Love the car, yes I am a South Aussie, but I have not had mine come in yet - apparently I am on the December run... Palladium Silver / Black interior... cant wait. However someone in SA got their black / black C63 last week, as I saw it being detailed ready for delivery....

Brett

I am in Melbourne. Ordered mine in Feb. Changed to add LSD last month. Is now 09 model and due for delivery 29/08/2008. Palladium Silver with black interior.

Dont the 09 models automatically come with the LSD in AUS? As that is what I heard on another forum.

i have delivered one to a client here in country NSW. another on its way for early next month. the first cars order was placed in november.

Went back in last week and found that the dealership are already telling customers they are now in the June run next year? and I thought 9 months wait was bad.

The colour is actually palladium silver for those in the States. Looks like many other Aussies have ordered that colour! I also saw a tenorite grey C63 when I picked up my car, and it was hot! Kinda wished I had gotten that colour.

I had actually changed my order to include LSD as my original order was not due till Sept, however this car with the same spec as mine came up (cancelled order) and my dealer called me to offer me this car due to it being the same spec as mine. So I sacrificed LSD to have it a few months earlier. Given I am not tracking this car (have other cars for that purpose) it shouldn't be a big problem. For those in Australia, has your dealer informed you that the car will now cost you $7-8k more if the budget goes through with the increase in LCT?

LCT increase should only be around $4900, thanks Uncle Kev and Aunty Wayne!

Is that Luxury Car Tax? What are the qualifications on that? We get gas guzzler over here on our AMGs ($3k) but SUVs do not get penalized

Car looks good, shame you didn't get LSD (I went kleeman aftermarket on my 65) but the car will be great anyways

Yeah luxury car tax. The govt have decided that our cars aren't expensive enough, so they are increasing the LCT from 25% to 33%! This is for cars that cost over $57k, and in Australia that would mean anything from a basic BMW 320i!!!

Phill B, given the car probably cost close to $150k, why is it $4900?

lct is caculated on the amount above $57123, and is currently levied at 25%. this will rise to 33% on 1 july.

a c63 has a list price of $112950, ie the amount the car sells for without gst or lct. this price is therfore unaffected by taxes.

so, lct will rise $4881 on this amount, and your local stamp duty will get a little worse too, as it is canculated on the final amount.

is good to be a government

Just remember that the $57123 is the GST inclusive limit when calculating.

meng.. i have no idea on how that car tax works.

anybody know why such a great difference in price between the US and AUS???

hey mr. way,

what dealership you receive your car from? if you dont mind me asking

---- Just had a test drive ---

The car I drove was the one in the video http://youtube.com/watch?v=plEldFIb2zc


My MB dealer will have another to demo drive in a month or three (not sure), this was just a quick drive in the media car.

The ride: Really good. Nowhere near as hard as I'd read in magazine reviews and reports on the net. I've an SLK with upgraded suspension, and the C63 had a better ride, it was as firm as the SLK but with the longer wheelbase and better dampers it was great. Took it up around ascot (in Brisbane) chopped up roads, speed humps, school zones etc. and it done a great job. I drove back around that way in my car to compare & was happier in the C63.

Front Seats: softer and more comfortable than those in the SLK, but around the shoulders, they are narrow. You do feel a bit 'humped over' until you settle into them. The adjustable sit bolsters, while I had them set to their widest and had a snug fit (fine with me) my partner who is only 4'10" will move them in to get a good fit which is a good thing for her.

Back seats: firm, but would be fine for a short - medium trip. I don't think I'd want to be in there for a 500km plus day. Note: If the driver is in 'spirited mode' put the armrest down and wedge yourself in!

Engine and Driveline: Not as brutal or as loud as I anticipated (these views were formed from the likes of Top Gear and 5th Gear reviews) BUT does it go! Driving lightly through school zones and through busy local areas it barely gets above idle, but there is the ever present mountain of torque under you right foot. Plant it and you’re just pushed back into your seat and hold on, power tapers off a bit above 5500rpm but a quick change (M mode) and you’re pinned back again. M mode only shifts 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 but S mode will allow 6-2 changes by holding in the DOWN paddle. In C mode, it starts off in second gear and has silky changes. It is a great gearbox. The smooth changes are smoother than the SLK’s and the M mode changes are faster the M mode changes in the SLK.
The noise. Driving around calmly through the city (S Mode) I used the paddles to down shift to slow down, with light throttle, barely a ‘blip’ but working in the 2500-5000rpm range, great engine blips, the greater the difference in ratios the louder/faster the blip. This works in both M mode and S mode.
While general driving the car is quieter than the SLK on the inside. Drop a window and you can hear the V8 clearly. Wind it up a bit and it will draw attention from all around, it is a fearsome sound outside, drove through the ICB tunnel, window down and explored the symphony of the rev range – that noise will sell the car on its own.

Fuel consumption:- 22.4l per 100km

Now the wait. ...

I think that the fact is that the LSD is only available on the 09 models but it is a $5500 option and not standard.

another MB fan from melbourne here... good old C32..

And that's expensive? You guys are spoiled and the rest of us end up paying for the low gross margins MB makes in America. Try USD 150K in Australia and they are quoting Feb'09 delivery!