Hi All..
I have been a happy Audi RS4 (B7 Saloon) driver now for the past 3 years and have decided its time for a change and the car that has caught my eye the most is the C63 AMG saloon.
So i'd appreciate some feedback from all you owners as to what the experience of owning this car is like, in particular the road handling as the only concern i have is going from the security of a four wheel drive car to a rear wheel drive car.
And living here in the uk we do tend to get a lot of rain so wondered how tricky the beast is in the wet, im obviously aware that if your driving it hard in the wet that its going to get tail happy but i would just like some of your opinions on how it is to drive.
Ive head one start up and honestly think its the best sounding V8 on the market.
My spec for the car would be - Obsidian black, 19" rims, Harmon Kardon, Parktronic, Command, and preferably carbon fibre trim.

Thanks Guys!!!

I'm no expert driver like most of these guys here.. but this car is tail happy when its not wet.
Many years ago I had Active Autowerkes pototype turbo e36 m3 with a blueprinted engine etc. I spun out in the rain and total the car... and i wasn't even goosing the car. The C63 with its EPS thingy never gave me a 'oh sh*t' moment.. unless its shooting past a cop car. Trying to get traction on an icy driveway is a whole different story.
I'd say go for it!

I agree. The car will slide around even when the roads are dry, but it's almost like you get a lot of practice with handling it, so that when it rains you do slide more, but you're ready for it cuz you've been sliding around every other time you drive it This may be a slight exaggeration - but not much of one. I switched from an A6 2.7T Quattro (I know - not really the same class of car we're talking about) and I have had no problem with the different handling characteristics. I'd also say go for it!

went from an RS4 to a C63. C63 is far more luxurious, makes a far better sound, and goes alot quicker. I always felt a little cramped in the RS4. Be warned though the C63 is tail happy especially if its a little greasy etc, but just leave traction control on and it copes ok.
Loving the C63, liked the RS4..enough said!

do it!

"You can do it!" (like Adam Sandler or Rob Schneider always say it in those stupid movies of theirs)

Thanks for the feedback guys..it's safe to say I'm no lewis Hamilton so the ESP would remain firmly on and I assume this should keep the tail wagging to a safe level for me?
Just a few more questions-what are the service intervals? How do you find the sat nav? And is the iPod control any good?
Think I'm getting seriously tempted now!!

Well as far as specs are concerned you have it down right

After you test drive it, I assure you the rest will be history, Good Luck with your future C63 car!!!

Tail happiness is the best part of this car.

Almost got a B7 RS4 instead of the C63 (had an S4 before that - see sig)... if you have wet roads more than 20% of the time, don't get this car. I absolutely love it. In fact, on snow with snow tires it's quite manageable and I think it's one of the best balanced snow cars I've ever had. BUT, on wet with summer tires it's a pretty miserable experience as you always have to be gentle, or be ready to drift. I am all for drifting in my turns, but in tight city confines, that's impractical at best so you end up watching the yellow traction control warning flash as the granny stops the fun.

If you are going for wet - stick to 4x - perhaps a 911 S4?

RS4 and C63 are totally different types of cars, even though they occupy the same rarefied level of the automotive food chain.

You're going to get much more raw speed with the AMG, but you give up that planted feel you've been accustomed to with your RS4. Are you a good driver? Lots of Audi drivers are spoiled because the Quattro AWD makes it easy for you to look like a good driver.

Take the C63 for an extended test drive (if your dealership has one available for that), and don't be afraid to really step on it to see if this car is really for you. Otherwise, you might find you're in for quite a surprise when you do eventually take ownership of one.

Happy shopping.

+1

C63 is an amazing car!! Though the only Audi I owned was a 1.8T quattro (chipped to 200hp) back in 1998. I remember the grip while accelerating into turns from stop sign junctions. Whether wet or dry it was very nice. With a rear-wheel drive car like the C63 you really need to first straighten it out before giving it full throttle. I'm having too much fun to miss the quattro, though I know it's nothing like the RS4 animal you have!!

I'll also comment on the ipod control query. Make sure you get the Media interface option selected then buy the cables from the MB parts dept. This way you can connect your ipod or iphone directly to the car in a way that you will be able to see the song names etc, on the COMAND screen and control the ipod/iphone music menus from the COMAND controller. Soundwise, with the Harman Kardon, it sounds fantastic!

Nath,

I just had the LSD serviced at a cost of £100, at 1800 miles, appart from that its ASSYST so either once a year or 10000 miles.

The Comand system in the 204 is far far better than previous versions and works really well with voice control, it has a (on mine) 6gb Hard disk for storing music and a memory card slot for even more. I just put all my music on the memory card and download it to the HDD, you get to see all the album/track info really easily. Harmon Kardon sound is superb so well worth the extra.

The car still suprises me when I'm out and about because I'm used to it but the suprise is it still turns heads, more so when you start up as it blips the throttle, people think I do it on purpose.....

Any more info just ask as I'm from the UK too.....

Mark.

+1

Mark

Thanks for the info.

Went to look at one at Harrogate Mercedes it was the perfect spec, black, 19" rims, Harmon Kardon, Parktronic, Command, AMG Mats, Carbon Fibre trim with 1550miles on the clock all for £44,850.00 do you reckon thats a good price?
They didn't seem too keen to budge on the cost which i was suprised at and they wouldn't let me take it out for a test drive due to the weather???

If you wouldn't mind letting me know how you find it in the wet (and this snow), don't know why but i think because of what a few people have told me that its going to be a bit of a handful, but then i keep thinking that i'll just need to adjust my driving habits and remember to take it easier on the corners then i'll be fine.
The problem is that on a test drive with a salesman in the car its hard to give it a proper drive so i might try the AMG driving experience at Brooklands Mercedes Benz world to get a proper feel for it.
Can you recommend any good dealers???
If you also wouldn't mind letting me know what the bluetooth handsfree function is like on the car as ive always been used to the Parrot handsfree. Can you use the voice function to make calls?

Cheers
Nath

They probably would not let it out because of the snow you're seeing. With the summer z's on there the car is worthless. Put some snow shoes on her and she'll dance to your every command.

That price seems pretty fair if it's a 2009. If it's an 08 - it's just ok.

One thing that no one mentions is that the C63 has a little more room than the RS4 and the M3. I am 6'4" and have to have the front seat so far back that there is absolutely no room in the rear seat behind the driver in an RS4 and an M3. The C63 is just a tad bigger and allows enough room for both of my kids to sit in the back. That was not possible with a 997, M3 or S4.

PS - the C63 is no where near as tail happy as my Kirkham 427.

I dont blame them for keeping it in.....

It is a real handfull, mine is staying in the garage for the duration of any snow. I went out last December during a frosty spell and its all over the place. The tyres are just too low profile and way to wide so they just slip around even with all the electronic trickery it still gets me really nervous.

Probably best for you to try it when the weather perks up too as you will get a much better test drive....

That price is good considering I paid the best part of £55K for mine 5 months ago, and for the sake of a grand here or there if its your local dealer then it saves you going all over the country, your call!!

I think but not sure that if you take a AMG day test drive/course around Brooklands (£200) then the cost may be refunded if you go on to purchase one so give that a go too. It's also a fabulous place to visit and see a lot of beautifull Mercs from the last 100 years.

Sound like a cracking spec too, does it have the performance pack or the standalone diff lock?

Mark.

what is the media interface option? i have the ipod option but it does not recognize my iphone?

The c63 I've got my on doesn't have performance pack..is this worth having? I've heard it makes the ride quite stiff due to the modified sports suspension. Is that right?
Thanks for the money back info onbrooklands I might give it a go!!!!

Personal taste, but believe me on UK roads the standard suspension is tough enough. It jolts a bit on bumpy roads but if you find a bit of smooth tarmac it's perfect.

I also had a word with the guys at the AMG factory on my visit and unless your tracking the car the pp and brake setup is really a lot of extra money for something you would not use or notice.(Except the bumps). However the LSD..... well thats another story. If you can get one with that IMHO it's worth it.

Mark.