qship5

+1

Unless you are also going to send your son to a true driving school and make him learn proper driving techniques, either car is overkill and could easily get him in over his head. Even though I can afford to put my kids in a car like this, I will not do so until they are really ready to drive it. (both driving skills and maturity)

Palmball

I too disagree with the statement that the M3 is 10 years ahead of the C63...and I've owned both.

The M3 may have a slightly more advanced engine (i.e. individual throttle bodies for each cylinder etc) and in the case of EDC equipped cars, suspension, but in terms of everything else, my 2010 C63 is as modern as an M3 and in some areas, such as build quality and Comand vs. iDrive the C63 is way ahead.

transferred

+2

High-perf cars or old beaters are a no-no for kiddos imo...something reliable, safe and low-pro is the ticket...Jetta Tdi or A4 spring to mind...

-Rob

09SL65

Good point lol

JohnEnglish

I like to think of myself as mature and responsible, but I probably would have killed myself, or had my car impounded, if I had a C63 as my first car.

sflgator

+1. And, I believe the MB C63's reliability is also much better than the BMW's reliability; you'll have many more trouble-free miles in the MB C63 than in a BMW M3. Previous to my '09 C63 AMG, I drove an '07 BMW 335i for 3 years.

09SL65

Has anyone had there c63 in the snow?

NOSONYXC63

Search all my posts, I wrecked my 2008 M3 and rolled over 4 times... I lived !!!

M3 drives way better than the C63, but I love the raw power of the 63.... oh yeah... It sounds WAY BETTER THAN BMW LITTLE 4.0 V8

lebreeze

Ya I got my c 63 for a winter/second car. It handled great in the snow with the dunlop winters on. Also a lot of fun in the winter.

W204 C63

i was deciding between these two and the rs4 when i was getting my car. i am probably the same age as your son so i can really give good insight IMHO. i think that the c63 has too much power. lets say he turns esp off one day cause hes curious to see how it is and steps on it, he will lose control momentarily and crash (knock on wood) people always told me its too much power for you you wont be able to handle it and i never listened to them but its true, if your son is irresponsible this car, if pushed to its limits, could kill not only an inexperienced driver but an experienced one also. i always said i wouldnt speed, that i was a good responsible driver, but with the power at your feet, its close to impossible to resist stepping on it. I drove my cousins bmw 330ci for a week and a half when my rims were getting powdercoated and i didnt speed at all in that car. simply because the power wasnt availible like it was in my c63. i felt really good about this, but once i got back into my car i couldnt resist. I have matured alot since i got the c63 and have learned it in almost every situation. I got into a small accident which taught me alot also and made me realize that i had to take it easy. even though i say you shouldnt get it for him, i still love it so much and wouldnt trade it for anything. my dad has exotics in the garage and i would rather drive my car 9 times out of 10. it truly is the best of both worlds. if you trust him and he is responsible, then get it for him, if not you should think twice. i think that you are in the same boat with the m3. that is a very fast car too. The one and only thing i dont like about the c63 is the fact that it doesnt come in manual i would do anything for is a manual transmission! other than that, the c63 is amazing hope this helped

c63canada

drove my c63 thru the winter with no problem. I love it too much to keep it in the garage.

Plus starting the engine at 0 degrees F is a event you won't forget. your neighbors will think a bomb went off.

Impecable reliability for the C63 also. Not one issue yet (19 months since I bought it)

Also tought about getting an M3 but they are 7k more in canada so the choice was obvious.

And about the M3 having better intergrated gizmos... gimme a break!

If I wanted an intergrated, ipod blue tooth thingee I woul'd have bought a ford focus with SYNC.

C63 4ever.

I'm out

olszowa12

I don't know what kind of winters you have at your place, but I live in the mountains in Poland where it tends to snow very heavily. The C63 is my only car so I'm forced to use it all year around. The rear wheel drive combined with 265/35 tires is a big drawback when driving especially on fresh snow. And you have to drive in C-mode so that the car starts in 2nd gear. But overall the car handles quite well - you can live with it

However, if you mean dry roads and snow lying only on the lawn in front of your house, the C63 is no different from any other car.

yooker

Which ever one you choose, make sure you put him into either 1 of these programs

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...s/MSchool.aspx

http://www.mercedes-amg.com/driving-academy/

They will become a much better driver and will learn to respect these machines that much more.

rage2

And I thought I was the only one.

My C63 is my dedicated winter car. Most fun winter car I've ever owned. ESP Sport is perfect for snow and ice with a good set of winters.

It's not going to rocket off the line like an AWD car, but once it's going, it's unbelievably fun.

Newzchspy

[QUOTE=olszowa12;4069399]I don't know what kind of winters you have at your place, but I live in the mountains in Poland where it tends to snow very heavily. The C63 is my only car so I'm forced to use it all year around. The rear wheel drive combined with 265/35 tires is a big drawback when driving especially on fresh snow. And you have to drive in C-mode so that the car starts in 2nd gear. But overall the car handles quite well - you can live with it



Thus the reason for my ML55 with DMZ-1s, simply unstoppable in any snow!! You gotta have a winter only car!!

09SL65

What about your m3?

maryjcl

Agreed 100%. The poster should also buy a casket and keep it handy because he'll need it for his son. Not trying to be argumentative, but it simply constitutes monumental stupidity to buy a kid a car with that much power. Find something slow and safe.

iatacs19

This is uncalled for.

soldier2304

So what if the OP is like 65 and his son is like 30... You guys are exagerating and attacking him when we dont even know his son's real age or experience driving...

JohnEnglish

Yeah, just put on a set of snow tires and it's fine. I have Dunlops on mine.

09SL65

You are ridiculous. He has been driving a f150 for a while. He is an excellent driver and is very responsible, i let him drive my sl from time to time as well. Im sure for an average kid who is irresponsible it will become his casket but i was asking for opinions on the car not who should be driving it.

King Cobra

Buy him the car you want......you seem to be an awesome dad, who wishes the best for his son!!
M3 or C63, you won't go wrong. As for me I am still saving for either one.

jvanbrecht

I don't agree with the casket statement, but the sentiment at the time is the same. People are correct, we have no idea how old the kid is, at the same time, if he is 30.. care to adopt another child I need a dad like that... Jokes aside, there is a huge difference between a F150 (even if it is the SVT Lightning model), and the C63/M3 vehicles.

If you trust your kid, go ahead, more power to you, and even more power to him (I live in DC Metro area, I don't trust the adults, never mind the kids.. but we have tons of idiot drivers) if he is responsible... Just make sure that he knows if he does something stupid.. you will take away his toys

Oh, and I guess to answer your question.. let him test drive both if possible, and determine which car he feels most comfortable with, both are monsters in their own right, but they handle differently, have different internal options and amenities, whichever he is most comfy with is the one to get.

_AMG_

I have driven both the E92 M3 and the C63 AMG. I was driving around my friends M3 for about a month and its a really fun car to drive, put a big smile on my face every time i drove it. But once i got behind the wheel of the c63, its a whole different ball game. The c63 felt like a complete beast compared to the m3. It just pulls like a freight train no matter at what rpm range your in. you dont get that with the m3. so my vote goes for the c63 hands down. So if your son likes a car that has good handling go for the m3, If he wants gobs of torque and an absolute monster, go with the C63. And I would also get the C63 just because it would make a nice addition to your SL65, Gotta keep the AMG theme goin

And as far as the buying a casket comments go, That is a completely unnecessary thing to say. The guy could buy any car he wants for his son, even if its a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Just gotta be safe.

lebreeze

I don't drive the m3 in the winter. That's why I got the c63 its my beater . Both cars are great in there own ways. Both are fast and handle way better than I can exploit. The only reason I would say I prefer the M3 is because it's a coupe and 6 mt.