coladin

Dilemma:

I have driven the C63 around town, been fortunate enough to have driven it in anger at Calabogie and Mt. Tremblant as part of the performance academy, my brother has one. I know what this car will do and how it will make me feel. I ordered a 2011 Obsidian Black/Sahara beige, with 19", premium package.

I see the 2012. I am always leery or new vehicles but I have been fortunate in the past as far as gremlins and other newbie issues. It seems like a major refresh. I like the interior. I love the new lights, the grille. I like the rear end. Apparently, everyone here loves the MCT. I drove the E63 at both tracks as well and I never got out of the car saying, "damn, that shifts fast" compared to the C63. I like the Race Start, "the start stop" I don't know how unobtrusive it will be.

Compared to the 2011, I do not like the hood. I do not like lower airdam either. I don't like that the slits in front of the front wheels has been simplified and smoothened. Will this model stand out of the crowd compared to the C350 w/sport package if you know what I mean?

The 2011 arrives in April for a May delivery, although my dealer says if you want to get out of it, no problem and we can order the 2012, which he says the earliest delivery will be mid to late September. He says that looking through orders, he can't see a black/sahara beige being ordered in Ottawa ever which is kinda neat.

I am in a tough spot. Infiniti won't extend my lease so I will have to "leasebust" for two to three months" which if anyone has experience with that it would be great.

My gut says that while I like to have the latest and the freshest, there is something less fun about the 2012. Too clean? The more serious hood? It just doesn't look as youthful, slightly outrageous, menacing and instead we have what, to me, looks like more serious and maybe more expensive-looking AMG. The again, the interior and techno features may be hard to pass up , not to mention the fuel efficiency of the new car which , although not a major factor, is a nice feature as well.

Also for those in the snow belt, I like getting cars in May so I can drive until November, whereas getting a car in September means winters on in only 6 weeks! Although I do get it back at the end of the lease...do you guys look at that too? I know a guy from Toronto said he would get it in November...ewww.

What do you guys think? I may be preaching to the choir here as you have what the 2011 looks like, but any opinions from you guys would help.

propain

No brainer... 2012. MCT + Facelift.

In my opinion the 2011 will take the biggest hit in depreciation due to the 2012 model. The reason is if there are ANY 2011's left on the floor before the facelift 2012 model they will be giving them away because once the 2012's hit the floor they will never be able to get rid of the 2011's.


Im trading my 2010 at the bottom of 2012 for the 2012. Probably take a good beating on it too.

Tricanuck

coladin,

I have the same thing going on. I ordered my car last Sept. for an April delivery and now what is essentially a new car is available, I'm pretty ticked off about it. Can you tell me how your dealer would allow you to cancel the order on the 11? I've already expressed my concerns to my dealership but they don't seem to be too sympathetic, I think it's really unfair of Mercedes to keep selling a car that they know is outdated before it is built/shipped.

coladin

Really eh?


I am intending to lease so I am not worried about depreciation and things like that. I don't like the fact, to a certain degree, that I will have my shiny new C63 which will look "old" compared to the freshend up model.

Have you tried the MCT on another model?

coladin

Ahh, that makes two of us!

My dealer didn't even blink, he knows it will get picked up so no worries even though it has been built.

Where are you? Star Motors in Ottawa are really good about that. Thing is, it is 4 years and that is usually the time for a fresh face and stuff...you're that sold on the 2012 then?

DD GT3 RD

are the options the same on the new one? p31? lsd? or do they have more stuff standard?

Tricanuck

Hi,

I'm in Victoria. Three Point Motors. I really like the looks of the current model and was fine with it until I read about the MCT. I have no experience with the car so I really don't know how much, if any, improvement the different transmission might have. The only thing I was going by were the comments from some of the forum members. If I could have the MCT in the 2011 car I would be very happy but I somehow doubt that Mercedes would do that for me :-). I'm leaning towards the 2012 but if the dealer won't let me change I'm going to have to be happy with the 2011.

propain

Carful on the lease. The depreciation is so high on these that unless you put down 5K plus your payment will be higher than $900 a month. With that payment you can finance due to interest rates being so low. Just my 2 cents...

There will always be a new model and a fresher car. I got the 2010 and sold my 2009 for some very small changes that werent on the 2009. MCT tranny is a huge plus. I have no experience in a Mercedes car but my biggest complaint about the current model C63 is the tranny and this upgrade addresses that issue.

The one good thing about the current model is you probably wont notice a HUGE difference with the tranny unless your on the track. The current tranny will be a smoother ride. New models always have glitches. The look of the new model is subpar in my opinion to the current model.

coladin

Not sure yet but people are talking about standard LSD...I think the article on edmunds or on this site say what is different but I think that is what they said.

coladin

Like I said, i drove them on the track in the form of the E63 and my first impresssion after going flat out was, aside from the side bolsters that held me in while i chucked it around, was not how fast the tranny shifted. On the track it was nice, but the C63 was much more nimble, responsive and in its element. The E63 can do it, as could the S63 that day, but the C63 was a star on the track.

You know, the more I think of it...what did you like about the C63 that made you want to get it? For me, it was the menacing looks and the sound. Is the 2012 "menacing"?

coladin

Financing the C63 would be in the 1200 range, if not more, the lease is still a better deal for people who like to change every three years like myself. What I am intrigued about your opinion is the looks, which is very important to me, the new one looks too normal. My brother has an '08 and I have driven plus the track days in an 09 and 10, I couldn't tell a difference that day atr Mt. Tremblant. The nicest tranny that day was the SLS, no question, but everything else from the C, E, S, ML seemned similar. The only trannies that were not good, in my eyes, were the CLS and SLK.

propain

The lease would be in the 1200 range as well without a big down payment and with the finance you could sell in 3 years and most likely get some money or all on the sale toward the next car.

I sold my 2009 for 50k. I bought it for 52K. I put down 10K. Financed 42K. 36 months. $1200 month payment. I owed 27K when I sold it for 50K. Got 23K back toward my 2010. Bought my 2010 for 55K Put down 20K. Financed 35K. When i get my 2012 at the end of Aug 2012 Ill owe 11K on my 2010. Lets say I sell it for 45K. Ill have 34K to put down on the 2012.

With this method my payment is high but I can get out of cars every 2 years and still have big down payment toward the next. With a lease you put down a lot to lower the payment and walk away with nothing when its up... Sorry.. pet peeve of mine against leases... I know in Canada the C63 costs more, but that would mean the lease would be more as well.

As far as the looks go, have there been pics of the 2012 C63? EDIT: Sorry, saw the pics in another thread now.

I guess its looks vs MCT for you. tough choice.

GHAZAN

I think the MCT is worth it even if the looks are about same or what seems like less aggressive. But for those that like the looks its a win-win. I agree with propain's financing too.

propain

I think so too. Im actually starting to like the new look based on the pics from the other MCT thread. Not bad at all.

chris2k

Same situation here,

I ordered mine in November and it will be arriving in Montreal in mid March. Love the interior love the MCT don't really care for the new look or the lights as it's too sedated with a shot of botox. My lease on my 335 is up in April and the earliest delivery for a 2012 would be mid Sept. MCT + Interior or more aggressive 2011 look? Realistically speaking though, the current 7 speed is very good how many tenths of a second will the MCT shave? 1?

propain

On the 1/4 probably about that. I really dont know for sure though. On a road course however you will see a bigger improvement.

c32///

shouldnt the 5.5tt come in 2012?

Jycke

Not for the C63, with the exception of the black series. The coupe will get the new 5.5 NA engine, same as the new SLK 63 AMG. But there is not going to be the M157 with TT for the "regular" C-class.

Jycke

Am i however the only one who is slightly bothered by the prospects of a jerky car on low RPM's because of the tranny?

propain

Nope, your not the oonly one. After reading a few more threads im a bit turned off by it. Wait and see for me. Ill be looking into getting a leftover 2012 at the end of the year. By then there will be plenty of reviews and time enough for things to go wrong.

Jycke

It's easier in the states as the retailers take them in since they are "cheap" in the states. But as they are 150k $ here they do not however (in my country success is to be punished by higher taxes, up to 70 % or something). Here if i wait to test drive the only car that comes into the country it'll take a year and a half before i get my own...
However, i am quite satisfied with my W211 63, but i'm 25 and it's sort of an old mans car :P

But good to know i'm not alone on the worrying part...

callmiro

I drove the E63 with the MCT at the Mont Tremblant racetrack and didn't find it jerky at all. The shifts were lightening quick but the true beauty of that tranny is the racestart....

I did a racestart 4000 RPM launch out of the pits and it was just insane....

I think the C63 will definitely pick up more than just a tenth from this tranny. Just being able to do a 4000 RPM launch at the track on a tire would easily get you 2 tenths just in your 60 foot and then the quicker shifts might give you another down the track....

This is just my opinion from driving the E63 and SLS (i've launched both with racestart)

someuser

I am SOOO happy I waited. I was going to have the 2011 model a few months ago. Can't wait to get my hands on the 2012.

DD GT3 RD

I think its around town that a few have been complaining about MCT being jerky...going from a standstill, stop and go.... only hear good things performance wise

blackc230benzo

coladin, I heard you were pulling the trigger on a C63. Congrats

The 2012 will have race start and mct. But from my experience in Ottawa, I have had maybe 4 people want to "go" at a light. Without MCT and race start I took them off the line. Unless you are going to care about a few milliseconds in a drag time or a track enthusiast who can take advantage of the transmission then I would go for the car I like the look of best. Technology wise there is always something better coming out...aka black series? but looks wise if you like the 2011 better than that might be the way to go until the remodel in 2016.

Personally I think both look great. But if the delivery date and price can be the same I would take the 2012. If there is a wait for the 2012 (fall delivery) then I would take the 2011 and enjoy it.

Andrei