clkwork

or get a black series and have the best of both worlds

bushburninc63

i want a black series

danlnyc

I say get the C63 AMG.

M3's are everywhere....they used to catch my attention in the beginning, until half of LA started owning one.

vitamink

actually I see more and more C63 around LA...One day I saw 2 C63 at downtown and I was shocked...

DutchC63

I have owned several M3's , 911 etc , saying that the M3 is a whole lot of fun over the c-class, maybe over a regular c-class but I doubt you ever drove the C63 AMG. I test drove both cars back to back several times before i decided in fact i drove the M3 first , than drove the c63 and was so impressed i had to drive the M3 again because I could nog believe i was pulled towards the AMG before the M3. The C63 has much better steering feel compared to the electronic game boy feeling of the new M3 , even if perhaps slightly more precise the C63 is better weighted and steel very precise! Check the comparisson of the light weight M3, audi RS5 and the C63AMG in magazine CARS earlier this year! Anyway, go buy the M3 so the C63 stays more exclusive LOL

danlnyc

really?? I literally drive 2-3 hundred miles a day all over LA/OC and I have yet to see a C63 this week. I have, however, seen about 100 M3's of all different types and colors..

am I driving through the wrong places?? haha

SMP

It's not about whether they could or not ....... it's just much cheaper to produce an automatic transmission than a double clutch transmission. And to be honest, the days of the manual transmission is coming to an end as the traffic is getting worse by the day.

On top of that, everyone wants to own a performance car with a killer 0 - 60 time. This is were the DCT shines. Nothing and no one can shift quicker and without any interruption in power delivery. Because the next gear up or down is already selected by the second clutch before the first one with the current gear disengages. It's the most efficient transmission on the market.

VaclavSV

I just bought a 2012 c63 sedan coming in september. Before the purchase I test drove both cars, I actually wanted the M3 coupe way more before driving both. (manual tranny, like mentioned above probably get more looks in it, and since Im young thats marginally important lol) The M3 is an amazing car but it was what I expected, almost boring and the dealer treated it like his newborn baby. (was really pathetic) The c63 on the other hand behaved totally different. The dealer tossed me the keys and on the second turn I slammed the pedal down and I was sold!! The torque is unmatched by far! The c63's power/ noise/ excitement will make everyday driving so much more fun! just ask the guys on this form, they all bought one for mostly that reason. The c63 is a more practical car for everyday driving, has a classy feel as well as a sporty feel... where as the M3 has that distinct "I should only be speeding" feel, partly because its only exciting at hi revs. I would buy the c63 if you want to play tough, an M3 if your soft and want excuses when you loose on the street to a c63, just dont go blabbing about the track... we told you so. jks.

Seriously though its all up to you, we dont know your driving habits... go with what feels right to you, at the end of the day the car has to make you feel happy. I dont think you can go wrong with your decision either way.

315ER

Is the emergency brake on? That is what I kept asking myself the first time I drove the M3. Just felt so slow compared to the C63 ... it was nice at higher RPMs and DCT is incredible ... but ZERO fun off the line when compared to the C63. If I lived in an area where I had a prayer of running it out ... I might think differently ... but traffic and the popo are a nightmare around here (NoVA) ...

DuaneC63

I thought a C63 was also an axe murderer with headlights.

IAA-C63

I agree with the comment that the DCT in the M3 is good enough to partly compensate for the M3 having much less torque than the C63, but only partly. More generally, neither car is superior to the other in every category, and the price is about the same, so the choice comes down to personal preference. Nice to have such choices!

coladin

The only sedan that I drove that is truly comparable to the C63 is the Jaguar XFR. Brute force and not a track star but it still made all the right moves and sounds. That is one stout, fat powerplant and is comparable in many ways to the C63 save the sound while pretty nasty...nothing is as nasty as the C63!

dodger63

+1

avengerboater

And to the OP, you should buy an M3.

lebreeze

I want one too. bad

ctwz

had the same dilemma too. tried the the m3 (stick) and liked it. tried the c63 and bought it the next day, yes, its that much more fun if u wanna come down to the santa monica area i could give u a ride and let u see how its like

Carac

And I'm a surgeon that traded his M3 for a C63

Backstory: I had been a long term BMW fan, my first one was a hand-me-down 1990 BMW 750iL with 110k miles from my father. We got rid of it when the notoriously temperamental V-12 decided to start acting up. Got a then-new 1999 E46 323i. Traded it on a 2002 M3 with SMG transmission. Then bought a highly discounted 2008 M3 (customer ordered a fully loaded M3, extended leather, sound, 19's, etc and backed out. They still had it when 2009's began rolling in, got it for 16 off sticker). I owned the 2008 M3 (6-speed manual) for about a year. Then, I went with my sister to help her pick out a GLK350 to replace her SLK350. Out of the corner of my eye I see they have a C63 on the lot. So while she's test driving the GLK, I took the C63 out. Fast forward 5 hours and I'm finishing the paperwork on the C63.

The M3 was fun, but only if you were beating it like horse on derby day. And the exhaust note, while nice in a tinny small displacement italian V-8 sort of way, was anemic. The C63 had the power whenever I wanted it, and sounded as powerful as it felt. The M3 handled better and would win on a track day (time wise), but I don't have the time for track days like I did with the 2002 M3. Besides, I still had a 1988 M3 for when I did have time for the track.

Needless to say, the choice was a no brainer. Jaws would literally drop when people heard the noise coming out of what looked like a C-Class sedan.

BMW lost me, the X5 and X6 "M" cars were the last straw. The 1M Coupe is a move in the right direction, a "we're sorry" gift for the SUVs. The next M5 looks interesting, but I'm also leery of the uneven power delivery with turbo vs NA of factory tuned cars.

I'm now a full AMG convert. Following the C63, I went "what's the craziest thing this engine comes in?" I then traded the C63 for a second-hand CPO'd CLK63 Black Series. Had it for almost a year now, and I recently put a deposit down for a Spring 2012 SLS AMG allocation.

And you know what? I still miss the C63 when I need to haul more than one other person.

snowmants

Hey I know this guy^^^ I ended up taking the plunge last month btw....

clkwork

I gotta admit that M3 looks great in white.

Carac

Small world. Looking good. My '88 M3 is white, their old official motorsport color. Looks great when clean, but just like a black car, it's hard to keep it that way. I still liked the '08 M3 for all the things it was good at, handling, feel, etc. I just found I loved the c63 more. The scapel vs machete analogy is fitting.

To the OP: Bottom line is that you're getting great car either way, and these kinds of decisions never work when you apply logic. More of a heart than head decision.

bushburninc63

if you need a car to pick up chicks, then you need to re-evaluate your game. :o

snowmants

For those of you guys with the AMG Blacks....They really are the best of both worlds. I would hold on to them. They will probably be rare, sought-after classics eventuallly. The other thing with the M3 for me was that looking back over the previous 3 generations of M3 (e30, e36, e46), I still think they all look great. The designs seem to stand the test of time.

bushburninc63

i still love me some e46s stock. It's still a head turner to me.

Das Geld 2

Anyone who thinks the M3 handles better is a ******.

BMW uses R-Compound tires to prove their crappy times. THE C63 while a girls car is the man's car of small cars. Clint Eastwood would drive a C63. Who wants a puny 3 series with no torque or anything. Handling? Handling my *** unless your name is MARIO ANDRETTI you wont FEEL THE DIFFERENCE.

ZephyrAMG

That was a good summarization. Spicy, a bit rough and no lube used, but good.