Trade in the C63 for: GT500, Z06 or GT-R?
I can imagine the ZR1 is even more so.
Anywho, here's my two cents:
I owned a 2011 Shelby GT500 (traded the C63 for it), ended up chopping the mufflers off, fitting some wide rubber on, and that was about it.
My thoughts: It was an impressively entertaining / powerful car. I'm sure the 2013's power bump will be damn near hazardous. There is nothing like moving through gears (only really 3 in town) with that epic power, but every time I hopped in / shut the door / popped the trunk, I was reminded that I was in a Ford product.
Here I do have to confess that I was raised in MBs and expect the vault-like doors & heft. There were no rattles / other really legitimate complaints as far as fit & finish. But I am now back in an AMG. So for me, the power was supplanted by the desire for outstanding fit & finish.
I think the most illuminating thing you could do in this situation is try like hell to drive each of them (significantly easier said than done).
And as a short PS - when I was looking at trading my CLS, my dealer said there were nearly 100 used CLS63s floating around (he didn't explicitly say 2012, but I'd assume a lot of them were). So maybe that's a path you could explore.
Last edited by erio; Jan 11, 2012 at 01:13 PM.
Maintenance for me has been virutally nothing as related to cost of ownership. My dealer paid for the 1000 mile service and I paid for the 6000 mile service. It was only about $250. Next service in 2k miles
Don't hesitate to use it as a DD either. A tad stiff for the first few thousand miles, but it softens. I don't even use the "comfort" setting much anymore.
However, I have always liked Mustangs and 650 hp would keep you smiling.
Not a Corvette fan, but would support either the 'Stang or the GTR.
I came back to a C63 - love the big 8 cyl and sound and the performance is more than adequate for the street.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Z06's are beasts and they sound amazing. If you cam and header them they sound even better. You have to be a hardcore Vette guy to want to live with on as a DD, but everyone takes their straight line performance seriously.
The 2013 GT500 has a new, amazing engine. The car will be a beast in every respect. But, the straight axle is something that bothers some people. The next GT500 will come out probably in 2015, so a while from now. You can make the 13' GT500 an 700 whp car pretty easy and it will be a monster in the 1/4 mile. I'm sure the car will take plenty of abuse. But, you have to really like the styling of the car. I personally, don't really love the way it looks, but I love the thought of all of that power, with a warranty.
GTR looks the best and has a really stout engine and fast shifting trans. GT500 is all about the engine. Z06 is a Vette (I think you either love them or are just so-so on them).
I would pick GTR if you can afford the running costs. If you're smart and patient during car shopping, you can find a great example, but I think it would help to have a little extra cash to be able to hold out for pristine examples.
I would take the ZR1 over the BS but I like your thought process behind your answer.
Nothing turns heads of all the cars mentioned like a Viper.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge...#ht_500wt_1182
Nothing turns heads of all the cars mentioned like a Viper.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge...#ht_500wt_1182

Absolutely will be my next addition but the C63 stays
Im thinking on buying the Viper in the link I posted and keeping my C63 as well now!!

You are messing up my plans _AMG_
Last edited by Snipe656; Jan 11, 2012 at 10:36 PM. Reason: iPhone
Last edited by erio; Jan 11, 2012 at 11:18 PM.
The GT-R is faster and quicker for sure but in reality the C63 is plenty fast enough, especially with a tune. If you use the GT-R for street use only the maintenance costs are low. If you track the GT-R it gets real expensive (tires, brakes, fluid changes,). If you abuse the car or tune it or mod it and lose the transmission it's big $$$. If you treat it well the trans should not be a problem. Being able to adjust the clutch capacities and touch points for the DCT transmission allows you (well, the dealer) to set it up as you want it and the shifts as very quick. The GT-R is easier to drive quickly due to its AWD and software. Launching it is simple and provides incredible 0-60 times. I think the C63 takes more skill to drive quickly.
Tire wear is worse on the C63. I found the tire wear quite good on my GT-R but I had the all season tire option which offer almost the same dry grip as the "summer tires" but better wet grip and much better wear.
Depreciation is much MUCH worse on the C63. The GT-R holds it's value well and is quick to sell second hand .
MB service and dealers (where I live) are far better than Nissan dealers. GT-R has to be serviced at a GT-R approved Nissan Dealership by a GT-R certified technician. Unless the tech sees many GT-R's he is only book trained with not much hands on experience. Not good. They also like to drive them - I took mine in one time and when I picked it up it had 47 more miles on it!
Paint work sucks on the GT-R's - very soft paint. It scratches if you look at it wrong. I had a black one (I know, I know) and it was a nightmare. Both of my C63's were/are black and the paint quality and hardness is in a different class all together.
GT-R is obviously a lot more expensive to buy than a C63. If you're looking at second hand then the price difference is even greater. However, total ownership cost is typically less with a GT-R due to it's higher retained value.
In the end it all depends what your goals are. You'd be happy with either. I enjoyed them both and I am very happy with my second C63.
Can't comment on Corvettes as I have no experience with them.
Last edited by peh-amg; Jan 11, 2012 at 11:46 PM.
BUT...
IF I had to choose...GT-R. Knowing your taste in mods, I am more than certain you will NOT disappoint with whatever you get!

Z06's are beasts and they sound amazing. If you cam and header them they sound even better. You have to be a hardcore Vette guy to want to live with on as a DD, but everyone takes their straight line performance seriously.
The 2013 GT500 has a new, amazing engine. The car will be a beast in every respect. But, the straight axle is something that bothers some people. The next GT500 will come out probably in 2015, so a while from now. You can make the 13' GT500 an 700 whp car pretty easy and it will be a monster in the 1/4 mile. I'm sure the car will take plenty of abuse. But, you have to really like the styling of the car. I personally, don't really love the way it looks, but I love the thought of all of that power, with a warranty.
GTR looks the best and has a really stout engine and fast shifting trans. GT500 is all about the engine. Z06 is a Vette (I think you either love them or are just so-so on them).
I would pick GTR if you can afford the running costs. If you're smart and patient during car shopping, you can find a great example, but I think it would help to have a little extra cash to be able to hold out for pristine examples.

I know you will make it into a fire breathing monster!

The GT-R is faster and quicker for sure but in reality the C63 is plenty fast enough, especially with a tune. If you use the GT-R for street use only the maintenance costs are low. If you track the GT-R it gets real expensive (tires, brakes, fluid changes,). If you abuse the car or tune it or mod it and lose the transmission it's big $$$. If you treat it well the trans should not be a problem. Being able to adjust the clutch capacities and touch points for the DCT transmission allows you (well, the dealer) to set it up as you want it and the shifts as very quick. The GT-R is easier to drive quickly due to its AWD and software. Launching it is simple and provides incredible 0-60 times. I think the C63 takes more skill to drive quickly.
Tire wear is worse on the C63. I found the tire wear quite good on my GT-R but I had the all season tire option which offer almost the same dry grip as the "summer tires" but better wet grip and much better wear.
Depreciation is much MUCH worse on the C63. The GT-R holds it's value well and is quick to sell second hand .
MB service and dealers (where I live) are far better than Nissan dealers. GT-R has to be serviced at a GT-R approved Nissan Dealership by a GT-R certified technician. Unless the tech sees many GT-R's he is only book trained with not much hands on experience. Not good. They also like to drive them - I took mine in one time and when I picked it up it had 47 more miles on it!
Paint work sucks on the GT-R's - very soft paint. It scratches if you look at it wrong. I had a black one (I know, I know) and it was a nightmare. Both of my C63's were/are black and the paint quality and hardness is in a different class all together.
GT-R is obviously a lot more expensive to buy than a C63. If you're looking at second hand then the price difference is even greater. However, total ownership cost is typically less with a GT-R due to it's higher retained value.
In the end it all depends what your goals are. You'd be happy with either. I enjoyed them both and I am very happy with my second C63.
Can't comment on Corvettes as I have no experience with them.
Thanks for the detailed review, just what I was looking for from a GT-R owner.
I would love to mod up a GT-R though.
The GT-R is faster and quicker for sure but in reality the C63 is plenty fast enough, especially with a tune. If you use the GT-R for street use only the maintenance costs are low. If you track the GT-R it gets real expensive (tires, brakes, fluid changes,). If you abuse the car or tune it or mod it and lose the transmission it's big $$$. If you treat it well the trans should not be a problem. Being able to adjust the clutch capacities and touch points for the DCT transmission allows you (well, the dealer) to set it up as you want it and the shifts as very quick. The GT-R is easier to drive quickly due to its AWD and software. Launching it is simple and provides incredible 0-60 times. I think the C63 takes more skill to drive quickly.
Tire wear is worse on the C63. I found the tire wear quite good on my GT-R but I had the all season tire option which offer almost the same dry grip as the "summer tires" but better wet grip and much better wear.
Depreciation is much MUCH worse on the C63. The GT-R holds it's value well and is quick to sell second hand .
MB service and dealers (where I live) are far better than Nissan dealers. GT-R has to be serviced at a GT-R approved Nissan Dealership by a GT-R certified technician. Unless the tech sees many GT-R's he is only book trained with not much hands on experience. Not good. They also like to drive them - I took mine in one time and when I picked it up it had 47 more miles on it!
Paint work sucks on the GT-R's - very soft paint. It scratches if you look at it wrong. I had a black one (I know, I know) and it was a nightmare. Both of my C63's were/are black and the paint quality and hardness is in a different class all together.
GT-R is obviously a lot more expensive to buy than a C63. If you're looking at second hand then the price difference is even greater. However, total ownership cost is typically less with a GT-R due to it's higher retained value.
In the end it all depends what your goals are. You'd be happy with either. I enjoyed them both and I am very happy with my second C63.
Can't comment on Corvettes as I have no experience with them.
Great comments as I also had a GTR and now drive a C63. The tire wear is better on a GTR ? Damn I got 8000 miles on my tires and it was $1800. for replacement. My other comment is the paint. My diamond white C63 has so much orange peel ,I thought I bought a car painted in a chop shop. The GTR (gunmetal) paint was PERFECT. My biggest disappointment with the C63 is the paint.



In the end they are both great cars that most car enthusiasts would be very happy to own....I'm sure most would own both if possible.


