C63 Black Series DUCATI EDITION
... I never bought a car based on how it will depreciate. Most cars tank and don't hold value ... but there is one car I can think of that did hold it's value: Ford GT ... still goes for what it sold for new. Only drawback, you can't put any miles on it ... but than again, what's the point of owning the car in the first place when you can't drive it. I'm getting rid of my M6 for the new F10 M5 ... and as usual, in financial terms speaking, will lose my a$$ ... but for the past 3 years, the car was worth every penny for all the fun and excitement it provided!
As for the GT-R comparisons, laptimes don't mean anything unless you're competing in Solo1/Solo2. I've had GT-R owners drive my CLK BS and jaws were dropping. The fun to drive value isn't even in the same league. Hell, it's not even the same sport.
The C63 BS is more of a comparison to the 997 GT3 (albeit more luxurious), or SLS, which makes it's entry price a bargain.
It sounds like you don't drive your cars much and you worry a lot about depreciation. These cars are not investments unless you get a deal on it and flip it quick.
The reality is, these cars a have a lot of goodies on them (fully adjustable suspension, extra coolers, seam welding [CLK Black], carbon fiber, LSD, HWA engineering, etc) which cost a lot of money. Is it worth an extra $40K? Well, if you want to own the best variants of the cars, you gotta pay for it. I am expecting the C63 Black to give the same or better experience than the CLK63 Black, but with more modern features.
As for the GT-R comparisons, laptimes don't mean anything unless you're competing in Solo1/Solo2. I've had GT-R owners drive my CLK BS and jaws were dropping. The fun to drive value isn't even in the same league. Hell, it's not even the same sport.
The C63 BS will be the CLK successor pretty much and I'm sure will blow everyone's mind.
Who cares about depreciation if you're truly passionate for the AMG's !
As for the GT-R comparisons, laptimes don't mean anything unless you're competing in Solo1/Solo2. I've had GT-R owners drive my CLK BS and jaws were dropping. The fun to drive value isn't even in the same league. Hell, it's not even the same sport.
The C63 BS is more of a comparison to the 997 GT3 (albeit more luxurious), or SLS, which makes it's entry price a bargain.

The only reason I would compare the C63 to the C63 Black Series is in straight line performance and the C63 is the bargan as the C63 P31 is most likely quicker if not equal to the black series. If you are buying a car for the road course of course the Black Series is better than the C63. Not even by a lot though going by nurburgring times. Again, if you are going to sit in traffic then it makes me wonder why you would just get the C63 and save your $$.
Then if you ARE indeed spending 130K on a good road course vehicle there are certainly way better options than the C63 Black Series.
Im sure the Black Series is a great car and I am sure it drives nice. But to me based on the results that the CLK BS came back with its not worth the price. The extreme depreciation is also indicative of that as well. Its simply not worth the asking.
To the other poster I dont buy cars as an investment, but a "Rare" Black Series should hold its value because so few are being made. It doesnt and that speaks volumes about the line.
In the end beauty is in the eye of the beholder so I would never tell anyone their opinion is wrong. If you are in love with it, enjoy it. I buy cars for the results though. I dont think I have ever chosen an inferior vehicle in the same price range just because I loved it more. But thats just me.
The C63 BS will be the CLK successor pretty much and I'm sure will blow everyone's mind.
Who cares about depreciation if you're truly passionate for the AMG's !
The Best of Mercedes & AMG

The only reason I would compare the C63 to the C63 Black Series is in straight line performance and the C63 is the bargan as the C63 P31 is most likely quicker if not equal to the black series. If you are buying a car for the road course of course the Black Series is better than the C63. Not even by a lot though going by nurburgring times. Again, if you are going to sit in traffic then it makes me wonder why you would just get the C63 and save your $$.
Then if you ARE indeed spending 130K on a good road course vehicle there are certainly way better options than the C63 Black Series.
Im sure the Black Series is a great car and I am sure it drives nice. But to me based on the results that the CLK BS came back with its not worth the price. The extreme depreciation is also indicative of that as well. Its simply not worth the asking.
To the other poster I dont buy cars as an investment, but a "Rare" Black Series should hold its value because so few are being made. It doesnt and that speaks volumes about the line.
In the end beauty is in the eye of the beholder so I would never tell anyone their opinion is wrong. If you are in love with it, enjoy it. I buy cars for the results though. I dont think I have ever chosen an inferior vehicle in the same price range just because I loved it more. But thats just me.

I bought a CLK Black when it first came out, paid MSRP and have not sold it because to me it has been a really fun and special car.
Sure it got hammered in value but I hold Mercedes partly to blame for that. No one really knew what a Black Series was. Many of the people that bought the first ones got something different than they thought and some thought they could flip it and make a buck. Look at how many cars immediately hit the market at the worst time in a long time. Late 2008 and 2009 was about the worst time I can think of to be selling any car including a Ferrari.
Prices have stabilized and those of us that own them rave about them.
If all you care about is results or owning the best performing car in the price segment then I expect you have a Radical in your garage or a ZR1 or one of the other niche players out there.
It always amazes me how many people have such strong opinions of cars when all they do it look at numbers and what other people say about them. I wouldn't ever buy a C63 now but I would buy a C Black Series. I can't believe that after 4 years it won't be a better car than the CLK Black and compared to everything else I could buy at 140K, I would take the C Black.
In my opinion the only real car to compare the Black Series to would be the GT3 or GT3 RS and I know it is heresy but not all of us are Porsche guys. I have been there done that and prefer my engines in the front or middle.
My .02
Last edited by AMG Dictator; Jan 26, 2012 at 06:04 PM.
And where are the pictures? I want to see what this thing looks like.
I can't fault him though, I felt the exact same way as propain did until I bought my BS and drove it for the first time. I used to look at the numbers religiously when choosing cars since I competed in them, so on paper, there's several better cars for less money.
Last edited by rage2; Jan 26, 2012 at 07:10 PM.
Yea, definately not if he laughed at the GT3 reference. I believe he compared it to a turbo in an older thread where he was bringing up Porsches, and let me tell you, my 911TT is boring as ***** compared to the BS. Hell, the TT is boring compared to the C63. Funny though, I can run the roadcourse faster in the 911TT than the BS. The BS was never about the numbers for me.
I can't fault him though, I felt the exact same way as propain did until I bought my BS and drove it for the first time. I used to look at the numbers religiously when choosing cars since I competed in them, so on paper, there's several better cars for less money.
Yes yes... the BS has amazing torque and HP just like the C63. Sounds and feels like a monster but comparing it to a GT3 is just laughable.
Ever been in a ZR1? Way more fun than a BS or the GT3 and cheaper than both. Also a blast on the street.
My point is its not for me. Your defense would be best to say "I love it" and that would be fine. Saying its on par with the GT3 is why this continues.
My 993 is a better track car than my C63 but I enjoy running my C63 more than the 993 so I can understand your point though. I was simply pointing out bang for the buck, resale and personal preference. Sorry if I offended any BS owners. This is just my opinion.
Last edited by propain; Jan 26, 2012 at 08:02 PM.
Yes yes... the BS has amazing torque and HP just like the C63. Sounds and feels like a monster but comparing it to a GT3 is just laughable.
Ever been in a ZR1? Way more fun than a BS or the GT3 and cheaper than both. Also a blast on the street.
My point is its not for me. Your defense would be best to say "I love it" and that would be fine. Saying its on par with the GT3 is why this continues.
My 993 is a better track car than my C63 but I enjoy running my C63 more than the 993 so I can understand your point though. I was simply pointing out bang for the buck, resale and personal preference. Sorry if I offended any BS owners. This is just my opinion.
0-60: 4.4
1/4 mile: 12.6 @115.6
60-0: 108ft
Skipad: .96g
Slalom: 67.8mph
2010 Porsche GT3
0-60:3.9
1/4mile:11.9 @119.4mph
60-0: 99ft
Skipad: .98g
Slalom: 73mph
As far as the C63 Ducati or Black Series or anything else being a waste of money, it is all in the eye of the beholder (or spender of the money). My view on it is this: if you are driving a used Camry, then you can make that statement and I can see your point. If you drive anything else, then I have to believe that you are just trolling.
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LAP TIME: The Nurburgring – 7:46 min SCORE: 9
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Nissan GT-R: 7:38 min
Audi R8 5.2 V10: 7:44 min
Porsche 911 Turbo S: 7:44 min*
Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe BS: 7:46 min*
BMW M3 GTS: 7:49 min*
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4: 7:52 min*
Mercedes CLK 63 AMG BS: 8:05 min*
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LAP TIMES: Short course at Hockenheim SCORE: 10
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Nissan GT-R: 1.10, 0 min
Porsche 911 Carrera S: 1.10,4 min
Ferrari 458 ltalia: 1.10,5 min
Mercedes AMG C63BS: 1.10,6 min*
Mercedes SLS AMG: 1.10,8 min
Audi R8 5.2 V10: 1.10,9 min*
BMW M3 GTS: 1:12,5 min*
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* denotes cars using Sports/Track tires
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Lets break it down....
Engine Performance
510 HP. (A Tuned C63 Coupe)
Dev Pack (C63 P31)
7 speed auto with launch control (C63)
LSD (C63 option or purchase aftermarket for $1200)
Track package: Better rubber and tranny cooler (Cooler might not be able to be purchased or fit. Not sure.)
Suspension
Anti Roll bars (Easily purchased)
adjustable coil-overs (Easily purchased)
Body Work
Flared fenders and quaters (Body kit)
Front wheel vents (Body Kit)
Rear Seat Delete (Easily Done)
Carbon Fiber bits, wing, Aerofoil ect.. (All purchased)
Im sure I am missing a few bits here and there. Please add to my list and convince me how the BS is the better purchase as far as performance goes only. Not personal preference.
When you break it down I dont see why you would be laughing.. A C63 P31 couple can easily be made into BS for probably 20K with the body work. Thats 50K toward another car! LOL
Even without all the body work a tuned C63 coupe with only some small changes to the suspension and shedding the back seat could easily put up the same times as a C63 BS. You would also save yourself about 15K off the above 20K.
Without the body work and the cooling vents the BS would have more lasting power in the breaks (even though the P31 boasts better breaks) as well as the tranny due to a better cooler (track package) but honestly how many of us are going to enter into a 50 lap road course race anytime soon? Even if you are, how many times? Is it worth 50K?
Why they didnt put a DCT in is beyond me. That would have made it worth it beyond the C63 P31 coupe. Throwing in the same tranny turned me off big time. You figured they would have learned from the CLK63 in that decision.
Like I said.. Just my 2 cents.
Why isnt that good enough? The mags will do more testing than the average consumer anyhow and they have more experienced drivers and testers than the average person.
Its a great car and gets rave reviews. Thats not the debate. The debate is if its worth the extra 50K over a P31 C63 Coupe and can you match its performance with much less money. Pure performance perspective. The BS will always be a rare car next to the C63 Coupe. That is without question.
I'm talking about sheer entertainment value, that's where my CLK BS vs GT3 comparison stems from.





