Test drove a 507 - Opinions on COMAND and gearbox
#26
Senior Member
I have DCT in my "wifes" heavily modified bmw 35i and love it. But i have to say as much as i love the DCT in the BMW the gearbox in my 2013 c63 is phenomenal coma red to the pre 2012 versions. In real life they preform and the downshifts are much better than on the bmw.
HOWEVER. i have to state this i miss my tuned 2010 C63 with its slower change. It was brutal on the change it threw you back, yanked you in the seat, the new one is just plonk plonk plonk it has no pomp and circumstance.
So you know be careful what you wish for.
ohh.. PS.. my slush box MCT eats my friends 2012 M5 so i need to remind myself of that fact from time to time
HOWEVER. i have to state this i miss my tuned 2010 C63 with its slower change. It was brutal on the change it threw you back, yanked you in the seat, the new one is just plonk plonk plonk it has no pomp and circumstance.
So you know be careful what you wish for.
ohh.. PS.. my slush box MCT eats my friends 2012 M5 so i need to remind myself of that fact from time to time
#27
MBWorld Fanatic!
#28
MBWorld Fanatic!
Because if you are just simply crusing around town driving like a normal person going to somewhere and hitting traffic and stoplights, the car does NOT drop into first gear in C mode, it starts in 2nd, and it does in S and S+ and I find that the 1st gear tends to be a bit jerky which is a pain to deal with when youre not in the mood.
#29
Junior Member
Having extensively driven my buddies remapped 135i coupe and also owning a e92 M3 before my c63 coupe - I don't think we need to downplay the handling on the C63 (or at least the 2013 coupe) - in my opinion it is close to the M3 - but the M3 would win the group test because it feels lighter on its feet and feels better balanced for it but the 135i does not steer better than my C63 - the 135i was leagues away from the M3 except in performance (as it was remapped) but thats about it - clear gulf in handling performance between M3 and 135i - all in my opinion...
My buddy swapped to a 1M - that was much, much better - mini M3 on steroids.
I actually think the Merc steers very well.
Dunc
My buddy swapped to a 1M - that was much, much better - mini M3 on steroids.
I actually think the Merc steers very well.
Dunc
#30
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W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars, EQE 4Matic+ on order
What I meant by more involving and more precise is that on the 135i you simply have to keep rowing through the gears and always keep it in the power band (which requires a lot more work than the C63 with its available power at any time), and that it is a lighter car and has a shorter wheelbase (which makes it more nimble than the C63). The handling of the C63 coupe is surprisingly good - it would probably equal a E92 M3 if it wasn't for the heavy glass roof, which BTW I prefer everywhere except on the track. I certainly didn't mean to imply that the 135i is a better ride by any means. The steering is particularly atrocious - it is both disconnected like on all new BMWs and much too slow for my liking (on the M cars the steering is faster but still disconnected).
I used to be a die-hard BMW fan but as I said somehow the current batch of cars just doesn't connect with me the way the older E30/E36/E46 and E34 M cars did. If I want to row through a gearbox, I now drive the P car. If I want to sip on a latte or enjoy the fall colors in style and still have massive oomph on tap as well as handling that comes very close to a proper sports car, you can't beat the C63 as a complete package.
I used to be a die-hard BMW fan but as I said somehow the current batch of cars just doesn't connect with me the way the older E30/E36/E46 and E34 M cars did. If I want to row through a gearbox, I now drive the P car. If I want to sip on a latte or enjoy the fall colors in style and still have massive oomph on tap as well as handling that comes very close to a proper sports car, you can't beat the C63 as a complete package.
#31
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W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars, EQE 4Matic+ on order
In addition to what SaphGrey said about the jerkiness when dropping down to 1st, both S and S+ modes keep a lower gear into higher RPMs and are thus more prone to light up the rear tires at the slightest provocation. If you want the hardcore experience, they make the car more alive but they're difficult to enjoy in the city or on the freeway.