b4hoops

I've been in and out of this site for a few years now -- love the community. Mostly read the great posts, but never posted myself. Now, though, I have a reason to write my first post, I think. I recently bought a used 2017 C63 S AMG sedan, and still have my C43 AMG sedan -- which the C63 will replace eventually -- for a few more months on lease. I've driven both quite extensively now, both on back roads and on a track (Lime Rock in CT). I've read a lot of C43 posts about whether its a real AMG, or not. And, how it compares to the 63. After extensive time in both, I can say unequivocally and with zero bias that the C43 AMG is not a real AMG! But, there's more to this story.

I think the C43 AMG is an excellent car. And, a great value! For the C43 owners out there, like me, you picked a very good (and very underrated) car. Congrats! I test drove the Audi S4 and ATS-V before leasing my C43 AMG. The S4 is obviously the closest to the 43, being AWD. But, the C43 is so much more dramatic, with its awesome V6 engine noise, quicker front end and better steering feel. The ATS-V has an excellent chassis, damping and steering, but the drivetrain, both the engine and transmission, are aloof and less engaging compared to the C43. I didn't include the M2 on my list, so can't really comment. But, back to the 43. What makes it an excellent car is that it is very fast (more on that soon as I ran it neck-and-neck with my C63), a great daily driver in dry, rain and snow (the complaints about its suspension being to stiff is way overblown, IMHO), handles very well and carries incredible amounts of speed through tight back roads (I've run it against a Alfa 4C on very tight mountain roads and the 43 stayed glued to the 4C's backend), it's mostly trouble free and the interior is top-notch Mercedes quality.

But, it's not a real AMG. Not because it doesn't have a V8. Not necessarily because it isn't RWD. Here's why. It's excellent, but it's not special. The C43 AMG feels like a really fast and capable C300. It feels like someone took a C300 and heavily, and I mean heavily, tuned it to give it a stiffer suspension, better damping and chassis control, gobs more power, sharper steering/faster ratio, more grip and a sharper shifting transmission. But, even then, it feels like a tuned C300. After owning the C63 S AMG, it feels different. It feels special. While the C43 feels like it is made to go very fast on public roads, the C63 feels like a road car that can hold its own on the track -- it is just so much more capable than the C43. And, I'm not talking about the power only and straight-line speed. I'm talking about things like chassis balance. On a C43 the front end has tons of grip and turns in sharply, but the rear end is pretty much dead. It's bland. It doesn't do much -- it just sticks. There are AWD cars I've driven like the Nissan GTR, Evo IX or even the WRX STI that have live back ends. In a C43 it feels like the front end does the turning in and then the back simply follows -- there's very little rotation. And, not surprisingly if you go into corners harder the front end simply washes and the car understeers. Even in Sport handling mode, or even with traction control off the rear is numb -- whether on a back road, and especially on a track. There is very little balance, where both the front and back of the car come into play, especially on longer sweepers.

What else? The C43 steering is pretty precise, but its light and pretty much numb -- forget information through the steering wheel, the wheel also doesn't weight up very realistically as you put in more lock in a corner. By comparison, the C63 steering gives more information -- all of it being relative of course, given that it's still an electric rack. The suspension on the C43 is pretty unsophisticated. It feels pedestrian, like a stiffer C300. There isn't nearly as much sophistication when compared to damping on the C63. The C63 doesn't have Porsche 911 levels of damping -- which has one of the best suspensions, along with the Guilia QV, McLaren 570s, Ferrari 458, that I've ever driven -- but it's pretty good. On public roads, the C63 flows over the road bumps and undulations, even mid-corner, while the C43 AMG can get unsettled by them. This isn't as much of an issue on a smooth track, where the C43 chassis works just fine, but this is a very noticeable difference on public roads. And, the C43 is fast, very fast. Up to 80MPH from the dig, or even on a roll, the C43 hangs with the C63 mostly neck-and-neck. Yes, the C63 pulls on it a bit before 80, but it really pulls ahead after 100+ MPH, not surprisingly given the power difference.

And, that brings me to the V8 in the C63 -- it obviously sounds much more epic than the V6 in the C43. But, the 43 isn't the only car that suffers the C63 4-liter V8. Before buying the C63, I also extensively drove the Audi RS5, Alfa Guilia QV and the M3 Competition. Of this class of super sedans, the Guilia QV and C63 AMG stand out. The Guilia because it has the best balance, front-and-back, in its class -- the car beautifully rotates around its axis like a ballerina. It is such a fun car to string together S-curves on a tight back road. It also has excellent steering and happens to be very fast. The C63 is great because its handling is 8/10 or 9/10 of the Giulia, with more of a rear-biased balance where car can be rotated on throttle, but with the drama of the best engine in its class -- by far! The M3 Comp doesn't handle as well as the Guilia and it doesn't have the drama of the C63 S -- other than looks maybe (which is subjective) and the awesome DCT transmission the M3 Comp doesn't really stand out in any particular area. The RS5 -- well, it has a nice interior and is a solid car, but outgunned in this group in so many ways when it comes to driving dynamics, drama/excitement and driving fun.

So, back to the C43. While its V6 engine sounds great! Better than an M3 Comp, IMHO. And, competing with the likes of Jaguar F-Type for best sounding V6 around. It simply can't hold a candle to the C63 S AMG V8. Which, as I mentioned earlier, isn't the reason it's not an AMG -- or a special car. All of the C63's competitors in its class can't match the drama of that engine.

So, that's my take. Do you agree? Or, vehemently disagree? Thanks for reading my first post! Much appreciated! I'm hoping I can contribute more and connect with more car nuts like myself.

d4md

Enjoyable read!

mbny1234

I agree with everything you said except that the c43 is a fake AMG. C43 is in the AMG family it’s just not as sporty to put it simply, as c63.
That doesn’t mean it’s not an AMG.
Now that you upgraded to c63, no need to put down c43 owners. Congrats on the ride and enjoy!

///Bruce

I can’t speak to your comparison. Although I could compare a 13 C63 coupe w/AMG Dev Pkg at 481hp and my new 20 C63S coupe at 510.

b4hoops

Thanks for taking the time to read it!

b4hoops

You’re right. I guess I was being a little dramatic. The C43 is a great car. But I never realized when I owned it how special the 63 drives and feels. I do now!

b4hoops

So? How does that W204 compare? I’ve never had the pleasure of driving that gen, but I have had the distinct pleasure of hearing it.

Sullicc4

Wife owns a C43 Sedan, and I can say that for most drivers, they can easily stay with most C63S drivers in real-world driving situations. Most drivers just can't extract the extra out of the rear-biased C63S, but they can with the 4 wheel drive C43. It is better in wet and snow. I think it's a phenomenal value for money car.

From an emotional level, the C43 can't hold a candle to the C63S with its sound and engine.

Both are great cars.

Jimmy_c63s

Congratulations on the C63S my friend. You're one of the few who are blessed to own such a high end car.

I like all the AMG cars and the C43 is cool too. But you're right, the C63 is special. It's a car that you're proud to be in and it fits in at all occasions. From going to the hardware store, to staying at a 5 star hotel, it does it all. It's the real deal

Soon you'll be finding excuses to go anywhere, just so that you can drive it.

I really enjoyed your post mate. Thanks for taking the time to post that up bro.

b4hoops

Couldn't agree more! I can stomp on the C43 all the time, just driving around -- coming out of 90-degree turns. The car just grips and goes very fast.

b4hoops

Thanks for reading my post! This is why I love this MBWorld community -- real car guys/girls/people just sharing stories, tips and ideas. Such a great resource. To your point, the C63 is definitely the most versatile super sedan around. It is pretty reliable shuttling my daughter to her school, excellent interior and comfortable, good ergonomics and tech, good/classy looks, great handling and the noise!! I try to be as careful as possible now in the 63 during morning startups, so not to wake the neighbors. But, other than that this car is near perfect considering its purpose.

Cylinder Head

iTrader: (1)

OP gets it. The C43 is literally a rebadged C450 Sport.

tekfoc

It's funny when I had the c450 as a loaner (way way back several years)
I felt the same way about the rear end being dead,num and lots of under steer
But the performances from the engine was great .
I really enjoyed it .
But it's not my C63s what a beast she is.

SandSnip3r

I've been in two C43s recently and have a C63s on the way. I've got to say, this post has got me even more excited! Nice review.

zibby43

Owned a '13 W204 C63 for 5 years, before switching to an '18 C43 (and soon to be a '20), and this is 100% the most noticeable immediate difference between the 43 and 63.

The V8s just have a certain character. Combine that with the RWD setup, and you just always have this feeling like the car will bite you hard if you don't respect it, and I love that.

I still miss the M156 motor, though.

atl 2 chi

Coming from a C450, I echo your remarks. I enjoyed my C450, however, it does not compare to me C63S.

b4hoops

You are in for an experience my friend! Just sitting in traffic blipping the throttle on the v8 and performance exhaust is fun. It's just fun at all speeds.

TheFranchizeSLB

i dont have either car but what a great write up! fun car for sure as my buddy used to have one! cheers!

raudiace4

If it doesn't have a V8 it's not an AMG to me.

Welcome.

Encore818

I believe if the engine isn't built by AMG, its not a real AMG.

43 engines are tuned by AMG but if we call that an AMG might as well call a C300 with AMG line an AMG as well. Just because its styled by AMG doesn't make it an AMG.

I think it needs to come down to who built the engine.

Like many have said, the C43 is a fantastic car for the price, but its no AMG. I wish MB did something similar to BMW. One can clearly understand the difference between an M3 and an M340i.

W205-S

OP...very cool write-up indeed...thanks for sharing your views

I actually like the C43 and it would make an awesome daily driver with the AWD and cheaper maintenance than my C63S coupe.

And I know the Nissan GTR is in a much different league than the C43 but I owned one and it was boring to drive with AWD..."Point and Shoot"...very quick but boring. I had more fun trying to find traction driving my 2017 Hellcat.

Which brings me around to my C63S...BEST of all worlds...RWD so fun to drive (with Sport traction on) but not stupid like a Hellcat...but still more of a "Driver's" car than the GTR or possibly the C43.

And then the V8 sound of a German muscle car is just simply intoxicating

b4hoops

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the post. What year GTR did you have? I drove one of the older models -- I think 2012 or 2014 -- very hard on some twisties and the rear would lose some traction and get really light and squirrelly under hard braking. Then it would hook up once you get back on maintenance or full throttle. I think it had to do with the suspension setup not managing the weight transfer as well. Apparently, Nissan fixed it in later models, but that also made the car much more tied down. To your point, the one I drove accelerated really hard out of corners, but at turn-in and mid-corner you knew you were driving an AWD car.

zibby43

For me, it comes down to how the car drives, not who assembled the components. My '20 C43 handles and grips better than my former W204 C63. They're such completely different driving experiences that they're not really worth comparing; and the same goes for the comparison between the C43 and the W205 C63.

I would not cross-shop these cars as competitors. The W205 C63 is a brutish, heavy, devastatingly powerful RWD hooligan with majestic sound.

On a side note, the C43 has more than just the AMG tuning on the engine. For starters, the track width is 1.5" wider than the C300 4MATIC (which comes with different suspension geometry and camber).

The C43 also has the C63's 3-position adjustable dampers and some of the C63's front suspension hardware. It has its unique own brake rotors and calipers (4-piston calipers up front; with a single-piston sliding rear), AMG-designed AWD drivetrain (with the 31:69 front/rear split), etc. It's more than just styling cues and tuning on the C43.

Had my LCI W204 for 4 years. Car was visceral and raw. The NA V8 is on another level. The biturbo V8 in the W205 generation is on another level to the biturbo V6. The C63 S is the clear king of the hill in terms of outright raw performance, but the C43 sometimes doesn't get the credit it's due for being really good at what it does.

Cylinder Head

iTrader: (1)

@mo11 bro why haven’t you chimed in here, since you have been insistent that your rebadged C450 is a real AMG? Afraid of the heat?

mo11

This reply is solely for cylinder head leak, because he sounds so ignorant. You keep on saying rebadged c450 like I had something to do with that... just ignorant.
Wow! Your used, preowned cls63 cost as much as a NEW loaded C63s? The one that’s $7+k more than a C63? My entry level C43 AMG was $5 shy of $70k! Wow, I guess I’m not the only one overpaying for stuff! Had that choice been mine I’d go for the brand spankin’ new C63s. Idk if you get it by now, but I like my stuff NEW. But hey, that’s ok... you do you booboo.

Is day trading not doing so well with the “good economy” we’re having, or do you just like your cars used and preowned? I guess for as long as it has a plaque with some stranger’s name on the engine you’re good with that. Do you also buy your clothes used and preowned? When you go to thrift stores to get used clothes, do you also leave your hood open so people may see who built your engine? If you have a “real” AMG, why didn’t Mercedes slap a badge that says “real” on it. If someone sells a badge that says “real” would you stick it on your trunk or on the fenders? Again, you do you booboo.

Don’t get me wrong, I like your cls... until the NEW one came out.

You can’t seem to get over AMG not letting you in the loop with their plans. Not all AMG cars have stranger’s names on the engine. If you can’t take it, maybe it’s time you see your proctologist. Unless you have a direct line to Tobias which I know you don’t from my previous interactions with you. SMH!