CLK 63 Black or SLS or GTS
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 59
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From: NA and Europe
Yugo Zastava
CLK 63 Black or SLS or GTS
Good morning
I am in the market for one of the three above, I would appreciate any comments from people who have driven/owned the three to help me in my selection process. I realize the SLS and GTS are GTs while the 63 is a different sort of animal, I also realize that generationally as well as price point wise they are different, however I was always a fan of the 63 but am wondering if it measures up to the newer chassis, power plants and transmission shift reaction time.
Curious - thank you all much in advance,
SB
SF, CA
I am in the market for one of the three above, I would appreciate any comments from people who have driven/owned the three to help me in my selection process. I realize the SLS and GTS are GTs while the 63 is a different sort of animal, I also realize that generationally as well as price point wise they are different, however I was always a fan of the 63 but am wondering if it measures up to the newer chassis, power plants and transmission shift reaction time.
Curious - thank you all much in advance,
SB
SF, CA
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 478
Likes: 6
CLK63 AMG Black Series
Haven driven all three cars, I would say you definitely can feel the improvements over the years in the chassis starting from the CLK to SLS to GTS.
The GTS I found the easiest to drive, great feedback, balanced, responsive and more crisp in nearly every way over the SLS and CLK.
The SLS I found to feel more planted on the road than both (GTS and CLK). The SLS is overall an amazing experience but takes a lot of concentration to properly drive which over time diminishes the driving experience for me. The GTS 'fixed or reduced' the little nuances that bothered me in the SLS; A-pillar visibility and other blind spots, gull-wing doors are awesome but can get tiring over time, and first trans-axle double clutch application in the SLS was revamped in the GTS.
The CLK doesn't really compare, IMHO, as it is a totally different platform. The CLK is more raw and kind of cumbersome at times, taller, heavier, older technology (MCT vs. DCT) and feels more 'real' if that makes sense. I refer to the CLK as the modern day muscle car.
As Jeremy Clarkson said (I'm paraphrasing), its not the fastest nor the best handling, its how the overall driving experience makes you feel. So, it depends on what experience you are looking for? Other things to consider is rarity, price range, and what best fits your style and requirements. Just a few thoughts off the top of my head... Good luck with a selection!
The GTS I found the easiest to drive, great feedback, balanced, responsive and more crisp in nearly every way over the SLS and CLK.
The SLS I found to feel more planted on the road than both (GTS and CLK). The SLS is overall an amazing experience but takes a lot of concentration to properly drive which over time diminishes the driving experience for me. The GTS 'fixed or reduced' the little nuances that bothered me in the SLS; A-pillar visibility and other blind spots, gull-wing doors are awesome but can get tiring over time, and first trans-axle double clutch application in the SLS was revamped in the GTS.
The CLK doesn't really compare, IMHO, as it is a totally different platform. The CLK is more raw and kind of cumbersome at times, taller, heavier, older technology (MCT vs. DCT) and feels more 'real' if that makes sense. I refer to the CLK as the modern day muscle car.
As Jeremy Clarkson said (I'm paraphrasing), its not the fastest nor the best handling, its how the overall driving experience makes you feel. So, it depends on what experience you are looking for? Other things to consider is rarity, price range, and what best fits your style and requirements. Just a few thoughts off the top of my head... Good luck with a selection!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 59
Likes: 7
From: NA and Europe
Yugo Zastava
btw, I'm a sucker for 90s and early to mid 00s German equipment, I think all car makers went a bit overboard after those years by adding many of the things that make the machines mundane, or synthesized, while removing many of the things that make the machines, machines... too digital, not enough analog... I did drive the GTS and it's superb but yet felt a bit synthetic to me... amazing for what it is, and drop dead gorgeous... incredible chassis geometry... very impressive, but it lacks uniqueness in a way... more like it was designed by a marketing department rather than die hard gear heads... probably a bit less so for the SLS (which I have not driven) and for sure not at all for the 63 black (which I also have not driven) ... I have to admit that I am drawn to the uniqueness of craft and somehow the black seems more in that category... looking to drive one this weekend, we will see
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 59
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From: NA and Europe
Yugo Zastava
just got back from driving my first 63 black... loved it... it has all the things I had always associated with AMGs as missing i.e. fantastic chassis and wonderful turn-in geometry... in addition to that incredible sound note...
great driving position, best seats in the business... I also found the shifts to be slow, more like driving a regular manual car and shifting slowly... overall a gem... I'm going to get one...
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 59
Likes: 7
From: NA and Europe
Yugo Zastava
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 59
Likes: 7
From: NA and Europe
Yugo Zastava
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 478
Likes: 6
CLK63 AMG Black Series
Yes, during downshift the motor revs up to match the lower gear, same as heel/toe. Rev match didn't come out on the AMG C-chassis until 2009/10, i believe. Being the CLKBS is 2007/8, folks have adapted the new programing to work on the CLKBS ECU/TCU. There are several posts in this CLK form area on who can do this rev match "blip" mod depending on the area you live in. Hope that helps!
Last edited by MOFLO; Mar 27, 2017 at 05:10 PM. Reason: typo
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 59
Likes: 7
From: NA and Europe
Yugo Zastava
Yes, during downshift the motor revs up to match the lower gear, same as heel/toe. Rev match didn't come out on the AMG C-chassis until 2009/10, i believe. Being the CLKBS is 2007/8, folks have adapted the new programing to work on the CLKBS ECU/TCU. There are several posts in this CLK form area on who can do this rev match "blip" mod depending on the area you live in. Hope that helps!
will send pics once I get my hands on the new equipment
Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 145
Likes: 16
CLK63 Black
I got rid of my CLK63 BS a few months ago and just recently picked up a C63 BS. Huge difference! The C63 is such a better car in so many ways. Transmission is the biggest single improvement, but everything else is just a little better as well. Similar ride quality but a little better. Easier to get in and out of . Media is light years better. Phone, stereo, bluetooth etc. Plus it has an insane control panel that lets you monitor almost anything on a nice screen, including 0-60, and 1/4 mile times. Different tracks/ times etc. Brakes seem a little better too. (not that there was anything wrong with the CLKs).
Anyway, just a better driving experience to me, and with the aero package its just a mean looking machine. I was kinda unimpressed with the C63 in pics, but when I saw my car in person I just had to have it.
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...1&d=1496413444
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...1&d=1496413444
Anyway, just a better driving experience to me, and with the aero package its just a mean looking machine. I was kinda unimpressed with the C63 in pics, but when I saw my car in person I just had to have it.
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...1&d=1496413444
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...1&d=1496413444
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 274
Likes: 46
CLK63 BS
That's what I figured. Wasn't initially a fan, but the C63 styling (especially in black) grew on me after a while. And yeah, they do represent better in person. I considered getting one after I sold my CLK63 BS for all the reasons you stated but I ended up buying another CLK63 BS instead.
I got rid of my CLK63 BS a few months ago and just recently picked up a C63 BS. Huge difference! The C63 is such a better car in so many ways. Transmission is the biggest single improvement, but everything else is just a little better as well. Similar ride quality but a little better. Easier to get in and out of . Media is light years better. Phone, stereo, bluetooth etc. Plus it has an insane control panel that lets you monitor almost anything on a nice screen, including 0-60, and 1/4 mile times. Different tracks/ times etc. Brakes seem a little better too. (not that there was anything wrong with the CLKs).
Anyway, just a better driving experience to me, and with the aero package its just a mean looking machine. I was kinda unimpressed with the C63 in pics, but when I saw my car in person I just had to have it.
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...1&d=1496413444
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...1&d=1496413444
Anyway, just a better driving experience to me, and with the aero package its just a mean looking machine. I was kinda unimpressed with the C63 in pics, but when I saw my car in person I just had to have it.
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...1&d=1496413444
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...1&d=1496413444
