I received my GLC63 this past Saturday (Jan 11th), I'm Looking for other GLC63 owners in my area. I want to ask a few questions and make some comparisons . I was driving around yesterday for the first time and I want to make sure my drive feels the same as in other GLC's.
I come from a daily driven C400, on 19s lowered with no airmatic. However I feel the road more on the GLC, I'm not talking a out the potholes, those feel better. I'm talking about I can actually feel the difference in the type of road I'm driving. I'm thinking maybe tires are worn or its just the nature of the beast.
I'm in the East Bay and drive a C63S Coupe not a GLC, but just wanted to say I hope you feel the road more in a 63. That's called road feel and feedback. The AMG engineers spend a lot of time making sure there's feedback through the chassis and the steering on a 63 so the driver can feel the condition of the road, level of grip and what the tires are doing. That's intentional. You are used to a compromised suspension from your lowered C400. Lowering a car ruins the suspension geometry and reduces the range of travel for the dampers. A stock C400 is also not a 63, so it doesn't have as much feedback as a 63.
Having said that, the GLC being an SUV is naturally sprung stiffer even with Airmatic. My C63 drives and rides much better than the GLC63. The latter has to manage a lot more weight and a higher center of gravity. It does still provide a level of rest comfort, but at the same time it has to wrangle the weight and high center of gravity to keep it somewhat flat in high speed corners. Obviously more so in Sport+ than in Comfort, but ultimately there are limits to how comfortable the suspension can be made while still needing to provide proper body control when throwing it around corners.
One way of having the cake and eat it, too is by adding active roll stabilization which many newer generation performance SUVs are getting these days. Active roll stabilization allows for the roll bars to relax during normal straight line driving and make the suspension very comfortable, but then tighten up around corners. This system is available in the current generation of the GLC63 in the form of the optional AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL.
I'm in the East Bay and drive a C63S Coupe not a GLC, but just wanted to say I hope you feel the road more in a 63. That's called road feel and feedback. The AMG engineers spend a lot of time making sure there's feedback through the chassis and the steering on a 63 so the driver can feel the condition of the road, level of grip and what the tires are doing. That's intentional. You are used to a compromised suspension from your lowered C400. Lowering a car ruins the suspension geometry and reduces the range of travel for the dampers. A stock C400 is also not a 63, so it doesn't have as much feedback as a 63.
Having said that, the GLC being an SUV is naturally sprung stiffer even with Airmatic. My C63 drives and rides much better than the GLC63. The latter has to manage a lot more weight and a higher center of gravity. It does still provide a level of rest comfort, but at the same time it has to wrangle the weight and high center of gravity to keep it somewhat flat in high speed corners. Obviously more so in Sport+ than in Comfort, but ultimately there are limits to how comfortable the suspension can be made while still needing to provide proper body control when throwing it around corners.
One way of having the cake and eat it, too is by adding active roll stabilization which many newer generation performance SUVs are getting these days. Active roll stabilization allows for the roll bars to relax during normal straight line driving and make the suspension very comfortable, but then tighten up around corners. This system is available in the current generation of the GLC63 in the form of the optional AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL.
Thank you for your response, this is exactly what I wanted to hear! Yes, I can feel the weight and the what feels like all four tires on the steering wheel. You're right I'm not used to that type of feel from my C400. It felt different and I wanted to make sure the GLC was doing what it was built to do. Since received I've only driven it maybe 50 miles and I can't wait to drive it more and get more comfortable with it.
Again thank you for your response, hope to see you and your car around!
Thank you for your response, this is exactly what I wanted to hear! Yes, I can feel the weight and the what feels like all four tires on the steering wheel. You're right I'm not used to that type of feel from my C400. It felt different and I wanted to make sure the GLC was doing what it was built to do. Since received I've only driven it maybe 50 miles and I can't wait to drive it more and get more comfortable with it.
Again thank you for your response, hope to see you and your car around!
Nothing to add except: Enjoy the 63 experience. From one owner to another.
I’ve had this type of experience regularly on this forum. Everyone is here to help!!
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
