My test drive
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2007 Corvette Z06/2011 BMW M3
My test drive
As most of you know, I've been looking at a few cars and the new E63-S is one of them. I made an appointment the other day to test drive one today. I picked my brother up and we headed off. I get there and was greeted by the salesman. He said the car is not ready yet. They are detailing it because it just came in. Ok, so we hang out and BS with the salesman. 5 minutes later, a tech or the detail guy drives the car up to the front of the dealership. We head out and we're floored at how awesome this thing looks. It is a black on black S model with the night pkge and black wheels. I havent really been interested in the night pkge because I wanted a black car to begin with and didnt feel that extra black was gonna contribute to the looks. Boy was I wrong. It looked as mean and stealthy as could be. I was pleasantly surprised how good it looked. Pics DO NOT do this car justice nor the night pkge either. I took the time to really look at it all around and snap some pics. WOW.
So, we get in and the salesman goes over some stuff and then we head off. I wanted to drive it both locally and on the highway. I drove it in all the different modes and could tell a big difference between the S and S+. More snappier, responsive. Louder exhaust. The Comfort mode is more lazy, good for cruising long distance. I could also tell a big difference between the different suspension settings. From totally off and being compliant to full on stiff, but responsive. I liked the ride in all modes. The interior is really nice. Nappa leather everywhere. It had the Carbon fiber trim that looked nice. The alcantara steering wheel felt so nice. The side bolsters of the seats really hold you in, and the refreshed center console looked very nice. The power felt strong, but maybe I was expecting a little more thrust. I'm sure its because the car only had 20 miles on it. I'm not really complaining. It felt strong, but I was just expecting a little more. I'm sure with some miles on it, it will really wake up. I had it up to 90mph and it felt rock solid. The exhaust sounds awesome. I love how Mercedes factory installs a loud exhaust on their luxury performance cars. Its a big thing for me to feel connected to a car, and the exhaust note plays a big part. All in all, I loved the car. I loved the interior and I LOVED the way in looks. Now I gotta be patient and wait till May to order. Here are some pics I took. Enjoy.
![](http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/DinoBravo23/photo30_zpsfe6cb55f.jpg)
![](http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/DinoBravo23/photo_42_zpsaf1e6608.jpg)
![](http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/DinoBravo23/photo_12_zps2f285bcf.jpg)
![](http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/DinoBravo23/photo_22_zps90ab50f4.jpg)
So, we get in and the salesman goes over some stuff and then we head off. I wanted to drive it both locally and on the highway. I drove it in all the different modes and could tell a big difference between the S and S+. More snappier, responsive. Louder exhaust. The Comfort mode is more lazy, good for cruising long distance. I could also tell a big difference between the different suspension settings. From totally off and being compliant to full on stiff, but responsive. I liked the ride in all modes. The interior is really nice. Nappa leather everywhere. It had the Carbon fiber trim that looked nice. The alcantara steering wheel felt so nice. The side bolsters of the seats really hold you in, and the refreshed center console looked very nice. The power felt strong, but maybe I was expecting a little more thrust. I'm sure its because the car only had 20 miles on it. I'm not really complaining. It felt strong, but I was just expecting a little more. I'm sure with some miles on it, it will really wake up. I had it up to 90mph and it felt rock solid. The exhaust sounds awesome. I love how Mercedes factory installs a loud exhaust on their luxury performance cars. Its a big thing for me to feel connected to a car, and the exhaust note plays a big part. All in all, I loved the car. I loved the interior and I LOVED the way in looks. Now I gotta be patient and wait till May to order. Here are some pics I took. Enjoy.
![](http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/DinoBravo23/photo30_zpsfe6cb55f.jpg)
![](http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/DinoBravo23/photo_42_zpsaf1e6608.jpg)
![](http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/DinoBravo23/photo_12_zps2f285bcf.jpg)
![](http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/DinoBravo23/photo_22_zps90ab50f4.jpg)
![](http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/DinoBravo23/photo_51_zpsd7a4a1b0.jpg)
Last edited by 6.3AMG; 12-13-2013 at 10:59 PM.
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2007 Corvette Z06/2011 BMW M3
They had that non S model in the back ground. I checked that car out last weekend with my brother. Its standard black with light brown designo leather and piano black trim. I LOVED the light brown interior. They had informed me that day that an S model was coming in during the week. Thats when I made the appointment for the test drive. They also have a white S model at their other dealership and 2 AMG wagons coming in. They are a pretty big dealership. The owner of the dealership(the salesmans dad), used to work at Manhattan Mercedes(headquarters) so he must have some pull too. I have yet to see any on the road though.
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19 E63s(wifeys) & a 21 GLE580
By chance can you tell which dealership this is at (or PM me)? We are heading to NY this week to play around and I want my wife to see a black one with brown interior to try and talk her into it.
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2007 Corvette Z06/2011 BMW M3
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CLA45 is a sweet car, not sure its worth the price. Need to drive one though before i make that judgement. Has anyone driven both an S and a non S??? would love to hear the difference
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They have a red CLA45 in the showroom. It looks good. I sat in it and while some of the parts are like the other cars in the Mercedes lineup, you can see and feel the cheap plastics they used for cost cutting. It wouldnt be so bad if it werent so expensive though. $60K is a joke for that car IMO.
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^ totally agree, i think the one that came to my dealer was close to 70k, i love the car, but ill get a CPO'd c63 for that price! How close are you to PA?? you should come to some pittsburgh cars and coffee events!
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They have a red CLA45 in the showroom. It looks good. I sat in it and while some of the parts are like the other cars in the Mercedes lineup, you can see and feel the cheap plastics they used for cost cutting. It wouldnt be so bad if it werent so expensive though. $60K is a joke for that car IMO.
#17
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Prudent optioning nets a very competent performance vehicle for mid $50's. AWD and newest MB tech makes the CLA45 a pretty sweet little ride.
Owners of the new S63, might think it odd that one might drop $120-125K on an E63.
The CLA45 is a car that either makes sense for a buyer, or it doesn't. I wouldn't spend $85K for a C-class, but I would consider 70% of that on a neat little car toy like the CLA.
Owners of the new S63, might think it odd that one might drop $120-125K on an E63.
The CLA45 is a car that either makes sense for a buyer, or it doesn't. I wouldn't spend $85K for a C-class, but I would consider 70% of that on a neat little car toy like the CLA.
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That's a very good point and I'm couldn't agree more with you. They really tried to cut corners in that car. And the leg room is horrible and even worse in the back seat, just when I thought a C-class was compact ha! Besides @ $60k you can pick up a lot of 2011 & 2012 AMGs!
Prudent optioning nets a very competent performance vehicle for mid $50's. AWD and newest MB tech makes the CLA45 a pretty sweet little ride.
Owners of the new S63, might think it odd that one might drop $120-125K on an E63.
The CLA45 is a car that either makes sense for a buyer, or it doesn't. I wouldn't spend $85K for a C-class, but I would consider 70% of that on a neat little car toy like the CLA.
Owners of the new S63, might think it odd that one might drop $120-125K on an E63.
The CLA45 is a car that either makes sense for a buyer, or it doesn't. I wouldn't spend $85K for a C-class, but I would consider 70% of that on a neat little car toy like the CLA.
#19
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Ok, so if you were doing the same thing with the CLA45, then you'd be looking at a car in the low $50s. Half the cost of an E63. For that price, one is buying a very competent swiss army knife... quick, fast, trackable, all weather versatile, back seat in a pinch.
I nearly bought a zero-option E63, but didn't pull the trigger fast enough. I would have been just as pleased as I am with the mid-optioned car I bought.
I nearly bought a zero-option E63, but didn't pull the trigger fast enough. I would have been just as pleased as I am with the mid-optioned car I bought.
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I hear ya. There is a nearly no option E63-S right row on cars.com in Lunar blue with cream beige interior. It looks like only wheel locks is the only option. Cant go wrong for only $100,XXX.
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...nal&listType=1
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...nal&listType=1
#21
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I hear ya. There is a nearly no option E63-S right row on cars.com in Lunar blue with cream beige interior. It looks like only wheel locks is the only option. Cant go wrong for only $100,XXX.
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...nal&listType=1
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...nal&listType=1
That is a really nice unit. An entirely different look from the oh so very serious silvers and blacks over black so prevalent on the east coast.
Brown Ash trim woulda looked super good in that interior.
I know for a fact that the boss would have me on a plane heading to south FLA to pick that one up, if I was still in shopping mode.
Our W211 is in Capri Blue. She ***HAD*** to have that color.
#23
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I drove the cla45 on the track in Vegas. Fun car and the DCT really helps it shine. AWD too. They were saying that the CLA45 has the highest output per litre of any production car save the mclaren P1. It's got a lot going for it. With Benz moving the c class up market the cla will get a lot of people into their first AMG.