My Take II: M3 vs C63

[WRXXX]

Had a chance to take the C63 couple out for a spin as well. Here's my take on it:

C63 Coupe

I love how aggressive the front end looks but from the side profile and back end, its a disappointment. I am sure most people have heard about the Accord similarity and sadly I find this to be true. I really don't understand it... its like the designers tried extremely hard on the front end and then call it a day. I find the M3 looks more sleek and sexy at any angle. You tend to find yourself admiring every curve and detail. I give it a 7/10 for the C63 and 9/10 for the M3 in the looks dept.

Once inside the C63 however you are served with top notch materials. You feel like you are in something special unlike the M3 which looks rather bland and depressing. I sure the M division wanted a simple no-nonsense interior when designing the M3 but it just doesn't look that much different from the regular 3 series. The C63 gets your attention just by its sexy flat-bottom steering wheel alone. I find Audi's interior to be overly designed while BMW's are way to basic. The Merc's are just perfect (except for those stupid '80's telephone number buttons).

Now for the good stuff: driving and handling. I never complain about the torque on the M3. I don't know why people say it is lacking. The gearing and how torque is available 80% of the time early on and all the way to red line makes it deceptively fast. And since you can't feel it, I guess this is why people tend to think the M3 does not have any low-end grunt. Well on the C63 there won't be any issue at all with torque. The big bad motor just shoves you from behind like a big school bully. And to me this is what AMG is all about! Massive street fun at a push of the right foot. And my god that sound! I find myself gunning the car just to hear the devil himself howl. Fck polar bears and ice caps. Engine, sound and all around bad-ass goes to the C63 no doubt. Throttle response is nice too but not as sharp as the M3 on Sport Plus setting.

Handling on the C63 was also quite good. Surprisingly good as a matter of fact. If it was strictly on the streets, I doubt anybody would notice the difference in both cars. Now where the C63 falls short is the steering feel. I had it dial to Sport+ (or whatever it is called) and the feel is just lacking. I find it too light and too vague. On a $30k car this would be acceptable but for a car of this caliber, it is quite disappointing. The MCT was a bit rough but I have never driven a DCT on the M3 so I can't really comment. Besides, I am a manual for life kind of guy so I'll just leave it at that. So for me, the M3 wins hands down for steering feel simply for fact that it is so crisp and direct.

All in all, I was hoping the C63 would wow me over (and quite frankly it almost did). However I just can't get over its steering feel. But this is because I am spoiled by the M3's. I doubt this will be a deal breaker for most people when shopping for both cars. With that being said the C63 is just a hair away from the M3 in terms of capabilities. However to me fun and excitement are more important then numbers around the track. To describe both car's personality, I would say the M3 is more like GSP: cool, confident, extremely effective but not as fun to watch him fight compare to the C63's Bones Jones (yeah, yeah, I know they are not even in the same division). If I were to choose between the two, I'll have a really hard time but in the end I am still more of a GSP fan for some reason =)

[CSanto]

great take and review. The car you drove was not a P31 car correct?

[nick3753]

I had similar thoughts when I drove it. There was some play in the steering which felt out of place. The interior alone has almost swayed me away from buying an M3, but the exterior rear just kills it, plus no manual. I think the e coupe has a nicer rear quarter and wish the C coupe was closer to that. My 3 year old definitely enjoyed the C63 test drive more than in the M though. He loved the exhaust and engine note. Can't go wrong with either though, just personal preference.

[WRXXX]

^^^^Yeah, no performance package.

[Giccy]

Great write up. Itching for a chance to take one for a spin.

Can def use a refresh, rear is a total fail IMO.

Otherwise, sounds like a beast of a car that would be very fun to drive.

[e92_m3]

Saw one during my lunch break. The rear looks very similar to the accord, but more refined.

[ilya335]

Every time I see a c63 from the the side or rear quarter panel view, I can't really spot the differences from a regular C. There is the quad exhaust and diffuser but I've seen aftermarket version on regular C's that look almost identical. I really wish they flared the fenders more like they did on the M3, which looks aggressive from every angle.

[Hens]

I agree, I havent driven the new coupe, but the sedan I drove (no performance package either, and a 2010 model) just felt a bit vague in the steering, almost floaty.

I actually drove the m3 after and felt much more connected to the car. Needless to say thats what I ended up buying, the c63 was ahead of the m3 on paper alone though.

[graider]

sound like a fair review. yeah, i hate the accord rear.

[nick3753]

Originally Posted by Hens

I agree, I havent driven the new coupe, but the sedan I drove (no performance package either, and a 2010 model) just felt a bit vague in the steering, almost floaty.

I actually drove the m3 after and felt much more connected to the car. Needless to say thats what I ended up buying, the c63 was ahead of the m3 on paper alone though.

2011 model (including sedan) is much improved.

[991GT3]

Originally Posted by username11

2nd hand CLK63 Black is a better deal.

If you need a fuctional better driving car with a warranty a CLK63 Black Series isn't a better deal. The Black has no back seating area and its transmission is inferior to a new C63(or M3).

[alms211]

Originally Posted by ilya335

Every time I see a c63 from the the side or rear quarter panel view, I can't really spot the differences from a regular C. There is the quad exhaust and diffuser but I've seen aftermarket version on regular C's that look almost identical. I really wish they flared the fenders more like they did on the M3, which looks aggressive from every angle.

agree 100%. Love the front end, side profile is OK....hate the rear.

[991GT3]

Originally Posted by username11

True. Yet if it's not your daily it remains a better car. I don't see it as a tough choice between a near exotic or a Honda Accord derivative with a quad exhaust and a big engine. But hey, you owned one..

IMO, the CLK63 BS is vastly overrated. It looks cool and sounds incredible but it really isn't a great track car(awful slushbox, heavy) and if you use it as a DD it gets terrible mpg and burns through tires plus there is no way it can be driven in a winter climate.
I had a '09 GTR and the CLK63BS at the same time and felt like I had too much cash in sports cars. So I decided I had to get rid of one. It wasn't a difficult decision.

[AtlM5]

as far as coupes go I would defanetly got for the M3 but if your looking at sedans its a tougher choice...if your a big amg fan and want 2 doors IMO a used clk63BS is the way to go

[IFX]

love the new steering wheel in the 63.

[klammer]

Originally Posted by AtlM5

as far as coupes go I would defanetly got for the M3 but if your looking at sedans its a tougher choice...if your a big amg fan and want 2 doors IMO a used clk63BS is the way to go

I find the opposite to be true. For me there is no better 4 door track car/DD than an m3. Not sure how many clkBS's your going to see on track... Cough, cough....
None

[SCCAForums.com]

Originally Posted by WRXXX

Had a chance to take the C63 couple out for a spin as well. Here's my take on it:

C63 Coupe

I love how aggressive the front end looks but from the side profile and back end, its a disappointment. I am sure most people have heard about the Accord similarity and sadly I find this to be true. I really don't understand it... its like the designers tried extremely hard on the front end and then call it a day. I find the M3 looks more sleek and sexy at any angle. You tend to find yourself admiring every curve and detail. I give it a 7/10 for the C63 and 9/10 for the M3 in the looks dept.

I personally think you got it backwards... the C63 looks great from the rear... the front... now looks barely different than a c350... Very disappointed in the new front lines... C63 Sedan looks far 'tougher' IMO

[pedrobot]

Originally Posted by WRXXX

<SNIP>.....Fck polar bears and ice caps. Engine, sound and all around bad-ass goes to the C63 no doubt.
<SNIP>

ROFL
Best one-liner nominee.

Nice review.

[kchu221]

nice review! but i still think the M3 looks ten times better then the c63...

[YolkyPalky]

Sounds like the C63 AMG with its slushbox automatic probably is faster than the M3 if all you are considering is a straight-line drag race.

However, when put to a track test, the M3 routinely beats the C63. I've read some people say in a C63 when making a fast lane change they can feel the suspension swaying the car back and forth, this is why in a professional track test the C63 is fishtailing out of control while the M3 eats its lunch with perfect balance and chasis structure.

And I submit that real-life daily driving is much more like a "track test" than a "drag race", i.e. making left turns, right turns, slowing then reaccelerating then turning, etc. etc. I think that is why many people prefer the M3 over the C63, it just handles better. However, if you're the front car at a stoplight and want the fastest dragster to the next light, then C63 would be for you.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by YolkyPalky

Sounds like the C63 AMG with its slushbox automatic probably is faster than the M3 if all you are considering is a straight-line drag race.

However, when put to a track test, the M3 routinely beats the C63. I've read some people say in a C63 when making a fast lane change they can feel the suspension swaying the car back and forth, this is why in a professional track test the C63 is fishtailing out of control while the M3 eats its lunch with perfect balance and chasis structure.

And I submit that real-life daily driving is much more like a "track test" than a "drag race", i.e. making left turns, right turns, slowing then reaccelerating then turning, etc. etc. I think that is why many people prefer the M3 over the C63, it just handles better. However, if you're the front car at a stoplight and want the fastest dragster to the next light, then C63 would be for you.

Yolky... did you just search for "C63" and then cut and paste your response over and over and over again... this is #3

[Keik E92 M3]

Originally Posted by gthal

Yolky... did you just search for "C63" and then cut and paste your response over and over and over again... this is #3

I have been seeing alot of new members doing this lately.