Buying Guide Mercedes-AMG C63 W205
The W205 C63 had a very hard act to follow because its predecessor, the W204 C63, was so awesome and so popular, and while this was a very different car, slightly less raw and wild perhaps, it was no less impressive.
Buying Guide W205 C63 AMG OVER £20K
WHY YOU WANT ONE
It’s a spectacular performance saloon and there’s a lot about this machine that makes it a very tempting proposition. Let’s begin under the bonnet with the M177; yes, the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 might not have had the alluring NA character nor the displacement of the M156, but it made up for that with its sheer performance and tuning potential. Producing 476hp and 479lb ft of torque in standard guise and 510hp and 516lb ft in S form, the W205 C63 is insanely rapid, with a 0-62 time of just 4.1 seconds (4.0 dead for the S). It’s an absolute monster with relentless performance and AMG did an amazing job of endowing it would a soundtrack that doesn’t disappoint and it feels like the perfect blend of old-school V8 muscle and modern tech.
AMG’s engineers also did an excellent job on the chassis and the C63 is a sharp steer that effortlessly entertains while the addition of an LSD as standard makes deploying all that power and torque so much more manageable. After the aggressive, angular lines of the W204, the W205’s well-used bar of soap shape, all slippery and rounded, wasn’t to all tastes and the AMG incarnation is almost a little too subtle for its own good, but then again discretion and sleeper appeal has always been a big part of AMG’s DNA. No complaints on the interior front, mind, with the W205’s cabin feeling upmarket and futuristic, especially when the Premium Package was specced and added things like the pano roof and Burmester audio, and we’d definitely have that on our shopping list along with the switchable Performance Exhaust option. The C63 S added 19s as standard along with the Performance seats and they look fantastic, though some have said that can give you a numb bum due to their lack of padding, so try before you buy.
WHAT TO PAY
Prices start from around £28,000 but if you’re being particular about spec and don’t want a silver car with black leather and 18s you’ll likely have to spend closer to £30,000 and above, and at this price point, you will be spoilt for choice. For £50 shy of £30k you can pick up a C63 with Premium Pack and just 30,000 miles and we found a similarly priced example with just 22,000 miles, while if you are on the hunt for an S they start to appear from £37,000. If you fancy an estate, we spotted one with 65,000 miles up for £29,000 and a 40k-mile example up for £33,000; if you want to park a coupé on your drive, meanwhile, you can pick up an approved used example with just over 20,000 miles for £37,000 while an S with just under 50,000 miles will cost you £40,000 and this is where the cheapest convertibles appear, with around 40k miles, while a 26,000-mile S will set you back £45,000.
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR
At five years old, the W205 C63 is still a pretty new car and, thus far, it has been proving reliable but there have been several issues that have come to light and that you should be aware of. The M177 twin-turbo V8 hasn’t revealed any serious common faults but it is known to suffer from misfires and people have reported problems with some hoses (boost and wastegate) kinking or splitting. There’s also a fault where the low oil warning light will come on, but when the level is checked using the dipstick it’s fine. The gearbox has also been criticised for being jerky in Comfort mode at low speeds and when coming to a stop; several owners have complained about this so it’s something to be aware of. A few people have also reported problems with the electronic diff lock becoming inoperative.
The majority of other problems are all to do with the general build quality of the car; people have had exterior Night Package trim coming loose, door handle LEDs burning out and door panels buzzing due to speaker resonance. In addition to this, there are problems with the dashboard squeaking when it’s cold, the sunroof creaking, loose trim pieces on the driver’s seat rattling, rattles from the sat-nav screen and the COMAND system can also freeze up, as well as creaking and rattling coming from the top of the door where the window meets the frame, which can be improved by lubricating the area.
VERDICT
If you’re in the market for a mid-sized performance saloon that does everything well, the C63 is seriously hard to beat. The engine is an absolute peach, delivering huge amounts of power and torque that make the C63 almost unreasonably fast, and it sounds great with it. The chassis is impressively sharp, the LSD helping to put the power down and ensuring you can get the most out of the car, and it’s an entertaining machine. Then you’ve got the impressive levels of comfort and practicality and while perhaps the styling is a little safe, it’s still a good-looking car and one that offers up an incredibly compelling all-round package, and one that’s almost impossible to beat.