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By Ben Barry
First Drives
02 March 2009 09:30
Seems like the Mercedes C63 AMG estate has a bit of breathing space. Why? Because if you’re in the market for a circa-£50k muscle estate, you’re options are seriously limited. BMW failed to come through with the M3 Touring and there’ll be no RS4 Avant this time (just the V6 S4 Avant and RS5 coupe), leaving you with the option of upsizing to the M5 or RS6 Touring V10s, or taking your life in your hands with a sub-£40k deal on the Chrysler 300C SRT-8 or a very random punt on an Aussie-import VXR8 estate. See what we mean?
Quite possibly. But there’s still – albeit greatly reduced – demand for performance saloons, so the C63 estate’s extra versatility could be just the ticket for petrolhead dads and active types. Of course, all the stuff we loved about the C63 saloon is present and correct too: the sure-footed, fun-to-exploit chassis; the refined and quick seven-speed auto; those brilliantly supportive bucket seats; and, last but not least, the frankly amazing 6.2-litre V8.
What an engine. There’s a muscle car soundtrack from down low and instant, rampant torque complemented by a hunger for revs and a buzzsaw scream towards the 6800rpm redline that first impressions tell you not to expect. Look at a C63 piston and you’ll get an idea as to why this is – it’s incredibly broad, allowing the stroke to be comparatively short to the benefit of soaring revs.
You do have to watch yourself, though. Turn the traction control off and it’s very, very easy to experience third gear powerslides on the road. Do the same in an M3 and the BMW will also oblige, but you have to make a much more determined effort to get it slipping.
>> Click next to read more on the Mercedes C63 AMG
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Mercedes C63 AMG Estate (2009) CAR review
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a t o m i c says
RE: Mercedes C63 AMG Estate (2009) CAR review
This car weighs only 5kg less than the M5 estate. MB, you've got a weight problem, not a power problem.
05 March 2009 17:18
jonescra says
Having recently bought one of the very last 4.2V8 S4's (pre-registered and £20k off list), I can confirm that there is a market for cars like this. They combine practicality, performance and (most importantly) anonymity. If you can afford the C63 you could obviously afford something jaw-droppingly beautiful, and if you can afford the running costs of it, you could afford to run an exotic. [As an side, the official figures are preposterous - my S4 does 12mpg]. However, in these straitened times driving around in, say a Quattroporte or a Bentley Continental, is inviting trouble. Likewise, driving a RR Sport or (God forbid) an X6, marks you down as an eco-terrorist. The only concern that Mercedes should have is that this is just too bling - rather mitigating against the anonymity point. The great thing about the S4 is that nobody gives it a second look, whereas this thing shouts look at me. And while I'm at it, why don't cars like this have sliding rear seats like in the early Twingos? It can't be beyond the wit of the German engineering boffins to develop a syatem suitably robust and plush for this class of cars, and the 90% of teh time when there is sod all in the bag the legroom would be astounding.
05 March 2009 17:03
calvinchann says
How is this car relevant?
05 March 2009 16:24
JBrakespeare says
I'm pretty sure a RS4 and its estate version will be built - Quattro GmbH will have to change its policy on only having one RS model at a time soon. BMW may also choose to make a M3 Estate eventually too. And yes, those Vauxhall VXR8s (HSV ClubSport R8 Tourers in Australia) aren't a very good alternative at all.
05 March 2009 12:34
DorianGray says
If I put my Labs in the back am I likely to incur the wrath of the RSPCA? What ever, I really really want one of these.
05 March 2009 11:38
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