Want a Mercedes C63 AMG? You should!

It’s been a busy week, and apart from the real kick of having a Ferrari 599 to play with, I had a couple of hours with the somewhat mad Mercedes C63 AMG (it would have been even madder if it had been a C55!). Now I’ve already said what a great engine this first ‘Real’ AMG engine is in the E63, but in the C63 it is a real hoot.

I can’t resist saying again what an incredibly linear wave of power this engine gives. It really doesn’t seem to matter what speed you are going, or what gear you are in, you just get what feels like an unstoppable wave of real acceleration and power. It is very intoxicating.

This car has really impressive handling. It is firm, yes, but with enough give to make it really comfortable. But it doesn’t affect the handling. It just makes it a much more pleasant place to be when you’re not thrashing around. That really is a great trick. Yes, it falls behind both its BMW and Audi rivals in a variety of areas, but absolutes are not what cars like these are about. They are about usability. These cars are usually bought as a main mode of transport. There needs to be compromise.

These C63s have been selling by the bucketful, and with justification. We’ve already sourced a few, and it seems we have just one Mercedes C63 AMG for sale left, so if this car floats your boat, be quick.

So, M3 or C63? That, just like the decision between the E63 and M5, is tough. And the same judgement keeps coming. C63 for the real world and M3 for a mad blat. I really can’t see it any other way.

Well done Mercedes. This is the best sporting car you’ve made in a generation.