I never thought I'd say this, but this C63 AMG makes the BMW M3 feel soft. I'm not surprised because the BMW is especially hardcore. It's not. But I am surprised because this is a Merc, and a Merc being more ferocious than a BMW is a rare thing in recent history.
And this thing is. There are weaknesses here. I don't especially like the throttle response - there isn't that linear delivery off it that you get in an M3, especially low down in the rev range. I don't like the gearchange - it's not quick enough in manual and it's a bit clunky in auto. Drop it into Sport in auto and it'll drop into gear with a real savagery.
But the rest of it? Simply awesome. Whether it's got the measure of an M3, I can't tell you - they're so close to call that if you don't drive them back to back, it's impossible to tell. But I know which engine I prefer: the V8 in this C63 sounds fantastic.
Massive slugs of acceleration, all accompanied by a really raw V8 noise. The M3 sounds a little tame in comparison, a wee bit muted. Dare I say it, even a bit civilised. Neither of these would disappoint, but make sure you've got a clean licence before you buy.
As Charlie Turner, TG magazine's Creative Director, eloquently put it: "In the C, you run out of room in this country."
And this thing is. There are weaknesses here. I don't especially like the throttle response - there isn't that linear delivery off it that you get in an M3, especially low down in the rev range. I don't like the gearchange - it's not quick enough in manual and it's a bit clunky in auto. Drop it into Sport in auto and it'll drop into gear with a real savagery.
But the rest of it? Simply awesome. Whether it's got the measure of an M3, I can't tell you - they're so close to call that if you don't drive them back to back, it's impossible to tell. But I know which engine I prefer: the V8 in this C63 sounds fantastic.
Massive slugs of acceleration, all accompanied by a really raw V8 noise. The M3 sounds a little tame in comparison, a wee bit muted. Dare I say it, even a bit civilised. Neither of these would disappoint, but make sure you've got a clean licence before you buy.
As Charlie Turner, TG magazine's Creative Director, eloquently put it: "In the C, you run out of room in this country."
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