513bhp 6.2-litre Merc replacement for RS4?

[richierobs]

My Avant was three years old earlier this year, got me thinking about what I'd replace it with...

This thing looks like it'd be worth considering, but I'd still miss quattro in the winter:

What do you reckon?


http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/25382 ... 2c659db1d2

[Steve_C]

Looks tempting but I'm not a fan of automatics. Why not stick with the RS4 for another year or so?

[approved]

70 grand?

madness.

e63 maybe but not for a c-class, especially not one wrapped in matt..

each to their own but thats just a bloody con.

i'd be buing a nice used one, for about 47 ( a year old?) and getting it tweaked to black spec...

leaving about 25 grand in the bank for an xbow/ariel atom/big bag of bugle/whatever takes your fancy...

[Brooner]

i would be tempted if the did a quattro version

[don]

I think the C63 looks very nice and I have heard good things about the standard C63 estate which I believe is cheaper than a B7 RS4 was, at least down under.

Though I agree the quattro is missing and not sure if I'd want the stigma of driving a merc. Not as subtle as Audi I think.

[svassileou]

I'd be sorely tempted by a C63 AMG once my RS4 gets to five years old (assuming the C63's still in production at that time and funds allow such a purchase) - appreciably more room for back seat passengers, and the boot in the saloon is big enough to question the validity of the estate version. I sat in one at GFoS and was impressed.

I think the only real issues that have been reported on the C63 thus far that have tainted people's ownership experience are the life of the rear tyres and worn bolsters on the front seats - hmm, where have I heard that one before?

460bhp is, on the road, powerful enough perhaps without opting for any of the power upgrades (£5k for "performance pack plus" is a lot of change) but a locking diff would be sensible to have.

Forget venturing out in the snow, though.

[HYFR]

they've all been sold

[pippyrips]

I took one out for a test drive when i was deciding waht would follow the RS4.

It was back in early Jan and arranged the test drive purposely on a wet day to see how it coped with the power on the rear axle.

First impressions of the car were very good, it looks the business in black with the 19" wheels (a must imho) and the interior was a nice place to be. The sound was the best thing about the car - its amazing

The problems came when i started driving it. As mentioned earlier the roads were damp and the temp around 4 degrees but even without trying to push it too hard the T/C light was flashing pretty much all the time, and it almost did a 180 turn as I turned left at a junction!

For me It depends on what you want to use the car for, if its going to be an everyday car used all year round you I think you will find times when you wished you had picked something else. I’m sure in the dry it’s a great car but in the wet it has too much power going to the rear wheels meaning you won’t be able to push on like you can in the RS.

If its only going to be an occasional drive then you might be ok….

[svassileou]

The problems came when i started driving it. As mentioned earlier the roads were damp and the temp around 4 degrees but even without trying to push it too hard the T/C light was flashing pretty much all the time, and it almost did a 180 turn as I turned left at a junction!

For me It depends on what you want to use the car for, if its going to be an everyday car used all year round you I think you will find times when you wished you had picked something else. I’m sure in the dry it’s a great car but in the wet it has too much power going to the rear wheels meaning you won’t be able to push on like you can in the RS.

If its only going to be an occasional drive then you might be ok….

Bit like driving a more practical Caterham 7, then. Tempting....

[drcarrera]

For some reason Mercs seem to leave me cold (the wife drives an SLK so I've driven quite a few C/E class courtesy cars). The equivilent Audi or Beemer always seem better from the drivers seat.
And as stated above, I don't like automatics either (which is a problem when looking for somethig to replace the RS4!).

[PetrolDave]

I'd still miss quattro in the winter

Which means the Merc can never be a replacement for the RS4.

It was hilarious last winter when all the "normal" cars were slipping and sliding and struggling for grip to just drive straight past them - quattro plus ESP plus good throttle control is hard to beat without having a "Chelsea Tractor".

[xyber]

One of my customers has a C63 AMG estate. The sound immense but the interior isn't even close to Audi

[parlee-king]

I very very nearly ordered a C63 estate last year, but having been almost stranded several times in my 335D in the light snow.
I changed my mind to buy a S4 avant, but the Audi dealer let me drive an RS4 the same day and that fixed my mind.

The C63 in 450 bhp form was fantastic it must be awesome with the 513bhp engine...but the replacement AMG engine (V8 twin turbo) just announced in the S63 & CL63 is a stonker
536bhp and 590lb ft (or 563bhp and 663lb ft when configured with an optional performance package).
Now with the additional 100+ torque that will NEED 4wd even more

[sonny]

the 7 speed Tiptronic is fantastic. F1 style flash break lights, auto tightening seat belts when wheels loose traction...all good stuff that I wish my RS4 had.

However has Dave said above regarding the snow, these cars are not all weather, if you live on a hill forget it.

[don]

I agree the new S4 Avant is a nice option particulary if you are going to get rid of it anyway after a few years given the FSI gunk build up.

Other options I would consider is a 335 xi touring (same gunk problem) or what about a nice Audi Quattro Avant 3.0 TDI?