MERCEDES-AMG C63 S CABRIOLET by Tony Yates
If you talk to anyone about buying a AMG Mercedes – they will automatically think you are a ‘ yobbo ’ and cast you aside thinking the only possible reason you had for buying one in the first place - was because you wanted to annoy every other road user with a loud exhaust and pimped wheel arches . And , in a way I have to agree up to a point , because there is a young chap who lives just round the corner from me who thinks owning an AMG means he needs to have a stereo the size of ‘ The Planet Earth ’ – and wheels that would not look out of place on a JCB . Well I would like you to forget all about that now and instead focus on the Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet – because actually this could just be the new soft top you have been yearning for .
Power and Efficiency : The C63 is powered by what can only be described as an engine so big that it would not look out of place powering the USS Enterprise . I ’ m not kidding – what this huge lump of Kryptonite can achieve boggles the mind . Even pressing the ‘ start button ’ has enough of an impact to spin your eyeballs for about a week . Also , pressing the throttle fully home will have a similar effect and start a massive chain reaction where basically all ‘ Hell ’ will break lose - It ’ s like being part of a mass prison breakout , but you being the only person they are actually looking to catch for causing such mayhem in the first place . In a way engaging warp-drive in the C63 is like having ‘ Satan ’ sitting in the passenger seat - egging you on at every possible opportunity . So , just for those of you who think I am over indulging myself - here are some of the engine stats ; AMG 4.0-liter V8 biturbo , displacement ( cc ) 3982 , power ( kW / hp ) 375 / 510 , torque ( Nm @ rpm ) 700 @ 1750 – 4500 , acceleration ; 0-62mph in 4.1seconds . Top speed 155mph which is electronically limited ; with the AMG Driver ’ s Package that goes up to 170mph plus . So , now I have all that power – I decided to take the C63 to a racing circuit I know not far from where I live , and on arrival there were a few cars on the track such as the Focus RS , a BMW M5 and funny enough a Audi S5 . So how did it fair against the Focus RS – Well let ’ s just say I passed the Focus while I was adjusting my air vent - whilst also thinking about what I could have for my tea when I returned home . The Audi though was a little harder – but ‘ power ’ wins in most cases and it was quickly dispatched into my rear view mirror . The BMW M5 however was a bit more challenging – but in the right mode and with the will of a crazy man at the wheel , I managed to pass the M5 on the start and finish straight – mainly because the C63 is better at getting it ’ s power down earlier on and well before the M5 ’ s computer had even decided what to do next , whereas the AMG had been there already and was already galloping off into the distance . After a few hot laps , the BMW finally gave up and decided to go for a milkshake instead . It ’ s strange though – because both these cars on paper are evenly matched , but it was the more composed C63 that had the edge on the day and for me was the better car . To be honest – I am not sure what BMW have done to the latest M5 , it actually looks slower than it was before and in my opinion it has lost some of its dominating characteristics – which is a real shame .
On the road : Remember when I said earlier that driving around in the C63 was like riding with ‘ Satan ’ – well , that ’ s not always the case if I ’ m being honest . If you do decide to drive it around a very small village at less than 30mph – then it ’ s perfectly fine , but the sound coming from the rear of the C63 will pretty much scare anyone within a 50 yard radius . Out on the open road – the C63 acts just like a normal car under normal road conditions . As long as you remember that it ’ s like trying to control a Tiger in a ‘ straight jacket ’ and any sudden movement of the throttle will send it into a frenzy of power vs traction – which means in the wrong hands – it can all go terribly wrong very quickly indeed . But because AMG are level headed – the C63 is fitted with so many safety features – that even the most idiotic of drivers would struggle to get it out of shape . For improved traction the C 63 ‘ S ’ also comes with an electronic rear-axle limited-slip differential to help reduce the slip on the inside wheel when cornering , without control interventions in the braking system . The advantage : it allows the driver to accelerate out of corners earlier thanks to the improved traction . The car remains more stable when braking from high speeds . And the limited-slip differential also improves traction when moving off . So , with all this technology in hand - you really can use the C63 just like a normal car – some would even go as far to say in normal driving conditions is actually quite boring .
Design & Technology : As with all AMG models the attention to detail is staggering – and the interior of the C63 S Cabriolet offers a wealth of fine details , all of which have been carefully selected , using high-grade materials whose feel and precise workmanship produce a level of perceived quality that is second to none . Take the instrument panel for instance – it is trimmed with black ARTICO man-made leather with contrasting topstitching – along with the sporty and dynamic ambience all around the interior and nothing I have been in for a while now has felt this good . You can even opt for performance seating as an alternative to the standard-fit sports seats : these allow the occupants a lower seating position and are more strongly contoured for increased lateral support .
To sum up : What can I say – The AMG C63 S Cabriolet is a machine that is as tame as a little fluffy kitten . One point though - If ‘ Satan ’ did own a car – then I am pretty sure without a doubt it would be the AMG C63 S .
Price : From £ 73,770 tony @ yatesmedia . co . uk
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