2009 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Windham ME

September 29, 2009   By Jon Alain Guzik, Editor-in-Chief



2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
DriverSide Overview
There are plenty of entry-premium luxury cars out there claiming to have the brawn to go ten rounds with their sporty competition, but how many of them actually have the mettle (and metal) to back it up? Not as many as you would think. The idea of trying to combine a luxury car with a lithe fighting stance you’d expect out of a sports car is problematic on just about every level. Something just has to give. Do you go for the stiff, planted ride of the sports car at the cost of comfort, or go the opposite way and suffer in the corners? Do you hear every last dripping horsepower under the hood or mute them in exchange for a quiet cabin? That’s the task Mercedes-Benz’s engineers tackled with the C63 AMG . With an impressive 6.3-liter V-8 out front and a suspension to bear the grunt, this car puts its predecessor to shame. Is this luxury with a razor’s edge? Oh yes. Yes it is.
 







What's to Like
The mark of a true sports car is balance, and the C63 AMG serves it up in heaping servings. While you might expect the 451 horsepower to be too much to handle, the optional limited-slip differential – part of the AMG Performance Package at $3,990 – makes power delivery smooth and accessible. Powerful brakes and a refined suspension all make for an exhilarating driving experience without putting you on edge. Oh, and then there’s the sound it makes. You’ll like it. A lot.
 
What's Not to Like
This car’s styling isn’t for everyone. The C63 builds on the ‘love it, or leave it’ foundation of the current C Class, complicating things – for those who are complicated by power and muscle – with an aggressive front fascia and tuner-esque five-spoke wheels. While we like, some may not. One main problem, at 3,800 lbs, this car isn’t a lightweight. While Mercedes-Benz has done a great job setting up this car’s suspension, the feeling of heft around the corners is somewhat noticeable.
 
The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
From the get go, the C63 AMG conveys a singular purpose – to make and maintain speed. The high-bolstered leather seats hold you snug like a bespoke suit and your palms find the flat-bottomed steering wheel almost intuitively. The engine comes to life with a rumble befitting a 6.3-liter V-8, and while we may be laying waste to the environment with every blip of the throttle, we could care less. With the throttle to the floor and the engine blaring a soundtrack befitting a World War II Spitfire, flipping through the gears via the column-mounted shift paddles comes almost as quick as 100 mph does. This car darts to 60 in under 4.5 seconds – faster than the current BMW M3.

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