The Drive

2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
The 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG has a base price of $53,800.

Fast, Fun...and Fuelish

We got acquainted with the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG during a day-long preview drive divided between fast rural highways in central Arizona and tours around Firebird Raceway near Phoenix. Power was effortless and immediate in either venue, no surprise with the brawny V8 and brainy automatic transmission. Shifts are a tad more abrupt in Sport mode versus Comfort, though not enough to grouse about, and they're darn quick on any setting. The brakes are more than up to the performance. Even at slightly extra-legal speeds--we'd have gone faster, but our conscience said no--this car just hunkers down and stops. No muss, no fuss.

The AMG-tuned suspension naturally helps with that. It's also responsible for the C63's minimal cornering lean and rock-stable highway feel. The quick-ratio steering is a trifle dead on-center, but turn-in response is sharp and overall effort just right. Dry-road grip is tenacious, but be careful. There's enough power on tap to unstick the rear end even with the ESP engaged; switch it off and you'll need be very gentle with the gas in tight corners to avoid provoking an inopportune tail slide. Of course, "drifting" can be huge fun for a skilled driver in safe conditions, but our conscience asks that you please not try it on public roads.

Ride is firm, but not brick-hard in the way of many high-performance cars, this despite the low-profile tires. Some sharp bumps will register, perhaps enough to upset cornering composure, but the stiff structure minimizes jolt.

Refinement? Shockingly good by performance-car standards. Tire thrum is constant but tolerable, and highway wind rush nicely muffled. Engine noise is something else. From the outside, a C63 under full power sounds amazingly like a NASCAR machine, and doesn't seem much quieter. Inside, however, the V8 comes through as a just distant, delightful blend of high-pitched cam whine, low-pitched exhaust burble, and big-chested breathing, with the sound mix changing as the revs rise and fall. This aural experience is quite intoxicating to enthusiast ears, but seldom so raucous as to require raised voices or cranking up the stereo.

On the downside, the C63 has the same tight cabin as any other C-Class model. Rear-seaters are frankly cramped with six-footers up front, so for all practical purposes this nominal four-passenger sedan is a two-adults-plus-two-kids proposition. But the front seats are literally made-to-order for an enthusiast's car. Ditto the basic driving stance.

What's that, conscience? No, we didn't forget. The other big negative here is fuel "economy." We've already cited the dismal EPA ratings, but note this: Based on our preview drive, a C63's gas gauge will drop below the quarter-full mark after only about 250 miles, bad news for long highway trips. And there's probably a guzzler tax to be paid, though firm information wasn't available for this report.

Consolation Prize

As you might gather by now, we think the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is an impressive new performance sedan, a match for any rival in most respects and arguably the pick of the pack for dollar value and entertainment value. It's so good, in fact, that it makes the larger, pricier AMGs seem like wretched, reckless excess. So perhaps those with the means to buy a C63 will do so with a fairly clear conscience, consoled by the fact that they could have opted for something far more socially irresponsible. Yeah, right.

04.28.2008