Merc C63 AMG Video

[buyalemon]

http://www.automotorsport.se/tv/?m=11430

Swedish testdrive ...V8 sounds magic!!!

"Mercedes bought a M3 CSL and an RS4 for comparision when the C63 were tested trough it's paces"

[Leadfoot]

Call me stupid but I don't see this as a rival to the RS4/M3 as it is to the likes of the M5/E63. You can't get pass the fact that it's got an automatic box and with the best will in the world it's not as entertaining as a proper manual and because of this I can't see myself ever buying one.

Sure it's quicker than the others and I reckon it will be still quickest from A to B unless it's slippery of course ;) but it can't provide the same driver interaction of the other.

P.S.

You should see it beside the others though, who would have ever a thought that a Merc would look the most extreme. :MTM:

OAP should not apply. ;)

[artur777]

Leadfoot, people say that this time Merc managed to build a great car.
So let's wait for it times and opinion from car testers.
Not a long period to wait for.

[Leadfoot]

Leadfoot, people say that this time Merc managed to build a great car.
So let's wait for it times and opinion from car testers.
Not a long period to wait for.

Trust me mate, this thing will be other worldly quick compared to the RS4 or M3, but from the experience I have with the 7sp Merc automatic I can't believe that they have managed to improve it to a level that I reckon I would class it acceptable, the thing doesn't always do as you request at times and in a car designed for pure entertainment I think a gearbox which does as you want is a main requirement right after, power, handling and brakes.

Don't get me wrong, this will be an amazing machine, just I don't think I will be one of the people lining up to put down my money.

[RXBG]

sure its fast. but its a car you GUIDE. not a car you DRIVE. period. if it had a manual i'd give it a thumbs up.

yes. i apply my thinking to all kinds of driving. i think lemans and F1 should require stick cars. that would be real racing. at this rate, with all of these new auto transmissions, even DSG, the cars will start to steer themselves. and later... they won't even have humans in them. the "drivers" will be sitting in a chair in the pit guiding the car through a video screen witha joystick in order to decrease the weight in the machine.

[RussianM3_dude]

sure its fast. but its a car you GUIDE. not a car you DRIVE. period.

.

That's what I think about the RS4 incidentally.

[Leadfoot]

I might be wrong on the figures but I think F1 drivers in an average race change gear approx 3000 times and their races on average only last just less than 2hrs, now would you like to be changing gears that many times, think what your pam would be like at the end of the race. Now multiple this by 4 times which is what most drivers will experience during a LeMans race.:rolleyes:

I think I would prefer a night on my own with a mucky video and a viagra pill than change gear that many times. :hihi:

[Bingocaller]

They must be kidding with that sound! OMG!

Sorry RS4 and M3 - this is the one to beat!

[RXBG]

I might be wrong on the figures but I think F1 drivers in an average race change gear approx 3000 times and their races on average only last just less than 2hrs, now would you like to be changing gears that many times, think what your pam would be like at the end of the race. Now multiple this by 4 times which is what most drivers will experience during a LeMans race.:rolleyes:

I think I would prefer a night on my own with a mucky video and a viagra pill than change gear that many times. :hihi:

leadfoot, don't confuse the cause for the effect.

in the 22nd century they'll making cars that will shift 10,000 times per F1 race.... so what?

that's not driving. that's shaving off seconds. sportsmanship is about the direct human variable. not the indirect one that is effected through technological means. today's races are more about the engineers outdoing each other than the drivers themselves.

[Leadfoot]

leadfoot, don't confuse the cause for the effect.

in the 22nd century they'll making cars that will shift 10,000 times per F1 race.... so what?

that's not driving. that's shaving off seconds. sportsmanship is about the direct human variable. not the indirect one that is effected through technological means. today's races are more about the engineers outdoing each other than the drivers themselves.


I know what you mean and I agree with you, I was only making a point that on the human hand the discomfort caused by the gear shifting is extreme to say the least. I personally couldn't do it and I very much doubt that neither could you. With the other physical demands that F1 and LeMans cars put on their drivers I could imagine putting another physical thing on top of everything else.

The problem with F1 now-a-days is that like you said it's more an engineering race than anything that happens on the track so to speak. F1 should be the best drivers in the world proving that they are just that and not simply driving extremely fast cars with almost every modern day techno equipment to help them on their way. Drop the speed, make the track 20meters wide so there is more chances for over taking and reduce downforce and remove all technical equipment that makes them easier to drive but not the safety as this should always be our number one concern. Now we will see some racing and another thing, introduce the BTCC rules where the top ten positions are a lottery, meaning after the final qualifying is completed the last grid is randomly picked.

The 20m track would make for racing that would be closer to bike racing.:hahahehe:

[RXBG]

I know what you mean and I agree with you, I was only making a point that on the human hand the discomfort caused by the gear shifting is extreme to say the least. I personally couldn't do it and I very much doubt that neither could you. With the other physical demands that F1 and LeMans cars put on their drivers I could imagine putting another physical thing on top of everything else.

The problem with F1 now-a-days is that like you said it's more an engineering race than anything that happens on the track so to speak. F1 should be the best drivers in the world proving that they are just that and not simply driving extremely fast cars with almost every modern day techno equipment to help them on their way. Drop the speed, make the track 20meters wide so there is more chances for over taking and reduce downforce and remove all technical equipment that makes them easier to drive but not the safety as this should always be our number one concern. Now we will see some racing and another thing, introduce the BTCC rules where the top ten positions are a lottery, meaning after the final qualifying is completed the last grid is randomly picked.

The 20m track would make for racing that would be closer to bike racing.:hahahehe:

naturally, there exist that many gear changes b/c the machine is making them and the gearbox is made so that a machine does the shifting. no one would make a car with such a transmission if a human hand was expected to make the shifts.

and i think cars can be made plenty safe while allowing the driver to shift for himself. besides, no matter how you race, its a dangerous sport. you could get killed in a professional bowling tournament if the ball gets stuck in your fingers before its release and you land on your nose with a blowout fracture of your orbits and hemorrhage cerebrally- you're dead in 5 seconds.

i think manual cars are safer overall, anyway.

[Lateknight]

Call me stupid but I don't see this as a rival to the RS4/M3 as it is to the likes of the M5/E63.

Your stupid. (you said I could:hihi: )

I sort of know what you mean about the autobox though, but that doesn't mean it should be compared to the next size of car up. (I'm not a fan of slushmatics either):incar:

It is in the same price bracket as RS4/M3
It is the same segment of car.

It just has a little bit more power, and goes about its business in a slightly different way. Same way the RS4 does to the M3.
I know you've read EVO this month and they happen to like the C63 very much... just not as much as the M3..... the tossers!:harass:
Audi, of course have taken a step back from this battlefield for now with the withdrawl of the RS4 saloon. Were they scared? They still produce Cabrio and Avant versions - so no guff about production capacity.

Next up to the podium - Lexus (another auto, I believe)

Will the next generation RS4 with S-tronic increase or decrease the appeal of the car?

[Leadfoot]

Your stupid. (you said I could:hihi: )

I sort of know what you mean about the autobox though, but that doesn't mean it should be compared to the next size of car up. (I'm not a fan of slushmatics either):incar:

It is in the same price bracket as RS4/M3
It is the same segment of car.

It just has a little bit more power, and goes about its business in a slightly different way. Same way the RS4 does to the M3.
I know you've read EVO this month and they happen to like the C63 very much... just not as much as the M3..... the tossers!:harass:
Audi, of course have taken a step back from this battlefield for now with the withdrawl of the RS4 saloon. Were they scared? They still produce Cabrio and Avant versions - so no guff about production capacity.

Next up to the podium - Lexus (another auto, I believe)

Will the next generation RS4 with S-tronic increase or decrease the appeal of the car?

Account delete.:w:

Only joking, as if something like a bad comment directed at me would have such an effect.:hihi:

You are right about the C63, it's intended competition is the RS4/M3 bracket but in much the same way with the discussion on the M3 vs M6 debate I believe some customers will down grade to the C63 from the slightly bigger E63 because the car is so good and so much better than it's bigger brother. And if this is true then chances are potential customer of the E63 which didn't find it sporty enough and were considering the M5 instead might now look at the C63, so in a round about way my comments are so mad after all.:looking:

Yes, is your answer to the EVO review, they did indeed like the car and found surprise, surprise that the gearbox was one of only two small things that they disliked about the car, I myself have tested a few Mercs with this new 7speed, last being the SL350 and on every occasion it's the main cause for concern, it unwillingness to change when you most want it. Their other dislike with the exclusion of a LSD, me myself would not find a problem with this as powersliding and trackdays hold little or no interest for me now but having 450hp and almost the same figure in torque ..... well now your talking. :love2:

Here's hoping the next RS4 has similar power/torque figures (namely a Bi-turbo unit would be nice :thumb: ) connected to a sweet manual or DSG with gear hold options and I would be knocking the door down.

[Lateknight]

Next up to the podium - Lexus (another auto, I believe)



Lexus ISF video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGTVOT2R3xg

Oh dear! :doh:

I dont want to seem stereotypical but I guess this car might be aimed more at the American market (not because it was shot at Seca.)

They dont mind ugly cars either. :jlol:

[Leadfoot]

I actually don't mind it's looks that much, the bonnet is possibly the thing which looks most out of place but not seeing the car in person I will hold final judgement.

It's a Lexus that is lifting it's skirt and having a good run, I think that idea is great fun.

[RussianM3_dude]

The styling is a bit questionable. However SoCal alone could absorb the entire production run. The entire area is one huge traffic jam, so the lack of a manual is a non-issue.

[Leadfoot]

The styling is a bit questionable. However SoCal alone could absorb the entire production run. The entire area is one huge traffic jam, so the lack of a manual is a non-issue.

Rightly so and in any case, Lexus really own see Mercedes as the brand they want to compete with so the absence of a manual just re-enforces this opinion.

I wonder how smooth the engine will run at maximum revs, no doubt the water in glass test has already been carried out by the engineers. :hihi:

[RussianM3_dude]

It's weird that Lexus has this old fart/Alan Partridge reputation in Europe. In North America, Lexus is a brand for young-ish people. Especially for the IS models and SC.

[Leadfoot]

Man the SC is the biggest hairdresser's car on earth. Apart from being totally crap at being a sportscar it's also as ugly as sin.

[RussianM3_dude]

It was never meant to be a sports car. More of a Sunset Strip cruiser.

[Leadfoot]

Man if you actually like that thing I need to see a picture of you and check out that perm.:lovl:

[RussianM3_dude]

I hate it, but it is pretty popular in the States.