2008 BMW M3 vs 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

Yes, two great sedans.

I'd take the M3 for handling and drop in the Mercedes-AMG 6.2L engine. With gobs of power, combined with great handling, then you would have the ultimate sedan.

— Maverick2020 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2008 12:07:15 PM | | Votes: 5   

Mav, sounds like a great idea, but I think part of the tremendous driving feel that the M3 has is directly rated to the high reving, low torque engine setup. I really like the C63, but sometimes I think its to much motor (I can't believe I wrote that) for the Merc.

— golfer38 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2008 12:29:59 PM | | Votes: 5   

i'd take the m3 suspension, body and carbon roof with a 335i engine.

— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2008 12:58:07 PM | | Votes: 2   

They both are fantastic cars, there is no denying it. I thought I really wanted the C63, but was at first disappointed by the interior. After a month I decided I still wanted one and went to an AMG driving event. The car is perfect on paper, but for me just wasn't fun. The gear box (no manual option) is almost too good, too graceful and the whole environment feels like I'm going incredibly fast in my favorite armchair. It doesn't feel like a sports car, and for me that's why the M3 has it beat. I drove home from the AMG day in my Cayman S, which is admittedly underpowered, but so much more fun to drive than the AMG. I'd rather feel like I'm going faster than I really am, as opposed to actually going faster than it feels.

— bitschaser (View Profile)

Posted on 10/2/2008 12:49:45 PM | | Votes: 1   

to a diesel

— commander104 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2008 12:43:00 PM | | Votes: 2   

sports cars can't have back seats either

— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2008 12:59:33 PM | | Votes: 4   

haha! But if they do, make sure it's livable and can hold 2 people comfortably (which the IS-F ALSO gets knocked for).

— StarSearch (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2008 1:30:34 PM | | Votes: 0   

If you dont revere them, why did you claim to own one? I think you are wrong about two things. One, AMG's do handle great, just not as great as their BMW rivals in comparison tests but still most times better than Audi. What they lack in handling is made up in other ways. AMG's are often touted as having better high speed stability and ride compliance than their BMW competitors. The second thing I think you're wrong about is people's poor comparison of a Vette to a MB. No one compares the two because they dont compete for sales, not some notion that one is inferior to the other in some way. I would venture that almost everyone you talk to respects the Vette when they dont make anonymous submissions on internet-land. I would also venture that the "poor" handling of an E55 will dust just about any car out on the road today.

— Threepoint1415926 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2008 2:55:38 PM | | Votes: 4   

I disagree completely: AMG is squarely aimed at BMW's M series, you can't mention one without the other. It is universally known that AMG is all about power whereas M's are more of a complete package. Yes they are great at high speeds but most areas don't allow one the opportunity to regularly drive over 90mph, but from launch or 40-75 they are well worth the $$$, hence the reason I bought one years ago.

Handling has NEVER been their forte, especially for the price and fact that it offers an improved suspension over the base models. My point about the Vette is that it doesn't receive a third of the respect or fawning as AMG, yet offers superior handling and comparable acceleration for much less money. The same way people will never compare the CTS-V to AMG, it's almost unthinkable.

— StarSearch (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2008 4:24:25 PM | | Votes: -4   

I dont understand your argument. I never said AMG was not aimed at M, it's quite obvious that they are and I would never say the contrary. Why you continue to compare the Vette to an AMG is a bit silly to me. They simply dont compare on any level. If it's simply "fondness" that you're comparing of the two, I'm certain that far more people as a number are fond of the Vette than AMG or dont you live in America?

I also dont understand the "complete package" argument. M's may perhaps be a "complete package" for auto journalists which make outings to the track and like to record test data on laptops but I have different ideas of what a "complete package" entails. One of which does not include an SMG for example.

Handling may not be AMG's forte, but it's certainly not overlooked. No doubt AMG can make great handling cars, we've seen lots and lots of them come out before but one must ask himself if Mercedes began to over emphasize handling how would the less compliant suspension compromise their high speed stability and acceleration, their true forte? Does AMG really want to build an M clone?

— Threepoint1415926 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2008 5:03:40 PM | | Votes: 4   

amg isn't compared to the corvette because one offers a tuned luxury car while the other offers a performance oriented sports car. benz doesn't even make a fixed roof sports car (black series aside).

— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2008 6:12:04 PM | | Votes: 2   

....cl65

— StarSearch (View Profile)

Posted on 10/2/2008 10:09:30 AM | | Votes: 0   

I compare AMG and the Vette because let's face it: AMG is basically just a HUGE engine thrown in a Mercedes, be it an SUV, sedan or 2 or 4 seat convertible. Chevy also puts the Vette engine into other cars, my point is that people glow over AMG when all it really is, is an MB w/engine upgrade unlike the M series where EVERYTHING gets tuned: steering, suspension, handling, brakes and engine.

— StarSearch (View Profile)

Posted on 10/2/2008 10:13:11 AM | | Votes: 2   

Both a perfectly capable Sport Sedans. It's really a matter of taste for most people, because odds are that they will never exploit either car's full potential.

— NSXR (View Profile)

Posted on 10/2/2008 4:43:27 PM | | Votes: 1   

Both are perfectly capable Sport Sedans. It's really a matter of taste for most people, because odds are that they will never exploit either car's full potential.

— NSXR (View Profile)

Posted on 10/2/2008 4:43:58 PM | | Votes: 1   

The 650i is still pretty fast as you can imagine, but it handles like a boat, because it is. Massive.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2008 11:30:49 PM | | Votes: 0   

i know, i drive one as well as an A4 and i love them both.

— 1dott8 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2008 11:54:26 PM | | Votes: 2   

very true, ill take the M3 over the cheap "Muscle Car" Benz

— Denali (View Profile)

Posted on 10/3/2008 12:52:55 AM | | Votes: 0