Vs 5Th Gear: M3 V8 vs C63 AMG

[Zafiro]

Video should be online tomorrow but I found this
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It has just finished, Tiff was not in the M3, they did 3 tests:

1. Fastest Top Speed on a Straight. M3 posted 136mph, Merc 138mph. M3 went first and brakes hit earlier for the corner. Not much in it.

2. Drifting. Merc produced more smoke. M3's clever diff did not allow for insane wheelspin that Merc has so it was less entertaining to watch.

3. Track Run. Head to Head. Merc took lead (it started inside) but then M3 just overtook at the first proper opportunity, Merc never got back in it.

What was most interesting about test 3, probably the most important test, was that Tiff had a his hands full keeping the car on the track whilst trying to keep up. Merc = Coffin on Wheels?

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M3 = red colour
C63 = white colour

 

[PanterroR]

Can't wait to check it! Thanks for posting.

 

[castagna]

Merc = Coffin on Wheels?

I doubt it, that'd go against the philosophy of the company.

 

[klier]

......Merc never got back in it

 

[LaArtist]

cool looking forward to it

 

[warot]

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[Mr Robert]

Looking at Tiff driving that C63 in the race i got to thinking of myself racing Gran Turismo on a saturday night....

 

[Zafiro]

The C63 seem to be a little wild, even Tiff who is a great driver had problem controlling the car (they mentioned the same in TG). M3 seemed more tamed and refined on the track it appears.

Too bad Tiff didnt drift with the M3, afterall he is the drift king.

 

[Sunny]

Hmmm, why am I not surprised seeing the C63 in the grass. Between this and the Stig in TG test, it looks like M3 is the far better track tool.

 

[ree]

The C63 seem to be a little wild, even Tiff who is a great driver had problem controlling the car (they mentioned the same in TG). M3 seemed more tamed and refined on the track it appears.

Too bad Tiff didnt drift with the M3, afterall he is the drift king.

Yepp!! It looks like the C 63 isn't really a track car. But for a straight line of Autobahn it seems like it's just perfect... ...when the ESP is active.

 

[Zafiro]

Hopefully they test the M3 with the new DCT gearbox one day

 

[MB_AD]

I see every body here happy with track run what does the track means for everyone. Are spending half of your life driving in track???! or even did you saw a real track on your life?? so it will be useless. The most important things for every body driving his car every day are:
1-The power
2-Nice looking car
3-Comfortable
4-Enough handling
So why you need all this handling when you are driving in legal street unless you are not a good driver and maybe you want a car to drive by it self...

Any body do not agree with me??

 

[merve_extreme]

did the 63 have the optional sport pack with rear differential?I doubt it did.

 

[Zafiro]

I see every body here happy with track run what does the track means for everyone. Are spending half of your life driving in track???! or even did you saw a real track on your life?? so it will be useless. The most important things for every body driving his car every day are:
1-The power
2-Nice looking car
3-Comfortable

So why you need all this handling when you are driving in legal street unless you are not a good driver and maybe you want a car to drive by it self...

Any body do not agree with me??

I agree a little bit but not completly. If I bought a M3 I certainly would do some trackdriving, that's for sure.

I've driven the M3 on public roads and its fantastic car to drive. Its comfortable, easy to handle and the car is powerful enough, moreso then people actually need.
You dont need to be a skilled driver to enjoy the M3. Its trully a lovely car.
A M3 with the new DCT gearbox would be my choice since its the only one of these two that reevs all the way up to 8400 rpm.

Debating which one is the best, C63 or M3 is just pointless. These two cars are top of the art and it comes down to feelings and personal preferences which one you pick. I pick the M3 DCT but I completly understand if someone rather buy a C63.

 

[martinbo]

I see every body here happy with track run what does the track means for everyone. Are spending half of your life driving in track???! or even did you saw a real track on your life?? so it will be useless. The most important things for every body driving his car every day are:
1-The power
2-Nice looking car
3-Comfortable
4-Enough handling
So why you need all this handling when you are driving in legal street unless you are not a good driver and maybe you want a car to drive by it self...

Any body do not agree with me??

^ I couldn't disagree more...

For me it's always been about how effective a car is in putting its power to the road and how predictable and easy to control it is. Tiff Needell is a fine talent behind the wheel of a car and even he has his hands full on a wide open track. On normal roads there is much less margin for error so, for certain, I want the car that is better controlled for precision driving. And, this doesn't mean I don't want it to be fun - not at all! - the M3 is all the precision and oversteery fun that any mortal can ask for. The C63 on the other hand is just not sophisticated enough and instead ends up making a hash of things. In the hands of the inexperienced, they're going to end up off the road, if their drivers try "hanging it out a bit".

When I buy an M3, C63 or RS4 I want the complete package, the straightline speed, the mechanical precision and driver control and involvement. Looks and comfort are secondary considerations and even here the M3 trumps the aftermarket looking C63 in the looks department as well as, amazingly, in the ride comfort stakes too...

The M3 retains its position at the forefront of the class.

 

[justanthony]

i'm just wondering with all these tests making the c63 look uncontrollable (on track) if the tests are done with the esp on/off? This is a benz who's esp CAN be switched completely off afterall. After all the Bmers slip diff helps it attack corners in a more controlled mannner. or does this not matter?

 

[Zafiro]

i'm just wondering with all these tests making the c63 look uncontrollable (on track) if the tests are done with the esp on/off? This is a benz who's esp CAN be switched completely off afterall. After all the Bmers slip diff helps it attack corners in a more controlled mannner. or does this not matter?

M3 handles better becuase of lower weight, lower center of gravity, better weight balance and the fantastic M diff lock.

Tiff is a pro driver and I doubt he drive with ESP on. You can turn off ESP in M3 as well and I doubt also here that they drive with ESP on. It would kill the fun, playmode on these two cars.

 

[coolraoul]

^ I couldn't disagree more...

For me it's always been about how effective a car is in putting its power to the road and how predictable and easy to control it is. Tiff Needell is a fine talent behind the wheel of a car and even he has his hands full on a wide open track. On normal roads there is much less margin for error so, for certain, I want the car that is better controlled for precision driving. And, this doesn't mean I don't want it to be fun - not at all! - the M3 is all the precision and oversteery fun that any mortal can ask for. The C63 on the other hand is just not sophisticated enough and instead ends up making a hash of things. In the hands of the inexperienced, they're going to end up off the road, if their drivers try "hanging it out a bit".

When I buy an M3, C63 or RS4 I want the complete package, the straightline speed, the mechanical precision and driver control and involvement. Looks and comfort are secondary considerations and even here the M3 trumps the aftermarket looking C63 in the looks department as well as, amazingly, in the ride comfort stakes too...

The M3 retains its position at the forefront of the class.

I would say I agree.
That said, the C63 appeals much more to me, its craziness is for me its biggest appeal. The M3 is more understated, less crazy.

However, I never testdrove any of them, so this is not based on real experience, but the design/noise/power delivery of the C63 is absolutely unique.

I think the C63 was developped to be driven with the ESP partly on.
Like lots of BMW it has three stages, full on/on but permissive/full off.

The full off is reserved to skilled drivers on track. On the road it is on, when you want to play it is partly on, to have a kind of insurance, it would be a bit dangerous to shut it completely off!!

The point with the LSD is important too. Was this test made with the performance package, so LSD? Without it sure could be a bit...overpowered. Remove M3's diff and you'll see the difference. I did not see the video yet, so no idea if it had this LSD or not.

But like I said these cars should not be driven with ESP full off by unskilled drivers. Partly.on is perfect, let you have fun but save you in case of a problem.

 

[Tarek]

Well the result was expected for a sedan vs coupe track time the C63 is a whooping 200kg heavier than the M3 coupe and the test car wasn't equipped with the PP with the other diff setup,it's a milestone that it's that close behind the M3.IMO the C63 won this test,it won two out of three tests the speed,fun,smoking and drifting was easily won by the Merc...my choice no doubt about it.

It'd be more interesting when they test the M3 sedan with the Merc.

 

[Sunny]

I see the excuses are flying every which way .

The M3 sedan is only about 50 lbs heavier than the coupe, so I doubt it would make much of a difference. It is not BMW's fault AMG doesn't have the sense to make a limited diff standard on a such a powerful car, time they emphasized the chassis over the engine. Even if the C63 had the optional diff I doubt how much of a difference it would make - cause as I understand it, it is standard limited diff with a fixed ratio, not a variable diff like the M diff. Check this video to see how well the variable diff works compared to the normal fixed ratio diff in the E39 M5 (thanks to JM for the video).

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