So anyway, booked myself a 30min test drive with a shiny black Merc C63 AMG. Was really excited as I heard great things about this car and the new C class. Proportions are spot on and interior is a nice place to be although there are a gazillion buttons. Seating position and wheel can be adjusted any way you like, the salesperson (a friend of mine) felt I was sitting too close the wheel but I prefer it that way, although I still couldn't get into a perfect position given I didn't want to sit there for 5 minutes adjusting the seat.

Anyway, the car is docile and steering is very light in normal driving. ESP came on immediately when I left the driveway! I gave it a bit around a roundabout and the ESP kicked in very early and very sharply, cutting power arubptly. I wasn't even going that fast. So I gave the ESP button a prod to ESP-Sport (he wouldn't let me turn it all off). Even then it still kicks in frustratingly so and on one hand I would try and anticipate with a bit of oppy lock and throttle adjustment yet it all falls to bits when the computer decides it'll have none of that.

The gear change on the 7 speed auto is OK, none worse or better than the SLK55 AMG I drove a while back. Still a little slow to downchange.

Steering felt a little disconnected for me. Gear box is a little unresponsive but the biggest killer is the ESP. Maybe if it was fully disengaged it might have been a revelation but even with it on ESP-Sport it was too intrusive. Sure it might be the safer option and I'm no Schumacher but it shouldn't be intrusive to the point where it kills the fun or makes you feel like a passenger rather than the driver. A shame really because the performance and packaging make it a pretty sweet ride.

I really hate these intrusive ESP systems. The system on the Lexus IS250 is even worse. I have yet to drive a car which had one where you wouldn't notice it or allowed you a bit of fun before your talent runs out and the car saves your behind. They just take away any feel or confidence you might have with the car in my opinion.

 

you didn't mention the 6.2L v8

 

they test drove it on top gear and it goes hard !

i think Clarkson had the ESP turned off and it drifted pretty well around corners.

 

Don't get confused, CLK63 Black vs. C63 AMG is chalk and cheese. One is competition spec, the other is AMG road spec.

 

they've tested both on top gear, I just remember the c63 being a bit of a handful for Clarkson with the ESP off. It's a shame that it's so intrusive...but then again, who are these cars really targeted towards???

 

oh yeah the 6.2L V8 is pretty spesh but you would have expected that. Makes a nice noise too. It just felt like I was a passenger on the Shinkansen even though I had the tiller in my hands. The strange thing is the salesperson took corners faster than I did even though it was his first day driving it as well. He just threw it int corners and the car would pull out. The ESP was on half though. I would feel wary going into corners at his speeds and never felt confident in the car. Maybe he was more used to the mercedes ESP system and learnt to trust it.

 

Having seen you pull smoking U turns, I would guess most ESP systems would be a little too intrusive for you

 

I think its hard to drive a euro cars after getting out of the S2000. I remember driving the Audi TT and felt that I was in a boat and had no confidence in it.

 

I don't think it's an attribute to all Euro cars, the Renault Clio and 3 series are capable and fund handlers for example. I think it's just the intrusive ESP systems which hamper any kind of fun or control by driver. You haven't driven a boat until you've driven a Camry however. My god I swear the steering wheel felt like it was controlling a rudder in the back.

 

My motto is why do a 3 point turn when you can do 1?