WHO said that?

[ifcar]

Wimmer's worldview is about to be shaken:

Warning: The Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG may be addictive

When it comes to sportiness, Mercedes-Benz, renowned icon of the solid and the sedate, typically plays second fiddle to archrival BMW. Not so with the C63 AMG. With this car, Mercedes lets its hair down.

The C-Class is Mercedes? smallest sedan, but with this special model, it gets the company?s largest V8 engine. That?s a formula that worked magic in the 1960s, launching the muscle car era, and it is a strategy that still fuels excitement today. The transformation is managed by AMG, a wholly owned speedshop that modifies Benzes into fierce, high-performance monsters, much like BMW?s M division.

To sample the fun factory?s latest creation, we borrowed a C63 from Mercedes-Benz for a fee. This 2011 example had the optional AMG Development package that adds 30 horsepower to the standard 451 horses. It also adds $6,050 to the $58,200 base price.

But that?s not the main story here.

This AMG is all about the exhilarating driving experience. Handling is superlative with exquisite steering, brake feel, and body control. Sometimes stuffing a big V8 in a smallish car makes it nose heavy. Not so here. The C63 feels just about perfectly balanced. Piloting it at our track with the stability control system switched off was such a delight that it ought to come with a surgeon-general?s warning. Admittedly, in the real world, that ESC system can provide a welcomed measure of safety.

The V8 is a normally aspirated powerplant that delivers abundant thrust at any rpm and emits a bark that means business, reminiscent of a Corvette. The C63 may be a four-door sedan, but it could shame some dedicated sports cars. Even the seven-speed automatic, the only tranny offered, doesn?t take away from the thrill. Furthermore, unlike many other fire-breathers, the C63 doesn?t beat you to death with a harsh ride or excessive cabin noise.

Despite its extreme capabilities, it isn?t a cop magnet. From the outside, this stealth fighter looks much like a regular C300 and it blends right in with civil society. Still, it should also come with a PG rating. More like PG-35. This bad boy requires a responsible adult at the helm.

Needles to say, we loved this car. And not to worry, we replaced those tires before we gave the car back.

SOURCE:
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/08/video-mercedesbenz-c63-amg.html

[cawimmer430]

Man, I love Consumer Reports now. They rock! Always have! 

[Raza]

My world view just got rocked. 

[Galaxy]

Consumer Report's world view must have gotton rocked. Perhaps one of their Toyota test cars ran away. 

[cawimmer430]

Perhaps one of their Toyota test cars ran away. 

They need to spread that Toyota Love somewhere, so they picked the C63 AMG. Trust me, once they fill it up at the gas station and notice how the gas mileage sucks, they'll place it back on the "Poor Quality" and "Not Recommended" list!   

[Madman]

Consumer Reports likes an interesting car shocker!!!

And they didn't even bitch about it not having enough cupholders?  WOW!!!

[NomisR]

They need to spread that Toyota Love somewhere, so they picked the C63 AMG. Trust me, once they fill it up at the gas station and notice how the gas mileage sucks, they'll place it back on the "Poor Quality" and "Not Recommended" list!   

Poor quality is usually ranked by actual consumers though, similar to JD Powers Initial quality.  If there's enough for a certain model the previous years, then they may "not" recommend it.  Typical rating are usually based on what a typical consumer look for in that class of car, from acceleration, to ride to space, the whole package.  So if it rides for shit and typical consumer won't like it, it'll be ranked low. 

As for the Not Recommended label, it's usually a car that has signicant problems or even dangerous.. I think the Lexus GX was placed on that due to roll over tendencies or something?

[Submariner]

I <3 the C63. 

[cawimmer430]

Poor quality is usually ranked by actual consumers though, similar to JD Powers Initial quality.  If there's enough for a certain model the previous years, then they may "not" recommend it.  Typical rating are usually based on what a typical consumer look for in that class of car, from acceleration, to ride to space, the whole package.  So if it rides for shit and typical consumer won't like it, it'll be ranked low. 

I just like making fun of CR. 

As for the Not Recommended label, it's usually a car that has signicant problems or even dangerous.. I think the Lexus GX was placed on that due to roll over tendencies or something?

One thing I never understood about that whole Lexus GX debacle was why anyone would perform such a drastic maneuver in such an SUV - on a race track. If the driver of such a car is alert then such maneuvers can be avoided. Keep your distance from the car in front of you (don't tailgate), obey the speed limit etc. An SUV like that, which being a Lexus is obviously geared towards comfort (thus soft suspension) won't perform well in such a test at all. I think the car will still be safe enough to protect its occupants in the event of a turnover etc.

[ifcar]

If the driver of such a car is alert then such maneuvers can be avoided.

Which is why it's good when a car chips in as well.

[sportyaccordy]

One thing I never understood about that whole Lexus GX debacle was why anyone would perform such a drastic maneuver in such an SUV - on a race track. If the driver of such a car is alert then such maneuvers can be avoided. Keep your distance from the car in front of you (don't tailgate), obey the speed limit etc. An SUV like that, which being a Lexus is obviously geared towards comfort (thus soft suspension) won't perform well in such a test at all. I think the car will still be safe enough to protect its occupants in the event of a turnover etc.

Things happen... remember that vid of the Cayenne swerving to avoid the overturned Pepsi truck?

In America there are a lot of winding mountain roads; sometimes things just happen like deer jumping out in front of a car or w/e. Unlike the avg Carspinner most Americans need a car that can help them maneuver around a potentially dangerous situation. The responses of the GX470, while entertaining to watch, do not make for an easily maneuverable vehicle. I would love to see it in drift competitions though

[NomisR]

I just like making fun of CR. 


One thing I never understood about that whole Lexus GX debacle was why anyone would perform such a drastic maneuver in such an SUV - on a race track. If the driver of such a car is alert then such maneuvers can be avoided. Keep your distance from the car in front of you (don't tailgate), obey the speed limit etc. An SUV like that, which being a Lexus is obviously geared towards comfort (thus soft suspension) won't perform well in such a test at all. I think the car will still be safe enough to protect its occupants in the event of a turnover etc.

I've had to do evasive maneuvers before in the RDX on the freeway because the car in front of me was not paying attention and decided to slam on his brakes, locking up with smoke.  I went through that without a lot of drama but not everyone can.  Shit happens on the road, that's why it's an emergency manuever. 

[cawimmer430]

So in other words the Lexus GX had a serious handling problem?

When's the GX-F coming out? 


In regards to deer jumping out, here they teach you to brake and slam into the deer instead of trying to swerve and avoid it. Apparently it's safer to just hit the deer head on that try to steer out of its way which can cause the driver to loose control of the car. I've had this happen to me once in our ex-1985 Mercedes 300SE. I was driving on a windy country road at night coming out of a bend at around 70 km/h when all of a sudden there's a deer about 25-30 meters in front of me in the middle of the road. Luckily the road here was somewhat straight and I managed to slam the brakes while the car skidded to a halt. As I was skidding to a halt the deer managed to leave the road and disappear back into the woods. A few milliseconds before I made my decision, I was seriously thinking of swerving but I remembered the instructions from driving school so I braked hard and aimed at the deer!

In America they teach you to swerve?

[NomisR]

So in other words the Lexus GX had a serious handling problem?

When's the GX-F coming out? 


In regards to deer jumping out, here they teach you to brake and slam into the deer instead of trying to swerve and avoid it. Apparently it's safer to just hit the deer head on that try to steer out of its way which can cause the driver to loose control of the car. I've had this happen to me once in our ex-1985 Mercedes 300SE. I was driving on a windy country road at night coming out of a bend at around 70 km/h when all of a sudden there's a deer about 25-30 meters in front of me in the middle of the road. Luckily the road here was somewhat straight and I managed to slam the brakes while the car skidded to a halt. As I was skidding to a halt the deer managed to leave the road and disappear back into the woods. A few milliseconds before I made my decision, I was seriously thinking of swerving but I remembered the instructions from driving school so I braked hard and aimed at the deer!

In America they teach you to swerve?

I've seen a total of 1 wild deer so far.. so I wouldn't really know.. but hitting a deer means I'll damage my car.. and I think I have enough experience with high speed manuevers where I don't think i'll lose control if I swerve. 

[MX793]

I've seen a total of 1 wild deer so far.. so I wouldn't really know.. but hitting a deer means I'll damage my car.. and I think I have enough experience with high speed manuevers where I don't think i'll lose control if I swerve. 

Must be nice.  Deer are all over the place around here.  And in many cases they're not afraid of people or cars.  And they're not just in the rural areas.  I was once driving through the center of a city and came across a couple of them trotting down the street.  And in a number of cases, it's the deer that hits the car, not the car that hits the deer.  A few years ago, my dad was driving down the interstate and a deer came dashing out of the woods and actually ran into the side of his vehicle and bashed in the side and front corner of the small trailer he was pulling.  Same thing happened to my grandparents last year (caved in both doors on the driver's side when it bounced off the side of the car).

[Madman]

In America they teach you to swerve?

No.  In America they don't teach you anything at all.

If you can drive round the block without hitting anything or killing anyone, you get a licence!

[MX793]

No.  In America they don't teach you anything at all.

If you can drive round the block without hitting anything or killing anyone, you get a licence!

And sadly, there are still people who require multiple tries to pass their road test....

[NomisR]

And sadly, there are still people who require multiple tries to pass their road test....

That's because those people can't even follow the driving handbook correctly...

My uncle had to literally bribe a DMV guy to pass him because he couldn't pass the tests, yet he's been driving overseas for almost 40 years.  My aunt wouldn't let him drive here even though he has a license. 

And then there are the FOBs that tries to get their license after never driving at the age of 40 or 50... and we all know how well that goes.  That's why they say asians can't drive..

[ifcar]

I've seen a total of 1 wild deer so far.. so I wouldn't really know.. but hitting a deer means I'll damage my car.. and I think I have enough experience with high speed manuevers where I don't think i'll lose control if I swerve. 

You don't know whether the deer will move, so you're no less likely to hit it if you swerve.

The other thing they taught in my driving school is to stop braking the instant before impact if it's inevitable, to lift up the front end of the car.

[cawimmer430]

I've seen a total of 1 wild deer so far.. so I wouldn't really know.. but hitting a deer means I'll damage my car.. and I think I have enough experience with high speed manuevers where I don't think i'll lose control if I swerve. 

Hitting the deer will damage your car, but probably less than if you swerve, loose control, come off the road, roll over a few times etc. Most cars these cars have easy interchangeable front parts that can easily be replaced when "heavily damaged".

You drive a Lotus Elise, right? Go ahead and swerve, that car can handle it. 

[cawimmer430]

No.  In America they don't teach you anything at all.

If you can drive round the block without hitting anything or killing anyone, you get a licence!

Damn. 

And you guys want German-style Autobahns over there with that kind of driver "training"? 

[Madman]

Damn. 

And you guys want German-style Autobahns over there with that kind of driver "training"? 

Unlike most of my fellow countrymen, I want your Autobahns AND your driver training.

And yes, I know both of these are very expensive, but I think the benefits outweigh the costs.

[NomisR]

You don't know whether the deer will move, so you're no less likely to hit it if you swerve.

The other thing they taught in my driving school is to stop braking the instant before impact if it's inevitable, to lift up the front end of the car.

Hitting the deer will damage your car, but probably less than if you swerve, loose control, come off the road, roll over a few times etc. Most cars these cars have easy interchangeable front parts that can easily be replaced when "heavily damaged".

You drive a Lotus Elise, right? Go ahead and swerve, that car can handle it. 

Yeah, deer standing still or moving will be a problem.  Luckily, I live in CA, and a deer sighting's pretty rare.  I take back the 1 wild deer thing though.. I've actually seen 3!!  But actually only 1 while driving. 

There's a bigger problem with skunks where I live, I see them being run over all the time, and it smells. 

One thing I've almost hit with my car was a wild peacock.. good thing I wasn't driving that fast. 

But yeah, hitting anything with the Elise would be bad, it would mean at least $5000 out of pocket from a new clam, and if it's a deer, I wouldn't be surprised if the car sustains frame damage which means totalled car. 

[NomisR]

Unlike most of my fellow countrymen, I want your Autobahns AND your driver training.

And yes, I know both of these are very expensive, but I think the benefits outweigh the costs.

Well, what we currently have is costing a lot in terms of lost wage and time and increased accidents.  So at worse, we'll break even with the added training. 

[Raza]

I've seen a total of 1 wild deer so far.. so I wouldn't really know.. but hitting a deer means I'll damage my car.. and I think I have enough experience with high speed manuevers where I don't think i'll lose control if I swerve. 

I saw three deer last night. 

Deer are everywhere here.  Swerve and you'll probably hit it anyway.  Just stand on the brakes and hope for the best. 

[cawimmer430]

Unlike most of my fellow countrymen, I want your Autobahns AND your driver training.

And yes, I know both of these are very expensive, but I think the benefits outweigh the costs.

Madman, you need to move to Europe, specifically Munich. There's a Volvo 240DL Taxi in Munich doing its rounds. That would be the perfect job for you.

You get to:

1) Drive a Volvo
2) Drive on the Autobahn
3) Pay engine capacity taxes 

[cawimmer430]

There's a bigger problem with skunks where I live, I see them being run over all the time, and it smells. 

One thing I've almost hit with my car was a wild peacock.. good thing I wasn't driving that fast. 

But yeah, hitting anything with the Elise would be bad, it would mean at least $5000 out of pocket from a new clam, and if it's a deer, I wouldn't be surprised if the car sustains frame damage which means totalled car. 

I can imagine though that hitting a deer dead-on in a low car like a Lotus Elise could actually be pretty dangerous. The deer might get scooped up and thrown through your front windshield. 

Then again, it's a great handling machine so just go ahead and swerve out of the way if you ever encounter a deer. 

[Madman]

Madman, you need to move to Europe, specifically Munich. There's a Volvo 240DL Taxi in Munich doing its rounds. That would be the perfect job for you.

You get to:

1) Drive a Volvo
2) Drive on the Autobahn
3) Pay engine capacity taxes 

1)  YAY! 

2)  YAY! 

3)  Not if that 240DL has the B200F (2.0 litre) engine.  If I understand your laws correctly, engine capacity taxes only apply to engines over two litres?  If so, the B200F just sneaks in under that limit.


Please contact the owner of the aforementioned taxi service immediately and inform him you have just found his next driver.  I also insist on seeing photos of that 240DL taxi as soon as possible!

[Vinsanity]

If I were that taxi driver, I'd want a Chevy V8 under the hood of my Volvo. It'll be expensive, but you gotta keep the job entertaining

[hotrodalex]

I saw three deer last night. 

Deer are everywhere here.  Swerve and you'll probably hit it anyway.  Just stand on the brakes and hope for the best. 

I almost hit one tonight. I swerved. If I just stood on the brakes I would have hit it. The only way to miss it was to swerve onto a one-lane back road which was thankfully right there. (actually an almost perfect option - pretty much a fork in the road, just had to steer a bit left).

I'm pretty sure almost anyone else would have hit it. I got lucky and saw the "out" right away.