Rolling Thunder

The thought of a burbling V8 in a compact sized car drives tingles down my spine, and butterflies in my tummy. The Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 S Coupe is really one of the best ways to package a V8, and driving nothing but the rear wheels. I cannot stress how good this looks, when you take a vanilla compact-sized C Class Coupe body, flare out those wheel arches and equip the underneath with new arms to house that glorious wider track. And how about those 19 inch twin-spoked rims (you can spec 20 inch rear rims if you like), which fill up those wheel arches, and leaving just enough gap for visual balance.

OneShift Editorial Team

18 Sep 2017

Treat the C 63 S with the respect it deserves, and the car rewards you with that turn, squeeze and go satisfaction

What we like:

V8 with an excellent range of maximum torque

sounds great

turning just the rear wheels

predictable and sharp handling

normal day-to-day driving versatility

What we dislike:

Infotainment controls hide some of the switches

making toggling them a challenge

Treat the C 63 S with the respect it deserves, and the car rewards you with that turn, squeeze and go satisfaction, with just a hint of the rear stepping out every now and then. You are seriously encouraged to know how to balance your throttle on this one, and I cannot easily think of a modern car this raw in performance, with this much on tap.

While the 43 models are more reachable and built for a larger clientele in mind, with 4MOTION, a smaller, and easier to handle V6, the 63 range stays true to those who want a purer drive, with an engine with more to give, and want an M3/M4 alternative… and more cylinders.

Sure there are spoils like Lane Keep Assist and an assortment of safety nets to keep you safe, but at the heart of it all, there is plenty of purity in how this AMG drives.