Chris Okula - Contributor
Only a few short years ago performance cars didn’t need fake engine noise. Uncorked engines were allowed to sing their songs without artificial enhancement. Although we are getting used to these fake engine noises manufacturers use today, that doesn’t make them ok. An easy cure for the disappointing exhaust note playing through your speakers is a used C63 AMG. Today Matt Farah reminds us what a good German sports sedan used to sound like while testing the highly affordable C63 AMG.
The C63 is a car built around an engine. Much like the A-10 Warthog was designed around its minigun, the body panels simply hide a sinister piece of engineering. The previous generation C63 used the legendary M156 6.2 liter V8. This massive engine produced 451 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and a sound worthy of a supercar. Although 451 horsepower isn’t impressive by today’s standards it’s still enough to propel this 3,800lb sedan for 0-60 in only 4.5 seconds.
It may be down on power compared to the twin turbo units AMG uses today but the character of the M156 is hard to beat. This big engine likes to rev and produces power at the top of the tach. There’s no turbo lag, just revs, and a big V8 to hurl you down the road.
In stock form, it’s loud. With an exhaust system it’s more artillery barrage than a sedan. The C63 is a luxurious sedan for muscle car lovers. Although they’re separated by a tax bracket, it turns out everyone loves the sound a bellowing V8.
Today a used C63 AMG offer a huge value for money if you live with only 15mpg combined. For under $30,000 you can find numerous clean examples of C63s. If you can deal with the poor MPG and stomach the expensive maintenance, the C63 is a screaming deal.
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