C63 vs E63 vs M5 comp vs RS4 vs RS6
Discussion
Please help - I’ve got so many questions. First some background:
-To begin with I’ll be considering the latest gen of each model AND the estates of each Model too.
- I’m growing up and a baby is on the way.
- I’ve got a daily latest RS3 sportback but I cannot now live with the ride and the boot looks way too small for two kids. Previous owner inexplicably ticked every option bar the Magnetic/Adaptive dampers. Net result is I’ve had a load of punctures as the low pro tyres get annihilated because of absurdly poor damping, and it is unacceptable for my baby to jiggle around over every bloody manhole cover and pothole I drive over. The appalling ride was just about acceptable to me alone, and my wife tolerates it, but after 30,000miles, it’s so bad as to be unfair to a baby. It’s gotta go.
So first question is whether anyone have any experience of which of these car options above rides most comfortably? And is there a critical suspension option the car must have before I do a deal?
- Next: those of you with families/babies - will a big saloon suffice by way of boot space? What happens when you have two small babies with a “dual-buggy/pushchair”? Will that fit in the boot of the saloon variants ? Or does two babies necessarily = estate.
What I’m trying to ask here is whether I even need one of these estates as I’d prefer a saloon?
- Cost: Although I can afford these options, naturally I’d prefer to spend to the least. So if an RS4 is 80% of an RS6 (I’m amazed they’re now over £100k ) and half the price, I’ll choose the RS4 - and same with C over E class or the M5 comp to them all.
I won’t be buying new unless someone knows of a crazy lease deal. Used is fine. I cant afford to throw away needless hard earned cash.
From what I see the Mercs depreciate like mad making them decent used purchases.
- a few other things. I don’t do DIY, don’t do home improvements or lug around large heavy objects. Not if I can help it. So estate will be purely about 2 x babies and their paraphernalia..
On these cars themselves I’ve read every test. Watched every clip on YT. But most of the time I find motoring journos opinion far less instructive than PHers real world chat.
Test drives are out - pre And post baby I have to shield because of Covid, and there’s sod all you learn on quick blast around the block with the sales rep.
Your opinions and experience please.....
-To begin with I’ll be considering the latest gen of each model AND the estates of each Model too.
- I’m growing up and a baby is on the way.
- I’ve got a daily latest RS3 sportback but I cannot now live with the ride and the boot looks way too small for two kids. Previous owner inexplicably ticked every option bar the Magnetic/Adaptive dampers. Net result is I’ve had a load of punctures as the low pro tyres get annihilated because of absurdly poor damping, and it is unacceptable for my baby to jiggle around over every bloody manhole cover and pothole I drive over. The appalling ride was just about acceptable to me alone, and my wife tolerates it, but after 30,000miles, it’s so bad as to be unfair to a baby. It’s gotta go.
So first question is whether anyone have any experience of which of these car options above rides most comfortably? And is there a critical suspension option the car must have before I do a deal?
- Next: those of you with families/babies - will a big saloon suffice by way of boot space? What happens when you have two small babies with a “dual-buggy/pushchair”? Will that fit in the boot of the saloon variants ? Or does two babies necessarily = estate.
What I’m trying to ask here is whether I even need one of these estates as I’d prefer a saloon?
- Cost: Although I can afford these options, naturally I’d prefer to spend to the least. So if an RS4 is 80% of an RS6 (I’m amazed they’re now over £100k ) and half the price, I’ll choose the RS4 - and same with C over E class or the M5 comp to them all.
I won’t be buying new unless someone knows of a crazy lease deal. Used is fine. I cant afford to throw away needless hard earned cash.
From what I see the Mercs depreciate like mad making them decent used purchases.
- a few other things. I don’t do DIY, don’t do home improvements or lug around large heavy objects. Not if I can help it. So estate will be purely about 2 x babies and their paraphernalia..
On these cars themselves I’ve read every test. Watched every clip on YT. But most of the time I find motoring journos opinion far less instructive than PHers real world chat.
Test drives are out - pre And post baby I have to shield because of Covid, and there’s sod all you learn on quick blast around the block with the sales rep.
Your opinions and experience please.....
Get an estate, they all will do everything very well, I’ve had a C63s estate, great car, if i was going to buy one again i would not buy the “S” as the extra expense does not justify the extra £££.
All of these cars bar the C63 are AWD so they will drive like the RS3 when the weather gets bad, the C63 is crap in bad weather if you do want to press on.
It seems money is not an issue, if you want a smaller foot print get a RS4 or the C63 estate, the M5 and E63 and full size estate cars.
They are all very good cars if your a Audi Fan Boy then the RS4/6 will be high on your list, the C63 is a drivers car, the E63 does look like a German taxi all be it a very fast one.
Drive them all with the Mrs and get her to drive them as well....my Mrs hated the C63 to drive as it the bonnet seemed long and high to her and rear wheel drive only in the wet scared her shi*less.
D
All of these cars bar the C63 are AWD so they will drive like the RS3 when the weather gets bad, the C63 is crap in bad weather if you do want to press on.
It seems money is not an issue, if you want a smaller foot print get a RS4 or the C63 estate, the M5 and E63 and full size estate cars.
They are all very good cars if your a Audi Fan Boy then the RS4/6 will be high on your list, the C63 is a drivers car, the E63 does look like a German taxi all be it a very fast one.
Drive them all with the Mrs and get her to drive them as well....my Mrs hated the C63 to drive as it the bonnet seemed long and high to her and rear wheel drive only in the wet scared her shi*less.
D
Controversial non ph opinion coming up.
If ride quality is an issue, which it will be with 2 babies, non of them are any good. Whilst the merc will ride 'better', they're all still rollerscates compared to a standard version of any of the models you mention. Why not an e class petrol hybrid. Ludicrous acceleration but half the price of an e63 and a s
tload cheaper to tax. Plus having actual tyres instead of painted on rubber bands, you might get some road manners on our delightful tarmac.
If ride quality is an issue, which it will be with 2 babies, non of them are any good. Whilst the merc will ride 'better', they're all still rollerscates compared to a standard version of any of the models you mention. Why not an e class petrol hybrid. Ludicrous acceleration but half the price of an e63 and a s
tload cheaper to tax. Plus having actual tyres instead of painted on rubber bands, you might get some road manners on our delightful tarmac.The RS4 is an excellent car to live with. The journalist's track day test drive might show that you need to try hard to get the arse out and there isn't very much drama. That's exactly what I want in a family dogbus that gets used on the road.
I've said it before - if you want massive track dynamics and slidey action, don't buy a family estate (or a hot hatch), buy a sports car. I'll go further and say if you want that and you bought any of the cars you mentioned, you've got it wrong - you just bought a crap road car (and the AMG ride quality is unacceptable - not other word for it).
I've driven the current RS5 4500 miles in 5 days. It was enough to make me order an RS4 (need dog space). I suspect that's about 100 times further than any journalist or person that bases their opinion on what they read. I also have an Elise Cup and a motorbike, so I'm not completely dead from the waist down (in PH terms).
I've said it before - if you want massive track dynamics and slidey action, don't buy a family estate (or a hot hatch), buy a sports car. I'll go further and say if you want that and you bought any of the cars you mentioned, you've got it wrong - you just bought a crap road car (and the AMG ride quality is unacceptable - not other word for it).
I've driven the current RS5 4500 miles in 5 days. It was enough to make me order an RS4 (need dog space). I suspect that's about 100 times further than any journalist or person that bases their opinion on what they read. I also have an Elise Cup and a motorbike, so I'm not completely dead from the waist down (in PH terms).
If your kids are anything like mine were as babies they were absolutely fine in a jiggly hard riding car (Audi A2 Sport with the original 17' wheels and rock hard suspension) in fact both if them would sleep more readily in the Audi than a much comfier car somewhat bizarrely.
Other than adding a roof box for going away we actually managed perfectly fine with 2 kids only 20 months apart in the A2, we had a pushchair with an add on second seat, the name escapes me but I want to say it was a Bill and Ted even though I know that's not right.
Other than adding a roof box for going away we actually managed perfectly fine with 2 kids only 20 months apart in the A2, we had a pushchair with an add on second seat, the name escapes me but I want to say it was a Bill and Ted even though I know that's not right.
I've got a 1 and 3 years old and in truth you need to be looking at the larger cars such as M5 / E63 and estate variants
I could just about get a bugaboo pram in the M5 but taking much else would be a push. If you are taking 2 fold away jobbies then you should be fine but the big chunky stuff swallows the boot
I don't like estates so wouldn't buy one but best advice would be to try putting all the stuff in the car you are thinking about and see how you get on. You will need additional space for shopping so if its crammed to the rafters with the minimum then look elsewhere
We just about manage with 2 adults and 2 kids in the Mrs Q5 but it can be a squeeze if we go away and need to load up
I could just about get a bugaboo pram in the M5 but taking much else would be a push. If you are taking 2 fold away jobbies then you should be fine but the big chunky stuff swallows the boot
I don't like estates so wouldn't buy one but best advice would be to try putting all the stuff in the car you are thinking about and see how you get on. You will need additional space for shopping so if its crammed to the rafters with the minimum then look elsewhere
We just about manage with 2 adults and 2 kids in the Mrs Q5 but it can be a squeeze if we go away and need to load up
You won’t get two sturdy baby buggies in those saloon boots, let alone if you want anything else in the back. I think it’s unlikely the ride quality would bother any child. A baby would fall asleep to the hum of the engine and the motion and stay that way unless you were riding on Michelin Toblerones and toddlers won’t care they’ll be too busy transfixed by the screens you’ve given them to get them to STFU for just long enough to stop you from crashing into oncoming traffic from their incessant noise.
I’ve been shopping for a fast family wagon for existing kid plus second on the way in recent months so have done some homework on this and of the cars you’ve listed I would (and very nearly did) go for the RS4. Best deal I’ve seen is £5k down and £670 pcm before options (or £54k list though there’s a catch) it’s close to the perfect all rounder and it seems unlikely you’ll be hooning it around with the family in tow so the advantages of the Merc in terms of sound and RWD dynamics would probably be lost on you. The RS6 is silly money by comparison and you are never, ever going to use the extra 150 BHP.
I’ve been shopping for a fast family wagon for existing kid plus second on the way in recent months so have done some homework on this and of the cars you’ve listed I would (and very nearly did) go for the RS4. Best deal I’ve seen is £5k down and £670 pcm before options (or £54k list though there’s a catch) it’s close to the perfect all rounder and it seems unlikely you’ll be hooning it around with the family in tow so the advantages of the Merc in terms of sound and RWD dynamics would probably be lost on you. The RS6 is silly money by comparison and you are never, ever going to use the extra 150 BHP.
Edited by DeWar on Thursday 13th August 22:04
I looked at a C63 estate and have two kids, the boot I would say would have been fine but my main issue (being 6ft4) was that no one would have been able to sit comfortably behind the drivers seat, even my 7 year old would have had a struggle and a baby seat would not have gone in at all.
I think you need to be looking at the bigger cars, E63, M5 etc.
I think you need to be looking at the bigger cars, E63, M5 etc.
That’s why I love this forum.
Thanks to all of you and keep your comments and thoughts coming. Here’s my initial thoughts based on your feedback and some more research.
- Go bigger - if I want space it needs to be an E/5 Series/RS6
- I’ve decided I’m not going to put £100k into RS6. In a few years they’ll have lost £50k and i think Audi may have gone a bit OTT on the styling as well. They’re a bit of a caricature...
- RS4 was a contender but given a used 2020 model with adaptive damping is £70k, and it sits on a smaller footprint inside than the E / 5 series, I may be shooting myself in the foot not going a bit bigger. Also feel that it may be a bit too close to the RS3 I’m getting out of for the cash spent to upgrade... And for £70k that takes me to my next point...
- Merc E63 and M5 slightly used, look like real financial bargains. And with adaptive damping on both, I think they will be suitable for the kids? (And you’re saying I don’t need to worry too much there anyway)
It’s now just a question of whether I need an estate. If a dual seat buggy will fit in a saloon boot then either option is a goer.
Keep the feedback coming guys. I’m ever so grateful.
Thanks to all of you and keep your comments and thoughts coming. Here’s my initial thoughts based on your feedback and some more research.
- Go bigger - if I want space it needs to be an E/5 Series/RS6
- I’ve decided I’m not going to put £100k into RS6. In a few years they’ll have lost £50k and i think Audi may have gone a bit OTT on the styling as well. They’re a bit of a caricature...
- RS4 was a contender but given a used 2020 model with adaptive damping is £70k, and it sits on a smaller footprint inside than the E / 5 series, I may be shooting myself in the foot not going a bit bigger. Also feel that it may be a bit too close to the RS3 I’m getting out of for the cash spent to upgrade... And for £70k that takes me to my next point...
- Merc E63 and M5 slightly used, look like real financial bargains. And with adaptive damping on both, I think they will be suitable for the kids? (And you’re saying I don’t need to worry too much there anyway)
It’s now just a question of whether I need an estate. If a dual seat buggy will fit in a saloon boot then either option is a goer.
Keep the feedback coming guys. I’m ever so grateful.
I'd say Estate.
It's not just buggies but all the other paraphernalia kids come with plus you'll want room for shopping/luggage.
I have 3 of the buggers and when they were babies shipped them around in an S-max. They are slightly older now and I have an 2018 A4 Avant but that'll be going soon as I need more space (width on rear bench) so will be going down the 7-seat SUV route.
It's not just buggies but all the other paraphernalia kids come with plus you'll want room for shopping/luggage.
I have 3 of the buggers and when they were babies shipped them around in an S-max. They are slightly older now and I have an 2018 A4 Avant but that'll be going soon as I need more space (width on rear bench) so will be going down the 7-seat SUV route.
What about a lightly used CLS 63 Shooting Brake that's gone through the worst of it's depreciation.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007301...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007291...
Panamera 3.0
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007291...
2.9 4S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/201908070...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202001126...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007301...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007291...
Panamera 3.0
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007291...
2.9 4S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/201908070...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202001126...
Murcielago_Boy said:
That’s why I love this forum.
- I’ve decided I’m not going to put £100k into RS6. In a few years they’ll have lost £50k and i think Audi may have gone a bit OTT on the styling as well. They’re a bit of a caricature...
Surely the previous generation is the hidden gem ? - I’ve decided I’m not going to put £100k into RS6. In a few years they’ll have lost £50k and i think Audi may have gone a bit OTT on the styling as well. They’re a bit of a caricature...
Jamescrs said:
I looked at a C63 estate and have two kids, the boot I would say would have been fine but my main issue (being 6ft4) was that no one would have been able to sit comfortably behind the drivers seat, even my 7 year old would have had a struggle and a baby seat would not have gone in at all.
I think you need to be looking at the bigger cars, E63, M5 etc.
Totally agree. I’m 6’5” and end up buying the E class. It’s huge with lots of rear leg room behind me. Can’t think of any car I’ve owned with such Space luxury I think you need to be looking at the bigger cars, E63, M5 etc.
This thread made me think we were cruel parents when our kids were younger.
We had a MINI Clubman S with 17" wheels and RFT. The ride was hard. But the kids would not even notice and on longer journeys they would both be asleep.
We could fit one buggy in the boot and my daughter was made to walk.
On longer treks and holidays we would take a roof box.
Kids get it too easy nowadays.....
We had a MINI Clubman S with 17" wheels and RFT. The ride was hard. But the kids would not even notice and on longer journeys they would both be asleep.
We could fit one buggy in the boot and my daughter was made to walk.
On longer treks and holidays we would take a roof box.
Kids get it too easy nowadays.....
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