W205 C63 or W212 E63

[Aiminghigh123]

I can’t decide between these 2.
Size wise w212 looks a better car for my situation. I haven’t looked at an e63 W212 yet but looked at one to gauge the size with me sat at my normal driving position. Room in the back looks alright.

I have 2 young boys in car seats and I’m 6ft 1.

I only do around 5k miles a year so fuel bills not a big deal.
Looking to spend up to £30k.
What’s putting me off the W212 is the dam road tax.

My heart says get the w212. 5.5 V8 will be worth it for the noise and space even in saloon form.
Head says get w205 in estate form as it’s slightly newer and won’t get stung with insane road tax.

Can anyone convince me one is way better than the other?

[Dg504]

They’ll both be £700+ tax won’t they?

[Aiminghigh123]

W205 c63 says it will be £385.

[E63eeeeee...]

I've not driven the C63, and am a touch biased of course, but the 5.5 E63 is a spectacular thing for theatre and noise, and nobody is ever going to put another 5.5 litre engine in a normal car. Piddly little 4 litre engines will be with us for a while yet. Also the W/S212 is a generally very good car, loads of room for kids and kid stuff (the estate is properly cavernous), and thus far mine has barely depreciated in 4 years, which compensates for the road tax.

[MadsMan]

I've spent a bit of time in both, more time in various W205 C63's, but also driven a W212 E63 on the track where it was surprisingly good! The C63 revs a bit better, the E63 feels a bit more brutish, but both are great cars with great engines.

The E63 is significantly bigger, and I think feels better built, but I think the C63 looks more modern.

Regarding the tax, my view has always been it is not worth considering, its about 4 tanks of fuel different over the year, which isn't going to get you that far! Neither is going to be cheap to run, so if this matters it might tarnish the experience of either. FWIW the C63 can be coaxed to be a bit more economical...

Not sure it helps much but if it was me I'd pick the E63 if I needed the space, otherwise I would go C63 but it's a close call!

[ZX10R NIN]

The 5.5 is the better engine, I also feel they're better built do my pick would be the E63:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406080...

or the CLS63:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404279...

CLS 63 Estate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406180...

[Aiminghigh123]

Thanks for the replies.
4 tanks of fuel difference. When you put it like that it doesn’t sound as bad.

I would be using it almost daily so not like it will just sit pay tax and not being used.

The 5.5 is really pulling at me. Like you said not going to happen again.

In my mind I was pretty much done and going to settle on C63. Then the other day an e63 went past me not even on full chat and just sounded awesome.

[nobrakes]

I doubt id it’s much more than 2 tanks of super tbh.

Sure, the C class will be tighter and more or a riot, but the E class is hardly much slower and I guess will be more practical. There is no replacement for boot capacity displacement!

[RichFN2]

I will admit I unfortunately don't have the pleasure of experiencing either engine, but I would imagine the midrange grunt from a twin turbo 5.5 V8 would be insane. That would be my personal preference over the extra 0.7l in engine size.

[Aiminghigh123]

RichFN2 said:

I will admit I unfortunately don't have the pleasure of experiencing either engine, but I would imagine the midrange grunt from a twin turbo 5.5 V8 would be insane. That would be my personal preference over the extra 0.7l in engine size.

Not the w204 with the 6.2. W205 has 4.0 twin turbo v8.

W204 is too tight in the back for sure. Looked at them before and kids are a bit squashed with my seat in a comfortable position.

[stabilio]

I had the w205 c63 estate. Quite a firm ride even in comfort but my biggest issue was the drone noise which made it hard to have a conversation and really bugged me.

[Aiminghigh123]

So pretty much decided on w212 e63.

Looked at C class and bit tight in the back for the little ones with my seat in correct position, I’m 6ft 1.

Now I’m undecided between 6.2 and 5.5TT in the e class.

6.2 sound amazing but I prefer the facelift w212 look.
I do around 6k miles a year now so fuel not a big issue.
Probably get an estate just because it’s easier to take kids bikes and we do a UK long weekend away at least twice a year.

Anyone had both?

Ps to add 5.5TT do seem to be aroun £6-10k more at the moment. Not many 6.2 on autotrader either.

Edited by Aiminghigh123 on Saturday 7th September 15:07

[popeyewhite]

I've had a couple of E63s. I found the C63 a little too raw and as a result tiresome for everyday stuff. Great fun second car though.

[Aiminghigh123]

popeyewhite said:

I've had a couple of E63s. I found the C63 a little too raw and as a result tiresome for everyday stuff. Great fun second car though.

Did you have 5.5 and 6.2 e class?

[ZX10R NIN]

The 6.2 is the sweeter unit with its instant response & imo better drive BUT the 5,5 is bombastic & in the E class I'd choose it over the 6,2 for the facelift updates.

Also look at the CLS 63.

[popeyewhite]

Aiminghigh123 said:

Did you have 5.5 and 6.2 e class?

Yes. If that was a stab in the dark it was very well placed!

I preferred the NA 6.2.