[rainfall]

I was looking at cars for my friend, and interestingly, I noticed that the C-Class drivetrain is as follows:

1. C300 - RWD or AWD
2. C43 AMG - AWD only
3. C63 AMG - RWD only

I think people who love to drive would normally prefer RWD, and some people who would want more practicality in cold regions would opt for AWD. C43 is definitely a car for people who like to drive... so why no RWD option?

[Red Bread]

Mainly to move actual enthusiasts up to the real AMG. Same reason M is going manual on only the M's. Enthusiasts will pay the differential.

I'd argue that the C300 is only available in rwd for the price point. Like BMW, MB leaves off mechanical LSD's on non AMG cars, so pushing a rwd C300 much less C43 hard will reveal that limitation in a few seconds.

Sadly I'd also bet the next C63 is awd just to improve its magazine numbers slightly.

[rainfall]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Sadly I'd also bet the next C63 is awd just to improve its magazine numbers slightly.

Yeah, I hope you're wrong about the C63 AWD thing.

[Arcades]

Benz can/maybe do what has been reported on what BMW M division is going to do with the G80, give the real AMG an option regarding it's AWD, having it or not. Which makes sense because RWD is at a wall when it comes to performance and there isn't too much else they can do about it.

[roastbeef]

its cheaper and they can con a lower price market demographic into buying an "amg." they are watering down their brand like bmw.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Arcades

Benz can/maybe do what has been reported on what BMW M division is going to do with the G80, give the real AMG an option regarding it's AWD, having it or not. Which makes sense because RWD is at a wall when it comes to performance and there isn't too much else they can do about it.

Yeah, poor GT2 RS and 720s. That's some wall.

[Arcades]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Yeah, poor GT2 RS and 720s. That's some wall.

Please, Those cars are pure performance cars. M3, C63, Giulia QV are sedans that can track. Don't mix that with GT2 RS and 720s.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Arcades

Please, Those cars are pure performance cars. M3, C63, Giulia QV are sedans that can track. Don't mix that with GT2 RS and 720s.

Rwd isn't compromising a sports sedan. A ZL1 is rwd and cleans the floor with those sedans. Awd isn't some magical elixir and a 3,600 pound car with 500hp isn't "at the limits of rwd." The shift to awd is to protect idiots from themselves.

[vandridine]

Originally Posted by Arcades

Please, Those cars are pure performance cars. M3, C63, Giulia QV are sedans that can track. Don't mix that with GT2 RS and 720s.

They also cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. I'm sure if BMW sold the M3 for $400,000 they would have the money to figure out how to put down the power effortlessly on a RWD platform.

[aaaaah]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Rwd isn't compromising a sports sedan. A ZL1 is rwd and cleans the floor with those sedans. Awd isn't some magical elixir and a 3,600 pound car with 500hp isn't "at the limits of rwd." The shift to awd is to protect idiots from themselves.

*** 3800lb now that it's AWD

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by aaaaah

*** 3800lb now that it's AWD

Shh, we'll get another illogical response.

[Z K]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Rwd isn't compromising a sports sedan. A ZL1 is rwd and cleans the floor with those sedans. Awd isn't some magical elixir and a 3,600 pound car with 500hp isn't "at the limits of rwd." The shift to awd is to protect idiots from themselves.

I'd also add that AWD is only advantageous in producing numbers. Things like 0-60 and quarter mile times. The traction of AWD when accelerating is well known.

When it comes to cornering and lap times, AWD doesn't necessarily have an advantage. RWD is just as fast on track when you're not looking at those acceleration numbers.

But numbers sell cars, so most people are looking at the 0-60 stats and horsepower.

[Red Bread]

What's more fun than more weight, more understeer, less steering feel and extra maintenance costs, all for a couple tenths to sixty and likely no 1/4 mile advantage?

[mkoesel]

The C43 is AWD only because that's what the vast majority of consumers want from a premium sedan now. Furthermore, those who don't necessarily care about AWD will happily pay for it if you include it standard. Look at luxury SUVs where only the basic, entry level trim for a given model is available with 2WD. The AWD models still sell like hotcakes, even below the snow-belt. The same phenomena now extends to luxury sedans as well.

Also consider that the the C43's direct competitor, the Audi S4, has always been AWD only. So, by offering AWD standard, Mercedes is matching that vehicle's features. The new M340i will also be AWD only everywhere but in North America (maybe even just America, Canada is probably AWD only), and I suspect that sales of the RWD model will be dwarfed by sales of AWD model here.

As RedBread mentioned above, the next C63 (or whatever it is called) will likely be AWD as well. Same for the M3. RWD may remain optional on one or both still, but even if so, this is probably the last generation we'll see that.

[paliknight]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

The C43 is AWD only because that's what the vast majority of consumers want from a premium sedan now. Furthermore, those who don't necessarily care about AWD will happily pay for it if you include it standard. Look at luxury SUVs where only the basic, entry level trim for a given model is available with 2WD. The AWD models still sell like hotcakes, even below the snow-belt. The same phenomena now extends to luxury sedans as well.

Also consider that the the C43's direct competitor, the Audi S4, has always been AWD only. So, by offering AWD standard, Mercedes is matching that vehicle's features. The new M340i will also be AWD only everywhere but in North America (maybe even just America, Canada is probably AWD only), and I suspect that sales of the RWD model will be dwarfed by sales of AWD model here.

As RedBread mentioned above, the next C63 (or whatever it is called) will likely be AWD as well. Same for the M3. RWD may remain optional on one or both still, but even if so, this is probably the last generation we'll see that.

Glad you compared the C43 to the S4 (rightfully so). Was at an MB dealership before I bought my M2C and they had a 67K C43. I told them I would rather just get an M4 for the same price or a couple of thousand more. They said the C43 is an M4/M3 competitor. I laughed and left the dealership and got the M2C for less.

It was a leftover 2018 sitting on the lot and the most they discounted it was 3K

I love AMGs but the 43 variants seem overpriced for a beefed up C350.