Curbside Review: 2020 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 – “It Is So Choice. If You Have The Means, I Highly Recommend Picking One Up” – F. Bueller

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– Posted on February 10, 2020

It’s almost as if you could take this car to the trailhead.  Of course the suspension is a little low for any real off-roading otherwise it would certainly be possible.  Still, a moderately maintained gravel trail shouldn’t be any issue whatsoever, I pulled off in several areas worse than this one that I would be more worried about with a low slung sports car and never had issues.

If you DID take it for a hike, you’d find the cargo area very practical and extremely well trimmed out.  The seats fold if needed in sections (40/20/40 – each side and the center separately or in any combination), there is more storage under the floor, and a netted area to the left side for water bottles or whatever other loose oddments.  Of course it opens/raises/lowers electrically and the button to close it again is in the overhead sill area of the hatch (and duplicated on the keyfob).

While this phone picture is a little distorted making it look a bit smaller than it really is it gives a decent idea of the size difference between it and the Toyota Highlander to the left and the Chevy Tahoe to the right.  The AMG was also one of the most commented on and “looked-at-by-bystanders and passers-by” vehicles that I’ve driven lately, for example as we were taking this picture the owners of the Tahoe walked toward their car.  Mr. Tahoe Driver pointed our car out to his passengers and then when we walked toward it while they were entering their car, we overheard him remarking on it complimentarily.

He then waited for me to start it and drive off while nodding his head at the sound (it really does sound distinctive) and watching us leave.  I’m a fairly low-key person and while it’s not really a show-offy vehicle (as well as that not really being my thing), it has just enough for others who know cars to appreciate it.  In this case, the Cardinal Red Metallic “designo” paint (optional at a fairly eye watering $1,080) really was a draw, it’s a very pretty color that shows off the lines wonderfully and thankfully isn’t just another shade of gray.

After exploring everything including driving around the roads linking the different lots and going through a natural rock formation tunnel we eventually descended back to the Town of Morrison, another little enclave in the lower Rockies filled with one main street with several restaurants and some shops. 

It wasn’t tacky, there are no chain outlets or anything at all like that, just a pleasant place for a stroll and perhaps lunch or a beverage from a local establishment.

After we ourselves enjoyed lunch at “The Cow, An Eatery” (whose namesake cow had apparently been tipped by parties unknown) where I texted Paul some pictures of the car and we text-chatted back and forth while my son ate his grilled cheese, we continued on to one of Morrison’s other attractions, Bandimere Speedway. 

A full 1/4 mile drag racing facility, Bandimere is just off I-470 outside of Morrison and has been in operation since 1958.  While the track was closed the grounds were open so we pulled in and watched some go-karts race in the parking lot for a bit. 

I’ve actually run my 911 here and while initially dismayed at my times even though I seemed competitive with my group of friends’ cars, once I used the significant correction factor applicable to this altitude I was pleased that my times were about what the factory had advertised. As regards today’s ride, according to Car&Driver, when they tested a similar example to this AMG tester two years ago, they recorded a 1/4 mile time of 12.0 seconds at 115mph.

On Wednesday evenings during the summer they do a “public night” where anyone can go and try their hand, it is a fun event and even the local police departments show up and drag race the local youths in their cars.  It beats doing it on the street.

There’s the heart of this beast, a 4.0liter V8 with twin turbos visible right on top next to the small plaque bearing the name of the craftsman that hand-assembled the entire engine at his station by himself.  AMG is now a wholly owned part of the house that Karl and Gottlieb built, but originally AMG was a small racing shop founded in the 1960’s by two Mercedes engineers named Aufrecht and Melcher (the A and the M).  The G stands for Grossaspach, the town that Aufrecht lived in and where they worked on engines.

Their most public claim to fame came when they built a 5liter V8 engine with an AMG-developed 4-valve head that was implanted into a W124 chassis and known colloquially as “The Hammer”.  Over the years they worked closer and closer with the factory and as of 2005 the company was 100% sold to Mercedes and now is based in Affalterbach.

While AMG has also become sort of a trim line for some Mercedes’, the top AMGs have their engines built by one person whose name is affixed to it and are badged as AMG, then the model line (GLC in this case) and then a two digit number that used to denote displacement but with the advent of turbos seems to denote relative power within the line (or lineup).  In this case the 63 is a 4liter biturbo V8 with 468hp, but in the S-class AMG S63 (same 63 number), it’s also a 4liter biturbo V8 but produces 603hp for example.  (There’s also a “lesser” AMG GLC43 that uses a turbo six but that’s a production line engine, not individually built.)  It’s confusing, I know.

Our last stop of the day was just north of Bandimere, it was Dinosaur Ridge, a National Natural Landmark.  A popular hiking and bicycling area, Dinosaur Ridge has a visitor center, small museum, and more importantly a closed off mountain that is covered in Dinosaur tracks and other fossil remains. 

We’d been here before (and that time sort of got lost on a five or so mile hike), but this time we just ventured up the road about a third of a mile to the main dinosaur track find to check it out again.  This area was once all covered in water and apparently host to a number of migrating dinosaurs over the ages, as such many fossils were preserved in the sediment (marked with paint here to make them more visibly obvious).  It’s not just a kid thing, it really is interesting for all ages and the hiking varies from easy paved paths to more difficult trails.

Since we are on the subject of Dinosaurs, specifically dead ones, how’s the gas mileage?  Well, officially it’s rated at 16city and 22highway.  As shown earlier I averaged around 19 on a heavily freeway oriented section.  Around (a busy) town on the days when I just ran errands or work stuff, it seemed to be below the 16 number, usually ranging between 12 and 15 or so, likely due to me enjoying driving it, what’s the point otherwise really.  You don’t need to hoon it to have fun, but there’s no need to pretend there’s an egg underfoot either.  Note that for three days of its stay with me, temperatures were between 0 degrees Fahrenheit and about 30, which doesn’t help those numbers.

With that fairly low mileage rating it was useful that the navigation system showed gas stations as well as the current price for super unleaded at most of them.  In this state gas stations only display the price on a big sign for unleaded and diesel, if you want super you don’t know the price until you arrive at the pump, so being able to comparison shop as you drive around is nice.  It’s a feature that I believe is standard for a while (to get you used to it), then eventually a subscription fee is required.  The way gas prices vary around here it’d probably pay for itself fairly quickly though.

So going back to the “means” part in the title, let’s talk turkey, what are we looking at here to put this bad boy in my (or your) driveway for good?  Well, I know there are people that will say the numbers are outrageous, but in context I’ve come to the (personal) conclusion that it’s actually a value as compared to the basic vehicle it is derived from.  A basic regular 2WD GLC with a 2.0 turbo 4 starts at $42,500, I can’t seem to configure one that would be acceptable to me for under $50k.  The base price of the AMG GLC63 like this one here is US$73,750.  As tested it rings in at $83,655.

After looking at the online configurator I’ve realized that this is the rare test car that is not actually loaded with every possible option although nobody would ever call it a stripper.  The options it does have I’ve mostly touched on before, here goes with prices – the special paint at $1,080; Nappa leather interior at $2,590; the AMG performance steering wheel covered in “Dynamica” suede-ish material for $600; 21″ wheels for $1,000; AMG Drive Unit (the dynamic selector program) for $400; AMG Track Pace (allows you to time yourself and more on track only) at $250; Panorama Roof for $1500; Inductive Phone Charging and Near Field Pairing for $200; Parktronic parking assist and surround cameras for $1,290 and then the delivery charge at a comparatively to lots of other cars very reasonable $995.

“Value” obviously assumes that it’s of use, further that it can be used to its fullest and that it can be appreciated.  While viewed purely in the context of a generic transportation device, sure it’s expensive.  But as a phenomenal sports “car” filled with technology, safety, and as an engineering accomplishment it can transcend all that.  Just for giggles I figured out what I would want personally.

I’d actually probably take this color paint or one of the blue hues, skip the Panoramic Sunroof, I like the wheels, I could skip the Nappa leather although it is quite lovely, I like the AMG Drive Unit selector, need the inductive charging and NFC (goodbye cables!) and would take the parking camera package as it has come in handy in my garage this week as I successfully attempted to not damage this car as well as wanting the lighting package with automatic high beams.  All told I could be out the door for just under $80,000 and I already told my wife I really want one.  And I do, I found it to be simply a glorious vehicle.  Alas, she told me to work harder…

(Note: Mercedes provided the GLC63 shod with winter tires and a tank of gas for us to drive for a week.  I spent my kid’s lunch money for the month on more gas.  He didn’t seem to mind.)

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