Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

The Mercedes C63 AMG is an extreme prejudice answer to BMW’s M3 that leaves all-comers in its substantial wake. You get out of this 456bhp, RWD monster with sweaty palms and a stupid grin on your face, but it’s a bit hardcore for everyday use.

• Comfort

  The seats are huge batwing-style racy things that are horrible to get into, but once you're there, hug you like a desperate housewife. After that, things get a little less comfy; the engine is super loud (but that's a good thing most of the time), the suspension will blur your vision and there's precious little ‘sneeze factor' in the steering.

  

• Performance

  There's nothing like it in this sector. That's one mother of an engine shoehorned into the engine bay of a C-class; 6208cc of V8 with 457bhp and enough torque to pull down cities. You better be in something substantial to beat it in the speed stakes too, because 0-62mph takes just 5.2 seconds and it'll hit the 155mph limiter hard and quickly. And then there's the noise...

  

• Cool

  Self-flagellation is extremely trendy in some circles. Gets respect just by the strength of your commitment.

  

• Quality

  Built like a brick outhouse, though fairly focused when all's said and done. Nice materials and proper build quality help this feel like it'll do nasty things to road surfaces all day long.

  

• Handling

  The C63 AMG feels like an old-school DTM car. That equates to millimetric steering, super-hard and very sticky; on a smooth road. Get off the beaten track and you're looking at being bounced into the nearest solid object - ‘uncompromising' doesn't really cover it.

  

• Practicality

  It's a C-class, so you get a generous 475-litre boot and the associated C-class practicality, but your kids won't thank you for it when you use the available performance. And you will.

  

• Running costs

  We don't even know how much C02 this thing produces because we're too stunned by the running costs; group 20 insurance, max tax, max everything. And on a recent test, Top Gear recorded 5mpg. Yes, that's right 5mpg - it is quoted as getting 21. Hmmmm.