Right now, Bitcoin is down to almost half its highest value, and that investment you made is looking problematic. So that 2021 Mercedes-AMG E 63 S isn't going to work out; it's just too expensive. But is there anything you can do?
This week Throttle House tried to re-answer that age-old question: do you buy a brand-new German car, or are those super-cheap used models a better idea? The target of discussion is one of the most desirable four-door cars ever made, the E 63.
For 2021, the E 63 received a mid-life facelift, bringing new headlights and other minor cosmetic revisions. But the heart of the car is the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine producing 603 hp. The oomph goes to all four wheels via an AMG 9-speed and gets you to 60 mph (96 kph) in 3.3 seconds.
The specs were a lot different when the same AMG model came out of the factory in 2010 spec. The old-timer featured a hand-built 6.2-liter DOHC V8 with 518 hp. For that year, Mercedes also swapped in a Speedshift MCT 7-speed automatic.
The owner of the old E 63 AMG recently bought it for $25,000 Canadian dollars, which is about US$20,600. That's Honda Civic money for a German V8 that plays machine guns every time you go near the throttle.
It's not cheap because it's slow, but because servicing a German sports sedan can be scary. Something simple like replacing the brakes can turn into a financial nightmare, compounded by the complexity of the car. But it's not slow or boring.
German automakers love to impress customers with the latest and greatest tech. The 2021 Mercedes-AMG E 63 S is no exception, boasting the same interior design as the new S-Class. Two conjoined screens and a multitude of expensive finishes hide the brutality of what can be unleashed from under the hood.
The 2010 E 63 AMG interior obviously looks outdated. With buttons all over the place and no large screens, it doesn't feel like a contemporary car. But there is an undeniable timelessness to it. It still has heated and ventilated seats, and the ride is fitting of a luxury brand.
Sure, the old car doesn't have laptop screens on the dash, but the main thing you're missing is a couple of turbochargers. And Throttle House argues that this isn't a bad thing. There's no AWD either, but drag racing shouldn't be the main point of a car like this.
So why would you buy the new one? Well, to have a warranty, and because it tells the world, "this person can afford something so expensive." And what does the old AMG say about its owner? Probably that he's friends with a Mercedes specialist mechanic.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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