superswiss

Since I'm converting from Audi RS to AMG, I can add a few thoughts. My 2019 C63S coupe is currently in production. The non-S vs S situation is not unusual. Many manufactures are doing that. Porsche goes crazy with this. It's essentially similar to the Carrera vs Carrera S, or Macan vs Macan S etc. Audi has started this, too, with the S8 vs S8 Plus, and RS7 vs RS7 Performance. Rumor is that an RS5 Performance is in the works. The C63 non-S is apparently very popular in Europe whereas it seems in the USA most order the S. I agree with you on the sedan. I'm also not very smitten by it. There are clear favorites it seems with each brand. For the C63, the coupe is the one to get. It got more focus from AMG. For example it has a unique rear axle, whereas the sedan is essentially the standard C-class sedan from about the B-pillar back, with some added visual bits and different suspension, but the coupe got reworked completely and given a wider track all around and actually rides more comfortable than the sedan, and not the mention the new aero package exclusive to the coupe, which of course I had to get :-). For the RS5 it seems the Sportback is the one to get. The coupe hasn't been doing so well. Price-wise they are in the same ballpark really. An RS5 with carbon exterior bits and pretty much equally configured came out to about the same as my C63S if I exclude things like the areo package, that don't have an equivalent on the RS5.

Islandinthesky

heymoe

If you don't plan on buying for 2-3 years then I can kind of see the dealers point of view. Just wait 2-3 years when you're back in the market plus who knows what other options will be out there at that time that you might be considering too.

Any ways, before the RS5 SB was announced I was set on getting the S5 SB but was going to wait for the second model year hoping for the black optic package. Then about a year ago they announced the RS5 SB and I just loved the looks of it a whole lot better then the S5 SB and what's not to like about more power as well as some of the other features like DRC. If I went with the S5 SB I figured I was going to do looks and performance mods to bump it to the RS5 level which was just going to cost $$$ that ate into the price difference between the S5 SB and the RS5 SB so why not just get the real thing, have a warranty and have even more headroom in the future for more performance if I wanted to go down that route. .

evanseric21

Exactly!

mhblaw

Well, everything is relative. I had a B8 2013 RS5 nearing 80k miles in the spring of 2017. Wanted a new RS5, but not available at that time so I ordered a 2018 S5. Picked it up in August of 2017. Very nice car, but not an RS. Drove it for around 11k miles. So, winter (March) of 2018 I order a 2018 RS5. Picked it up in July of 2018. What a difference! Sure the interior is much the same ( I had carbon in the S5), and generally easy ride is similar. But what a difference when you get aggressive! Better sounds, better response, better everything! Did I lose $ on the deal, sure I did, but I got what I wanted in the first place. No regrets, happy camper and zero issues with the new RS5.

chicago_marketing

tuxdude

These are the notable standard options I noticed in C63S compared to other AMG or the regular C-Class models. Note that many are standard even on the C63. The equivalents (if Audi offers) on the RS5 are options unfortunately and they easily add up to the price. My point was that Audi so far haven't considered adding more differentiating features exclusive to RS5, and probably even making many of them standard in RS5.
There are other options like AMG Track Pace (for Telemetrics, lap times, etc.) that come at no additional cost on C63S with the Multimedia package. Even on C63 it is a reasonably priced extra with the Multimedia package.

The option prices for few AMG specific options like AMG perf seats, AMG carbon fiber interior are lesser in C63S compared to a C63.

This was how I specced by 2019 AMG C63S, the MSRP with taxes is $82,755. I was not interested in paying extra for DAP unless it was a standard option. The choice of options was also based on the fact that I intend to use the car mostly just for spirited driving in canyons and on the track few times a year.
The close equivalent 2019 RS5 Sportback with the same options I wanted comes to $85,290.
Yes I agree with you that pre-2019 C-Class offering was awful when it came to choosing between either between either of AndroidAuto/CarPlay or Navi. Audi has generally done quite well in the tech department, but my point was that there is still room for improvement. I feel Audi offers the common features that most people would prefer as additional options or packages (that you need to pay extra). This probably makes sense in a $40k car, but in a $85k+ car?. How about adding some exclusive tech features in RS5 specific to track/race/telemetry? Why make a good sound system an optional upgrade on a car when most people pay $85k+ for the car? Same for leather seats? The RS5 leather seats are hardly differentiating vs S5. The tech is going to catch up with the A6/A8 probably in 2020/2021, but how much is Audi going to bump up the base price and/or price of packages/options when the tech evolves? These might be more tempting differentiating features IMO when comparing a RS5 vs S5, and I didn't see this unfortunately with the 2019 RS5.

Agree on the C63 Coupe having slightly better styling compared to the sedan, but disagree that you can't tell an AMG C63/C63S sedan apart from other C-Class sedans. The grille (Panamericana), tail (spoiler, diffuser, exhaust tips), height and the wheels are unique in C63/C63S vs rest of C-class just like how they are in RS5 vs S5, otherwise the same argument could be made with the Audi S vs RS models too. C300 Coupe vs C63S Coupe rear also has the same differences as the sedan equivalent. C63/C63S sedans do not have the same rear track width and wider rear fenders as the coupe however. This I guess is the reason you feel it's not easy to differentiate?

Agree that RS5 definitely has wider fenders and track width vs S5, making it easy to differentiate. As I said I prefer the styling of the Audis any day over Mercedes, but at least in my personal view the cons overweigh this aspect.

+1 to this. I hope we continue getting more choices between manufacturers to keep things competitive and manufacturers continue to innovate in the areas we deeply care.

Overall, each one has their own personal preferences they use for making their choices and I felt for my preferences, For me, Audi RS5 has lagged quite a bit for MY 2019 compared to C63S. If this improves let's say in 2020, at a competitive price range and it happens prior to me making the actual purchase, I wouldn't mind choosing an RS5. I apologize if I have derailed the thread, and hopefully is the last post from me in this thread which brings up the C63S.

NoMoreBMWs

When I configure it the way I like it (no exterior upgrades) in Canada it comes to $92,390. A really nice sleeper. With the RS5 you've just got to go with the $5600 Carbon Optics package. The car looks great but the damage is a staggering $101,540.

belzebutt

You don't even get a virtual cockpit with the default car, forcing you to get a package.

Glisse

Very funny from the Canadian guys.

The base Canadian price for the RS5 Sportback is CAD84,350. The German price for the identical spec (a lot of options required to get to Canadian base spec) is Euro78,591 - excluding taxes. And the Euro is Audi's global pricing currency, to avoid any confusion.

Which is CAD116,931.

So you are getting a CAD32,581 discount over the domestic German price. And Germany is the largest market for RS vehicles, to avoid any confusion. The base Canadian spec is actually great, if only they would lose the sunroof. And the standard exterior trim in Germany is black optics, with an up charge for matte aluminium. I prefer the German spec there. As for carbon fibre, buy a few decals if you must, no one could tell the difference from a metre or two away.

And you're crying in your beer? Cry me a river