Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2013 Porsche 911 VS 2013 Mercedes C63 Near Scottsdale, AZ

The 911 offers all wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The C63 doesn’t offer all wheel drive.

Both the 911 and the C63 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

The 911’s corrosion warranty is 6 years and unlimited miles longer than the C63’s (10/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

The battery on the 911 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures which can degrade battery life. By keeping the 911’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The C63’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2012 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 9th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2012 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche second in reliability, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 6th.

As tested in Car and Driver the 911 S is faster than the Mercedes C63 (481 HP engine) (automatics tested):

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the 911 lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability. The C63 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the 911 gets better fuel mileage than the C63:

Regenerative brakes improve the 911’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The C63 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 911’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The C63 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The 911 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The C63 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The 911 stops much shorter than the C63:

For better traction and acceleration, the 911 has larger standard rear tires than the C63 (285/35R19 vs. 255/35R18). The 911’s optional rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the C63 (295/30R20 vs. 285/30R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 911 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the C63. The 911’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the C63.

The 911 offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The C63 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The 911 S Coupe handles at 1.00 G’s, while the C63 Coupe pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The 911 S Cabriolet handles at 1.02 G’s, while the C63 Sedan pulls only .93 G’s of cornering force in a Road & Track skidpad test.

The 911 S Cabriolet goes through Road & Track’s slalom 2 MPH faster than the C63 Sedan (71.3 vs. 69.3 MPH).

The 911 S Coupe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the C63 Coupe (24.1 seconds @ .82 average G’s vs. 24.9 seconds).

The Porsche 911 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 750 pounds less than the Mercedes C63.

The 911 is 8.5 inches shorter than the C63 Coupe, making the 911 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The 911’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge – which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The C63 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The 911’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The C63’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the 911 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The C63 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the 911 offers an optional rear wiper. The C63 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The 911’s optional air conditioned front seats cool the driver and front passenger and help take the sting out of hot leather in Summer. The C63 doesn’t offer air conditioned front seats.

The 911 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. Kiplinger’s estimates that the 911 will retain a greater percentage of its original price after two and four years than the C63.