Grab A Mercedes C63 Super Saloon For The Price Of A Base-Spec C-Class

We love the look of Audi's 518bhp A3 Clubsport concept, but it's almost certain the car it previews - the RS3 saloon - will have far less power. So what if you want a big dollop of power in a fairly compact saloon that actually exists, what's your best bet? A Mercedes C63 AMG is the answer, we reckon.Prices for the earliest examples of this butch super saloon now start at around £25,000, less than the price of the cheapest standard new C-Class. For that, you get a 6.2-litre V8 producing a huge 450bhp and 443lb/ft. 0-62mph takes just 4.5 seconds, while the top speed is the usual 155mph electronically limited affair. As is often the case with hot Mercs, you won't get quite the poise of the equivalent BMW M car - in this case the E90 M3 - but you'll be having too much fun behind the wheel of your C63 to care. Reliability-wise, C63s are relatively strong, but be prepared for high running costs: it'll eat tyres and fuel, servicing is pricey, and insurance won't be cheap. Still worth it? You bet.This 2008 example looks superb in Obsidian Black with 19-inch rims. It's done just 41,500 miles, and is up for £25,990.