2007CL63AMG

This past weekend (after lots of pleading) a buddy of mine finally let me drive his s-class. The aftermath of driving his car left me feeling both blown away and unnerved. Blown away because of just how damn good it was at everything, and unnerved because it put my RR Ghost to shame.

I believe the S63 AMG I drove is better than the Ghost for the following reasons.

-Interior felt much more sturdy and built to last
-Transmission on the S Class shifts seamlessly
-Infotainment system much more intuitive
-Acceleration far more effortless
-Rear seats far more comfortable and luxurious
-Better comfort through out
-Over 1,000 pounds lighter
-Handling far better
-Ride can be far sportier and equally as luxurious and smooth.

So if any of you S-Class buyers were thinking of switching over to the Ghost, do yourself a big favor and don't.

hyperion667

you forgot to mention cost


I was playing with their build site the other day and they are all pretty bland IMO

AppleFan1

Thanks for sharing your experience. From all the reviews I read, it was made quite clear that the new S Class is superior to the Rolls. I've been informing my friends and relatives about this and their first reaction is disbelief and they think that I am just kidding. But soon they realize that I am telling the truth and they are speechless.

2007CL63AMG

Despite the S class being better in every measurable way, I still keep the Rolls around because I feel that it has a tremendous amount of character. That and I've grown a bit attatched.

screw991le

Forget the S63 Drive an E63.

06E55

How does the S63 Compare to your Bentley Continental GT? Or do you have the Supersports? The Supersports really isn't referred to as the Continental GT SS... Just Continental Supersports... So, I'm a little confused...

I have an 2006 E55 as well as a 2012 Supersports... I haven't driven the S63 yet. I'm waiting for a Coupe version...

BenzV12

Thanks for your thoughts and sharing review on these top notch cars
I recently read a car mag and according to the writer , a real RR was Phantom because Ghost came with BMW 7 Series and inherited BMW characteristics more than RR

S Class is like Rolex , the best quality watch vs price ,mass production model
RR is like Vacheron Constantin , more expensive to buy because of hand made yet harder to sell with racked up depreciation value but every watch enthusiast dream of having one

Bullshido

Phantom.

2007CL63AMG

The S63 and The Continental Supersports are actually surprisingly similar cars. Both send their power to all four wheels, weight about 5000 pounds, have incredible amounts of power and extremely lavish interiors. With that in mind, the driving experience is completely different. The Bentley has a far rougher ride and is best driven in short bursts on a track or a winding road where despite its massive curb weight is a lot of fun going into the corners. The S class on the other hand is all business. The acceleration, while quicker in every measurable way is far more insulated than the Bentley's and does not have the same raw emotional appeal. So I'll leave it at this- The S class is a better car hands down. The Bentley is a more fun car, hands down. BTW Just corrected that error. Thanks for pointing it out. Makes me look a bit foolish now that I look it.




Here is a picture of the Bentley in question (and my son).

2007CL63AMG

I would actually love to drive in an E63 (in the form of the CLS Wagon) if I could somehow import one to the states...

Germancar1

Clearly the S63 is a better car than the Ghost or the new Flying Spur, they're both outdated and based on older cars. Nothing from Mercedes however touches the Phantom or the Mulsanne IMO. Just sitting in the Mulsanne is an experience. The Phantom is old, but the presentation is more than any S-Class could possibly match.

M

2007CL63AMG

I disagree when you say " Nothing from Mercedes however touches the Phantom or the Mulsanne IMO."

I remember reading a Car and Driver article from 2007 where the W221 S600 (a product that is 1.5 generations old) defeated the Phantom (a product that is still in production and has only received a minor face lift since then)

Germancar1

It defeated the car on technical merit, that isn't what I said, I said the presentation of the Phantom. I'm sure objectively the S65 AMG would beat both the Phantom and Mulsanne is such comparison, but standing next to the these cars the Benz is lacking.

M

2007CL63AMG

1. If we are only judging the cars based on presence, my Ghost would be the clear winner in any head to head with an S class; so I find it hypocritical that you exempt the Mulsanne and Phantom from any real comparison based on presence alone and not the Ghost.

2. While your argument may be accurate with regards to the "normal" S class models, ultra luxury versions such as the upcoming Pullman or the now defunct Maybach 57 /62 have just as much presence IMO.

Germancar1

1. Presentation is what I said. Not just presence. The Ghost is just re-bodied 7-Series. The Phantom is a truly bespoke vehicle. So is the Mulsanne. I only used presence in the last response with an S vs the Phantom and Mulsanne. A Ghost doesn't do much beyond the grille IMO. Very plain looking for that kind of money.

2. How would you know when they aren't even on sale or been shown yet? A stretched S-Class is just that, a stretched S-Class.

M

AppleFan1

To me, it's the overall car qualities that count and not just one small factor. Thus, even if I could afford to purchase a Rolls, I wouldn't.

Germancar1

Overall, a Mercedes is the better engineered, built product IMO. Bentley and Rolls just have something an aura about them, especially their truly bespoke models like the Mulsanne and Phantom, that Mercedes hasn't been able to compete with since the days of the Grosser 600/Pullman type cars.

M

absent

I'm with you in this argument here and have plenty of behind the wheel experience in all the cars mentioned in the above thread.
New S-Class while admittedly much improved over previous model and extremely refined, still not on on the same planet with Phantom or Mulsanne from a subjective point of view.
The emotion is not there , very clinical feel.
These subjective observations are very important too, as much as the technology, when you decide which car to purchase.
You going to spend a significant part of your time inside it during the ownership, whether you keep the car for 1/2 year or 5.

06E55

I also have a convertible! I also concur about how to drive the Bentley and it's handling in corners is MUCH better than one would anticipate! But, it isn't all that much different than my E55... And why I have stuck with my E55 instead of getting an E63 or something else is the throw you in the back of the seat when the supercharger kicks... But, my E55 and my Supersport are very close in acceleration (well, at least were, before I modded my E55)... But the Supersport beat it stock vs. stock....

Presence/presentation is very subjection... I will contest though, I was extremely surprised in regards to the interior of the new S Class... But only with the upgraded leather will it compare to a Rolls/Bentley... I will say I like the technology that MB has compared to anything out there right now... I think in the next model year 2016, the technology will combine much better for much better driver experience (think of a faster WiFi connection, CarPlay, etc.)...

AppleFan1

What makes you state that there will be a faster WiFi by 2016?

Cptdenny

Well I got an offer I couldn't refuse by our local MB dealership on a new S 550. This car drips luxury. We actually went to see a 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost with only 3K miles at our Benz dealer. After test driving the Rolls, my wife who was riding in the back, complained of back pains after a short 5 mile test ride. She was in a near fatal car accident in our former 2008 E320 back in 2010. We believe that car had saved her life. Anyway, she wasn't impressed with the Rolls ride or comfort. She felt better riding up front but she felt the Rolls was a beast of a car.

As we were about to leave, our sales person whom we had for 6 yrs mentioned that we may enjoy the 2014 S550 over the Rolls. She was correct! Both the wife and I felt far more comfortable in this Benz than the Rolls. So after an evening of research we tweaked the final numbers the next morning and purchased our S550 that afternoon, (30 Jul 2014).

TwinCam

Congratulations on your new ride, you won't be disappointed!

Cptdenny

We traded in our 2009 E320 Blue Tec. I'm going to miss that diesel fuel economy. I'm a strong believer in diesels over gas.

Thank you!

AppleFan1

Congratulations Captain! I know you and your wife will love the new S550.

Cptdenny

Thank you BT.
We'd love it even more if it ever stops raining down here in South FL. Over 2 straight months of nearly everyday of rain.
At least I haven't needed city water to top off our pool this summer.