2003 S55 or 2003 S600

[shahjee]

Hey guys i am extremely confused which one of these cars to get.. please help me out with making my decision. Thanks alot.

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[vinmanc32]

if you can get one, take it

[absent]

If money difference is unimportant take S600:it's much more luxurious and will be faster with it's superior torque to weight ratio.

[vraa]

i vouch for the s600.. mainly cuz the v12.. lol

[mookie]

given a choice the S600 is the car to get. V12 vs bi-turbo with more vibration and the turbo lag. The S600 is a nicer car loaded

[nabzy]

why, cause you get the very neat shifter buttons on the steering wheel, speedshift amg transmission and take a look at the new AMG seats coming for the CL and S class for 2003...they look great, very sporty........


S class seats

[mookie]

nabzy has some good points for s55

[Mr Janne]

Originally posted by mookie
given a choice the S600 is the car to get. V12 vs bi-turbo with more vibration and the turbo lag. The S600 is a nicer car loaded

The V12 in S600 has twin-turbos.

[FC Corp]

Go with the 600 as performance is better along with interior...

[///MB]

If the price doesn't matter... Go for the 600. It seems like people are saying the performance with be better on the 600 than the 55... also, the interior on the 600s are MUCH nicer than that of the 55.

[FrankW]

Luxury, go for the 600
Sporty (sort of), go for the 55.

both will hit 60 in 4.8 sec, the torque number is greater on the 600's V12, but the 55 is not bad either. the top AMG or the top Mercedes-Benz. tough choice.....

if u want the AMG yet you want the V12, go for the special vehicle S63 AMG.

[FrankW]

Originally posted by Mr Janne
The V12 in S600 has twin-turbos.

and the V8 in the S55 is not bi-turbo. it's supercharged.

[MarcusBenz]

I hate to sound like a salesperson, but no one has mentioned one huge factor in the equation. Do you plan on keeping the car forever or would you every think of selling? If you plan on keeping this car, maybe the 600 is a more prestigous car, but if there is even the smallest chance of selling, get the 55. I hate to say it, but the 600 will kill you when you go to sell or trade. On the other hand the 55 will never disappoint you when it is time to part ways!!!

[FrankW]

Originally posted by MarcusBenz
I hate to sound like a salesperson, but no one has mentioned one huge factor in the equation. Do you plan on keeping the car forever or would you every think of selling? If you plan on keeping this car, maybe the 600 is a more prestigous car, but if there is even the smallest chance of selling, get the 55. I hate to say it, but the 600 will kill you when you go to sell or trade. On the other hand the 55 will never disappoint you when it is time to part ways!!!

good point.

btw when u move to MB of long beach? i thought u were working at HOI?

[MarcusBenz]

I left there in mid August, due to a lot of Management changes and a Gen. Sales Mngr coming from Lexus & trying to make a name for himself. There where a lot of good salespeople that left the dealership. I still talk to Andrew @ HOI & he let me know that the GSM has since parted ways & they are trying to get me to come back!! Both are great places to work, just a little easier @ HOI with all the inventory they have. WILL SEE!!!

[Clarence]

Granted i am biased having one on order but the differences matter. If your a driving enthusiast, the S55 is the way to go.

The AMG package is awesome (offers more than the sport packaged 600). The seats are better. The speed-shift buttons on the steering wheel are a clear advantage for sport driving.

And I have to disagree with a previous post, according to MB website the S55 is indeed faster than the S600. It has greater hp, mildly less torque which is overcome easily because the S55 is much lighter.

And you see more S600s on the road than S55s. So if exclusivity is important to you, than again its the S55.

Clarence

[FrankW]

Originally posted by MarcusBenz
I left there in mid August, due to a lot of Management changes and a Gen. Sales Mngr coming from Lexus & trying to make a name for himself. There where a lot of good salespeople that left the dealership. I still talk to Andrew @ HOI & he let me know that the GSM has since parted ways & they are trying to get me to come back!! Both are great places to work, just a little easier @ HOI with all the inventory they have. WILL SEE!!!

ic ic...good luck at ur new place

[FrankW]

Originally posted by Clarence
Granted i am biased having one on order but the differences matter. If your a driving enthusiast, the S55 is the way to go.

The AMG package is awesome (offers more than the sport packaged 600). The seats are better. The speed-shift buttons on the steering wheel are a clear advantage for sport driving.

And I have to disagree with a previous post, according to MB website the S55 is indeed faster than the S600. It has greater hp, mildly less torque which is overcome easily because the S55 is much lighter.

And you see more S600s on the road than S55s. So if exclusivity is important to you, than again its the S55.

Clarence

either way, i'm staying away from both of those cars. I don't want to get my butt wipped

[benznut]

how is the 55 more powerful than s600? they both have 500 hp, or 493 in US.;

[shahjee]

Both have the same HP, but the torque in the 600 is significantly more, and kicks in at a lower rpm. What does that mean in terms of driving ?

[MKW]

The Twin Turbo V12 will sound like a smooth executive jet taking off. The supercharged V8 will make more of an American muscle car thumpin / rumbling /roaring sound on full throttle. Different drivers prefer different motor sounds.
The V12 is always buttery smooth and quiet - that's why it's the preferred luxocruiser motor over the years for many marques.

[clkfrk]

We all wish we had this problem, eh?

600 without hesitation. Four doors, power, luxury, and with sport package -- a very good overall car that can taverse the luxury and "get up and go" market.

Interior on the 600 is FAR better than the SL... which is saying something cuz the SL is my dream car (once the kids are gone).

[benznut]

S600 Sport all the way - possibly Mocha designo

[AndrewEclipse]

AMG Inspired Suspension, Transmission, Seats, Exhaust, Wheels, Instrument Cluster all on a Supercharged BEAST.

S55 - no question about it.

[AndrewEclipse]

Oh, and before everyone disagrees. Here are the exclusive facts on the 55. Not too shabby........

One man, one engine – AMG badge documents production process

The "one man, one engine" philosophy means that one engineer at the engine plant in Affalterbach takes responsibility for the entire assembly of each AMG high-performance engine – as evidenced by that mechanic's signature on a special engine badge, which, in the case of the AMG V8 supercharged engine, is located on the supercharger module.

AMG SPEEDSHIFT with Formula 1-style steering-wheel gearshift

In the three new AMG models with the V8 supercharged engine, the power is transmitted by a five-speed automatic transmission which incorporates the AMG SPEEDSHIFT function, adapting to both a sporty and a comfort-oriented driving style. In manual mode the gears can be changed at the touch of a button on the steering wheel as in a racing car. Further technological highlights include the optimum gear function and active engine-braking downshift, which, together with the mechanical lock-up of the torque converter from first gear, make for an extremely direct driving experience. The advantages of the AMG SPEEDSHIFT automatic transmission are rounded off by more spontaneous and up to 35 percent faster gear changes.
Motor racing expertise influences engine design

The technical highlights of the sophisticated AMG V8 supercharged engine include the mechanical supercharger, located between the cylinder banks, which places the 5.5-litre eight-cylinder engine under a maximum pressure of 0.9 bar. Integrated in the compact supercharger module is the charge-air cooler, which operates along the highly efficient lines of an air/water heat exchanger. Using AMG's wealth of experience in the field of motor racing, the interior of the engine has been given a totally new design: the crankcase, crankshaft and pistons have been reinforced, the cylinder heads and valve train have been optimised and a more powerful oil pump has been added.

AIRMATIC DC semi-active suspension with AMG-specific tuning

To ensure that the high engine output is delivered to the road effectively, the Mercedes-AMG engineers have redesigned the suspension and the braking system. In the E 55 AMG the progressive dynamic handling systems help set the sports Saloon apart from its current competitors. The air-sprung, semi-active AIRMATIC DC suspension with ADS II allows the driver to opt for a more comfortable or a very sporty ride. Damping and springing automatically adjust to the given situation in fractions of a second, and the required tuning can also be selected manually in three stages at the touch of a button. The spring struts, shock absorbers, torsion bars and the entire electronic suspension management have been specifically adapted to the high dynamic potential of the AMG model.

Experience gathered during over three decades in motorsport also served as a basis for the fully modified power transmission, with the steel rear axle and differential cooling, and for the braking system, with Sensotronic Brake Control, familiar from the SL 55 AMG: internally ventilated, perforated brake discs all-round, sized 360 x 36 millimetres at the front and 330 x 26 millimetres at the rear, ensure excellent deceleration of 10.8 m/s2 and practically no fading. Eight-piston fixed callipers at the front axle allow a brake pad surface which is almost twice as large as in the Mercedes-Benz E 500.

New AMG twin-spoke light-alloy wheels

Contact with the road is provided by size 245/40 ZR 18 (front) and 265/35 ZR 18 (rear) wide-base tyres, which are fitted on attractive AMG twin-spoke light-alloy wheels, eight inches wide at the front and nine inches wide at the rear. In addition to the AMG twin-spoke wheels, painted in sterling silver, striking side skirts from the AMG bodystyling package emphasise the elegant silhouette of the Saloon; the V8 KOMPRESSOR lettering on the front wings draws attention to the fact that this is the most powerful E-Class of all time. At the front the AMG front apron, with its large air intakes and clear-glass fog lamps, sets this exclusive sports Saloon apart from the rest, while a fitting finishing touch is provided at the rear by the AMG rear apron with integral, oval, chromed twin tailpipes, left and right.


Mercedes-Benz S 55 AMG and CL 55 AMG: powerful top-of-the-line models

Following the extensive model updates for the S-Class Saloon and the CL-Class Coupé, the S 55 AMG and CL 55 AMG also have a totally new character. Beneath the bonnet of both AMG high-performance vehicles beats the heart of a top athlete – the V8 supercharged engine, with its 5.5-litre displacement, 368-kW/500-hp output at 6100 rpm and 700-Newtonmetre torque between 2750 and 4000 rpm, familiar from the SL 55 AMG. In these prestigious and luxurious top models, the tremendous power ensures sports car-style dynamism: in the S 55 AMG and the CL 55 AMG the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes just 4.8 seconds, and both models take just 16,3 seconds to reach the 200 km/h mark. The electronically governed top speed for each is 250 km/h.

The S 55 AMG and CL 55 AMG demonstrate that high performance can also be environmentally compatible, firstly by complying with the EU4 exhaust gas limits, which are not due to come into force until 2005, and secondly by their low consumption levels of 13.2 litres per 100 kilometres (NEDC combined cycle).

AMG sports suspension with Active Body Control (ABC) as standard

Both V8 supercharged top models are fitted as standard with Active Body Control, which significantly reduces side tilt on bends as well as pitch and roll. The driver can also select between comfort-oriented or sporty characteristics at the touch of a button. Stiffer, AMG-specific tuning of the spring struts and the high-performance braking system with internally ventilated, perforated discs all round and eight-piston fixed callipers at the front axle do justice to the increased dynamic potential.

AMG bodystyling and 18-inch light-alloy wheels with mixed-size tires

The new V8 KOMPRESSOR models can be distinguished from the other S-Class and CL-Class models by the AMG bodystyling, which is fitted as standard. The front end is characterised by the new-design AMG front apron, with larger openings for the charge-air cooling. The side view features 18-inch AMG light-alloy wheels in the new twin-spoke design with mixed-size tyres, AMG side skirts and the V8 KOMPRESSOR lettering on the front wings. The AMG sports exhaust with two chromed twin tailpipes and the distinctive AMG rear apron – with a particularly sporty diffusor on the CL 55 AMG – lend a dynamic touch at the rear.

Full complement of nappa leather appointments in a choice of three colours

The appointments in the S 55 AMG and CL 55 AMG certainly live up to the high technical standards of the vehicles. The AMG instrument cluster with its 320-km/h gauge, an AMG ergonomic sports steering wheel with gear-shift buttons and door sill panels with the AMG logo emphasize the AMG style. Luxurious flair is also added by the extensive fine wood trim and the nappa leather appointments, available in three colours. The CL 55 AMG has AMG sports seats in the front, offering optimum lateral support, while the S 55 AMG offers multicontour dynamic driving seats in the front. These ensure that the degree of lateral support provided adjusts automatically when cornering at speed. The seats in both models have an AMG-specific design and perforated upholstery, with AMG badges incorporated in the backrests.