We Ask Ourselves: Would You Buy A Mercedes W221 S65 AMG?

By Patrick Morgan - February 22, 2026

S65 AMG

Priced at over a quarter million dollars new, the W221 AMG S65 is a depreciation icon, and bargain.

Before we even start, we can guarantee that no one who bought one of these new really cares how much their value has fallen off a cliff. If you’re throwing down serious coin on a car like this, it won’t matter that the trade-in value is halved. We get it, used Mercedes prices are in the tank. But for enthusiasts with normal budgets, this presents an interesting option. Would one buy a used S65 AMG at a cost that is less than a base model Camry?

So the car is cheap, but what about upkeep? Well, this is why the depreciation happens. Folks know these aren’t a Toyota, and they can’t be maintained through the closeout section of your favorite auto parts website. In the Mercedes lineup, the S-class seems to suffer from it the most. The S65 has every conceivable option from Mercedes, which also means there’s more to go wrong. Active suspension, active seats, night vision, lane keep, big brakes, and of course the M275 twin turbo V12. None of those parts are cheap, and very few manufacturers outside of Mercedes support this car.

We Ask Ourselves: Would You Buy A Mercedes W221 S65 AMG?

“That’s fine, I’m a DIY’er!” Folks who work on their own cars may also be weary. Something as simple as engine mounts may take over a day to finish. Turbos usually have to come off for that. Outside of the time, there’s usually a lot of things that have to be programmed to the car through Mercedes Xentry. So some folks might be able to tackle it, but the casual mechanic might be a bit over their head.

We Ask Ourselves: Would You Buy A Mercedes W221 S65 AMG?

So would we buy an S65 AMG? Probably. There’s few other options on the road that come close for the money. It is tough to argue against 600 horsepower and 700 torques. And aftermarket options give room for a lot more than that. Well maintained examples will reward with the best starter motor sound ever. However, a car like this should always come with a warning – it’ll cost the same to maintain as a new AMG.