Barolo CLS

By assigning a scale of 1-10 to all relavent categories as it relates to the items key to owning a "daily driver", would you guys agree that the CL63 has got to be one of the top nominees?

In the last five years, I've owned a

BMW M3
BMW X5
BMW 645
Porsche 997S
Bentley GT Coupe
Range Rover Supercharged (full size)
Mercedes CLS
Mercedes CL63

in search of automotive nirvana

Ive also test driven the

BMW M6
Aston Martin AM-V8
Corvette Z-06
Lambo Gallardo
MB S65

When the votes are counted, I just havnt driven a more well rounded car than this CL63.....

Anyone have any other contenders? I know the R8 is supposed to be a beast...anyone on here driven one?

W211 BEAST

The R8 is nice and all, but way too f**king overpriced for what it is. The cl65 is an amazing car, i think the back lights look like that of a lexus, but the interior is amazing.

Satan

I'd say CL all the way. I love mine, looking to upgrade to a CL65 this spring.

WSH

For me, CL63 030 is best daily driver and wkend driver in world today

CL65 has annoying traction (and poss active safety) issues on wet/uneven pavement....

Have previously had 997TT and 599: IMO, the only comparables for world's best daily driver.....997TT has glaring turbo lag; effeminate exhaust note; <18gall fuel tank and 12MPG; and no Bluetooth, as well as ground clearance issues vs SF hills....

599 has dubious safety/fuel tank crashworthiness....not a car in which one would want to be rear-ended on a high-speed fwy...or face a frontal collision in mtn twisties....

R8 has girlie tq, Luddite gearboxes and weak brakes....and mid-engine cars (aside from Porsches) have dubious safety/fuel tank crashworthiness....

Only car that will poss supplant CL63 030 as most interesting daily driver (and wkend car) will be SL63 030...its MCT and exhaust note (esp w/downshift blips) should be interesting tech to explore, though important trade-off is that CL63 is undoubtedly a safer car in any collision (even if SL's roof is closed)....

ieb

as a daily driver, yeah, nothing even close

I've also had many fine cars and a few exotics. CL63 in a league of its's own.

only thing that was better was the F40, and you can't drive that to kmart

WSH

Indeed, can quickly recall 6 car nut colleagues (guys who algorithmically get both a new AMG CL/SL/S and F every 6mos) in SF and BevHills (and Greenwich and London guys when their awful weather permits)...they each currently drive CL63 030 and 599 as their daily commuter cars (for their <10min drive to office).....my sense is these guys choose to drive CL63 030 90%+ of time (wkdays/wkends)....and they are each migrating to SL63 030 and Scuderia in next few mths.....

Suspect a few will come back to CL63 030 if SL63 030 doesn't live up to expectations....but, mysteriously, Ferrari doesn't seem to have much of a real following among the jaded who tend to choose to more often drive whatever car they actually enjoy....

absent

Makes no difference on wet pavement,since ESP will take care of CL65 as well as the CL63.
Btw,since you are so much concerned about safety in case of rear end collision,you should've picked a 600/65 series (only CL/S600/65 have Active Headrests that can protect your neck much better then standard issue pieces supplied in "lesser" models)

Barolo CLS

having never been in a serious accident, I find the CL63 with its active seats/suspension as safe enough and would give it a 9-10 in that regard. In the time I've owned this car, I dont think I have EVER broken the tires from the pavement come to think of it!

I don't quite know why anyone would regard any Ferrari, even the 430, as a daily driver. Even the super wealthy dont drive their Ferraris daily. It's not a matter of opperating costs/depreciation, its a matter of plain practicality. The parts/fit/finish temperment regard themselves as fragile.

I have a friend with a Maserati Quattroporte (with a 599 similar drivetrain)and he has a second car (Lexus) for errands...and thats a sedan!

If youve never said "I wish I had another car to go get that gallon of milk in" then you own a daily driver. Daily drivers never seem to beg for another car to fill a tranportation void.

I drive my CL EVERYwhere. This is also the first time in a long time that I've owned but one car.

WSH

Not sure ESP will defy all laws of physics.....I suspect most risk/reward-oriented drivers will instinctively "risk-adjust" their throttle application.....net, net, found I drive my 63 faster than I drove prior 65/600, simply b/c of active safety diffces, in trac (in case of 65) and (in case of 600) brakes....

Sure CL63 doesn't have active head restraints?

Even if CL63 doesn't have active head restraints, would rather be in any new CL than any new F (even w/fire extinguisher) in event of collision....

And would consider some unknowns w/various S-Class (which have 6" more rear crumple space and ?3" more headroom crumple space vs CL)....would get S63 (w/o the absurd Pano roof) to maximize active/passive safety...but that plastic interior is too incredibly ugly for my taste (risk/reward balance, right?).....and S600 has weak brakes and codgerly exterior...and ricer/rapper exhaust tips....and a Pano roof, w/uncertain roof strength (in any rollover or serious side impact).....S65 has traction issues and a Pano roof w/uncertain roof strength....just an OCD/paranoid/ADD car nut....

WSH

LOL....

Haven't ever been in a collision (or ticketed) either.....but I'd rather anticipate (and avoid) poor risk/reward equations.....as opposed to learning from errors in judgment....

Have several colleagues in SF who tend to largely drive their 599s only in City to office/dinner/run errands (at <30MPH).....we all joke, as guys who rapidly analyze and place many, many risk/reward bets daily, that driving any F at speed on 280 or in mtn twisties is a risk/reward bet that none of us (apparently) likes to place too often....we each have CL63 030s for any riskier driving situations (daily/wkend) further down SF Peninsula....and we're each paranoid enough to have considered where nearest trauma/major med center is (vs our favorite twisties) if an unavoidable collision occurs (Stanford)....another reason I've never had an interest in high-speed runs on any public/private road in Podunk....

absent

Quattroporte has a V8 with almost 400hp,599 has a V12 from the Enzo.
The only thing in common is the manufacturer....
Also,agree that daily driving in a Ferrari is a bit pointless ,considering that most of it is doodling amongst minivans and pickup trucks.
To answer WSH question,no ,CL63 does not have active headrests (no idea why MB does what it does,since the savings are negligible)

sprins

That's Mercedes for you. All the 1/4 mile times and track discussions aside with the "other camp" a Mercedes is usually the best daily driver only topped by AMGs.

And they sound cool too.

Al E

For me its the CL63!!!!!!!!!!

TMC M5

How would the CLS/E63 030 compare to the CL63 030? I imagine the 200-300lbs less weight would be helpful in the twisties and a LSD would add to the sportiness.

Tom

ieb

I haven't driven CLS/E63 030 but MB says that the CL63 is the first car that AMG has had the opportunity to design from the ground up, so maybe that means something about how awesome the thing is.

Reasons to pass on a 09 SL63:

1. Model refresh, not new car.
2. WSH, why not keep CL63 for a while and if you want sporty 2 seater, get a 997/Cab. That's what we have and it's best of both worlds.

Microstar

Hmm..just being curious, for those that's test driven BMW M6, would you guys regard the CL63 as a relatively souless car in terms of handling and roadfeel?

Reason why I am asking this is I am thinking of changing to either one this fall.

ieb

I had tested a M5 & M6 and had a M6 on order when I drove a CL and cancelled the M6 order. Not even close. BMW fit and finnish is like a Camrey compared to the CL. The BMW transmission drove me crazy and the cf roof doesn't open. CL63 superior in every regard.

I owned a 645 before the CL 63.

Microstar

Thanks for the input
Other than interior finish, are there any drive qualities that one is far superior than the other? Or would you say that they are pretty much matched ?

red308

I drove the M6 before deciding on the CL63.

The M6 was small, almost too tight in the seating area. The suspension was too firm, even though I like a firm suspension. The transmission drove me nuts.

On the other hand, the M6 is a real taught performer. I think it is lighter than the CL and seems to handle a little better. And being smaller, might be easier to get around in tight spots. The engine is superb.

But I have to agree that the CL63 is the best all around daily driver I have ever had. A daily driver that I have had at 140 mph on the open road in Utah and felt completely comfortable (ok...except for possible cops).

Mark

ieb

1. CL63 is flater around corners, I don't understand how they did it, in Manual mode car is totally flat.
2. M 6 "feels" a little faster off the line but CL63 >30mph "feels" faster. Probably due to heavier weight and high reving engine.
3. CL63 mechnical/software systems much advanced over BMW.
4. Really love 6 style but M6 rear end exhaust look is big mistake.
5. CL awesome seats. Cabin extremly nice place to spend some time. Matte black leather very modern & comfortable.
6. M6 trans very jerky impossible to get smooth shift when you just want to cruise.
7. M6 cf roof doesn't open.

TMC M5

I think you need to a get a tune up for your "seat of the pants" instrument.

I have driven an M6 and it definitely feels as fast as my CL65 as the speeds increase.

Tom

jimand7

yes I chose the cl600 over the 63. more power. more luxury. less looks.
but cl's are top notch daily's.

ieb

Sum is greater than the parts.

Look ,if all you want is speed, look at this:
http://www.rennteam.com/showflat.php...&page=0#422505

The 997tt people are sick over it.

jimand7

+1 m6 tranny drove me crazy as well.

Carl Lassiter

My M5 is the best daily driver I've had. Huge boot, lots of room for four and simply thrilling/vicious when I want it to be. The SMGIII gives great control and can be driven smoothly in manual mode if you know how to drive with it. For lazier drivers I can see why the SMG is not preferred but it does offer absolute control.

I looked at the CL63 and think it's a lovely car. However, the weight and subsequent lack of of speed/agility compared to the M5 were factors in my decision.

The CL63 is one of the most luxurious cars on the road so wins in that regard but having just two doors and a far bigger footprint make it less practical for multi-passenger city driving.

It's all about opinions though and I'm sure CL63 drivers wouldn't swap their car for an M5 and vice versa.

WSH- In the March '08 edition of Evo, in the triple test with the Bentley GT Speed and DBS, the article commented on the CL65 (same chassis) having "slightly suspect structural rigidity" as "the steering column vibrates when the front wheels hit a rough patch of road."

Before this I would have said no question that the new CL would have some of the best passive safety of any car on sale today. What do you make of this? I know like/dislikes in reviews are subjective and written by motoring journalists who will often never be able to afford the cars they review but this really caught my attention.