So all roads lead back to the S class.
 

So sure, I'm not madly in love with the W222, and the W222's interior doesn't strike me as one that the car reviewers all get excited about, but the S class seems to be my next new car purchase. This is for a whole SLEW of reasons, but let me put that aside for a second.

To me, the SWB S class looks weird, but I also don't have a family and so the LWB S class doesn't make any practical sense. But, can anyone here comment with respect to ride quality and such? Is there a noticeable difference between the two? Sure, to me the SWB looks weird and not how a S should look, but that isn't enough justification, to me, to fork out another $15K for a LWB 560. Thoughts? Thanks

I'm not an S Class Owner but I wholeheartedly agree with you on the looks LWB vs SWB . I don't know why S Class in long wheelbase is a real looker based on what I see . It doesn't apply other manufacturers though .
For instance : G11/12 7 Series , I don't think I would spend a few more grand for a longer wheelbase version .

We don't have a choice here in the states. If you are not hauling people around the SWB probably makes sense but I agree that it looks goofy.

So I'll offer my perspective. For reference, I'm older than you (42) but younger than others in this forum. I've seen several of your posts in this and the 213 forum. From what you stated in other threads the E class is not going to be up to par as compared to the 222. Especially relative to cost, the E is getting pricey these days. In my coupe, the bottom area of the door card, where your water bottle might go, is hard plastic. On a 73k car. The 222 is far more opulent inside. As for SWB vs. LWB, I agree that the SWB looks a bit odd, but I'd take it over an E with your criteria.

Perfect. Thank you!

If I could buy a SWB in the states I would

Why?

Because

a) While I agree that the long looks better, I think the short looks fine
b) One of my biggest objections to the S class is that it is such a BFC
c) The extra leg room in the back is wasted on me

B) - parking issues I surmise, or does the sheer size of it affect maneuverability negatively in your experience etc?

I would like to help but I lost track of what you are considering as alternatives. In my mind someone either wants an S or does not. It does many things well and some things not so well. We own an S, an E and a pair of SL's. All are fully optioned. The E is more like an upsized C class than a small S when it come to the driving experience, and that is neither good nor bad. Do you plan to get AWD or can you use a RWD only car? A RWD S can be optioned with MBC but an AWD will be Airmatic. The S with RWD has a tight turning radius, it is easy to maneuver and park. Our RWD S will turn inside of the AWD E.
The S63 is AWD and unless you get a new one they have the 5.5L engine, not the new 4.0L engine in the new E and S AMG's. The 4L engine in the S550 is different than the 4L engine in the new AMG's. If you are thinking about a 2015 S63 you need to drive it. In my experience the 7speed MCT transmission in that car is, to use a technical term, awful. The 9 speed in the new S63's is far better. The transmission in the standard S550 is good, it is not an MCT.
One of the reasons we have always owned both an S and an E is that they are so different. Just my opinions as a long time owner of S and E class MB's. By the way, 80% of the time I get in the car to drive somewhere I pick the SL but that is a different discussion.

From a size standpoint I would buy a c-Class if it were as pretty and drove as nicely as an S Class. The only reason I bought an E (W212) was it was such a nicer car than the C (W204). That said even it doesn't ride all that great.

Holy sh** you weren't kidding at the size of these cars. I was just measuring out my garage for a 2019 A8 or a 2019 S LWB, and they both cleared it by only 1" or so. These things are MASSIVE, and I guess I didn't appreciate the size of these things until I measured them out.

Even the SWB S is massive!! Size matters I guess :D

I have a SWB and don't have any perceptions of it looking odd lol. It's probably because you guys across the pond are too used to the LWB version. The LWB looks odd to me due to how much incredibly longer it seems, all the S Class' that live around me are SWB.

Part of what makes the S ride like it does is its long wheelbase. As others have stated, it can maneuver. You really should consider parking in areas other than home. My E coupe is as big as I think I would want, when parking out and about. As MBNUT1 said, if a C class was an S in compact form, I'd buy it. Well, if the C coupe was pillar-less anyway.

Like I said BFCs. I would have the same problem with my garage

To be fair though, we're only talking about 5" (that's what she said :D) I don't think it'd be THAT big of a difference, but the more I think of it, these are my thoughts.

Parking isn't that big of a deal to me, but holy crap these things are massive. I park at the end of parking lots now, and I would continue doing that, but I can see that there are times where a BFC may present an issue.

To me a LWB S looks a bit stretched, and a SWB S (the more I look at it today), the more it reminds me of a SLS (WAIT, hear me out). The hood of the S is really long, and right up to the B pillar to the front of the car, it looks alright. Then post B pillar to the back of the car, the SWB looks a bit on the small side, thus giving me an almost SLS type of look (long front end, short back end)

I can almost even convince myself that it looks better than the LWB. Anyways, I know I'm a fortunate person to even be able to afford cars in this price range, so I will shut up now on appearances here. At this point, it comes down to a 2019 S450 SWB or a 2019 Audi A8L (since that's the only variant they sell here). The A8L will come out to $5k cheaper than the MB, or $8K cheaper than the MB if I snag a really great manu. discount. That said, MB ELW covers the air strut for the first 6 years (4 year, and then +2), versus I would buy 10 year warranty on the A8 which would cover everything, but the air strut is specifically excluded from the ELW and it's $2400/strut (MSRP - in CDN $, or $1700 through my wholesaler).

At this point I've done enough analyzing. When the A8 finally lands here, I'll give it a drive. If it turns out to be a nice car, I'll max out the warranty and drive the damn thing until its wheels fall off. If it turns out the MB is still much better riding/quieter, then I will abandon the A8 and buy a W222. Anyways, I've wasted enough of people's time here, so all I will say now is that I'm thankful for all of your help and guidance, and I hope I have offered similar good advice to my colleagues on the W204 board and have done a half decent job at paying it forward.

Fingers crossed!

Thought everyone would have a good laugh. Thanks Clarkson!