+1. I'd like to know this also...what's a good aftermarket warranty company for these cars that everyone is using?

That's how I ended up with my 2000 E55....turned out to be my best car so far. Hopefully I can get that success again

I have an EasyCare Warranty. They are covering the ABC pump. They do not cover anything that is rubber or plastic. (e.g.; ABC lines are not covered if they are part rubber.)

Silver: You ever get any flak about the intercooler and airbox upgrades? I was about to go with easy care but decided on Fidelity instead.

Not one word.

How much for the EasyCare Warranty, and how much is it for the ABC lines?

Also, I brought up comparing the E55 to the S600. How about the S55 to the S600?

Those are a lot closer of course. They both have ABC, which means their handling is comparable. The AMG ABC is calibrated a little differently and the V12 is nose heavier, so the S55 will handle a bit more neutrally -- but they are both very heavy cars so you won't see that much of a difference. The biggest handling difference comes from the tires. If you upgrade to the S55 wheel and tire sizes you will minimize the handling difference.

Power is the same, but is delivered very differently. The V12 has phenomonal low-end torque, so passing at highway speed is effortless. You have to get the S55 revs up a bit to engage the supercharger, but then it takes off.

S600 interior is far nicer. It's all premium leather and wood. The S55 has a lot of plastic. The S600 has a lot of standard equipment that almost no S55s will have had added, like rear climate control and more rear seat controls.

Of course, if you want it all with even more power, get an S65. It gets better mileage than an S600 to boot. I drove 830 miles last week, round trip from San Jose to Orange County, mostly above 100 MPH and got 17 mpg for the trip.

If anyone with a 600 or a 430/500 with the ABC option wants me to flash your cars with the AMG calibrated ABC software (500/430 gets the 55 ABC software and the 600 gets the 65 ABC software, due to weight relativity), or better yet the AMG "Nürburgring" calibration, which makes your puggie S-Class feel like a McLaren, you shout me a PM!

Huge difference. I test drove two S55s and 2 S600s before I bought my current car, and I just loved the way the S600 moved around... like someone said the engine in this car feels like a perfectly tuned orchestra.

The S600/S65 comes leather EVERYTHING, dashboard, doors, rear deck, side trim panels in rear. You also get an Alcantara roof, Alcantara A, B and C pillars which smells, feels and looks fantastic.

Hopefully the smell is the leather and not the Alcantara. You do know that Alcantara is plastic, right?

I definitely can't afford a S65 yet, and can't pass up owning a TT V12. If there's not much difference in handling between the 600 and 55, then this is just one more reason why the 600 sounds better (to me anyhow).

Believe me though, if the 65 was in reach I'd do it. Someday....

Whoover...what is Alcantara roof and pillars?

Alcantara is a trade name for ultrasuede. It's a suede-like material made from a polyester and polyurethane blend. It's not cheap and it does look and feel a lot like suede. It's used for the headliner in S600s and S65s.

It's an upscale material even though it's synthetic.

Sounds nice. I want that down the middle of the seats. The Charger daytonas have a suede like material That keeps you planted in the seat. I'm sure other cars have it though

No.

Please get a pre purchase inspection on any car you purchase.

Visit their website and you'll get an idea of how upscale the material is: http://www.alcantara.com/en_US/

Here are some (****ty) pictures of it... it's pretty dark in my garage but you get the idea... all the "artwork" is from people ooooing and ahhhhing while touching it.

I wish there was a way to brush it and make it smooth?

No, what?

I always get my cars pre inspected. Specially on a Benz

No Alcantara down the middle of the seats.

Nice pics. Is this material in most or all 600's? Or is it an option?

Standard on all 600/65s...

I know it doesn't come like that. I drove a car with a suede like material on the seat, when I went around corners at high speeds it kept me in the seat pretty good...

According to the site above the SLR has it...why can't I????

Awesome!

Oxygen: What do you drive? the AMG "Nürburgring"? This has me really interested... although I do like the feel of my car now, I can't imagine such a heavy big car driving any better - is it possible?

The upgraded interior of the 600 is the main reason I'm looking for one over a 500, plus it's tough finding a 500 with all the goodies I'm looking for whereas the 600 has the majority of them already. The extra bhp certainly helps

On a related note did the US S Class ever have the option of the rear work tables? My father ordered them on his UK spec S500 but they were pretty useless. Big enough for a laptop but too far away to really work on anything...

p.s., the full leather/alcantara is also on the designo edition 500s. One of the main reasons I bought the car I did. It is awesome.

Fraser: It's easier to order the rear tray tables and have them placed on. I was told they cost $1500. I am putting them in even though it may not be really useful. I prefer the maybach foldable airplane style tables as opposed to the rolls royce back of the seat style.

Oliver: I never fully understood the designo edition... Do they make a triple black designo?

$1500 sounds about right, they were £750 a piece when he got them. They did make the back look a little tidier. A nice slab of wood veneer on each side looks much better than the elastic pocket...

What do you mean by 'placed on'? Take the seatpocket off and a DIY job?