jimand7

I just bought a CL 600 and although I will not take delivery of it till feb I might take my deposit back. Because there is no SPORT package available. WTF?? an s/cl 550 looks alot better with the sport package in my opinion. THat stinks that a much faster car will look a TON slower!!

silberrosa

Have you considered a CL63 or CL65 AMG. If you have, is there something about the 600 which you prefer over these sportier alternatives?

jimand7

Well first off performance ( OOOOOODLES more torque) the 600's are going to be much quicker than the 63's. I mean the e63 is slower than the e55 which is slower than any Twin Turbo .600. I just dont get it!?

Chucky300

in my humble opinion - its a merchandising thing........

For the Budget person (HA HA BUDGET) there is the 90K - 110K S550

For the kinda higher performance but not quite budget-free Territory - there is the S63 AMG

For the AWESOME torque, but comfy ride and low key looks - there is the $145K S600

For the AWSOME torque, AWSOME BHP, NO BUDGET, WANTS THE BEST no matter what........... there is the $190K S65 AMG

They dont want anyone to say "well if i can get the S600 with a sport package, thats enough for me" (Hence canabalizing the S65)

They dont want anyone to say "well if the S63 AMG has PLENTY of torque for me" (hence canabalizing the S600)

They want MANY S550s sold becuase that advertises the model very well and after all - its the least expensive S Class of the 2007 model range.

This is the same as clothing. I am a clothing designer - (hence the Design 01 plates) and why would you offer a Black T-neck Cashmere Sweater for $500 to the customer and also offer a Black T-neck Angora Sweater for $500...... the customer wont buy both - one will canabolize the other........... change the neck to a scoop neck and perhaps change the sleeve length- and the customer will treat them as 2 different styles, therefore pushing them to buy both. If Mercedes offers 2 models too close together in this range..... one of them will Surely suffer.

My example for you - the 2006 S55 AMG and S600 with Sports Package........ Someone please tell me the difference? BOTH have same wheels - Same AMG body kit - same 0-60 time one is turbo, the other was supercharged...... both 500bhp one was 118,000 the other was 130,000 it was a merchandising Fumble!

AsianML

^^^V8 vs. V12.

Chucky300

but the V8 and V12 both gave the same performance.

Also - i just read on another thread that the price on the S63 will be 93% of the S600......... WITHOUT options. so wait - that means a FULLY loaded S63 will be MORE than an S600......... ?

AsianML

They give the same power, but the Turbo V12 gives it at lower, more usable RPMs. Same with the torque; it actually gave more torque, and at lower RPMs.

Chucky300

While you are totally correct, would you still not say the 2 models still basically did the same things? Meaning S600 = S55

AsianML

Yes, however the V12 is more exotic than the V8. While the V12 isn't AMG, it's rarer. Which I like.

Chucky300

hehe yea. That is true.

I just think its a wise marketing choice for the W221 models - its just that now it is seeming the prices dont make sense.
For the customer that buys the S600..... every option is standard.
For the customer that buys the S65AMG...... Not everything is standard.... wtf?

Options



Distronic Plus details $2,850



Active Ventilated Rear Seats details $1,690



Individual Rear Seats details $825



iPod Integration Kit details $425



Multicontour Rear Seats details $800



Panorama Roof details $1,000



Heated Steering Wheel details $450

AsianML

I guess the S600 is still considered the flagship sedan. Can you blame them?

Chucky300

Flagship yes = but...... they are not offering then an AFFORDABLE high torque AMG machine.............. S63 is less torque than S600. Not as fun then.
The only high torque with the AMG look is the S65.

jimand7

I see what your saying but the 600 is and always has been faster than the 55, but the looks are "slower" than the sport model. I think there are way too many S class variants. the S class should have 3 variants 550,600,65 that is it I do not undertand the 63. it is like 63 is ooooooo the "sport" version BUT IT IS SLOWER than the 600? That is what I DO NOT GET

TeutonicCarFan

I think that the model line up is just fine with regards to having four variants, I just think that the engines they chose are a little off. You need to have the S63 because there are a lot of people who want to upgrade the S550 to a more sporting car while not being able to afford the S65. The S600 is for people who want to upgrade their 550 to a more luxurious car. Thus the 63 is the sporting upgrade for the 'average' person, and then there is the 65 for those where money isn't a concern.

Chucky300

Why is that? S550 with Premium Leather and all options is IDENTICAL to the S600 , minus the V12.

AsianML

It's the V12 man...the V12.

Chucky300

LOL asiaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

While i luv the V12........ it doesnt add luxury to the car. Thats why i said it doesnt hold water to say "They went to the S600 because the S550 was not lux enough" When you add on all the options to the 550 - you are left with everything in the S600 except the motor.

AsianML

You get more wood in an S600 (teeheehee) and an alcantara headliner. How's that?

Chucky300

LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ur right though = i cant actually compete because EVEN if i said, u can put the wood in the S550............ u cant put that headliner........... ok mr ASianml......... them be fightin words

carsinamerica

AsianML's right. A V-12 is just smoother in its power delivery, and is pretty much the most well-balanced possible engine configuration. The perfect choice for a luxury sedan powerplant, yes? That, plus exclusivity, equals the reason to buy one.

On the other hand, people are falling into the old AMG trap of thinking that power = sport. It doesn't. Handling is crucial. So, the S63 will have a big advantage over the S600: weight. Equipment loading is part of the problem, but the S600 adds 430 pounds to the S550. Using the V-8 in the S63 will mean less overall weight, and better yet, less weight on the nose. That will help in cornering.

In the engine department, it'll slightly out-power the S600 (518 hp vs. 510), but the real fun stuff will be the higher revs. Torque is great, but for fun, I think keeping the engine revving through the roof in the twisties takes the cake.

But on the original topic, it is still strange that the 600s can't have the Sport Package. The old S/CL600s certainly could; it was made standard on the CL600 for '06. It was optional for the S600, even with the arrival of the S65 AMG for MY06. I think the AMG package does improve the looks of the W221. Guess it just goes to show that the S600 doesn't come with ALL of the options as standard, after all, like M-B's been want to say.

AsianML

^^I recall seeing a "rare" S600 Sport on eBayMotors yesterday.

Chucky300

That was Glausser. They took a stock S600.... put AMG wheels, side skirts, rear apron, and the front airdam found on an S65.

It is the only one in existance, however, it is not a factory original.

SL65amg

Get the CL 600 and then order the body kit from the CL 63 AMG and put it on there. That would maybe solve your dilemma.

jimand7

I guess that would solve it but it is still odd that the sport option is not offered.
and as it related to another post which said that power does not =sport: while I agree that this is true that is why I want a sport package on my 600. bigger wheels maybe a slightly tuned suspension and of course the looks of it. the v12 engine is way more luxurious than the v8 (not to say the new v8 is not great).
I will never race my 600 in the "twisties" but when I smoke my buddy who is getting an e63 next month that will be fantastic!

carsinamerica

There's another lurking around; it was at a dealer in Pennsylvania in October. I think it was a factory demonstrator, but it was an S600 with the Sport Package, but most of the additional equipment of the S600 was removed. Very strange.

Jimand7, I think you should lobby MBUSA. That's the only way they'll switch and bring the Sport Package stateside. They do offer it for the 600s in the UK. They might even be able to do it as a special-order option, if you ask.