E430tuner

I am having quite the dillema here. In september i sold my car and had plans on purchasing a new s550. After driving the S550 I felt that it was just too slow for me (having come from a E39 M5) so i decided to do some more shopping. Nothing out there intices me as much as the new S class. I drove LS460L and was impressed by the comfort but felt I would only benefit if i was being chauffered in that car, as it is not a drivers car.

My dealer claims the S63 AMG will be at the dealers in May of this year. I saw the car at the LA Auto Show and was impressed by its looks. I am currently paying close 1000 per month for a premium car rental which i am tired of paying for. Part of me says i should jsut get the S550 and move on. Another part of me says that 1000 a month is quite cheap considering the amount of depriciation i will be taking on a 100k car. I just dont want to buy the car now and find myself trading the car in in 5 months. Also dealers are willing to only discount 2500 off sticker for 102k sticker. I hear the S63 with be 128k so at this point 102 or 128 really doesnt matter.

Sorry for the rant Im just confused

eddietr

Hmmm, if you're already unhappy with the performance of the 550, I think that would be worse in May when you see the S63 in the showroom. If I were you, and performance was that important, I'd wait.

CycloneRcr

Actually an S550 is not that much slower than the E39 M5, but in an S-Class you never feel the acceleration and speed as much as you feel it in an M5. Of course this depends to different characters of both cars.

stardoc

Wait for the S63 if you just got out of an M5. Even the AMG will not measure up performance wise. One is designed to exhilirate and the other is rather numbing to the senses albeit a great car.
You are right about getting bored after a few months... I'll be selling my S550 soon and looking to get into an E60 M5.

WSH

Suspect 63 will be much more of a driver's car than the excellent, entry-lvl 550....

63 (prob MY08 upon release, unlike the '07 550s) will have better optics of 20" ltwt wheels and large brake calipers/quad exhausts; stickier bespoke 20" ?Yokohoma perf tires; sharper steering response/tighter suspension/stronger brakes/more intimidating exhaust note; thicker all leather steering wheel w/shift paddles to easily play w/the gearbox in Manual mode (which offers faster shifting and tighter susp setting than Sport setting); sport seats; notably finer-grained leather and Alcantara headliner (not the plasticky leather and cloth headliner of 550).....and 130ish more hp; 70ish more lb-ft....

IMO, huge differences for any driving-oriented guy....

axl

is it the sporty feeling you miss in the s550 ?? i think its pretty fast

of course an m5 is something very different at all ... i think the 63 is made for v8 friends... otherwise go for an s65 or 600 ... is that no option to you???


or take the 550 and go to kleemann or renntech

///MB

If you can get an S63 in May, I would definitely wait for it. You'll be much happier.

Vadim @ FD

E430tuner: Late Spring is the only confirmation that I have right now.

PM me your phone # and I will check again on Monday.

Thanks,

fasttommyv

If your willing to spend 128k for an S63, why not get an S600, itll be faster then the 63 anyways...

CY

seriously and you wont be pissed when they re-work the 63 engine.

Ferri

I don't think you should look for the M5 feel into any variety of S-Class. The M5 behaves like a much smaller car than it really is (I am talking E39 experience.

On a less serious side, with any current S-Class, you are actually going to have an expansive hood in front of you, which surely won't help with the car feeling small. With my E39 M5, i could never see the hood, and when i got into the S600 (220), I felt like I was on a land yacht. Very unsettling at first, almost made me insecure of the switch, until I gunned the pedal and discovered way more power than the M5--although the m5 was hardly inadequate under any circumstances. Now at least, when I am on the highway (where I spend quite a bit of my on-car time) I no longer get the restless hand syndrome, where I am contantly looking for an excuse to shift, and therefore end up speeding for no reason.

All im saying is, if you are looking to replace an M5, you have to get a proper manual car, anything else won't do. If you do want to get an S Class, dont shortchange yourself for the $130+k you are going to part with--get the 600.

newton22

Or buy the S550 and mod it.

rkao

I think Ferri makes excellent points in his post. The S63 (or S65 for that matter) will be a very different beast than an E39 M5.

When I made my decision and ordered the S550 with the AMG Package, I was also considering the E63 AMG and the E60 M5 - very different animals yes, but I was at a crossroad about what I wanted after my A8L. I thought I wanted something smaller, sportier and more nimble (or as nimble as can be with a 4,000+ lbs. sports sedan). But in the end, the practical side of the limousinen-klasse won me over and I ordered the S550, and if the S63 was available I'd definitely consider it.

If you want more driver involvement, then I don't think the S-class is going to fulfill that desire. Perhaps the Maserati Quattroporte? That is one very beautiful car and while not teutonic in nature, offers more sporting tendencies than the S. Or maybe an E60 M5? I think the SMG implementation best suits that car and the 6-speed manual doesn't quite fit the character of the V10.

Or how about the Audi S6? My brother just got one in November and it is a beautifully finished car inside and out and that 5.2 litre V10 is a very nice motor, if not as powerful nor fast as the M5 or E63, certainly higher up the rung in refinement and quick enough for cut and thrust traffic.

absent

If he is considering an S-Class,an S6 will be too small for him.
Should check the new S8....

Eurosport

i'd wait for the s63, no point in getting s550 and losing on it by trading it in for s63 in afew months

rkao

Agreed. If E430tuner is looking for something more sporty than an S550 in the bigger limousinen-klasse, then the S8 deserves a very close look. I actually really wanted an S8 but the structure of the lease was just ridiculous compared to the S-class.

If however, a smaller saloon similar to the E39 M5 was desired, then the S6 would deserve a look.

sooners

go for the S63, they are awesome, the S550 sport is a tremendous car as well, and i think it is damn fast, i am coming from a cl600, and there is a huge difference,but it sounds to me that the S63 would be your best bet, good luck.

meegle

You are correct that the S600 is quicker/faster but it won't have the looks of the AMG63.
Quad exhaust, AMG kit, wheels/brakes get my nod over the slight difference in performance.

Taurian

Where can you get an S63 for $130K?????????

Ted Baldwin

.............there was an earlier thread aout S600 vs S63. The issue was why the W221 S600 does not have the option of an AMG package. My opinion was that if indeed this was the case, then the only reason would be that MB wants to entice people to buy the otherwise less desirable S63 by not offering an AMG kit for the S600. I said it then and I say it now, the S63 will be a major flop!! People are either going to buy the S550 or the S600, and MB will be forced to offer the AMG kit for the S600. Really performance minded folks will buy the S65. The S63 will be for few that are undecided and cannot make up their minds.

Ted

stardoc

Good point. Can you say redundant? Its a version of brand dilusion. GM did that for years and now look where they are.

ddskier

The S-Class above all else is a car that it designed to get you to point A to point B is unbelievable luxury. For all those who feel that the standard S550 is boring, jump up to the S600 and enjoy the V12 power. Maybe throw in a mod or two. If that isn't enough, jump up to the S65.

If that still isn't enough, I'm not sure anyone can help you.

Soon2bMB

the S63 is hot i cant wait until we get one in our showroom, why dont you just get an S600 tho?

MrBenz55

Id the extra money isnt a problem then wait for the AMG !

Zoomstop

Help me understand the price points please!

S550 Maxed out is around $117,000 with all options..
S600 is around $147,000
S65 is around $170,000

You are saying that the S63 ($128K+) will be above S550 and Below S600 for a price point?

I would think the S63 would place above a S600 and below a S65 at around $150K.

Thoughts..?