AustinGuy

Does the S600 sit lower than the S550 (w/AMG sport package) or do these pictures just seem illusionary?

S 600:


S 550:


Also, I noticed another thing with my neighbor's 2007 S600: The back of the head rest of the front seats looks a lot beefier - there is a lot more meat on that back than on mine (which now looks a little frail)

Anyone who owns an S600 care to elaborate on these 2 items?

cjf_moraga

Well the V12 engine is lot heavier.... The wheel diameter (if different between any two pictures) would have an impact on the cars visual stance also...

...however, on the headrest front, the S600 headrests are still of a different design I believe. They are softer, and you can pull up the edges to rest your head more easily...

Chris

whoover

There are lots of differences, but overall height is 58 inches for both models.

///MB

I think the 600 headrest are called "active comfort" headrests.

Carl Lassiter

The 550 in your pic does not have the AMG sport kit.

Gondon

I thought The S600 doesnt offer the sport package.
In the first pic the windows are tinted and bigger rims.

This is the sport package

http://www.alhnuf.com/imgcache/7ee47...67749d3803.jpg

http://www.tuningnews.net/news/06092...z-s-63-amg.jpg

AsianML

Those are called the AMGs.

WSH

Diametric diffces are immediately apparent in driving and spending any time in a 600 vs 550...

600 has ABC (unlike ?90%+ of 550s), so dramatically different chassis balance/precision....legendarily impressive tq of 600 vs 550's relatively laughably underpowered perf/tq deliv...600 has notably stronger brakes/better pedal feel than 550.....600 has perhaps most elegantly finished interior of any car on planet today (only rivaled by 65), unlike 550's rather cheap-looking interior w/endless plasticky surfaces and a ?cloth headliner....

IMO, 600 is a screaming value vs any 550....

Gondon

Yea but its the sport package.

Yea S600 is twin Turbo V12 compared to a V8.

MUCH MORE HP

cjf_moraga

WSH - That is the best elevator pitch for the S600 that I have ever read!

...and given that a fully specified S550 with Designo (which would be needed to partially approximate the S600 leather) is getting into the c. $120K range, then an S600 (especially with a street price in the $130's) is indeed good value given you are also getting a V12 and still some unique extras (more wood, rear seat armrest console, headrests, etc) also... and exclusivity in spades. (Much rarer than an AMG)

...but to be fair the S550 is still an S-Class with the same underlying build quality, safety, features etc... just not as many of them - but still better than almost anything else...

Chris

AustinGuy

I fixed it.

gellie

Comparing a 550 to a 600 is like comparing a VW to a PORSCHE

Red Marko

That is a funny but vivid comparison (and accurate)

AustinGuy

You aren't serious, are you?

I know we're talking Bi-Turbo V12 vs. a V8 but it' not like we're comparing a .....uummmmm.... VW to a Porsche now, are we?

whoover

It's not that far-fetched. The driving experience is that different, if you compare base models. ABC vs. Airmatic is that different. Effortless pull at any RPM is that different. Interior trim is that different. Lots of little amenities in the V-12 (4-zone climate control with rear A/C unit, better seat controls, remote control of rear headrests from front console, moving the front passenger seat forward from the rear console to make more leg room) create a more deluxe effect.

More power, better handling, more luxe -- isn't that what Porsche set out to add to VW?

gellie

very serious... You should do yourself a favor and try s s600.Then you'll understand

Red Marko

Don't listen to gellie
I would strongly advise you against the test drive.
I did that mistake once. Lost a lot of money on trade-in and drive 600 now (without any regret, mind you)

AustinGuy

Okay guys - whoover, gellie, markopolo el al - I surrender, the S600 is far superior. ... It's not like I didn't know that... but......... that's not what the premise of this thread was/is.

I was just trying to find out WHY:

1) The head rests on the 600 have a beefier/bigger back (not the entire seats, just the head rest). Reason being that they look better - less scrawny than the 550 ones

2) It seems like the 600 sits lower. Again, what's the technical/mechanical reason(s)? If it's ABC, then so be it, but does anyone know for sure? Again, the reason being that I've gotten into many discussions about "lowering" my car esp. since I changed out to 20" wheels..... and while I don't mind the gap in the fender, I admit that a 1/2" lower would look nicer....

That being said, (not to hurt S600 owners' feelings ), why would anyone buy an S600? If you have that kind of change, why not go for the sportier S63 or S65 and get all the luxury + performance given the S600's lack of sporty look + questionable wheel selection + curious tail pipe fitments?

Red Marko

NOW... that's the sharp answer I would expect from AustinGuy I know (from all the threads)

AustinGuy

I was going to say...... I thought you and me go way way back

Now which part of my post were you referring to as having "the sharp answer"?

cjf_moraga

(Rising to the bait)

S63: Essentially the performance S550. The S63 does not compare to the S600 in terms of interior materials/leather and many features are optional extras. A fully featured S63 is almost the same price as an S600 so all you are really getting is the AMG body look, badge, some suspension tuning. One could reverse the argument - why would you get an S63 when for $10K more you could get a V12 S600 which is as fast, with far more torque, and has every feature. They are both great - the character of each is just different!

S65: Really the performance S600 and I would agree the ideal "compromise" if you can afford/justify it! However the price delta over the S600 is huge and (in my case at least) an extra 0.2 or 3 seconds to 60 and the AMG body kit was not worth another $50K+. I for one could not justify stretching that far.

Agreed - the S600 tail pipes are kind of odd!

Chris

AustinGuy

cjf_moraga

Yes, the S63 does not have the fine leather and other cosmetic refinements, and again, this is ALL about personal preference, but how much faster is the 600 than the suped up AMG S63 as far as practical driving is concerned?

Again, don't get me wrong, if you have the coin, why not go for the 600? It's the "looks" that make me wonder..... as I said, curious wheel selection + tail pipes and the inability to get the AMG body kit that make the 600 suitable for certain folk who probably want the limo look/feel.

I have looked at my neighbor's 600 and quit honestly, can't see a darn thing thats' different INSIDE other than a few things like that pesky head rest (which no one seems to know about still). Care to post pics of that head rest?

whoover

Red Marko

A witty answer of course. How could you be in doubt ?

cjf_moraga

Sure I can post pictures of the head restraints when I get home tonight.

I borrowed both an S63 and a 600 (though I admit a CL600) before choosing the S600 and I would say that (subjectively) the 600 is slightly faster to 60 than the S63. (Despite its extra weight) My last car was an E55 and I wanted that classic MB/AMG monster torque, the lack of which I found the most disappointing aspect of the 63 engine. Also the V12 is essentially a de-tuned version of the Maybach V12 engine and has far more unused potential that Rentech and other have tapped into. So in terms of practical driving within legal speed limits, the 612 torque V12 is much more practical/fun (to me) than the higher revving 63 engine. The character of the cars is different though and as you say its all personal preference.

Interior S600 differences that come immediately to mind are:

- Full leather dash, doors, interior.
- Extra wood inserts in door handles.
- Wood keypad cover.
- Massage and rear seat controls plus rear center arm rest control console.
- Every feature accessible.
- That wood/leather steering wheel! (Well I like it & I am still under 50)
- Extra fluting in the alcantara and doors (MY2008 only)
- Higher quality leather in general. It smells better too!

The S600 is kind of nicely understated and a sleeper. I always like the lower profile "Q car" concept and looking like an S550 does not concern me - the inside is where I spend all my time not the outside! Only the V12 badges give things away. The S600 is a good balance of understatement and hidden sheer power.

Chris