MichaelB.

Had the opportunity to spend some serious time in a 2007 S63 today. Back to back right out of my S550 than swap again. Fantastic car, black with black leather and the pano roof with alcantara trimmings. Paddle shifters, 200MPH speedo, lap timer (nuts), superb exhaust note, giant front brakes... But the perks stop there.

Whoa. For the difference in retail figures I would say that its not in line. I was expecting higher quality leather (all I hear are forum members telling me the S550 is not good enough - wrong). I expected mass acceleration over my 550 (not happening). I expected a whole different feel and experience (did not pan-out tho'). Which I guess is okay - as I adore my S550, but what is all the hype about?

Great car sure, but not in a different league (sadly) that I assumed.

Next up for fun... The S65? Perhaps maybe just the S600... Tough to beat that basic S550 though.

Venom-AMG

Go to the S600 and you will notice the differences right away. Leather everywhere, kick in the butt acceleration, and ride smooth as a babie's butt

Corsa9000

Not sure what you were expecting, but there are significant differences between an S550 and S63; engine, brakes and suspension. AMG cars have a dual personality, sedate in slow speeds but the monster is awaken when you demand it.

Perhaps your brief experience in the S63 was at moderate to slow speeds(typical dealer test drive) which does not allow the S63 to show its prowess.

MichaelB.

Nope, I did not involve a dealer. This car is a friend of mines and I put it through the paces (I have a pro racing license and of course drive like an idiot) demanding 110% on many occasions. Plus I know most every nuance and difference (I have been driving Benz's and specialize in Benz service since 1982). Its simple, the 550 is an absolute excellent car, and the next version above is just only marginally better.

Rationalize all you would like. But its clear to me.

skrontz

S550 is a great car, and hype is just that -- hype ;-)

Jan AMG

I agree with you, S/CL63 isn't as impressive in real life as on pictures :-) I think S/CL 600/65 make the real difference.
I found CL63 loud, fun to drive, head-turner and ABC works wonderfully which you can't get with 4-Matic but I wouldn't pick it as a daily driver. I think only a V12 makes sense if you want to upgrade :-) The performance of the 6.2 V8 isn't terrifying.. Fast? Yes! But the lack of torque renders it insufficient if you are looking for a more serious luxury sedan that has some *****...

Corsa9000

Most people notice a difference between 382 BHP and 518 BHP, but I think the keyword here is "expectation". If you expected the S63 to defy gravity and other laws of physics, then your are right, it doesn't.

I have driven both the S550 and S63 on the track and the difference is quite noticeable.

MichaelB.

Man, that is silly. Its quite ridiculous. A S550 has no place on the track. The fact that you state you drove not one but two S-Class on the track is quite extraordinary. Why? Tell me why?

Right from the start I mentioned that the lap timer in the AMG was "nuts" but yet you state you tracked an S-Class. Silly.

Talk about misplaced. You fine sir could have done much better for a track day. Its your deal though.

Nevertheless I am certain that the S63 would be more competent at the track then a S550 but any 125HP Spec Miata will quickly dispose of its lap time (spoken from experience there).

Here are my current track mounts - What do 'ya know. Not an S-Class among them:

nitromilt

Well spoken Michael,couldnt agree more.

MichaelB.

Thanks Nitro. Viper GTS 'eh? Yummmm (Big Mopar fan here).

Corsa9000

It was a track day, I brought my S55, my wife had her 2009 S550, my best friend and his wife brought their S63 and CLK Black series. We took turns driving each others car and I drove his S63 and then my wife's S550 back to back, as said before the difference is obvious even to the most novice.

I have also driven most of the AMG line up at two AMG challenges at the California speedway and drive the S55 as my daily driver, occasionally my wife's S550, so I am not new to AMG.

Now, you don't seem to believe the S63 is worthy, possibly because you have the S550. There is nothing wrong with owning and driving an S550, a wonderful car indeed.

None of the W221's are sports cars, they are sporty cars and the AMG versions are more sporty.

Enjoy your ride and keep an open mind.

MichaelB.

Gee thanks.

Try one with RENNtech mods like mine.



You too champ.

Quadcammer

130 extra bhp make a difference. whether you choose to acknowledge that or not makes no difference.

As to your "ooooohhhh wow" renntech mods, nobody cares.

The only thing I agree with you on is that the S-Class is in no way shape or form a sports car or even really a sporty car.

BootyHunter57

I agree with oliverk the S550 is a cruiser not a racer ( although I have a little fun upwards of 100 mph lol)

transferred

100% agreed...to add, the mods on your S550 must add a whopping 10whp, seriously michaelb cut the attitude and attempts to boast about your "qualifications" on an internet forum

MichaelB.

Those number on paper obviously mean little to me and the several others who agree above. However the actual feel we experenced after driving them (try that) was important enough to post.

Yes... just like your sport/designo expresso right?

Gee thanks.


Cut me some slack tranny. All I did was post the obvious and was then told that I expected it to defy gravity. He just did not like that I did not give props to the mighty AMG is all. Was it "drive like an idiot" that bothered you about my qualifications ?

Quadcammer

I've driven both. Quite frankly there is a huge difference. The difference is the equivalent of the difference between walking and your 944.
One is simply much faster. Handling, yeah I don't think you're gonna be hugely impressed either way.

As to my designo, on the 220, it actually makes quite the difference. Not only is it rare, but it adds a full leather dash, door panels, and rear package tray, as well as the alcantara headliner. Hence, I figured it might be worth mentioning. As to the sport package, yup, its useless, but it sure does look nicer to me.

MichaelB.

^ cool.

MBZFAN55

Whether you endorse large, powerful cars or not, numerous vehicle manufacturers apparently do see a market for two ton+, 500hp+ 4 door sport sedans, including Bentley, Maserati, BMW, Aston, Jaguar, Audi and of course, Mercedes. As we have discussed numerous times before, the S550 at 382hp is more than ample, and obviously nobody needs 500hp+ in an S63 or an S600. Although there are many more similarities between the S63 and the S550, the cars are very different when it comes to power, looks, handling, panache and certainly, fun. Granted the torque curve on the 63 leaves much to be desired but ABC suspension and 518 horsepower make for a very enjoyable ride.

Quadcammer

did you quote the right post? I don't see the need for AMG versions of luxury sedans, but I know there is a market there. I just like to have two cars to separate sport and luxury cause I don't like to compromise on either.

MBZFAN55

Sorry, maybe I wasn't specific enough in addressing your delineation between sport and luxury but I was referring to other AMG competitors such as Jaguar "R", Audi "S", BMW Alpina B7, Bentley "Sport", etc.

transferred

BMW and Audi do NOT see the market, hence there is no M7 or RS8...to make clear the S line is NOT competition for AMG while Alpina is not in house BMW, that dealers sell them means very little other than they think they can make money from them...

Quadcammer

and I still don't want one of them...but I can see why they are made.

nitinopp

Nice little my penor is bigger than your penor discussion in this thread... Stay classy guys

K-A

O/P is a feisty fellow ain't he.

Anyway, to some, what is "night and day", isn't to others. I've driven faster versions of my car (drove an E550/S550/CLS550 on the same day that I bought my E350), and for the way I drive, I really didn't notice much of a "difference". When I drove the CLS55 AMG though (5.5L S/C w/ gobs of torque, will translate to the real-world pavement much more efficiently), that's when I truly noticed a vastly different character on the road.