feets

I'm strongly considering a new daily driver. The C55 that fills the role now is an absolute riot to drive but it's a bit tight for my 50 year old 6' 230 lb frame.
Before we get into the cars, a quick bit about me. I'm a hot rodder, machinist, fabricator, and gunsmith with my daytime job being a parts guy at a non-MB dealer. My other vehicles are a 1992 Dodge D250 Cummins truck and a 1972 Chrysler Imperial with a 541 cubic inch (8.9 liter) V8. The Imperial and truck are the same length, each being nearly 2 feet longer than a W221.
My experience and familiarity with MB vehicles is extensive. I spent 15 years working the parts counter at Mercedes stores, was Master certified, and my training transcript holds more than 180 entries. I have no problem doing my own maintenance and repair. For things I'm not set up to do, I have good friends in the MB world and still get a significant discount on parts. My commute to work is about 20 minutes these days but I tend to drive quite a bit.

Current daily C55 pros:
Rock solid reliability.
Fun to drive.
Not bad on gas (16 city 22 highway).
Dirty cheap to own.

Cons:
A bit cramped inside.
Gets claustrophobic on a road trip.
Not enough power.
Near zero aftermarket support.
Drags the front bumper on everything in sight.

If I replace my C55 it will be with another AMG. I'm currently looking at a 2011+ S63, 2012+ E63, and 2012+ ML63. All can be had for similar money.

The contenders:
The ML63 has the nicest seating position (I prefer fairly upright, not slammed back like a 2 dollar hooker showing her goods) and best visibility. It's the lowest performer by far and the side steps Stick out enough to be in the way but not far enough to be useful. Brakes, unlike the other two, are pretty cheap. Airmatic can pose issues but they're fairly solid in the long run. Features and options are on par with the 212 but fall well behind the 221. MPG is the worst of the bunch. Light towing is possible, it'll have room for hauling stuff, and I'll never drag the bumper again!

E63 is where the performance is found. Silly fast in stock form, they get crazy fast with a tune. Seating position is not bad but the top of the door trim panel is a bit awkward for someone like me who rests his arm up there. Brakes are nearly as expensive as the S-class. A downgrade to C63 brakes is possible to save money. Reliability is average since the car is lacking many of the features that make a 221 special. MPG is the best of this bunch but not by a significant margin. Trunk space is up slightly from the 203. AWD is available and decreases the brake rotor cost but increases the opportunity for driveline failure. Bumper dragging is to be expected.

S63 is a very nice place to be. It's a lumbering beast compared to the C55 and even the E63 but not too bad in the grand scheme of things. Comfort is very high, assuming the pneumatic seats are working. If I go this route it will be equipped with the rear seat package and night view assist. Because I can. Cost of ownership is very high. Replace an ABC pump lately? Highway cruising is hard to beat and it's not bad around town. A bit less maneuverable than the others when it comes to tight spots but still demands far less acreage than the Imperial or truck. This car has the most going for it which means it's also got the highest chance of failure and resulting high cost of ownership. Even more if I get silly and splurge for an S65. The trunk space is quite nice. Yes, you can poke the button to raise the car over parking curbs, but let's face it, I'm going to end up dragging the bumper car too often.

Now, your job is to make the case as to why I need the S63 more than the other two vehicles.

DaleB

You don't. You need the S65. Go big or go home. If you have to stick with rear wheel drive, then the V12 wins.

feets

The V12 is buttery smooth due to the design canceling out the primary and secondary harmonics generated by running engines. However, the rest of the stuff in that car will eat you alive. Have a turbo oil/coolant leak? Time to drop the motor out the bottom. ABC line crossing to the right side leaking? Time to drop the motor out the bottom. Need motor mounts?
As much as I lust for an S65 they're dangerous things to own. They require an extensive inspection before purchase and a hefty bank balance to own long term. The SL65 once topped Forbes Most Expensive Cars To Own list.

tx170754

If you can afford it then there is only one way to go, V12 !

DaleB

Trust me, if it can break on a V12 mine has broken. Haven’t had to drop the motor out yet. I did have a shop quote me about $14K or so to fix a little list of things that were wrong, but I did them all myself for roughly a quarter of that. Their “turbo rebuild” turned out to be a $7 O-ring, and so on.

It’s priceless seeing the blown Camaro not *quite* able to keep up…. And mine’s just a lowly S600, not even an S65.

Anyway…. There a are a number of V12 drivers here, and I don’t recall any really bad horror stories. ABC is way more of a concern, on my humble opinion.

WHPH28

V12

NoVAe63s

Based on your other car choices a track car isn't a need. So throw an E550 into the mix - probably half the cost of an E63 and with heavy mods you can have a pretty decent street sleeper.

The Thomas J

Don't listen to these loons. Get yourself a 2010-2011 S550 4matic and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing the car is reliable, fast, and comfortable. I am about to celebrate my 5 year anniversary with my 2010. It was one of the best purchases I ever made.

feets

I get the sleeper thing. See my Imperial above. Who expects a giant 1972 Chrysler to idle softly and still pack 600 hp?

I like the E550 and S550 but I just can't get into a groove with them. They just don't do me. When I can't connect with a car it's just another lifeless appliance on par with a washing machine.

riv-stage 1

did the Kleemann ecm reflash for performance.....wow. soooo smooth, 535hp, 645lbs torque....still good hwy mileage...acts like a regular s550 until you bury the throttle. I LOVE my s550, highly recommend

The Thomas J

That engine, tranny and diffs can handle that much power? No cooling system upgrade?

riv-stage 1

yep. No other upgrades needed. Kleemann is known for great reliable tunes…not just going for the high numbers like some others

The Thomas J

I'd like to tune my S550 and GL550. The GL would be a beast!

jd986s

Can't convince you that S63 is the way to go. I was looking for 2010-2013 S63 but ended up with a 2010 S550 (for condition/options reasons). S63 brakes are significantly more expensive than non AMG. I previously had 2005 S55 for over 10 years and brakes were no where as expensive as W221 AMG brakes. If you are ok with the parts (brakes, lifters etc.), S63 is an awesome car, comfort and power at the same time. Good luck with the search. Took me 1.5 years to find mine with weekly search (I was looking for a gray one, most are black color)

feets

Thanks for the input. I made up my mind and bought a car.

I'm picking up my 2013 CL65 tomorrow.

WHPH28

Congrats