K-A

I know my M-B interiors well enough to see the headliner the W222 is using seems very close to the E-Class, the bare plastics the same as possibly any volume M-B, and the design much less physically adorned than a Ghost. The lower center console looks extremely plain with a plastic-y kind of flat look whereas in the Ghost you have more wood and "glitz" for lack of a better word. I can almost promise that when you feel around, especially if you know how a Ghost feels inside (I've sat in one), you'll feel an instant aura of less plushness in about every material aspect. I'm also close to positive that all S550's use M-B tex for their stitched surfaces along the doors, consoles and dash (NOT talking about the seats, I assume those are still Nappa), which someone with a W221 can confirm either way. The RR's will use full blown real hand crafted leather everywhere, and instead of M-B's thin standard grade carpeting and headliner, you'll have plush, higher quality, rare materials in both those places.

Of course we won't know this until everyone gets their hands on one and actually has been in a Ghost to compare and can give an objective review, but I don't think there will be any doubts, personally. Now I definitely agree with you in that RR knows how to build *PERCEPTION*, it's all fluff, an attack on your senses. The *FUNDAMENTAL* build quality of the interior is another story, and the S very well can be ahead for all I know.

SHOULD the S Class be expected to compete with a Ghost? Hell no, but the M-B loyalists and M-B themselves are the ones who had alluded to a comparison, hence the comparison.

Exhibit A:



Exhibit B:


The S's interior simply doesn't compare, IMO.

LETO

FYI

There is no MB tex available in the US on the S550.

The progression is:

Leather

Nappa $2290

Exclusive Nappa (quilting on the dash and seats, dinamica headliner) TBD (which also requires exclusive trim) Prob: 5-7K

Designo

K-A

True, I need to clarify: I was talking about the dash and other stitched surfaces in the S that ARE NOT the seats (the seats are real leather). Aside from I assume the door inserts, I believe the dash leather and accompanying surfaces like that use M-B Tex? I'm almost positive the W221 does in those areas and the W222 won't change from that, if that is indeed the case about the W221.

LETO

Exhibit A:


That ostrich interior is custom. You should know that. It may not be even RR made.




Tarted up 7 series interior with better grade finishes but horrible ergonimics as everything is super upright. It looks like a chest of drawers!

Exhibit B:




The S's interior simply doesn't compare, IMO.[/QUOTE]

Of course it does not. This is the most boring configuration possible all black


The

Germancar1

Now that is the more like it, some actual substance. Yes the Rolls has more glitz but the S can be optioned up to a point very close to that. To say that the S just doesn't compare is just not so IMO. It is at least in the conversation and again this is the S550 we're talking about so far. Also, you're not comparing the best S550s that we've seen so far. The Rolls really only has more metal and padding on and in the dashboard to give it that look.


M

K-A

That's my "case" if you will. All black is my favorite interior combo (and why I used it on a Ghost). IMO the reason the S interior has allowed people to perceive it as comparable to cars selling for 3 times more is because M-B used ridiculously glammy press pics with very wild color combos.

The truth comes out in all black, the rest is just superfluous and "extra", IMO. If the S interior looks that "bland" in all black, IMO the interior was overstated by M-B marketing to begin with. That's not to say it's "bad" by any means (far from it), simply "overstated" hence the exuberant comparisons.

The Rolls' interior is definitely more clunky and less streamlined, but it looks more upscale and special to me.

Yes, I agree in many ways and fully acknowledge that the Rolls is all about the fine details and materials to give it that more premium "look", but IMO it does the job compared to the W222 I showed above. As for why I used that particular combo, see my reply to LETO above, which is the very reason I started this topic back up (have been trying to find examples of the more "normal equipped" W222 interiors for some time and that video had it).

LETO

After the facelift, the lower dash & doors in the W221 was the same leather as the seats when nappa was chosen. The top dash in the W221 was always cheap.

In the W222: the order guide provides three distinctive color zones. I am pretty certain with exclusive nappa the center & top of the dash are nappa. On regular leather it is prob some tex like stuff. On Nappa, I don't know will have to touch and see.

cookstar

Wolfman

By default, all S-Class Designo, S600 and S65 have nappa leather on all dash and all door and interior surfaces. The headliner is Alcantara...

I am not sure though, the S550 exclusive napa may also have the leather dash on the W222.
But I even had leather on the on dash etc. on our CL500 and SL55 as well. Not MB-tex.

Wolfman

To K-A: Nor sure that I agree with your description of the glitzy press pics. This is simply the same leather you'll find in the Edition 1 launch series. Nothing more.

Plus I have the same color combo in our Sl550 (Porcellain white/black napa leather with black ash) as shown in many of the photos and it looks just as stunning

I have only have 3 LED colors in the car but the effect is outstanding at night.

Our 750li I sapphire black with black napa leather and black ash and I can vouch that while cool looking, it is the most boring color combo even on the BMW

MBNUT1

I would love to be able comfortably afford to buy a black on black base interior W222 and even if I had the money to pick a RR or Bentley it wouldn't even be a consideration. With an S Class you get something for your money. The only thing that and RR or Bentley does is scream that you have money. People know that you aren't some E -Class leaser.

K-A

Ah, that makes sense. Tex on the regular S's and assumedly Nappa surfaces on the Nappa package. How much is the Nappa package? I honestly would probably have tex if it were me buying, because I'm always paranoid about longevity, and I'd wonder how Nappa on the dash and stuff would age with the exposure to sunlight, etc. it gets. Nappa is a beautiful leather but isn't known so well for its aging abilities. With M-B tex you're essentially getting "padded and stitched plastic" on the dash and door trims on the S, but that stuff usually lasts a lifetime.

Yeah, black/black is always gonna look more "plain", but it's usually the first color combo I choose. IMO black/black can still look ritzy and standout in its understated way.

But come to think of it, black/black compliments a more sporty setup. I.e I'd get black black in a 911, but more colors in a Panamera. Or I'd get black/black in a 5 Series but in a 7 I'd imagine I'd want some tan and more tones in there, or with a Benz I'd go black/black on a C Class or sportier Coupe offering but would go with the black/porcelain or whatever gives the lighter color seats on the S. I think black/black looks a little too awkwardly simple on the S because the interior really wants to harken a more true-to-form-classic-luxury theme and black/black being a little too "sporty" may clash with that. The interior begs to be dressed up with colors and surfaces, IMO.

aypues

S-Class mule spotted in LA by my eagle eyed friend this afternoon:

aypues

2 more in LA today

LETO

KA - Nappa is $2290. Exclusive Nappa. i.e. Nappa with quilting and more range of colors is not priced yet. It also requires the extended trim package that gives you more wood in places like the top back part of the two front seats. Also, it looks like trhe exclusive nappa gives you the dinamica headliner. I would assume 5K+ for this. It is nice that this option exists at a lower price point that designo.

If I remember correctly W221 had IR resistant glass. I assume W222 should have the same. I have never had any issues with leather wear in an MB. Although, the longest I have kept an MB is 3 years

hyperion667

seems to me, that interior deserves the best it can get: designo seems to be the only way to go

Kratos-TM

The exclusive nappa is the only price I'm waiting on.

So far I'm ordering S550 black exterior, 505 exclusive nappa silk beige interior, 421 sport package plus, P01 premium 1 package, 997 driver assistance package, 525 air balance package, and possibly 308 refrigerator (waiting on pricing and if it requires co-existing package).

Just got a budget increase I wasn't expecting, so I'm not gonna be so bare-bone anymore....

absent

It has less in common with a 7 series then most people think.
Besides the powertrain based (but not identical) on 760 V12 and redesigned floor pan there is nothing else really.
Ghost has not just exquisite interior,it is the refinement and total isolation from outside world that differs it from "common" cars like S-Class or 7 series.
You really have to drive it for more then customary 15 min test drive to truly appreciate it.
I see a lot of negative and disparaging comments from folks who probably know there is no possibility of them ever owning one so they try to convince themselves and everyone else that they really don't like it ,because it's "just another 7".
I am looking forward to see the new S,if only to see how much they narrowed the gap to Ghost or Mulsanne.
Now,waiting for the usual barking.....

K-A

I walked by a Ghost tonight with some sort of speciality body kit (seemed OEM, reminded me of those racy-looking OEM packages that come on the Continental GT) and the windows were down. I think a lot of people truly "want" the more attainable S Class to challenge it in these respects, but in this particular outfit the Ghost was simply jaw dropping, and the smell coming out of it was intoxicating to a degree where a mass market S Class with lots more interior plastics will have a touch time being able to muster. The gap will have been narrowed, but IMO clearly not fulfilled.

LETO

Now that's more like it. Cheers!!!

LETO

I am absolutely not criticizing the ghost for it's quality. I just do not care for it's aesthetics. If you love Louis XV style furniture you would probably appreciate the ghost. I totally agree on it's isolating characteristics. That has always been a RR breed standard.

Not all remarks stem from people who don't have the possibility of owning a particular car. Albeit if you scan through this forum you can chalk up the critique of the W222 "ordinary" or not to the logic that you mention.

For the record. Ghost v. Flying Spur. The Spur for me every time.

absent

Fixed.
Agree.

Kratos-TM

Yeah, I thought I was gonna have only 10 grand for upgrades. But that just recently got changed....


So excited.....gonna place my order in this week.....finally.

dav461

21" rims?

Kratos-TM

It's something about this car......it seems the bigger the rims, the better this car looks. This is why I'm ordering the 20" multispoke AMG wheels.