Hi all. I asked this on the AMG forum as well and as you can imagine it was a little biased but I expected that. I was pretty convinced I wanted an S63 til I drove both and like the S580 more than I thought. I thought I didn’t like the iPad but the interior feels fresh and updated as opposed to the lines of the 9 year old version of the W222 that came out in 2013. Still beautiful mind you but maybe a little stale. The S580 is fast too. Not AMG fast but who knows, maybe I don’t need that 3.4 seconds. Seats in the S63 felt a little more comfortable but maybe just 3 years of working them in on the 19 I drove. Both about the same price but one has a 4 year warranty and 25k less miles! I like the body style and lights of the old one more now but afraid it may look really old if I keep it for 5 years or more. The sound and handling are intoxicating as is the exclusivity but I am still torn! The tech and safety features on the new one are super cool and won’t get old anytime soon.

Anyone here either had an S63 before and went to the 580? Anyone had the same dilemma choosing and why did you end up choosing what you did? Thanks for your insight and help.

 

If you want sub 4-second performance, the EQS AMG 53 is also a contender. Its exclusivity should top both the S580 and the S63.

 

I had s63's for last 20 yrs (starting with s55) no doubt its hard to not get addicted to them. Got the 2021 s580 4 months ago, very happy sp with new tech. Drive is not as tight as amg, but still excellent.

 

Depends on your preferences. The engine in the S63 will no doubt be the more fun of the two with a great exhaust, but for me, an S-Class is more about comfort and opulence which I prefer in the new one. The old COMMAND system (same as my CLS) is very laggy and unresponsive in comparison to the MBUX 2.0 and like you, I find the W223 dates the 222 just a bit (still a great car). The other aspect that would lead me to the 223 is price. Used car prices are insane, cars like the S63 are some of the largest depreciating cars out there (along with the normal S too), and in this market they are grossly overpriced. I also prefer a new car in general. Perhaps wait for the S63e? It should hopefully be out within the next year.

 

All great answers thank you! EQS concept car got me totally excited for it but when it came out the looks to me are atrocious and touching things like center console feel very cheap. Weight savings I guess but not Mercedes luxury imo.
coming from an M6 convertible (that I just blew up), it is not exactly a small car with 560hp but the S63 with 603hp still feels huge with that power and not meant to be a canyon carver. Not sure if I’d use that power enough to justify the extra cost, warranty and upkeep. Love the idea it is there though whenever you do need it and not many around. These used ones are definitely 20k over what they should be right now too. Can get an S580 at list.

 

Do you prefer luxury or performance? Both cars will provide both attributes in varying degrees of magnitude. So, at the root of it, it simply comes down to which matters more.

Edit: to add, I asked myself the same question. As I’m getting on now (56) luxury got the nod and I went S 580. Not one iota of regret.

 

Same age here but back is 86 years old so maybe comfort is more important. Although I like the comfort in the S63 in C compared to my low M6 and S63 is like having 2 cars or Jekyll and Hyde. I could have worse decisions to make!

 

I would rather have a used W221 or W222 over the W223.

 

A 221? Really? They feel ancient.

 

I still miss my 2008 (w221) S550 4matic. What a great car. I don't miss my w220 cars thought. As far as S Classes go, I absolutely love my 2019 S63 AMG and could not imagine trading it for a 2022 S580. No way for me. The AMG is (IMHO) the absolute perfect car after buying new S Class cars over 30 years. I am awaiting the W223 S63 E Performance (or whatever they call it) to see if that is an ultimate contender to replace my '19 S63.

 

You should definitely wait, Mark. Once you are in the S63, it will be hard for you to step down, I think? I do like this S580 - it is an extremely comfortable ride- - - but — it doesn’t get my blood rushing with excitement

 

W223 will have, in November, an AMG S63e and S73e, replacing S65.
https://mercedes-world.com/s-class/m...age-4#comments

 

Yep. Really. Especially after the facelift in 2010.

 

I can't agree with that at all lol

 

Here for the exact same reason. Trying to see if I should get an 2018 S63 or a swb S580 amg. its a tough choice.

 

Between those two choices, I believe the decision is a no-brainer: Go for the S580. What does one do with an S63 to get their money’s worth out of it? Take it do the track? I would bet that 99% of all S63’s & S65’s have never been tracked. So, all that horsepower and nowhere to go! I really liked my 2020 S560 sedan, but it suffered transmission problems, so MB is buying it back. I just got a new S580 and WOW! It is an incredible car. It is so smooth, so quiet and the feeling inside is reasonably more luxurious, at least to me. AND, it’s brand new, with a full warranty. It won’t be cheap to maintain, but it sure won’t require AMG $$$$ to maintain either. Get the new car. You’ll love it!

 

Correct decide to go for the S580.

 

Lots of reasons why someone would want the S63. The 63 is sportier, has more power, the power delivery and sound are much more raw and sensory, its rarer and more special. The S65 is a V12 and there are many many reasons why someone would want a V12, thats a super special car. It doesn't have to be taken to the track at all to be enjoyed.

 

But I believe that if driven in accordance with traffic laws in most every city & county in the USA, you can’t do much of anything with an AMG that I can’t do in my S580, except make noise. Of course, should one wish to destroy said traffic laws, that’s another story. It’s always interesting to see photos of these cars afterwards, when something goes amiss. The vast majority of drivers of high performance vehicles have no idea how to drive them even close to their limits, as was the case here in this photo, which took place a mile or so from my home. Yeah, that guy really needed an AMG! Sure hope he enjoyed the sound and the rarity of his car before he destroyed it. I think he survived and his girlfriend died, as I recall.





P.S. How ANY S Class can be considered “sporty” is amazing to me. They are big, heavy SALOONS. Trying to make one of these cushy sedans “sporty,” to my way of thinking, is just plain ridiculous.

 

Its just a totally different feel. For instance, what you're saying is true of your S580 vs an S500 too...why did you choose the 580? Because of the feel of a V8 vs a 6 cyl. The S63 is the same way, it feels very different and that appeals to some and not to others.

As for the accident you posted, people do stupid things in all manner of vehicles.

Thats why there are options. I've driven the S63, it feels like a totally different car. Its not my preference, but I understand why its other people's preference.

 

What the AMG's have compared to the non AMGs is a much superior steering tuning and feel, which is further exacerbated on the newer S classes. W222 and onwards have become so numb when MB switched from hydraulic to electric steering; the AMG vehicles improve the steering feel, it still doesn't offer the feedback of older vehicles with hydraulic steering. At least the non AMG S classes don't have that terrible "arcade video game" steering feel on the lesser MB vehicles. I remember receiving a GLA and CLA as a loaning a couple years back and my god were those terrible; I don't get why anyone would spend a dime of those vehicles. I would gladly have a Camry instead at that price.

My mom at one point had both an S560 sedan and S63 coupe concurrently, the feel of the steering is much superior to that of the S560. There was less of a difference in the older S550's and CL63's. Honestly speaking, I don't really care for the noise in an AMG S Class the steering feel is much better than that of the 560 and yes you're right, there really is no point of the power of an AMG S Class in the city; in both mine and hers, I rarely go over 2000 rpm in the city.

What I like about the AMG S Classes is that it's a great do it all vehicle; offers a comfortable ride, decent interior built quality and materiality, decent day to day practicality, but still offers some excitement when you need it without uncomfortable seating. No, of course an S63 will not drive like a 992 nor is that the point of it, but sometimes it's just nice to have something like this rather than multiple, specialized vehicles serving each category but most would disagree with me. It's also a stealthy looking vehicle in your typical metropolitan vehicles where MB's and BMW's are the standard vehicle choices of the masses.

Honestly, the perfect combination for me would be one withe the comfort, noise, and tuning of a non AMG V12, the steering feel of an AMG, 4matic, and the responsiveness of an AMG when required.

My mom has also had every single contemporary S class including facelifts and I certainly still prefer the W221. I do have to agree that the W221 S Classes were the best overall (aside from the tech) especially if you get the full designo package with full nappa even on the lower door bins and full leather headliner from the AMG performance studio; mind you extremely expensive and rare. A family friend back then had a vehicle imported from the EU and spent an additional 50k getting it certified and legal for registration. The interior quality was more more comparable of a bespoke vehicle rather than a production vehicle like of the current vehicles since basically every touchable surface was covered with nappa leather.

 

What I find really disappointing about the W223 AMG cars is that they aren't going to have the S Class shield grille or stand up hood ornament.




I prefer the easygoing nature of my S560, but you cant deny the W222 S63 and S65 are mean looking

 

I owned a e43 AMG, then got a 213 e63s , 3 months ago I bought a s580. Complete dream car. I was in the same predicament deciding between 2020 s63 or 2022 s580 and quickly decided the s63 will look a lot older a lot quicker than the 580.

My main issue with the 580 is the tires they put on the 21 inch rims. I went through 10 tires within the 3 months having the car. I’m currently in the process of getting new tires 1 profile higher than the stock so I can avoid the flats and bent rims. Other than the tires, the car drives like a beast and in sport + it’s quick. It’s nothing like the e63s but it’s deff a fast land yacht.

 

When I picked up my AMG Wagon last year a S63 AMG Coupe sat next to it on the Showroom Floor. That S-Coupe was beautiful and timeless...my Wagon looked like a Checker Cab beside it and made me feel like a fast and furious peasant. I can skip therapy now since the 2015 Chevy SS that currently shares the garage with my 2021 AMG E63s Wagon is an evolutionary step down in comparison. It has been 30-years since my last Confession.

 

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