Frenetic

Anyone else love fast wagons? I drove the E63 estate and RS6 back-to-back, and while they’re both really nice, the Mercedes was just too harsh. The RS6 was perfect: it was comfortable yet still brutally fast. I’m a coin flip between this and the S500 refresh. And why I wouldn’t consider the S580 you may ask, is because I have no desire to drive this thing fast.

Frenetic

Disclaimer: yes, Doug calls the RS6 harsh, but the E63 was way more stiffer to me.

SW20S

You should absolutely consider the S580...its not about going fast. I test drove an S500 and turned right around and took it right back to the dealer...the V8 is an order of magnitude better to the point where IMO they don't even seem like the same car. Much smoother and more refined, the effortless torque makes the car so much more satisfying too,

Frenetic

I hear you, but the only must have option for me is the 4D Burmester. I’ll settle for a 450 HP I6 fully optioned out. I have never floored my S500 lol. But I would floor the RS6 lol.

Munich77

Too bad those fast wagons are $$$

RJC

Did you have it/the 63 on the softest/comfort suspension setting? Those rims are sick!

chassis

Audi/Porsche more comfortable than AMGs and orders of magnitude more reliable.

The EA825 4.0TTV8 so far seems to be avoiding serious issues, unlike the MB M17x with its RMS failures and no corrective action from MB.

SW20S

Have you driven an S580? The benefit is found in all driving, not when flooring it. The difference is felt the first touch of the throttle in a parking lot.

Bubba1

Honestly I get week in the knees when I see an RS 6. Beautiful vehicle. Estates are very Europeon and fairly understated.

IMHO the S580 comfort is in a league of few vehicles. The RS6 is a sporty car that happens to have practicality and great trunk space. . Truly a wolf in Sheeps clothing. Compared to the S580 it’s lower and stiffer.

If your priority is sportiness and to be a bit of a hooligan I wouldn’t hesitate with the RS6. However, if luxury and comfort is the priority the S580 is excellent. I also found the E63 AMG too stiff. I also think the RS6 is the prettiest estate available.

Wolfman

I had to laugh when reading this thread. Not interested to get a quicker S-Class but then comparing it to the E-Class Performance equivalent.

That said, I love the looks of the RS6 but the Audi MMI is infuriating. That plus the black gloss plastic and screens are not my thing. I love that they have a V8 in the car, something that AMG abandoned for the time being.
But if a station wagon is the thing, the new M5 should have a touring version coming. These are so much nicer than SUV's with similar utility...

chassis

As much as I appreciate the RS6, I agree it is not an S-Class comparator.

crabman

They are not in the same class, they just buyers that will go both ways.

I would not get an Audi right now, over the years I've loved their interiors, but right now too many of them are long in the tooth, and the RS6 is in that group. I also don't think I would buy a station wagon, it's the minivan of my time, frustrated mothers and vomiting babies all the way. To me they're SUVs, before we better figured out SUVs

For all that, I like to keep myself as honest as a biased man can be, and I test drove one a few years ago. Not bad at all. The power is great, handling is fine for what it is, the stiffness didn't bother me as I'm a sports car/sedan guy from way back. On the other hand, MMI is like an old cell phone in that it hitches up and can have hiccups here and there, in general it's not as responsive as I expect nowadays. I'm basing that on time in the RSQ8 during my most recent car shopping. The plastic stuff is one of my major gripes with the S-class and no less there. The sound is a little bit sterile, it's a complaint I have about a lot of cars in recent years so I don't hold it against it. It's a short list of gripes, but they don't live in a vacuum, cars have become very, very good.

I don't really see a loser in this, you're ahead of the plodding tedium with anything you might contemplate, that would be considered a legitimate price point competitor. In the brand I'd say RSQ8 every time just because most wont drive the RS6 like a sports car, and if you're not, they have a similar hooligan factor, and you get more practicality.

Frenetic

Yeah, these two definitely have nothing in common, but the RS6 has always been a bucket list car for me. I’m still leaning S class, but I’m not a fan of the star lights.

MBS63AMG

The MMI on my S8 is definitely the only thing I hate about my car. It never reliably connects to my phone and switching radio stations on XM radio is insane. Dialing in a destination is also very difficult and so many MMI features are locked out while driving. Mercedes had this perfect with the W221 and W222 models, then they messed it up with the touch screens.

SW20S

The track wheel in my 222 is pretty much perfect I agree.