S65 ALL THE MF WAY !!!

Nope, Nope, Nope. I just traded and S600 4 months ago, and have an S63 being picked up in 2 days. There is no differance in quality. 4 zone climate control my S63 has it (although an option) Alcantera headliner (standard) Leather quality (matter of taste) personally the softer leather tends to look more wrinkled after a while. Leather dash S63 has it. If you can find a person who isn't actually looking with a magnifying glass to say the S600 is a better quality interior than good luck. Every thing that is standard in the S600 is availlable in the S63.

Just to clarify, the S63 does NOT have the full leather dash that the S65 has. You can pop onto ebay to see close up pics of the two cars. You'll notice the leather seam running across the dashboard leather on the S65 while the S63 has the vinyl looking dash. Aside from that and the badges, same exact car from a cosmetic standpoint.

The V-12 leather is different than the V-8 leather. You can not like the softer Exclusive leather, or not care about it, but it's silly to say that because you don't like it or care about it, that it's not a difference. The softer aniline leather on the S600 and S65 costs a significant amount to produce and the full treatment in it is not available on any V-8 in the US. (The upgrade to 8xx leather that is available on a V-8, as opposed to the 5xx that's standard on the V-12s, uses aniline leather on seating surfaces only.)

Again, it's perfectly reasonable to say you don't like the aniline leather. I can certainly tell them apart without a magnifying glass and really love the baby-butt leather. In any case, it's not worth three "nopes."

money-wise, u get a better deal on the s63 for what kind of performance u get out of the car. i never drove a s65, but if the handling and acceleration is better, it cant be better by that much.

I have to strongly 2nd that there is a huge difference in interior quality. The 63 has a 550 interior + alcantura headliner. Very nice, but leagues away from the 600/65 interior.

The 65 wasn't an option for me, but I recently went through the 600 vs 63 decision and chose the 600 because interior quality is so important for me. I think it is a matter of relative priorities: luxury vs. sportiness. For 63 vs. 600, the 63 wins hands-down on exterior (including the best wheels on the planet in the 030 package!), and aggressive exhaust note; while the 600 is a clear winner on interior luxury and quality. In the case of the 65, you get all of the 600 and 63 advantages, with only small deductions for uninspired exhaust note and nose-heavy handling.

To me, the S63 is in an awkward no-mans-land between luxury and sport. The E63 and M5 rule the road for sedan performance, and the 600/65 are the leaders for luxury under <$200k. Now, bring a SWB S63 designo to the U.S. and I think we'll have a new leader for 4-door performance + luxury . The next iteration of the S8 could also be intriguing if Audi will give it a bit more acceleration and do something to reduce noise.

Paul

Handling isn't better. Acceleration (at any speed) is night and day. Not a subtle difference, I assure you.

both great cars; however the 63 with 030 option is the equal of my 65 interior. don't understand the comments about the inferior leather of the 63. look for yourself and don't take these disparaging remarks at face value. there's nothing like the torque of a chipped 65; but while not as brutal/wonderful, the 63 chipped is an exceptional car and seems to me to have a crisper feel than my 65. and while the s is large, it handles like a much smaller car. really you should look on these - and the cl - as gt cars, even vaunted handlers such as tt porsches and zo6's are not great track cars but get very twitchy in high speed and bumpy turns. if money no concern, go 65; but 63 would leave you with no regrets.

Okay, Okay, Okay, you are right about the dash, maybe I am biased because I have owned both and I happen to like everything about the 08 S63 better than my 07 S600. Just as we all agree, minor differances can be a big thing as far as personal tastes. I love the interior of my S63, Dark grey with the black laquer and the chrome and silver accents looks amazing. Did you guys know the 08 plays DVD video in the command screen and the 07 didn't. Even the dealership didn't notice that, I had to point it out to them.

Paul,Let's not forget to make it clear, you are only talking about the leather. Other than the leather there is no differance, I just came from the dealership picking up my S63 and they still had my S600 with 1800 miles on it that i traded in 4 months ago ( they said they can't seem to get anyone to buy it, everyone is trying to get an S63 LOL) and I looked at them side by side, since I read this thread yesterday, I needed to see for myself.

Xecution, sounds like you're just not as obsessive as me about interior details, which is to your benefit I'm sure . On the leather, it is both better quality and it is used in several key places that are plastic on the 63 and 550: front of dash, top of dash, doors top-to-bottom (instead of just in the middle panel and arm rest), back deck.

And there are a few other differences: wood phone pad cover, luxury headrests with wings, wood wheel.

All in all, these add up to a huge difference in interior luxury for me.

Cheers,
Paul

pmrogers,

I think what you say is right on. In fact you could have the best of both worlds. I heard from my local dealer in socal, WI Simonson, that a mystic white designo 2008 S63 is at the dock waiting for delivery. Maybe that is the car for you, it definitely is for me. The sticker is around 159K.

I will give it to you on that, But it is also a matter of taste, It is like the differance between A Ferrari interior (no wood) and a Bentley (wood everywhere) Sporty versus Luxury.

The S600 and S65 also have the wood trim along the lower-middle half of the door.

Cool, I hadn't observed that distinction yet!

Yesterday I noticed one area where the S63 has a clear interior quality advantage vs. the 600: door sill inserts. In the stock S600, the door sill inserts are a grotesquely-cheap plastichrome. Fortunately, there is a $425 option to swap in brushed aluminum inserts. The S63 has AMG aluminum inserts standard.

Here are a few shots showing the extra wood trim and the aluminum door sill inserts on my 600:

Thank you very much. In keeping with the topic at hand, what about the foot pedals? Will the bright pedals from an S63 fit in an S600?