redlands40

I am looking to buy S65 or S63, maybe in the 08/09 year, they both have similar gas mileage, power is more in the 12 cylinder,but having owned E500which was not reliable as it was the 1st year model, i am concerned on how reliable they are.
what information can you give, I would use it as a daily, have 2 kids, and the wife, just coming out of a BMW Z4, so it its big change

mrbenzes

The S63 may be a bit cheaper to drive daily and support, but the S65 will hold its value a bit better and of course have more power and exclusivity. I would treat the S63 as more of a hotrod, and the S65 as a thoroughbred racing car and therefore more maintenance and expense (especially the brakes). If money were no option, the S65 would be my choice. I probably couldnt afford to drive a S65 daily...they suck gas and have 12 of everything - coil packs, etc...probably go through tires worse than my S55, etc.
The power may be worth it though!
Mike

vee12

You may find the S63 easier to insure, and the maintence costs will be surely be lower...except for the brakes as one member mentioned above...both cars have exactly the same expensive brake system. Progressive refused to insure my S65...and lost ALL of my business as a result. State Farm and Farmers were both scared of it as well, but did insure it....for a price. I never tire of the seemingly unlimited effortless thrust of my S65, but just know that the pleasure comes at a high price.

erdocslx2

No question! S65!!! I have had a S55, S63, SL55, and a SL600. I drive my S65 as a daily driver. However, do not get a S65 without an extended warrant. I made them CPO it and cost me $5700. It has paid for itself already. Just a heads up. Front Brakes $3500, rears 2000. Tires- It is a heavy car with lots of power. I drive mine quite calm 95% of the time and my last set of Conti Sports lasted 8k on rear.

All this is worth it. I have always gotten bored with my cars after a cpl years and end up w something new. I have had no desire to get rid of my S65. Love my night vision. My commutes are an hour each way. i Drive in the am before light and then at night after sun down on dark country roads. It has saved me many times for deer I would not have seen. Most of all it is the most luxurious drive there is.

Just my 2 cents.

dflamer

I have started the same mental debate.

I am curious how many miles are on your car.

Could you elaborate on the issues your car has had that the warranty covered?

canes85

65 all day!

erdocslx2

My S65 now has 52k miles. Got the Car 18mo ago with 15K miles on it. It honestly had the worst CPO inspection I had seen. I pointed out 4 things in the first 2 mins I was looking at the car. Like a month after I had the car I noticed the tires were needing replaced. I was very frustrated as they must have 60% tread. So I called MB corporate and got a representative that appeased me by having the dealership pay for 1/2 of the tire cost. Threw that in as a side note that if you are having issues with the dealership as an AMG owner especially one who owns a S65.

At my 30k service they had to flush the ABC and braking systems. One day I notice a big puddle under the car. Crank the car and the ABC light comes on. Get the car flat bedded to the dealership (no fun as my nearest MB dealer is 95 mi away. They have the car for about a week. I don't know what they had done servicing it but the cost covered under warranty was $5.2K. Not 2 days later driving at night my night vision went off and I got a Distronic failure. Another part from Germany and 5 days later was repaired. Cost covered was $1800.

A month later my ESP ABS lights come on. Goes back to the dealer and some more parts from Germany and 8 days to repair $3800 covered. If I had not gotten the CPO warranty I'd be more than a little pissed. I get ext warranties on all the AMG's I have gotten and they have always been more than worth the exuberant cost. I would not own an AMG without one.

Hope this gives you an idea. AlthoughI have had all these issues I have never regretted getting this car!!!

Reckless

Neither cars are reliable and Mercedes quality has gone down the drain. Personally I wouldn't recommend either as the cars aren't luxurious, it's some kind of con Mercedes has successfully convinced their customers. Anyone who had a Benz in the 90's know what I am talking about.

Quadcammer

huh?

Full boat S-classes are pretty luxurious. They aren't bentleys, but they don't cost bentley money either.

If you think a w126 or w140 is more luxurious, you are crazy.

Reckless

W140 is much more luxurious. Did you have one in the 90's? Mercedes spent over a billion dollars in R&D for it and the W220 (sadly they didn't spend anywhere near that for the W221).

I currently have 3 W140's, 1 W220, 1 W221, 1 BMW 750IL E38. W140 may lack some creature comforts and convenience items but has the W221 beat in terms of luxury. These cars used to have real leather and wood veneers and they used to be made out of metal (not plastic). I actually prefer my E38 interior to the W140. Much more solid feel to it.

I buy quite a bit of resin (for plastics manufacturing) and can tell you that Mercedes is using one of the cheapest qualities of resin in the W221 and are not refining their plastic moulds to improve tactile feel.

They do cost as much as Bentley's (S63, S65). I don't think any higher of Bentley's, Rolls Royces, or Maybachs for that matter. The leathers and woods used now seem to be thinner and more synthetic than ever before. People who appreciate real quality know what I am speaking of.

Quadcammer

ok, no real point in arguing. I am very pleased with the quality of my designo s500 (s600 level interior). I found the materials in the 140 s600 to look and feel like vinyl.

sloanbj

Reliability is not their strong suit. Get a strong warranty, back-up vehicle and set aside plenty of time to deal with trips to the shop. But they are worth it if you like power!

mrbenzes

I cant spreak for the W140 or the W221, other than feeling the W140 is really bloated looking. But as far as luxury, my W220 is way more luxurious than any W126 that I had and I had about 10 of them...300SEL, 420SEL, and four 560SELs all of the way up to 1991 models....I always wanted a W140 600SEL but they are practically worthless today and I have heard about all of the electrical gremlins...there is one for sale locally for under $5000...but i wont touch it...

Reckless

The W220 is more business but a clean W140 has true german styling. My father still prefers his W126 in terms of styling over the W221. I love the W126 for its looks (esp glossy mint white ones) but it is lacking features that I have gotten accustomed to. Driving it is like driving a boat.

I've owned 4 W140's and I have never had any electric issues. But I have had plenty of suspension/steering issues and rust by the fender (in 2 of them). The W220 does drive better than all of the others. I call it the drivers car. Personally I am curious as to what the W222 is going to be like. I am not holding my breath in terms of luxury as I feel Mercedes is going down a slippery slope. The Designo editions weren't any better in my eyes as I always prefer a black interior with oak wood veneers and chrome accents.

bradwinn

I have an S63 and absolutely love it.

stever500

Me too. I had 3 BMW 740i's (2 were sports) and while I LOVED those cars the 08 S63 is in another league. Super luxurious in my book. Of course it is, it's original price is almost twice that of the E38's I had (a 1995 and 2 2001's).

Steve

Wolfman

Deleted, just realized that this is an ancient thread...

superchet

I bought an '07 S65 ~3 years ago and would also highly recommend an extended warranty. I got a bumper to bumper 4 year for ~$3k from an MB dealer too. I think they limited miles to 10k/year which is fine for me. Great value IMO.