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.

Frenetic

Anyone see the massively overweight M5? It’s a plug-in hybrid that weighs more than a GLS.

I’m actuality intrigued. They went the hybrid EV route versus the pure performance EV boost route, providing up to 60 EV miles thanks to what I imagine is 700 lbs in batteries.

Munich77

The weight is insane. I think they went plug in hybrid because of carbon taxes. I read an article where in Ireland the new m5 is cheaper out the door than the m3.

js_cls

It only does 25 Miles of EV range. Hopefully they've fine-tuned the powertrain as its the same one that's been largely panned in XM reviews.

crabman

I think the main reason XM gets beat about the head and shoulders is that the X5M is quicker and cost a fair bit less. The engine itself is wonderful; extremely responsive, pulls hard everywhere, flexible. I'd expect their performance numbers to be accurate at worst, and more likely, will be surpassed by owners. Not by a lot, but a little.

A couple of things have them up in arms over there: The weight primarily, the LCI which is unpopular with many owners of older vehicles, and they took the shifter. The M guys like their shifter, not much to be said about the weight other than it can't be a good thing, and (I suspect) the LCI thing is people who can't afford to upgrade saying the grapes are not ripe.

js_cls

A lot of the complaints were that the transmission was not up to snuff with prior BMW ZF8's, and that the whole PHEV aspect of the car didn't feel connected that well into the vehicle. I'm sure they've fixed it a bit, but this M5 doesn't interest me that much, although I haven't been the biggest M5 fan since the E60 generation, to me that was the last amazing M5. The F90 was a good car, but lacked character. To me BMW M is becoming Audi RS. But all the Germans have lost their heads imo.

wildta

EA825 4.0TTV8 has the 48v alternator issue although I'd probably rather have an alternator issue vs the RMS failure. Maybe Audi resolved this issue in the 2024s but I personally haven't read anything.

Frenetic

SW20S reported an oil leak in his non-AMG V8. Was his the mail seal as well?

The green is awesome and a color I would consider.

chassis

Cam cover. Root cause unknown - could have been from failing or failed oil vapor sepators. The M17x V8 is a grenade with no pin installed by the factory.

SW20S

Caused by clogged oil separators.



Drama queen lol

Wolfman

Such nonsense. I take a 4 liter MB V8 over an Audi V8 everyday.