Hey everyone,

Long-time MBWorld lurker here and owner of multiple AMGs over the years. Currently driving a maxed-out 2018 S63 AMG (W222 facelift). I love that car - Designo Spec inside (Nappa beige + brown + striped dashboard -- identical to the Maybach interior of the generation), Burmester High-End.... the first owner paid 240K EUR sticker in 2018. I bought it used in 2021 for 100K with 40K miles and have been driving it since as a daily. Very minor issues over the years, spent under $3K in repairs total over the 30K miles that I've driven it.

I'm a dad of 2 young daughters now and need more space. I test-drove a fully loaded 2023 GLS63 today, and I cannot begin to express how much of a downgrade that car feels compared to my 2018 S63.
Laggy, no sound whatsoever, feels like a 300hp car.... And worse materials absolutely everywhere (despite being Nappa full spec). So much plastic, it's disturbing. Feels like an E-Class inside. And it currently costs 2X more than my S63. It boggles the mind.

So I'm not sure what to buy that will be an actual upgrade compared to my S63. The W223 sucks *** and has even less boot space. I need one large family car that can do it all, preferably a 7-Seater. I want it to be vulgar and safe. Basically, what my S63 is, but larger and better. Bentyaga W12? Some large Cayenne? I'm honestly so lost. Budget is up to $200K, buying in cash, slightly used 2-4 yo, after the biggest depreciation hit.

Please advise, and thank you!

 

Sounds like a nice problem to have. As a fully grown above average height, fit adult male, I fit in the back of an s class with tons of room to spare. I cant imagine your children are more than 400lbs each and 2.5 feet wide Exactly what type of extra room are you talking about needing? On another note, every car Mercedes (and most manufacturers) makes has had a quality reduction in materials since 2020. This is due to covid as well as the war in Ukraine. That manufacturers refuse to bounce back and reorganize their supply lines means we won't see all the high end leathers of days past and cheap disposable plastic tech keeps the drivers not thinking of how much the character of the car has changed. It's funny you compare it to an e class because they have had the same cost and feature reductions in the name of CarPlay and Selfie cams. Personally Id rather be wrapped in a soft leather blanket than lay on recycled cardboard while watching Tik Tok. Pretty soon, we will see a Pokemon edition selling for 500k that has a three cylinder quad electric turbo super hydrogen water engine that recycles urine into the vents as an "air freshener"...and people will fight to prove how 'tasteful" it is while paying adm's and complaining.

Op, you've got a great car thats not easily replaced so you'll really have to ask yourself if you need that space or if you just want something newer...

 

200K pretty much allows you to pick what you want and especially at a used price. What is the problem here? Sure, try the Bentley, or RR or the other RR

 

The kids are young - 3yo and 1yo, so there are 2 massive isofix baby chairs on the backseats, and my wife is stuck in the middle seat (because the kids are young and need to hold her hand ) Plus, there's very little luggage space

Yea, it's a 1st world problem, I get it. I'm asking for advice and your personal experience is all. Let me rephrase: I want a 7-seater that outperforms (or at least matches) my S63's kickdown and luxury. Does this car exist?

 

This is definitely a real issues to have. I mean a W222 S63 is a car that is hard to beat. The reality is that a GLS is not a S Class SUV. It is also made in the US and mostly for the US market. So that is why the focus is not as much on things like attention to detail and quality as where the S Class is. However, I love the GLE/GLS

Just curious the S Class cannot fit car seats and kid stuff? Is it really this tight? I think going the SUV route you may not be happy and even the Bentley while beautiful is not that large. (My neighbor has one and it reminds me of a VW Tiguan. I would gladly take one by the way) My point is that it does not look large.


X7 Alpine?
RR Cullian?

Those were really the only ones other than a GLS that comes to mind.

 

Can I ask why your wife doesn’t sit in the front passenger seat?

 

Because the kids are young!

OP, you've considered Maybach GLS? Or a G63/65?

 

Yeah, the kids are super young and constantly want something - give me water, hold my hand, give me a new toy, they vomit on themselves, the older one bullies the younger one for those of you with young kids, you know what I'm talking about.

Maybach GLS is a 4-seater, unfortunately. Otherwise it would be a perfect fit - I love the 2-tone bodywork with silver, and it's such a baller car.

One solution is obviously to get a proper 2-seater sports car; and a second midrange family car (like a 2020 GLS450 or something cheaper and simpler like that). But the hassle of maintaining and storing 2 cars when my wife doesn't drive defeats the purpose. So I'd rather have one that does it all

 

Get multiple cars - there is no such thing as "one car that does it all'. You always lose something to gain something else.

Put the wife in the passenger sear. The kits will adapt. Coddle them that much now and you are truly screwed later on :-).

 

Eh, the 2018 S63 actually was that car for a long time )) But I agree with you - I'm looking for a product so niche, it doesn't seem to exist.

 

I know Range Rovers are horribly unreliable but the newer ones look pretty nice and I think you can get a performance spec that will scratch some of the itch. Otherwise throw a roof rack and box on your S63 and call it good, that is what I did and it works great.

 

Makes sense now. Sorry, my wife and I do not have kids yet so it’s all new to me.

 

Roof rack - interesting!!! This might be it. Never considered that. Any recommendations for a specific type of roofrack/box or are they all pretty generic?

 

I had the MB racks and the MB, coffin size box and it worked really nicely

 

As Hype said, get the MB racks, I picked up a set off of Ebay for around 100 bucks and then purchased a nice Yakima Basket for my racks. I actually hauled 10 2X4's home from Home Depot with the rack, no issues. Take the 200K, buy a Fidelity Warranty for 5K and bank the rest. If you get the roof box you can also tell the kids it is specifically for putting misbehaving kids in on long trips.

 

Here's my baby

I don't think you've got this spec in the US, at least I haven't seen it on any offer. It's absolutely brutal (Designo Full Nappa - available only in the S63)

It had black rims originally, but I bought the exact same silver ones. Maybe I'm weird, but I hate black rims with a passion.

 

Nice spec, Designio is available on US spec S63's of this vintage as well.

 

That S63 is way too night to get rid of. Keep it and get another car to add or just get a nice roof rack!

 

Brabus 900 Superblack. If you could find one used in your price range. Haven’t seen it in person, but other Brabus’ I’ve seen have very nicely upgraded interiors. Performance is also upgraded from stock.

A roof rack can get annoying quick if it’s a daily occurrence to use for extra storage space. If issue is storage space for occasional long trips then just get a roof rack for the S63.

 

I have a CL63 and when I looked into having children I went out and bought a GLE-63S as a Grocery Getter. It's not the same visceral experience as my CL63, BUT it's a fun truck to drive. I am not a fan of the GLS-63 visuals as much, and did not need the 3rd row.

 

Drove the Bentayga V8 as well. Feels like a very expensive Audi, which is basically what it is. It's not that big (like you guys said), and the interior is nice (plenty of plastic VAG buttons and switches though).

But the problem again is that it completely lacks the performance element. No sound. It's quick, but not particularly - about the same as the GLS63.
It's deaf and dull. It lacks that extra level of drama and aggression that my S63 has in sport+.

In summary, even the Bentley Bentayga V8 is a significant downgrade in every way compared to my 2018 S63. Aside from the badge (AMG vs. Bentley) but I don't really care about that.

I'm keeping my S63 and putting a roofrack like you advised. Tough pill to swallow that even the highest-end of post-covid cars actually suck so much these days. Sorry for all these first-world problems

 

If you really want to go SUV, will have to be a Range Rover but reliability is something of a challenge.

 

gls600 or gwagon

 

I saw a Bentayga yesterday and it looked so dumb, so yah, stay away from those

 

If only there is a S 63 wagon ...