E63 test drive report
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: San Diego
2015 S212
E63 test drive report
I went to see the E63 that Jeff (2k6E55) ordered at Hoehn with the intent of getting a race on, but my contact wasn't there so it didn't happen. This is not my first drive in one for whatever that is worth.
BUT....we did go for a quick spin in the e63.
Setting: 4 adults in the car. 23 miles on the clock. Half a tank of gas.
Initial impressions:
Exterior:
The looks are nice. I like the gill slits in the airdam. Not a huge fan of the sharp nose, but a huge part of it is in te grill (which can be blacked out). The chrome around the fog lights is flat out ugly, but again can be painted. The rims are a fresh look and are nice compared to the somewhat dated Style IV of the e55. I definitely like the 2 tone color on them, but keep in mind they are cast (heavy) and would need to be replaced anyway.
Interior:
The charcoal upper color is GORGEOUS. Even the mirror and lights have black stripes in them that match well. I will definitely consider replacing my interior at a later date if I keep the E55. I do not like the new gear shift (keyless go) knob. I DO like the wood surround of the gear shift vs the Aluminum on the E55. The blacked out dash is OK. I could take the E55 or the E63 as they are both nice looking to me. The seats are nice looking and the alcantra inserts are a sporty match. I am MAZED that the dynamic seats are NOT available on the E63. That alone is a deal breaker for me.
Driving:
Again, 4 adults in the car. I have never had 4 adults in my E55 (although I have had 3). Steering is not as active as the E55. Actually, there is little or none of it. This may help add feedback in very spirited drives, but i did not get to hug curves much at all. I am personally a fan of the active power steering in the E55, but that is a personal taste thing. There is DEFINITELY better brake feedback as SBC is gone. HOWEVER, I did not get to test the brakes to say which feels more responsive. Acceleration is bland at best. the butt dyno says my E55 will walk its dog. I only ran it through 1st and second before the sales lady made me stop redlining it, but it was really not as violent as the E55. No speeds over maybe 60 -70ish, so i can't say much to that. I did try to get the tires to spin a few times and it simply won't. I guess it means that it will be an easy car to launch as compared to the E55 which takes time to master.
Overall: It feels like a super E550 (as it should). Options would make it much more pleasing to me. this one was only Premium 2 package (which I thought meant pano but that was with the E55). At any rate, it is hard to get out of a nearly fully loaded E55 and be very impressed by a pretty blank E63, and that is not the car's fault. I really do think that I would have enjoyed a loaded one more.
The exhaust note is WAAY nicer than a stock E55. Reminds me of the SL65 a bit. As Derek mentioned, the Mx Cool button is a nice feature for 2 reasons. First, you do not have to bring the temp down to lo one degree at a time and next it also does not revert all the settings like auto does.
Oddly enough, all the e63s I've seen and been in have been optionless. Actually, the first i saw and drove months ago did not even have the charcoal upper interior (which is my favorite upgrade).
All in all, it is a nice car. Would I buy it over an M5? I dunno, but probably so (since I am an MB guy). It would make a nice DD and a great stablemate to a Sports car or SUV.
BUT....we did go for a quick spin in the e63.
Setting: 4 adults in the car. 23 miles on the clock. Half a tank of gas.
Initial impressions:
Exterior:
The looks are nice. I like the gill slits in the airdam. Not a huge fan of the sharp nose, but a huge part of it is in te grill (which can be blacked out). The chrome around the fog lights is flat out ugly, but again can be painted. The rims are a fresh look and are nice compared to the somewhat dated Style IV of the e55. I definitely like the 2 tone color on them, but keep in mind they are cast (heavy) and would need to be replaced anyway.
Interior:
The charcoal upper color is GORGEOUS. Even the mirror and lights have black stripes in them that match well. I will definitely consider replacing my interior at a later date if I keep the E55. I do not like the new gear shift (keyless go) knob. I DO like the wood surround of the gear shift vs the Aluminum on the E55. The blacked out dash is OK. I could take the E55 or the E63 as they are both nice looking to me. The seats are nice looking and the alcantra inserts are a sporty match. I am MAZED that the dynamic seats are NOT available on the E63. That alone is a deal breaker for me.
Driving:
Again, 4 adults in the car. I have never had 4 adults in my E55 (although I have had 3). Steering is not as active as the E55. Actually, there is little or none of it. This may help add feedback in very spirited drives, but i did not get to hug curves much at all. I am personally a fan of the active power steering in the E55, but that is a personal taste thing. There is DEFINITELY better brake feedback as SBC is gone. HOWEVER, I did not get to test the brakes to say which feels more responsive. Acceleration is bland at best. the butt dyno says my E55 will walk its dog. I only ran it through 1st and second before the sales lady made me stop redlining it, but it was really not as violent as the E55. No speeds over maybe 60 -70ish, so i can't say much to that. I did try to get the tires to spin a few times and it simply won't. I guess it means that it will be an easy car to launch as compared to the E55 which takes time to master.
Overall: It feels like a super E550 (as it should). Options would make it much more pleasing to me. this one was only Premium 2 package (which I thought meant pano but that was with the E55). At any rate, it is hard to get out of a nearly fully loaded E55 and be very impressed by a pretty blank E63, and that is not the car's fault. I really do think that I would have enjoyed a loaded one more.
The exhaust note is WAAY nicer than a stock E55. Reminds me of the SL65 a bit. As Derek mentioned, the Mx Cool button is a nice feature for 2 reasons. First, you do not have to bring the temp down to lo one degree at a time and next it also does not revert all the settings like auto does.
Oddly enough, all the e63s I've seen and been in have been optionless. Actually, the first i saw and drove months ago did not even have the charcoal upper interior (which is my favorite upgrade).
All in all, it is a nice car. Would I buy it over an M5? I dunno, but probably so (since I am an MB guy). It would make a nice DD and a great stablemate to a Sports car or SUV.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 486
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne - Australia
2004 E55 AMG
I went to see the E63 that Jeff (2k6E55) ordered at Hoehn with the intent of getting a race on, but my contact wasn't there so it didn't happen. This is not my first drive in one for whatever that is worth.
BUT....we did go for a quick spin in the e63.
Setting: 4 adults in the car. 23 miles on the clock. Half a tank of gas.
Initial impressions:
Exterior:
The looks are nice. I like the gill slits in the airdam. Not a huge fan of the sharp nose, but a huge part of it is in te grill (which can be blacked out). The chrome around the fog lights is flat out ugly, but again can be painted. The rims are a fresh look and are nice compared to the somewhat dated Style IV of the e55. I definitely like the 2 tone color on them, but keep in mind they are cast (heavy) and would need to be replaced anyway.
Interior:
The charcoal upper color is GORGEOUS. Even the mirror and lights have black stripes in them that match well. I will definitely consider replacing my interior at a later date if I keep the E55. I do not like the new gear shift (keyless go) knob. I DO like the wood surround of the gear shift vs the Aluminum on the E55. The blacked out dash is OK. I could take the E55 or the E63 as they are both nice looking to me. The seats are nice looking and the alcantra inserts are a sporty match. I am MAZED that the dynamic seats are NOT available on the E63. That alone is a deal breaker for me.
Driving:
Again, 4 adults in the car. I have never had 4 adults in my E55 (although I have had 3). Steering is not as active as the E55. Actually, there is little or none of it. This may help add feedback in very spirited drives, but i did not get to hug curves much at all. I am personally a fan of the active power steering in the E55, but that is a personal taste thing. There is DEFINITELY better brake feedback as SBC is gone. HOWEVER, I did not get to test the brakes to say which feels more responsive. Acceleration is bland at best. the butt dyno says my E55 will walk its dog. I only ran it through 1st and second before the sales lady made me stop redlining it, but it was really not as violent as the E55. No speeds over maybe 60 -70ish, so i can't say much to that. I did try to get the tires to spin a few times and it simply won't. I guess it means that it will be an easy car to launch as compared to the E55 which takes time to master.
Overall: It feels like a super E550 (as it should). Options would make it much more pleasing to me. this one was only Premium 2 package (which I thought meant pano but that was with the E55). At any rate, it is hard to get out of a nearly fully loaded E55 and be very impressed by a pretty blank E63, and that is not the car's fault. I really do think that I would have enjoyed a loaded one more.
The exhaust note is WAAY nicer than a stock E55. Reminds me of the SL65 a bit. As Derek mentioned, the Mx Cool button is a nice feature for 2 reasons. First, you do not have to bring the temp down to lo one degree at a time and next it also does not revert all the settings like auto does.
Oddly enough, all the e63s I've seen and been in have been optionless. Actually, the first i saw and drove months ago did not even have the charcoal upper interior (which is my favorite upgrade).
All in all, it is a nice car. Would I buy it over an M5? I dunno, but probably so (since I am an MB guy). It would make a nice DD and a great stablemate to a Sports car or SUV.
BUT....we did go for a quick spin in the e63.
Setting: 4 adults in the car. 23 miles on the clock. Half a tank of gas.
Initial impressions:
Exterior:
The looks are nice. I like the gill slits in the airdam. Not a huge fan of the sharp nose, but a huge part of it is in te grill (which can be blacked out). The chrome around the fog lights is flat out ugly, but again can be painted. The rims are a fresh look and are nice compared to the somewhat dated Style IV of the e55. I definitely like the 2 tone color on them, but keep in mind they are cast (heavy) and would need to be replaced anyway.
Interior:
The charcoal upper color is GORGEOUS. Even the mirror and lights have black stripes in them that match well. I will definitely consider replacing my interior at a later date if I keep the E55. I do not like the new gear shift (keyless go) knob. I DO like the wood surround of the gear shift vs the Aluminum on the E55. The blacked out dash is OK. I could take the E55 or the E63 as they are both nice looking to me. The seats are nice looking and the alcantra inserts are a sporty match. I am MAZED that the dynamic seats are NOT available on the E63. That alone is a deal breaker for me.
Driving:
Again, 4 adults in the car. I have never had 4 adults in my E55 (although I have had 3). Steering is not as active as the E55. Actually, there is little or none of it. This may help add feedback in very spirited drives, but i did not get to hug curves much at all. I am personally a fan of the active power steering in the E55, but that is a personal taste thing. There is DEFINITELY better brake feedback as SBC is gone. HOWEVER, I did not get to test the brakes to say which feels more responsive. Acceleration is bland at best. the butt dyno says my E55 will walk its dog. I only ran it through 1st and second before the sales lady made me stop redlining it, but it was really not as violent as the E55. No speeds over maybe 60 -70ish, so i can't say much to that. I did try to get the tires to spin a few times and it simply won't. I guess it means that it will be an easy car to launch as compared to the E55 which takes time to master.
Overall: It feels like a super E550 (as it should). Options would make it much more pleasing to me. this one was only Premium 2 package (which I thought meant pano but that was with the E55). At any rate, it is hard to get out of a nearly fully loaded E55 and be very impressed by a pretty blank E63, and that is not the car's fault. I really do think that I would have enjoyed a loaded one more.
The exhaust note is WAAY nicer than a stock E55. Reminds me of the SL65 a bit. As Derek mentioned, the Mx Cool button is a nice feature for 2 reasons. First, you do not have to bring the temp down to lo one degree at a time and next it also does not revert all the settings like auto does.
Oddly enough, all the e63s I've seen and been in have been optionless. Actually, the first i saw and drove months ago did not even have the charcoal upper interior (which is my favorite upgrade).
All in all, it is a nice car. Would I buy it over an M5? I dunno, but probably so (since I am an MB guy). It would make a nice DD and a great stablemate to a Sports car or SUV.
