TugboatBill

Hi,
I don't own and have never owned a MB. I am considering a new E63 S AMG wagon. Since I'm a complete MB/E63 noob, can anyone give me a rundown on MB in general and the E63 in particular? I plan on using the E63 as my daily driver. Driving will be mostly urban.

Dunga

Hi Bill,

You’ve come to the right spot. Tell us more about your driving history. What do you currently have. What’s important to you? The E63 is a beast of a car. It’s definitely not without it’s drawbacks, mainly: price, upkeep, depreciation.

Cheers.

GreenFox

Welcome to the forum! I'm getting my E63 next week and looking forward to it also! First AMG!

Mandarin

I do have the sedan, but... using that as a daily, and I don't have the 2nd car at this moment. Perfect car, if you don't care about fuel consumption then I could not find any reason not buy it.

TugboatBill

I'd be using this as a people/stuff hauler. It will replace a 09 Tacoma. I won't be using it a sports car (have a 17 Corvette Z51 for that). Mileage will be ~7500miles/year. I'm not concerned about gas mileage. More interested in feedback on reliability, comfort, maintenance costs, etc than how fast it is. Also, as I've never owned a German vehicle (American & Japanese only) I have no clue as to how and in what ways it would be different.

Mandarin

Let me ask then why you need an AMG? If you love this wagon, buy loaded e450. Less % on leasing (since it's not an AMG), more comfy, more reliable, less depreciation. Also, after having a truck it would not be a better choice.

AMG is good I did not have any major or mechanical problem for past months.

Slugsy

I would agree.

The E63 is amazing but not the most comfortable for daily driving. I’ve had no mechanical issues or any other complaints other than ride comfort and chewing tyres up fast!

Dunga

As a fellow corvette owner (mine is a ‘14 stingray Z51), I can tell you the ride in the E63 is very similar to that of your dedicated sports car. Depending on where you live it may be a deal breaker since you want it as a daily driver.

I live in northern Minnesota and we have terrible roads so I knew going in what I was in for. But since this is new territory for you, my recommendation is go for a good test drive. You may not find an E63 wagon, but there’s plenty of sedans out there and I think they ride very close to each other.

TugboatBill

My C7 has the mag-ride and rides much better than the Tacoma. Not something I was expecting.

The E450 price is compelling. Would the E450 ride better than the E63? Other than the power, what do I give up with the E450? What do I gain? I did do a build on the web site and saw that the sport seats aren't available on the E450.

mmmamg

If someone wants high performance wagon there is only one choice in USA - E63s.
It comes with relatively high cost, high maintenance, stiff suspension and whatever else is good or bad associated with the car capable of 0-60 in around 3 sec. For some people its perfect ride for some its uncomfortably stiff suspension.
If you dont need combination of 600hp and wagon there is another choices : e450 wagon, jaguar, volvo etc.

TugboatBill

The E450 is out. Just not enough go.

signes

They are great cars just have to know what you are getting. Very stiff, relatively loud and have that wagon resonance/"boominess" that some people are sensitive to. Over coarse roads a lot of tire noise. But... you will have one of the fastest cars made, hilariously fun and 99% of the people will never know what it is, but the 1% who do really go nuts when they see it. I have a purple GT3RS and I got more attention in my E63 from people who know what it is. Oh and they depreciate at an eye watering rate.

The E450 is great, much more luxurious and quieter. Totally different experience. Much more isolated, softer and floaty ride. I would consider it it they made a true sport version of the 450, think diet E63.

Germancar1

Sounds like the US market should get a chance at the E53 wagon, seems like a perfect fit here.

M

ronin amg

Get the E63s wagon and soon enough the Vett will be up for sale..

TugboatBill

Maybe, maybe not. The C7 doesn't have as much power but it is 1000lbs lighter and does handle better. 2 different vehicles that serve 2 different functions.

I'm waffling between the E450 and the E63. A bit frustrated that the E63 doesn't offer the designo interior with the performance seating. It is an additional $30K too.

ronin amg

Smartest thing to do is buy pre owned save $30K with the sport seats. As for handling better in the real world they do look nice in the rear view mirror in the canyons..

I traded in my 991 Turbo S for my wagon and never looked back..

Dunga

Ronin I gotta give it to OP. Something about a small sports car is different. I love my wagon and can’t wait till break in is through, and this damn weather gives us a break but I’m not getting rid of the Vette either. Besides, they are worth so very friggin little money you might as well keep it for your kid :-)

TugboatBill

Neither one could be considered an investment that will give a good $ return. Both suffer from pretty strong depreciation.

Dunga

Yes that’s true about all modern vehicles save for limited collectors examples. His 991 held on to its value a lot more than my C7 did though.

TugboatBill

I sold a RX7 before I picked up the C7. It had gone up in value. Only vehicle I've owned that did that and it took 25 years. The C7 or a E63 may do the same but I don't think I'll be around that long.

I've been looking at used E63s but finding one in the configuration I want hasn't happened yet. I don't have any feel for how reliable or unreliable they are or how expensive repairs may be. That pushes me towards new as with a warranty I know repairs are covered for a few years.

Dunga

If you luck out and find one with the right color and options that’s used, CPO is the way to go. Unfortunately the wagons especially are limited production from Mercedes which means you have to be real patient, or bite the bullet and buy new like most of us did. I got my wife’s GLE63S with low miles, 1 year old and CPO. Very happy with it.

Repairs are very costly so that’s a factor when buying used as you mentioned. Biggest thing imo is for you to get out there and test drive one and see if it’s a good fit.

TugboatBill

I have found a CPO that's pretty close to what I want but the price is within $10K of new and it was a 2018. Decided the price was too high for a used 2018 plus it was on the wrong coast. I'll be taking a look at someone's 2014 on Friday (not to buy).

2012 merc amg

Test drive a E450 wagon in sports plus mode. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. It makes very nice sounds too in sports plus mode including nice popping sounds out the exhaust on decelerations. I had a 2018 E63 AMG and a S550 Sedan trade both cars in for 2019's E450 Cabriolet and E450 Wagon as my work car. No regrets. I do about 24K miles a year on the wagon and the AMG Wagon made no sense at all. I'm averaging 30 MPG on the highway with the E450 and the E63 AMG it would be about 22 mpg similar highway driving. You can only go so fast on the roads anyhow and the 362 HP E450's handle it more than adequate and have all the luxury, handling, power I really need. When I was younger I use to spend time at the drag track more and at car gathering cruise nights and that kind of thing, had it been about 20 years ago the AMG would have been a good car for me. The bone jarring ride of the AMG really bothered me too, the E450 and especially my Cabriolet is very smooth, infact my Cabriolet feels S class smooth. Once I get rid of the Run flat tires on my e450 wagon I think it should smooth it out even more, I think one thing that makes the wagon ride rougher than my Cabriolet is the e450 wagons have air springs on the rear, the E63's have them and stiffer ones at that on all four corners. If you do consider the E450 I'd recommend one (the Wagon) with the Luxury package, that gives you a little bit more of a comfort tuned suspension. I actually have a blast though driving with both cars in Sport Plus mode on curvy roads. I think a lot of people underestimate these cars. I really do like the twin turbo V6 and like I said it does make some good sounds. I almost felt a lot of the time my AMG was too loud, I live in a quiet gated community and when I had my AMG the people down the road would know when I was coming and going, it was actually a little bit embarrassing. I had some folks tell me they think my car needed a muffler, lol.

E63guy

IMO this is a very honest assessment of the tradeoffs between the E63S and the E450.

TugboatBill

The practical side of me says get the E450 and the hot rod side of me says go for the E63. The hot rod side is usually louder but the C7 has been feeding that beast. I'll be looking at an older E63 on Friday. Looks like I'll have to try and find a E450 I can drive in the next few weeks.