Initially I made an account here maybe a year ago when I was looking to obtain a 2021 E63S wagon. I had attempted to get an RS6 avant and there were no allocations anywhere. So I ended up ordering an E63S wagon but wasn't really happy with the lease figures I was being given. Anyhow long story short, one of the Audi guys had saved my number and I ended up with one of the first RS6 on the ground for sticker price. One had come in as a surprise car to a local dealer, something about sales goal bonus, and I was the first to put a deposit. I drove it from september until yesterday. Yesterday I went in to my local MB dealer to get plates for an SLR roadster I just purchased in February and sitting outside getting prepped for the showroom was a designo blue magno E63S wagon, literally just as I spec'd it. I had to do it, the RS6 while nice, is just nowhere the car the E63S is. The finish inside the E is top notch. The audi had this fake carbon fiber on the interior, the MB has real carbon. The exhaust in sport plus on the benz is way nicer than the exhaust in RS mode in the audi. It's not even close. The steering wheel is thicker in the benz, love that, the audi is just too tame frankly. I like cars that are rough around the edges, the benz isn't exactly a gt3rs but it feels sportier than the audi. I put about 80 miles yesterday driving it around the only place I would say the audi is better would be at my condo the ramp is a little tight with a post in the middle and the audi is a lot easier to move up, I assume its not as wide, haven't checked but it felt it. Also the 22 inch wheels on the Audi look so much better than the 20 inch on the benz. I loved the audi, great car, but if you're considering the 2 the benz is a whole different level. Price is more on the benz mine was $147k and the Audi was $132k but its truly not even that close. Yes I think the Audi is probably a better looker with the wide fender flares and aggressive stance. I know lots of people would stop me at grocery store or gas station to talk but the Benz in designo magno is a lot nicer to look at. And yes both drive better than the SLR.

Just wanted to give my input as someone who has driven both, the benz is pretty much as good as a car gets. I really cannot imagine how one can improve on it, maybe wheel size? That's about it, the MBUX infotainment is light years better than the Audi MMI as well

O and pics or it didn't happen, so here ya go

 

Congrats on an awesome stable. The SLR is an absolute legend, and now you're finding out why most auto journalists call the E63 wagon "the best car in the world".

 

Glad to hear, I also had a deposit on a RS6 but bailed after I heard the exhaust. I am getting a sedan that is due into Baltimore tomorrow. Good luck with the wagon.

 

Question, I assume you have one, its a bit jerky at low speeds like when im in the garage at our condo, is there something im doing wrong? A setting I can adjust? Im usually in sport+ but its lurchy, the RS6 didn't do that at low speeds. What's your favorite setting to drive in? Is it advisable to drive in race mode or is sport+ the top you should drive around in.

 

Is your park assist going nuts with that pillar? Is your garage tight? I have the same issue in my garage and it's because the brake assist system is assuming I'm going to ram my garage walls so it's pumping the brakes for me. You can turn this off.

I typically drive around in Sport or Sport+.

 

That very well could be it. How do you turn this off. The garage ramp is tight, not the garage. I just looked the RS6 is 76 inches wide and the e63s is 81 inches wide, so likely why its so much tighter going up the ramp.

 

if you are driving in very slow speed, then opt for comfort mode. The tranny at sport+ / Race will make it pretty jumpy per se.

 

ok great thanks ya i always get in and just habit go to the hardcore mode, this one has so many modes, in the audi you just push RS mode and get a nice exhaust note. In this can you stay in comfort and still open the exhaust?

 

Congrats. Enjoy! This is one great car but many ways MB can improve. On my wish list are rear-wheel steering, refined and less clunky transmission (around town), hybrid, improved electrical system. Countless other ways but those are much smaller refinements that I won't bore you with here. Now let's see some more pics.

 

Unfortunately, while the E63S is a phenomenal vehicle, there is “lurching” at slow speeds in S+ and race modes. As a result, I typically stick with Sport or Individual mode at slower speeds, and then switch to a more aggressive mode once I get out of 2nd gear.

Also - the performance exhaust does not provide the same sound in Comfort and Sport as it does in Sport+ and Race. I believe the Renntech module may help with that but haven’t installed it myself yet.

 

you wont hear much exhaust sound on comfort mode. Very quiet.

 

Ha! It's hard for me to get pics in the garage of my condo as you can see from the first pic I posted, the lighting is pretty dim in there. I work from home so I don't get out much really these days. I took it to the grocery store today, lighting was a little better there. The carbon ceramics look great. It's a tremendous car, I can't wait for the break in period to pass so I can get after it. I wonder if it will elicit the same reactions as the RS6. The audi had some serious fanboys coming up to me. Since I really don't have any pics of the E wagon yet like you wanted, I can give you some pics on my SLR since the SLR sub forum on here is dead. I posted there a few times and nobody is there. It's a 2009 roadster, 1 of 71 sent to the US in 2009. It's a paint to sample color, the only one in that specific paint, it was a $15k option. In the sun its an insane shade of white. The sticker was $532k originally, it has 2400 miles right now. I couldn't believe it when I saw it, someone had traded it in at my local dealer, I was told for 2 g63. Anyhow I had been looking for an SLR roadster in the past but they were all silver/black and I had only see a white one in Manny Khosbin's vids and he always talks about how rare his is. Well after I purchased I spoke with Mercedes Classic Center and they got me some figures and it is indeed of just a handful of SLR that were paint to sample. Made me feel a little better about paying full price since dealer wouldn't even negotiate $1 off.












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Congrats again, 1st 1k mi your AMG is going through learning cycle. It'll tame out

 

I think there's a button the right side of the console that changes exhaust. Try that.

 

Brilliant Blue Magno is a glorious color. The night pack on that color is ... perfect.

Was this car in Texas? I saw a wagon just like this at a MB dealer in Texas a week ago and now it is gone.

 

Great color! Congrats!

 

It was, I live in Houston. Im not sure how long they had it but felt pretty lucky they had it the day I went by lol. I don't see any on ebay now, are none of them out? Look having owned the RS6 and now this, its asinine that the RS6 has no allocations available and people are paying over sticker. It's nowhere near the same car. Every detail on the Wagon from AMG is better. Have you seen the steering wheel? My god, just look at the one on the RS6 and compare it. I actually sent this to the sales manager I bought it from this morning and told him as much bc they have my RS6 for sale now. Look as a car, the RS6 is an amazing machine, its a great car, but considering the price difference is nominal between it and the E63S wagon, you're nuts if you go with the audi at this juncture especially considering anyone can walk in and get an AMG wagon for sticker if they're available and you can go spec one today if you want. Audi you still can't spec one at most dealers, there's no allocations. I was told though that Audi will likely be releasing a performance version of the RS6 in maybe a year and I may consider that when it comes, but for now, the RS6 is way behind mercedes. You can't even option real carbon in the car, flat bottom steering isn't even an option on the RS6 yet you can get it on an A4, I know bc my loaner had a nicer steering wheel and nicer key than my RS6 stuff like that is ridiculous. Have you see the amg key, its possibly the nicest key I've ever seen on a normal car. Mercedes is just great at the little details. The seats in the E63S wagon are way nicer. I guess the audi had the hype of years of people waiting and the amg wagon has been here for a while but Im fairly certain anyone who spends time in both will feel the same way.

 

Congrats, and yes, that color is fantastic. If I were to reload, that is the color I'd get.
Enjoy in good health.

 

damn you. i just decided i was going for an RS6 and now you pull me back in.

 

Nothing wrong with rs6. To each his own. 😃

 

What made you choose it over the E63S? I do think the RS6 looks better on the outside, the wide fenders and bigger rims are both pluses over the benz. Audi also had a better extended warranty 10/100k vs MB at 7/70k. Those are the good things I can say it beats the benz at. Look objectively until I drove the E this week, the RS6 was the best 4 door car I've ever driven. It's not a bad car in any way, I just think having driven both, the benz is a big step up. Believe me I wouldn't have lost money trading in my car to switch if it wasn't a noticeable difference. I do think Audi will get it right with the performance version of the RS6 in a year. Like I said small things like sportier ride, flat bottom steering, real carbon inside, better infotainment for starters. If they improve all those things, likely will be a much better car, but for now with the 2 "base" versions of these wagons, mercedes has the better total package, for now.

An NSX and a Porsche turbo are both great cars, they're both fast and expensive, but the porsche is a level up, thats the audi vs benz here. No bad choice really either way.

 

I drove an E63S many years ago and again about 3 years ago when i decided on the Panamera. The big reason i didn't go E63S Wagon was that the suspension was way too harsh for me. I have a couple little kids(just one at the time) and a smooth ride was important especially for car naps on trips. Anyone with kids will likely attest to that. Besides that, I really didn't think the harsh ride was necessary and the Porsche was in another league when it comes to suspension setup, it's pretty incredible. It's firm(but not overly) when you are in sport plus and nice and comfy in confort mode. The benz was just incredibly harsh all the time and only got worse in sportier settings.
My concern is that the suspension issue hasn't been sussed out yet but supposedly it's "better". I'm still a bit suspicious.
I have always wanted an RS6 since i saw one in the movie Layer Cake. For some reason I just fell in love with the looks, power, practicality of that wagon and now that it's here, it's hard to resist.
I have more of a personal affinity to the RS6 looks over the benz for sure, it just looks great at all angles. The benz doesn't inspire me that much although i do find it quite handsome.
My big worry about the RS6 is the infotainment(all those touchscreens are not ideal, i'd rather have buttons for many things) and the exhaust is pathetically quiet and demure.
I'm also considering a Cayenne GTS or Turbo, now those things have some sweet exhaust sounds. I'm a bit of a Porsche convert now having been introduced to their lineup in the last few years.
i do get your points about the RS6, it's a tough decision!

 

Im in the same boat as you, we just had our first kid in 2019, he's 18 months now and wife sits in the back seat with him all the time. Frankly she hated the RS6 back seat. The E backseat is even smaller if thats possible lol. Look I tried the new Bentley flying spur maybe 2-3 weeks ago and it was an amazing car in every way, and honestly it has better lease specials than mercedes offers on the E63 but I really can't drive something that smooth. It's just not my personality. Before the kid I daily drove all kinds of various sports cars so it was definitely tough once we had the kid adjusting to a 4 door, sporty ones are hard to find. The RS6 was my first go in that department of sporty 4 door. I probably should have looked for a sport turismo like yours bc I have read those are the best and I imagine there's alot more room in the backseat for the wife but where Im located in Houston the MB dealer is 2 minutes away from me and the porsche dealers are a ways out, so I really never even gave it a shot. The 2021 E definitely doesn't have a harsh ride, the Audi didn't either but I never drove the previous generation. From a practicality standpoint the E has a bigger trunk, I assume thats why the backseat feels even smaller than the RS. In a perfect world you would have the RS exterior and the E63 interior, but for me, I spend more time in the cabin than gawking at the exterior so thats what made the decision easy for me. If you can wait, the sales manager at the Audi dealer told me the performance version is confirmed, previous generations had it as well, and he told me when its available I will be the first guy he calls, who knows maybe i trade my E in to that if its a significant step forward but frankly if it maintains the same Audi MMI I probably wouldn't do it. The MBUX is way better.

 

I find myself in this situation too. I had received an allocation for an RS6 back November, had the car built and shipped here in January, but once it got here, it was damaged at port. The E63 wagon was always in the background for me as something that looked interesting, but I just found the RS6 far more alluring despite the fact that I tend to prefer BMW and MB far more than Audi. In a way, my car getting damaged at port has been fortuitous for me as I was able to decline the car and have since spent more time reading about all the ways the E63 seems like a better car, minus the less extroverted appearance. I'm still first in line at my current dealership for a 2022 RS6 allocation and am now 1st in line for a 2022 E63 allocation as well. My decision will likely hinge on whether Audi gives the 2022 RS6 the Dyanamic Ride Control suspension instead of the air suspension, and if that makes the car less floaty and more sporty. Otherwise, I'll likely cancel my allocation for the RS6 and stick with the E63 wagon.

A quick question about the backseat though. You say that the backseat on the E63 wagon is tight? Can it seat three people? Currently we use my wife's Mazda CX-5 and we can fit four adults and one rear facing child's seat. It's a snug fit, but it's doable. How much space is in the E63 vs RS6?

 

You have no idea how much this resonates with me. We think alike. Not specifically RS6 vs E63, but Audi Sport vs AMG in general. I came from about 10 years of Audis. Had a 2013 RS5 last. Loved that car. Naturally aspirated high-revving V8 directly derived from the V10 in the R8 mated to a great dual-clutch transmission. Then came the new generation RS5 and what a disappointed. I gave it a chance. Had the opportunity to extensively drive one, including on some of my favorite canyon roads. Just didn't do it for me, so I ended up getting a 2019 C63S coupe and haven't looked back. The C63S coupe has the looks, emotions and the performance. The 2019 was also the FL and had a similarly revised suspension. Drives much better than the PFL. AMG's Achilles heel used to be the harsh ride quality and was partly the reason why I went with the RS5 back then.

Starting with the new RS6, Audi has added some things that lacked in previous RS models, such as the new RS modes that you can now control directly from the steering wheel, but in the past one of the things that was lacking for me in Audis is driver focus. Only the R8 has driver focused steering wheel controls to change drive modes. The AMG Drive Unit in the current AMGs letting you control pretty much all drive mode selections from the steering wheel is awesome and very driver focused. I love that with a push of the drive mode selector I can directly activate the Individual mode for example. It feels like a Formula One steering wheel for the road.

Audis have more subdued manners and are perhaps the better daily drivers, but to me especially the current generation feels just too much like an A model when driving it normally. The RS6 a little less, because it still has a V8 engine separating itself from the S6 and A6, but I just can't really get behind having a torque converter in a performance oriented car. I love the uniqueness of the MCT transmission combining the best of a dual-clutch with the best of a planetary gearbox.

The allocation situation with the RS6 is a bunch of pent up demand in the USA for the RS6. It's the quintessential fast wagon that many Audi fans have lusted after for years until Audi finally got over themselves and decided to offer it in the USA, but I also don't get it. If I was in the market for a wagon the E63S is the far superior product, only thing is the exterior looks as you said, the RS6 and RS7 though are IMO the best RS products at the moment. I also grew tired of quattro to be honest. I don't really need AWD living here in Northern California, but it has its advantage in the winter on the wet roads, but most other times it just sends too much power (40%) to the front wheels hampering the driving dynamics. I'm really glad to be back in an RWD, but the 4Matic+ is also awesome as it normally sends 100% to the rear and has the drift mode for the hooligan moments. Audi's refusal to offer something similar in their RS products is part of the problem. Quattro is just not a performance AWD system to me. It's more utilitarian for all-weather traction. The part that makes it more performance is the active rear differential, but it just needs to be much more rear biased.