Discussion
This might have been done to death but looking for a fresh take.
Bit of context:
I ve been looking for a new car for a while. Currently I drive a Tesla Model Y Performance, which is terrific as a daily hack but leaves me cold as a car enthusiast. It s just too good, too competent, theres no fun in it, it is like driving a Playstation. Brilliant, but ultimately soulless. I am someone who loves all forms of combustion equally, would have an EV again just probably not a Tesla as essentially my only car (I also have a beefed up type r which is just too unforgiving)
I was previously doing mega miles (but not huge journeys in one go) and an EV was brilliant. Then I moved to London without offstreet parking, and the EV was less good, but still good because I still did quite a few miles for work. I wanted some more feel, so I had a deposit down on a Taycan 4S, however I then found out I had gotten a new job, which I didn t realise required almost no office time or commuting at all , so this is the time for me to get a toy that is still practical and sensible enough.
I am 23 and single , no kids etc so considered the usual stuff M2, M4, Cayman , none of it just fits me and my requirements. So I ve settled on the super saloons: E63 and the M5 Competition but I m not a rush to buy so I want to make sure what I get I won t get bored of quickly like my Tesla. I ve lived a life of repmobiles as you can see from my garage!!
The reason why I m posting this in the AMG thread is because my heart says AMG more than anything. The M5 Comp seems to be easier to find, I m surprised how few good S there are for sale.
What do I need to know?
1. Is the ride as firm as people say? Unfortunately I am in poor health and suffer from chronic pain, part of the reason I am selling the Tesla is because the ride is borderline unbearable, it really is awful. And my Type R hasn t turned a wheel in nearly a year as it is punishing
2. I am expecting to average 20mpg in town and 25mpg on a run, is this realistic as forum responses vary widely
3. Are the the Performance seats uncomfortable, they don t look comfortable but they look awesome
4. Are they unreliable like some Mercs of the 90s and 2000s, I had a W210 and it wasn t awful yet everyone says they re horrid! What should I look out for to have been done, anything past the stuff listed on other forums?
5. Finally M5 or E63s if you have driven both? And is it much more agile than I d expect..? I m looking at the estate FWIW
Bit of context:
I ve been looking for a new car for a while. Currently I drive a Tesla Model Y Performance, which is terrific as a daily hack but leaves me cold as a car enthusiast. It s just too good, too competent, theres no fun in it, it is like driving a Playstation. Brilliant, but ultimately soulless. I am someone who loves all forms of combustion equally, would have an EV again just probably not a Tesla as essentially my only car (I also have a beefed up type r which is just too unforgiving)
I was previously doing mega miles (but not huge journeys in one go) and an EV was brilliant. Then I moved to London without offstreet parking, and the EV was less good, but still good because I still did quite a few miles for work. I wanted some more feel, so I had a deposit down on a Taycan 4S, however I then found out I had gotten a new job, which I didn t realise required almost no office time or commuting at all , so this is the time for me to get a toy that is still practical and sensible enough.
I am 23 and single , no kids etc so considered the usual stuff M2, M4, Cayman , none of it just fits me and my requirements. So I ve settled on the super saloons: E63 and the M5 Competition but I m not a rush to buy so I want to make sure what I get I won t get bored of quickly like my Tesla. I ve lived a life of repmobiles as you can see from my garage!!
The reason why I m posting this in the AMG thread is because my heart says AMG more than anything. The M5 Comp seems to be easier to find, I m surprised how few good S there are for sale.
What do I need to know?
1. Is the ride as firm as people say? Unfortunately I am in poor health and suffer from chronic pain, part of the reason I am selling the Tesla is because the ride is borderline unbearable, it really is awful. And my Type R hasn t turned a wheel in nearly a year as it is punishing
2. I am expecting to average 20mpg in town and 25mpg on a run, is this realistic as forum responses vary widely
3. Are the the Performance seats uncomfortable, they don t look comfortable but they look awesome
4. Are they unreliable like some Mercs of the 90s and 2000s, I had a W210 and it wasn t awful yet everyone says they re horrid! What should I look out for to have been done, anything past the stuff listed on other forums?
5. Finally M5 or E63s if you have driven both? And is it much more agile than I d expect..? I m looking at the estate FWIW
V 02 said:
This might have been done to death but looking for a fresh take.
What do I need to know?
1. Is the ride as firm as people say? Unfortunately I am in poor health and suffer from chronic pain, part of the reason I am selling the Tesla is because the ride is borderline unbearable, it really is awful. And my Type R hasn t turned a wheel in nearly a year as it is punishing
2. I am expecting to average 20mpg in town and 25mpg on a run, is this realistic as forum responses vary widely
3. Are the the Performance seats uncomfortable, they don t look comfortable but they look awesome
4. Are they unreliable like some Mercs of the 90s and 2000s, I had a W210 and it wasn t awful yet everyone says they re horrid! What should I look out for to have been done, anything past the stuff listed on other forums?
5. Finally M5 or E63s if you have driven both? And is it much more agile than I d expect..? I m looking at the estate FWIW
To answer your questions, from the perspective of a current E63S owner:What do I need to know?
1. Is the ride as firm as people say? Unfortunately I am in poor health and suffer from chronic pain, part of the reason I am selling the Tesla is because the ride is borderline unbearable, it really is awful. And my Type R hasn t turned a wheel in nearly a year as it is punishing
2. I am expecting to average 20mpg in town and 25mpg on a run, is this realistic as forum responses vary widely
3. Are the the Performance seats uncomfortable, they don t look comfortable but they look awesome
4. Are they unreliable like some Mercs of the 90s and 2000s, I had a W210 and it wasn t awful yet everyone says they re horrid! What should I look out for to have been done, anything past the stuff listed on other forums?
5. Finally M5 or E63s if you have driven both? And is it much more agile than I d expect..? I m looking at the estate FWIW
1. Yes the ride is firm, but with air suspension all round its surprisingly compliant. I came from a C63S on regular springs and dampers and that was horrific in comparison.
2. I average between 21 and 25mpg in combined driving, i've seen 33.1mpg on a run to La Rochelle last year, magical things can and do happen
3. 99% of the people that will comment on this question will have never tried the performance seats, I have them in my E63 and had them in the C - they are incredible, 16-way adjustable so unless you aren't actuallly human, you should be able to get a comfortable setting. It is true the regular seats are like sitting in an armchair, but the performance seats make the car stand out from other E-classes.
4. They are very reliable, that is assuming you don't skimp on maintenance and make sure everything is done on schedule. The one thing to be aware of is the rear main seal, a known issue on these cars, but thankfully seems to be a problem on US cars more than UK/EU cars. An expensive fix at appro £5k.
5. Not had the pleasure of an M5, but I can tell you now the E63 belies its size very very well. Unless you are a regular track day attendee, it will do everything you want and more and sound fabulous doing it!
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
Simon
Hello, I have just bought an approved used 2019 E63S estate, so to add to what Simon has shared….
The ride at low speeds on poor road surfaces is harsh, even in comfort setting. I certainly find myself scanning the road and driving around things on most UK urban roads. As speeds increase it becomes much less of an issue and you appreciate the excellent body control for such a large, heavy car. There is definitely a nice compliance at speed. My car is now on 19 inch non-S wheels and winter tyres which also makes a difference. Having lived with the car for 3 months now, my thoughts are that the overall package is so good and enjoyable, the ride is something I’m prepared to live with. 2021 onwards facelift cars apparently (I haven’t driven one) cured this with a raft of hardware and software changes mainly making ‘comfort’ a true comfort setting, but those cars seem to start at 60-65 vs mid 40s, so quite a premium.
I have not measured consumption in town, but I have just done London to the French Alps loaded to the gunnels plus big roof-box, 80-85 cruise, 25 mpg. I was quite happy with that.
I have sat in the performance seats, but not driven in them. They certainly look fantastic and felt very comfortable. For our use case (a lot of long drives with kids and dog) the standard seats are working really well. This French trip was about 11 hours door-to-door and the comfort levels were fantastic. The backrest side bolstering is quite deep and heavy too, so you do feel well supported in cornering, although there is much less bolstering on the squab.
Early days for my ownership, so no reliability issues so far, but I am certainly glad to have the warranty from Mercedes. When I was looking into the purchase Mercedes quoted something ridiculous like £11k to put an equivalent warranty on a car bought privately (assuming it passed the inspection). That doesn’t seem to be reflected at the moment in price differences between private and Mercedes dealer network cars.
My last vintage of M5 was an E39, so can’t comment on the modern ones, but from my experience so far the E63 is an incredible all-rounder and a genuinely exciting car to drive. Good luck with the decision.
The ride at low speeds on poor road surfaces is harsh, even in comfort setting. I certainly find myself scanning the road and driving around things on most UK urban roads. As speeds increase it becomes much less of an issue and you appreciate the excellent body control for such a large, heavy car. There is definitely a nice compliance at speed. My car is now on 19 inch non-S wheels and winter tyres which also makes a difference. Having lived with the car for 3 months now, my thoughts are that the overall package is so good and enjoyable, the ride is something I’m prepared to live with. 2021 onwards facelift cars apparently (I haven’t driven one) cured this with a raft of hardware and software changes mainly making ‘comfort’ a true comfort setting, but those cars seem to start at 60-65 vs mid 40s, so quite a premium.
I have not measured consumption in town, but I have just done London to the French Alps loaded to the gunnels plus big roof-box, 80-85 cruise, 25 mpg. I was quite happy with that.
I have sat in the performance seats, but not driven in them. They certainly look fantastic and felt very comfortable. For our use case (a lot of long drives with kids and dog) the standard seats are working really well. This French trip was about 11 hours door-to-door and the comfort levels were fantastic. The backrest side bolstering is quite deep and heavy too, so you do feel well supported in cornering, although there is much less bolstering on the squab.
Early days for my ownership, so no reliability issues so far, but I am certainly glad to have the warranty from Mercedes. When I was looking into the purchase Mercedes quoted something ridiculous like £11k to put an equivalent warranty on a car bought privately (assuming it passed the inspection). That doesn’t seem to be reflected at the moment in price differences between private and Mercedes dealer network cars.
My last vintage of M5 was an E39, so can’t comment on the modern ones, but from my experience so far the E63 is an incredible all-rounder and a genuinely exciting car to drive. Good luck with the decision.
V 02 said:
1. Is the ride as firm as people say? Unfortunately I am in poor health and suffer from chronic pain, part of the reason I am selling the Tesla is because the ride is borderline unbearable, it really is awful. And my Type R hasn t turned a wheel in nearly a year as it is punishing
I've no experience of either of these cars, but have a few general thoughts:1. People's tolerance of all kinds of things in cars varies from person to person. Some people will be fine with a particular car; others will find it dreadful.
2. I suspect if some people say a car's ride is firm and you are sensitive to such things, then you will find it firm. A test drive might help.
3. If you decide it is too firm, there may be cars with similar engines but better ride quality e.g. Merc CL, Jag XFR and XJR (if there was one, perhaps it was called the Supersport?) etc.
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