Mercedes E63 AMG

Great cars but be sure to do due diligence. If it's not a CPO, then a pre-purchase inspection and a review of its maintenance history is a must, especially if the original warranty has expired. By the way, my experience is not with an AMG but an MB V12 which also has the potential for problems.

Had an SLK55 AMG. Costs are pretty out of control but you have to expect that. No reliability problems and the thing was a beast.

A family member has an E55 and has not mentioned any major mechanical problems. The thing is a beast.

my ceo has one but i have no advice beyond it's a sick car

1) The 63 AMG engine is known to consume oil. This is said to be "normal". I used two quarts my first 9000 miles and I keep 1-2 quarts of Mobil 1 in the trunk. 2) I had a loose parktronic light repaired under warranty. 3) There is some rattle when I go over bumps now that I'm running my winter rim/tire set but I can't figure out the source. I don't think it is the pano roof (which is a know source of rattle). Otherwise trouble free x 1 year. 4) The AMG board on MBWorld.org is quite active. You should search there if you haven't already. If you have a friend with a private lounge account, you can check there too. They have a number of give aways in the private lounge. Last year I got tickets to the AMG event at the NY auto show. 5) Conventional wisdom on the AMG boards is to buy the extended limited warranty. Repairs outside warranty are expensive. There is some talk about getting the Chrysler warranty on the AMG boards but YMMV. I'd get the MB warranty instead. 6) Theoretically the 63 engine should be more reliable than the 55 engine because there are fewer moving parts and less stress on normally aspirated engine. I don't think the engine has been out long enough to really know. 7) IIRC there were kinks in the '07 which were ironed out in the '08 model. As to the driving experience: 1) 0 to illegal comes quickly but with aplomb. 2) It is easy to hit limits of traction.

Drove the 2010 and it was pretty good. I thought it was alot cheaper then it is. Rather get the Jaguar XFR.

The AMG 63's are far better cars than the Jag R's.

My brother has had two AMG 63s (a C and an M) - they have been reliable for the short periods of time he's had them, but the amount of gas they drink is shocking. Buy a gas can for the trunk.

I was going to buy the E63 and the Mrs dug her heels in so I ended up with the S550 Absolutely, the E63 is a beast... and yes, sucks gas... but how could you not expect that from a 6.2 litre displacement? The cost of an '08 E63 with <20K miles and CPO was roughly $50K in the Boston area. Rear seating area is smaller but not prohibitive.. unlike the CLS550. No shakes, rattles or rolls when I test drove one. 0-60 is insane and good for on-ramp merging Mechanics at my local dealer say the engine is a workhorse and rock solid. Where they get you is on the A&B services and the cost of the brake service. Their words "don't think of buying one of these without CPO/extended warranty" and expect to pay top dollar for regular maint. I still wish I had gotten one.. although I say that now with minimal snow on the ground

lol.. just don't let her ride along for the test drive. That's what killed the deal for me.. I went up an onramp onto the interstate (I-93 for those keeping score) and my wife said "Oh, hell no..."

Best friend's dad owned the SL55 and now the SL63 (which I think has the same engine as the E63). His reasoning to the Mrs?: Well...it's way more comfortable than the Carerra 4S and it's an automatic. They're still happily married.

I enjoyed Dan Neil's excellent review of the CL63, especially his description of its acceleration:


Olympian Acceleration, Commodified

--Andre