A report from my husband via email.

Three days ago on Thursday afternoon, after finishing some work, I checked my phone and found this email from my husband.

The S63 AMG Coupe has been delivered. He just drove it home.

Oh wow… seriously? ( ﾟдﾟ ) He had mentioned buying it before, but it seems the delivery finally happened. This time, he purchased a used 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe.

The S-Class Coupe, descended from the CL-Class, is the fastest version. Looking at articles from when it was released in 2014, the overview was introduced as follows:

Source: Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe | AUTOCAR JAPAN

My husband’s first impressions.

I haven’t actually seen the car myself yet, but my husband took it for a quick spin right after delivery and shared his thoughts. That said, since he hasn’t driven it extensively, these are just his first impressions.

Even so, he emphasized strongly that “This car is completely different in character from the Panamera. If anyone is hesitating between these two, I want to tell them they’re comparing the wrong cars.”

① Overall Impression

・A comfortable coupe. Not a car that puts you into battle mode.
・Contrary to the tough image you might expect from the AMG brand, it’s neither stiff nor difficult to drive; overall, it’s a quiet and comfortable car. If the AMG is like this, the S500 must be even more comfortable?
・Driving in Comfort mode, you really feel the Benz character. A smooth, refined ride.
・However, compared to older models like the R129 SL500, the Benz’s sense of solidity feels somewhat diminished.

② Automatic Transmission and Acceleration

・No shift shock from the automatic transmission. Extremely comfortable.
・Being used to PDK, he felt a slight free play sensation during acceleration from very low speeds.
・When you press the pedal, it accelerates quite fast. The lack of speed sensation is excellent.
・The accelerator pedal is light. A huge difference from older Benz models. Much lighter than the Panamera.
・Acceleration power and G-force feel stronger in the Panamera.
・The Panamera feels like it’s pushing off the ground, while the S63 Coupe accelerates smoothly as if gliding.

③ Engine and Engine Sound

・The engine delivers solid torque even at low RPMs. It feels like it has more than the Panamera.
・When switched to Sport and revved above mid-range, the V8 produces a deep, throaty roar.
・It feels quieter than the Panamera’s sport exhaust.

④ Suspension and Handling

・Setting the suspension to Sport gives a ride quality between the Panamera’s Normal and Sport modes.
・In Sport mode, the car feels more planted and dry, but it’s not quite at the level of perfect harmony between car and driver.
・Compared to the Panamera, the steering angle and the arc the car traces don’t feel directly proportional.
・The brakes work well, but the initial bite is soft, so switching from a Porsche might cause some unease during spirited driving.

So, what’s the conclusion?

Here’s my husband’s overall verdict:

If you want to enjoy mountain roads and highways, go for the Panamera. For cruising around town or long-distance comfort, the S63 Coupe is the way to go.

By the way, today an article titled “Locking on the Panamera! — AMG GT 4-Door Coupe” was getting a lot of retweets on Twitter. I wonder if he really locked on? I’m curious too, and I’m looking forward to trying out the S63 AMG Coupe myself when I get the chance.