Goodbye, S63 Coupe

Since its delivery last April, I haven’t really introduced the AMG S63 4MATIC Coupe (C217) much on the blog. This model was released in 2014 and we bought it used.

夫がS63AMGクーペを買ってきた−納車後の夫の感想は？

We usually kept this S63 parked at my husband’s workplace, so it hasn’t been driven much, but unfortunately, he has decided to part with it now.

So, taking advantage of the opportunity, including a recent drive together on the Royu Driveway, I decided to write my impressions of owning this AMG S63 4MATIC Coupe.

A Longing for Large Coupes

When my husband bought this S63 Coupe, I thought it was a car he wouldn’t normally choose since he loves sporty driving and a strong connection with the car. So I asked him why he bought it. He answered:

I’ve always had a longing for large coupes.

Looking back, his love for cars started when he first got his license and inherited a Honda Legend 2-door hardtop (KA3) from his father. Riding that Legend amazed him because it was completely different from the driving school car or his mother’s kei car, and that’s when he fell in love with cars.

Later, as a university student, he bought a used successor Legend Coupe α Touring (KA8) and traveled all over Japan in it. (I wonder if he actually went to university properly, lol)

From that time, he was captivated by large coupes with front seat comfort and the luxury of a 2-door despite the huge body.

He still says that the KA8 Legend Coupe’s style is his favorite among all his cars, and the personal and companion-like feeling it gave him left a strong impression. Back then, when the internet wasn’t as developed, he even created and ran an owner’s website for the Legend Coupe because he loved it so much.

So when we go on family drives, he often nostalgically says,

I used to drive here in the Legend Coupe. I wonder how it would feel to drive it now. If I had the chance, I’d love to own one again.

Mercedes’ Top-Class Coupe

Having been fascinated by large coupes for a long time, every time he saw the Mercedes 560SEC or CL600 in car magazines, he developed a strong desire to “drive one someday!”. That dream was realized with this S63 Coupe.

This AMG S63 4MATIC Coupe (C217) is no longer called a CL-Class but has returned to the old naming of “S-Class Coupe”. The interior, as you can see, is fully leather and sumptuously luxurious.

The thickness, cushioning, and comfort of these seats are something you simply can’t experience in other cars. Also, this “all-in” model comes equipped with every comfort feature imaginable—from seat ventilation, ACC, night vision, 360° cameras, massage functions, to driving dynamic seats that hold occupants’ posture in corners.

A Woman’s Perspective on the S63 Coupe

I recently had my first chance to drive the S63 Coupe. Since I only associate large sedans with the Panamera (I once test drove a BMW 7 Series but wasn’t really into cars back then, so I don’t remember much about the ride), I couldn’t help but compare it to the Panamera.

Getting In and Starting to Drive

First, I was surprised when I opened the door. As mentioned earlier, the seat thickness is incredible.

“Wait, is this a seat or a sofa? (*_*)”

I almost asked that out loud (lol).

Sitting down, it felt more like a massage chair than a driver’s seat, and the view from the driver’s seat was very high. The higher eye level made it easier for a woman to drive, and compared to the Panamera, the higher ride height made getting in and out easier, which I liked.

Then I was surprised when I tried to buckle the seatbelt.

It politely presents the belt to you! (ﾟдﾟ)!

The lever brings the seatbelt to an easy-to-reach position. Usually, when the seat is moved forward, it’s hard to reach the belt, but with the S63 Coupe, there’s no such hassle. This thoughtful design is a very welcome detail from a woman’s perspective.

Then, gripping the steering wheel, I was surprised again.

Whoa, it’s thick! (*_*)

The Panamera’s wheel isn’t thin either, but the S63’s was even thicker and softer. Because of this, the grip felt loose and my hands felt like they were floating while driving… honestly, it was hard to hold. Maybe because of that, I never got into a “let’s go!” sporty mood and instead felt like driving slowly and elegantly the whole time.

Also, I was surprised by the play in the steering, accelerator, and brake. (Maybe the Porsche has almost no play at all.) Even when I pressed the accelerator like I would in the Panamera, the car didn’t move forward immediately. I had to press quite a bit before it responded. The handling also felt somewhat “soft and vague” (I can’t find a better word -_-).

When I looked at the meter while driving, I noticed there was no oil temperature gauge, and I said so to my husband.

That’s normal. Only Porsche and supercars tell you to “watch your oil temperature” while driving. Usually, there’s no oil temp gauge. (If you select the AMG menu on the meter, the oil temp is displayed.)

He said. Oh, I see! Still, the meter displayed “AMG” and “V8BITURBO”, and the design looked really cool.

Ride Comfort / Ease of Driving

The ride was very smooth, full of luxury, and glided along. The steering was light, so driving was easy. The typical AMG rough engine sound was barely audible inside the cabin.

I actually like the AMG engine sound, so I thought, “I wish I could hear it a bit more.” But I guess quietness is important for a luxury coupe.

I didn’t feel it was heavy, but the size of the car was definitely noticeable (Well, it’s huge, so of course, lol). Compared to the Panamera, which feels small and nimble despite its size, the S63’s width was hard to judge, and I felt like I was driving a very large car the whole time. Maybe it was also because it was left-hand drive and I’m not used to that.

Also, the driving dynamic seats that hold occupants’ posture in corners—every time we took a curve on the Royu Driveway (I doubt anyone else drives an S63 Coupe there), the sides of the seat squeezed me tightly to prevent my body from being pushed outward by centrifugal force. But honestly, it started to feel like my waist was being massaged, and I had to fight back laughter.

Acceleration

On the highway, I briefly floored the accelerator to experience full acceleration. Until then, I had been thinking,

“Let’s fully experience the incredible acceleration of the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG flagship!”

and was quite excited, but honestly, it wasn’t that dramatic. (This is just my amateur opinion, sorry.) Maybe if I could accelerate freely beyond the speed limit, I would have felt the full power.

When I told my husband, “The AMG S63’s acceleration isn’t that impressive (￣ー￣),” he replied,

What are you saying! If you say that, car enthusiasts will be mad at you!

(Yes, he’s right. Sorry for sounding so arrogant.)

Still, when I pressed the Sports Response Button on the Panamera Turbo, even a slight push on the accelerator pinned me to the seat with a terrifying rocket-like acceleration, but I didn’t get that feeling with the S63 Coupe.

Both the Panamera Turbo and S63 Coupe have 4L-class V8 engines, and the Panamera Turbo has 550 hp while the S63 Coupe has 585 hp, so the S63 should be more powerful, but it didn’t feel that way.

Other

I also tried the massage function, which I think would be great for long, relaxed drives. Personally, I would have preferred a stronger massage. (But if that’s the case, I should just go to a massage parlor.)

I sat in the back seat as well, but since it’s a coupe, the space is a bit tight.

It was just right for my height, but for my husband, who is 178 cm tall, I think his legs would touch the front seat and be uncomfortable. The sides are also designed to curve inward, so if you want to sit comfortably in the back, you should probably choose the S-Class sedan.

That said, it’s undeniably a wonderful car. The high-quality seats, luxurious interior, smooth and relaxed city driving, and fatigue-free long-distance travel. Also, the S63’s status gives you a VIP feeling just by being inside.

From a woman’s perspective, I think most wives would definitely prefer the S-Class over the Panamera.

…But I still like the Panamera better, lol.

Husband’s Impressions of the S63 Coupe

Now… or rather, everything so far was just the introduction. The main part is next. My husband wrote a report, so I’ll share his views from here.

Driving / Ride Comfort

When you hear AMG, many might imagine a very sporty car, but this is a very gentle car. The engine start sound is a subtle “brrr” of the V8, heard only briefly.

Once started and driving, it’s very quiet. In Comfort mode, the quietness is high, and the V8 roar is only faintly heard in the distance. The road noise from the tires is louder. It’s quiet enough on the highway to have calm conversations.

The suspension never feels stiff. It gently absorbs bumps in any situation and maintains a flat posture, though personally, I sometimes wished it was a bit firmer.

Driving on the Royu Driveway

On winding roads like the Royu Driveway, you feel the weight and high center of gravity, but the handling is straightforward. It’s soft and supple yet turns firmly. This reminds me of the R129 I owned before, and I think this is classic Mercedes. What you get is not “fun” but “peace of mind.”

On any surface or condition, when you brake and steer, the car reads the driver’s intent and handles the rest smoothly. That’s the feeling.

Highway Driving

The high-speed stability on highways is, needless to say, at a very high level. At any speed, it feels completely secure driving straight. In tight high-speed corners, it tends to understeer a bit, so you need to steer a little more, but even then, the car responds reliably, giving a strong sense of security.

Transmission / Engine

The AMG engine is hand-assembled, and the craftsman’s nameplate is attached. This V8 twin-turbo engine produces 585 PS and 91.8 kgm of torque, controlled by a 7-speed automatic called AMG Speedshift MCT.

The digital tachometer’s needle movement feels a bit slower than expected, but the engine revs well and has plenty of torque from low rpm, making it easy to handle. In Sport mode, you can clearly hear the characteristic AMG V8 rumble.

The transmission is not a dual-clutch like Porsche’s PDK but a torque converter automatic with the torque converter replaced by a wet multi-plate clutch. It’s a unique Mercedes system that combines the best of torque converter automatics and dual-clutch transmissions.

This AT is very smooth with almost no shift shock, no free play, and no loss of power during shifts. Paddle shifts aren’t very fast but not unsatisfactory.

Notably, the shift timing is smart. In Sport mode, when driving winding roads and braking before corners, it downshifts with a satisfying “vroom!” rev match. The timing is perfect and very enjoyable.

Acceleration

Acceleration is, of course, fast. 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds is supercar territory from a while ago. When you press the accelerator hard, the furious acceleration starts, but this is a top-class Mercedes coupe. The acceleration is gentle and smooth, like running on a carpet.

Compared to the Panamera, the accelerator has more play and a slight delay in response. This is part of Mercedes’ philosophy to prevent unintended sudden acceleration by making the accelerator heavier and response less sharp.

Of course, the engine’s smoothness and response are excellent and worthy of the AMG badge.

Husband’s Overall Impression

In one word, the S63 is “the ultimate automobile.” It’s comfortable in any situation and delivers passengers to their destination with immense peace of mind. It offers the act of “moving” at an extremely high level.

Personally, I also like playful sports cars, but this sincerity and comfort are very appealing. From my experience owning the R129, I think this is one of the few models that carry the good qualities of old Mercedes into the modern era. Although I’m reluctantly letting it go, if you want to choose one luxury car, I wholeheartedly recommend the S63.

…That’s my impression of the Mercedes-Benz AMG S63 4MATIC Coupe (C217). I plan to write a comparison article between the Panamera Turbo and S63 Coupe soon.