Read Phil Floraday's comments on driving the 2008 Mercedes Benz S63 AMG.
I agree with Joe, this S63 AMG doesn't strike my fancy the way a C63 AMG does. I'm sure the 6.2-liter engine moves the car a little faster than the base S550, but I never found myself amazed at the power like I am in the S600 or S65 AMG. I'd prefer the perfect balance of the base S-class, or the ludicrous speed of one of the twin-turbo V-12s.
I also noticed that the suspension was just harsh enough to make the ride a little uncomfortable. I don't understand such a tight suspension on a luxury barge. The car still rides well, but dampening over bumps leaves a little to be desired. I suppose the suspension would feel better on smooth pavement at autobahn speeds, but I know most of these cars will just be driven as daily drivers in the U.S.
The brakes are absolutely amazing. I wasn't overwhelmed by the acceleration, but the deceleration was lots of fun. Vehicles pushing 5,000 pounds should not stop this quickly from speed.
There isn't anything wrong with the S63, but so much is right with the S550 that I don't understand why the 6.2-liter engine found its way into the engine bay of an S-class. I know Benz makes a lot more money building and selling AMG cars than regular models, so I guess the S63 is sort of like an idiot tax. I can't imagine anyone actually test driving the 63 and 550 and walking away with an S63. Sometimes the numbers just look better on paper than they prove to be on the street.