New old member

[TrueSpirit]

That's a heck of a question and I've been pondering an answer for most of the day. They are obviously very different vehicles with quite different purposes. It's not a fair comparison as the Porsche was a 2007, 997.1 3.6L twin turbo with 488 BHP as standard (this had a map and mods to a theoretical 620BHP). I'm not sure what the E63S has. Mercedes list the BHP at 800+ whereas everywhere else has it at 600. I wonder if the 600 is kW which would equate to 800 BHP? It doesn't feel like 800 even with compensating for the 2 ton weight.

The Porsche had the Mercedes 5 speed tiptronic box, same as the SL55 I'd had previously and I must say, it suited the SL much better than the Porsche. Kick down was awful with the thing revving its nuts off and not nice at all. The later PDK double clutch box is much better, so I'm told. The 9 speed box of the E63S, by contrast, is pin sharp, imperceptibly stepless.

The difference in practicality speaks for itself. The Porsche being an out and out sports tourer and the E63S being all things to all men The ride difference is most noticeable with Porsche being much firmer even with the electronic dampers set to soft, it was quite harsh and noisy on most poor quality, British roads.

With my wife having a long term medical condition, the Porsche was quite unsuitable for her. Difficulty getting in and out and the harsh ride meant I used it only for the odd track day and visits to the North Weald, Drive Limits course. I have a day booked as it'll be a good opportunity to, legally, stretch the legs of the Merc. Their 20 car days are particularly good as the afternoon is spent with everyone competing on the MSA sprint course. I was usually quickest or thereabouts in the Porsche so it will be interesting to see where the E63S comes.

Sound! I don't care what anyone says, you can't beat the sound of a V8. I was always told that the Porsche sounded like a jet engine when on the course at N. Weald. Problem was, I could never hear it. The E63S, although not quite sounding like an SL55 and far from the glorious, rapturous sound of the Dax Rush I had a few years ago with a 3.5L Rover V8 but it does have the V8 rumble and I can hear it even with the windows closed.

In conclusion, as I drove the Porsche, the 100 miles or so to its p/ex destination, I thought what a relief it will be to say goodbye. Yes it was a great car but for a person younger than me. The ride seemed harsh and noisy on the road. It was far more suited to a track with smooth tarmac and no speed limits. I find the E63S far more civilised, comfortable, accessible for my wife, who also enjoys the comfort of the ride and seats. From my point of view, a good choice but I'll know better once its been on a track.

Thanks for the great insights! Seems like your Porsche had a hell of a lot of grunt. The gearbox and ride comfort seems the weak point. My old w211 6.2 had the 7 speed auto, the engine was spectacular but not the gearbox so I can probably appreciate how a slow auto box can have quite an impact . This was very well resolved in the w212 6.2 I had which was spectacular all round. Yes I've heard the 213 is a beast on the track, only the tyres seem to get very hot but otherwise it's a weapon. Power as stock from multiple dyno reports over in the US is around 560 wheel horsepower . Certainly my prefacelift did 0 to 60 in 4.2 seconds when I gave it a gentle drag run without making much of an effort or launching it.
For sound I think the 6.2l NA has the 4l resoundly beat by quite a margin but the 4l wins me over with it's pops and bangs. I had a modded 5.5l S E63 and it's exhaust was truly beastly. My 213 is a prefacelift so is a bit louder than the FL but the FL has all the latest toys in it which I reluctantly missed out on. I do wish the PFL I have was louder at all revs though like my E93 M3, it's so loud all the time and I don't have to push the car to enjoy the engine. I was meant to sell it but it's just too enjoyable to commute with.


Did you have a go with the Merc at N weald yet ?

 

[Aitch55]

I have a 4 person day booked for the 7th July and I'm on the reserve list for the 20 person day on 5th August. There are not many opportunities to attend these sessions and they fill quickly.

On the subject of toys in the FL, I'm not keen on all the driver aids. Yesterday, with my wife in the car, we ere on our way home from a supermarket trip when, we'd just turned off a roundabout, was accelerating gently to the 30 limit, ahead a pedestrian had just crossed in front of us, no drama, no danger, when the car braked ferociously to an almost stop. We looked at each other with WTF expressions and I had to tell her "It wasn't me. It was the bloody car!"

Today, I'll be looking to switch off some of the aids. They seem something of a novelty but potentially dangerous. If another car had been following us closely and hit the back. How do you explain that to the insurance company? Usually, it's considered the fault of the driver behind but you just couldn't anticipate the idiot in front suddenly performing an emergency stop for no apparent reason.

 

[ALFAitalia]

It would still be their fault....they should be far enough behind to stop no matter what happened.....but I see your point.

 

[Aitch55]

If any of you guys are interested in taking your car to N Weald for on a 20 car day they've just opened one on Monday 7th July. I've just booked and it's available here:

Drive Limits:

DRIVE LIMITS - North Weald Driver Training

drivelimits.com

 

[DesireeE]

I have a 4 person day booked for the 7th July and I'm on the reserve list for the 20 person day on 5th August. There are not many opportunities to attend these sessions and they fill quickly.

On the subject of toys in the FL, I'm not keen on all the driver aids. Yesterday, with my wife in the car, we ere on our way home from a supermarket trip when, we'd just turned off a roundabout, was accelerating gently to the 30 limit, ahead a pedestrian had just crossed in front of us, no drama, no danger, when the car braked ferociously to an almost stop. We looked at each other with WTF expressions and I had to tell her "It wasn't me. It was the bloody car!"

Today, I'll be looking to switch off some of the aids. They seem something of a novelty but potentially dangerous. If another car had been following us closely and hit the back. How do you explain that to the insurance company? Usually, it's considered the fault of the driver behind but you just couldn't anticipate the idiot in front suddenly performing an emergency stop for no apparent reason.

Flipping scary that one, and not uncommon with EVs as I've heard it said quite a few times and on motorways too where the brakes came on suddenly for no apparent reason and nope, no car in front, behind or to the side.

 

[Sweetooth]

It happened to me yesterday car in front drifted into a lay-by, my car suddenly. braked immediately after an audible warning.It came as quite a surprise,first time in 5 years of owning .my car.

 

[Aitch55]

It does make you wonder if there's some technological one upmanship bring played out by motor manufacturer's R&D departments.