and I am also going to say S8 or S63. The E is sort of boring, with lousy steering feel, and although the M5 is great fun, it is a bit more work (less torque, SMG in auto mode sux), and the fuel economy is horrid. Also depends on where you are. If you want to be different, I would think there are lots of M5's and S classes of all description in LA. The Audi is unique, well put together, and has a fantastic interior. Now if I were going to write a check with my own $$$, I'd have to think twice, as the depreciation is horrendous. But it ain't all that good on the others either...just the old man's .02....

 

oh yea that reminds me, the smg is not too smooth for a daily...but then again when I drove it I had it on the harshest setting

 

what if we threw a cls63 in the mix? still m5? im debating this right now..leaning towrds ordering cls63 tomorrow

 

i had some seat time in an E63 amg on friday. needless to say it has a lot of grunt, everytime you hit the gas the heavy nose would lift... totally different feeling in an M5, it definitely has to do with the torque difference. but E63 does nothing for me, interior is plain, it doesn't have that 'wow' factor for me. M5 feels a lot more nimble compare to the E63, sporty and all that, but when i sit in it, it doesn't feel like a 90k car... i've never drove the S8 myself, but i spent quite a few hours in the passenger seat, i liked it, actually i loved it. if i was in the same shoes i'd go for the S8.

 

Ive tracked both the E63 and M5 as well as a bunch of street miles. Both cars are very capable, comfortable, quiet, great exhaust sound, great on a track, engaging, etc... I have never been a huge Mercedes fan but the E63 really impressed me (IMO the E55 is what everyone says, fast in a straight line, slush box (gearbox), and not fun to drive) but the E63 will hold the gear even if you're bouncing off the rev limited -it dosn't really 'bounce' off it, but just stop at redline, and locks the torque converter after 1st gear.

Pretty much they're dead even in many aspects. Drive both, see which one you like more in terms of materials, controls, seating position (both are excellent imo), etc...

Can't go wrong with either. -Not a huge S8 fan though...

 

I vote the E63! You already have a high-revving torqueless wonder as your sports car. Why would you want that for your daily? A proper daily should be auto and have torque off the line!! You don't want to have to wind the **** outta the motor to get power. You really can't beat that 6.3L motor in the Benz!! The M5 is nice, but I just don't understand how they can put a brilliant motor like that in a heavy 4-door. Doesn't make sense to me.

 

how many people is this car for?
how bout an M6?

 

Just an update, I ended up getting a white/black CLS63 as my new DD. The car is like a freight train with gobs of power, rides smoothly with luxury amenities...a perfect DD. Please excuse the crappy pic:

 

Beautiful...and no...no excuse on here for crappy pics.

 

M5 handles much better than the others and feels a lot smaller. The S8 is huge and even withthe V10 not all that fast.

 

nice, much better choice