Would you sacrifice brand prestige for performance? Mercedes S65 AMG// vs Rolls Royce Ghost

ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST Specifications

Dimensions
Number of doors / seats 4 doors / 5 seats
Vehicle length 5399 mm / 212.6 in
Vehicle width 1948 mm / 76.7 in
Vehicle height (unladen) 1550 mm / 61.0 in
Wheelbase 3295 mm / 129.7 in
Turning circle 13.4 m / 44.0 ft
Track, front 1622 mm / 63.9 in
Track, rear 1660 mm / 65.4 in
Width at shoulder height, front 1510 mm / 59.4 in
Width at shoulder height, rear 1418 mm / 55.8 in
Leg room, front 1060mm / 41.7 in
Leg room, rear 1075mm / 42.3 in
Head room, front 1030 mm / 40.6 in
Head room, rear 990 mm / 39.0 in
Boot volume (DIN) 490 ltr / 17.3 cu ft
Fuel tank capacity 82.5 ltr / 18.15 Imp gal
Weight
Unladen weight (DIN) 2360 kg / 5203 lb
Unladen weight (EU) 2435 kg / 5368 lb
Axle load ratio, rear (unladen) 48.20%
Gross vehicle weight 2940 kg / 6482 lb
Payload 580 kg / 1279 lb
Axle load limit, front 1445 kg / 3185.6 lb
Axle load limit, rear 1575 kg / 3472 lb
Engine
Engine / cylinders / valves V / 12 / 48
Fuel management Direct injection
Displacement 6592 cc / 402.24 cu in 1
Stroke 88.3 mm / 3.48 in
Bore 89.0 mm / 3.5 in
Power output @ engine speed 563 bhp / 420 kW / 570 PS @5250 rpm
Max torque @ engine speed 780 Nm / 575 lb ft @ 1500 rpm
Compression ratio / fuel type 10:1 / premium unleaded2
Transmission
Transmission type ZF 8HP90
Transmission ratios
1st / 2nd / 3rd / 4.717 / 3.143 / 2.106
4th / 5th / 6th 1.667 / 1.285 / 1.000
7th / 8th 0.839 / 0.667
Reverse 3.317
Final-drive ratio 2.813
Steering & brakes
Steering type Rack & pinion, speed-sensitive variable-rate power assistance
Steering wheel revolutions
lock to lock 3.1
Steering ratio 19.9:1
Brakes front / diameter Ventilated disc / 410 mm / 16.1 in
Brakes rear / diameter Ventilated disc / 402 mm / 15.8 in
Aerodynamics
Drag Cd 0.33
Drag Cd x A 0.863 m² / 10.6 ft²
Performance
Top speed 155 mph / 250 km/h (governed)
Acceleration 0-60 mph 4.7 sec
Acceleration 0-100 km/h 4.9 sec
Acceleration 0-1000 m 23.1 sec
Acceleration 1/4 mile
Fuel consumption
Urban 20.5 ltr/100 km / 13.8 mpg (Imp gal)
Extra urban 9.6 ltr/100 km / 29.4 mpg (Imp gal)
Combined 13.6 ltr/100 km / 20.8 mpg (Imp gal)
CO2 emissions 317 g/km
Exhaust Emissions standard EU5
Fuel consumption (USA)
City
Highway
Fuel consumption (Canada)
City
Highway
Combined
CO2 emissions
Wheels
Tyre, front Goodyear EMT 255/50 R19 103Y
Wheel size, front 8.5" x 19
Tyre, rear Goodyear EMT 255/50 R19 103Y
Wheel size, rear 8.5" x 19
Wheels (option)
Tyre, front Goodyear 255/45 R20 101Y Summer
Wheel size, front 8.5Jx20 EH2+ IS25 Alloy Wheel (width 255 mm)
Tyre, rear Goodyear 285/40 R20 104Y Summer
Wheel size, rear 9.5Jx20 EH2+ IS33 Alloy Wheel (width 285mm)
Filling capacities
Radiator incl. heater / engine oil 17.2 ltr / 10.5 ltr
Radiator incl heater
Engine oil
Transmission fluid / final-drive fluid Lifetime filling
Electric system
Battery capacity / installed position 90 Ah / boot
Alternator output rating 210 A / 2900 W
Engine displacement homologated at 6591cc in Japan
The engine is designed for octane grade 95 fuel; however, it may be run on fuel with a minimum octane grade of 91.



MERCEDES-BENZ S65 AMG/// Specifications

Engine
Displacement: 6.2 L (5980 cm3) V12
Bore x Stroke: 82.60mm x 93.00mm
Rated Output: 612 hp (456 kW) at 4750-5100 1/min
Rated Torque: 1,000 N·m (740 lb·ft) at 2000-4000 1/min
Valve train: Three valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 9:1
Governed maximum speed: 6050rpm
[edit]Drivetrain
Drive Type: Rear-Wheel drive with ESP
Clutch: Automatic
Type: Torque converter with lockup
Operation: Hydraulic, electronic
Transmission: AMG SPEEDSHIFT 5-speed automatic transmission
1st Gear: 3.60
2nd Gear: 2.19
3rd Gear: 1.41
4th Gear: 1.00
5th Gear: 0.83
1st Reverse Gear: 3.167
2nd Reverse Gear: 1.93
Live axle ratio: 2.65
[edit]Suspension
Steering: Power steering (Speed-sensitive)
Steering gear type: Rack & pinion speed-sensitive steering
Front & rear springs: Active Body Control (ABC)
Front & rear shock absorber type: Double-tube gas pressure
Front & rear stabilizer type: By Active Body Control
Brakes: ADAPTIVE BRAKE system(JD's Style), composite brake disc all round, ABS with Brake Assist(BAS)
Front & Rear brake type: Disc, internally ventilated and perforated
Front Description: 8.5 J x 20 H2
Rear Description: 9.5 J x 20 H2
Wheel offset: 43mm
Front Tires: 255/35 ZR20
Rear Tires: 275/35 ZR20
[edit]Dimensions & Weight
Exterior dimensions
Length: 5,252 mm (207 in)
Height: 1,490 mm (59 in)
Width: 2,113 mm (83 in)
Wheelbase: 3,165 mm (125 in)
Turning circle: 12.20 m (40 ft)
Interior dimensions
Trunk Capacity: 550 L
Curb weight: 2,260 kg (4,982 lb)
Perm. gross weight: 2,705 kg (5,964 lb)
Payload: 520 kg (1,146 lb)
Front/rear axle curb weight: 1,375 kg (3,031 lb) / 1,375 kg (3,031 lb)
Max. roof load: 100 kg (220 lb)
Fuel Capacity: 90 L (24 USgal) (including 14 L (4 USgal) of reserve)

According to my point of view and what I think, the Rolls Royce is a car that will turn many heads as you drive down the street. I'm sure that the Mercedes would do that as well but it just would not do it as well as the Roller would. But due to the fact that I have tried and driven both cars and experienced it.... I'm going to have to go for the S65 AMG because of my severe addiction to speed. The kind of performance that you get in a 65 you just can not get in any other kind of full size luxury saloons. But of course that is my experience so I would like to hear what the rest has to say.

jeffy210 - 9/12/2010 9:41:58 PM

+6 Boost

For me it would come down to: Do you want to drive, or be driven? For the former I'd take the S65, latter the Ghost

edeus123 - 9/12/2010 10:31:14 PM

+1 Boost

Hmmmmmmm........@jeffy210: Correct me if I'm wrong, and I'm not wrong, but isn't the reason the Ghost was made was for personal driving leisure? I mean I don't know (sarcasm); I could be wrong.

Joe_Limon - 9/12/2010 11:20:35 PM

+4 Boost

lol people don't buy a Rolls Royce for performance. However people do buy the AMG version of the S65 for performance, otherwise the standard s65 would be sufficient. These two cars, although similar, are still in different niche markets.

Audi90Quattro20V - 9/13/2010 7:56:03 AM

-2 Boost

There is no standard S65, its always AMG. S65 sure goes like hell while depreciating like fresh cup of coffee & having no point what so ever compared to say S63 or S600. Roller is always something a bit more though; there is no diesel versions or styling packages with cool bumpers, no entry level models with losers re-badging them as AMG:s.. none of that crap, just RR Ghost, thats it. If is was my money (which I clearly don't have) I would go with the roller..

edeus123 - 9/12/2010 11:55:01 PM

+5 Boost

Two comments: First off, that is a freaking nice picture of the S65. Secondly, I love the the exterior of the Rolls Royce, but the interior seem to loose direction for me. I think because they tried to make it so understated that it just lost directions. That being said, I would choose the S65 for it all around performance and styling.

Yonder7 - 9/13/2010 7:49:24 AM

+2 Boost

jeffy210: Yes , If you are a non performane oriented driver, If you don´t , then S65 any day. Beside that, S65 have a superior performance..

Audiphile - 9/13/2010 11:40:11 AM

+1 Boost

Shabaru,

I own a Mercedes S600. It's not quite as powerful as the S65 AMG, but it's still a blast to drive! (Is that Benz V-12 a sweet engine, or what?) I know exactly how you feel about the "need for speed", even in a four-door luxury sedan.

I also have a friend who owns a 2006 S65 AMG, and have driven it for a short distance. I think that I would ultimately prefer the Benz's performance over the Roller's luxury and cachet, but perhaps I should reserve final judgement until I have a chance to drive a Ghost.

shabaru - 9/13/2010 1:12:35 PM

+1 Boost

Yes I also have driven the S600 as well and I must say that it was rather smoother then the S65 but I guess for the price range you can only compare the S65 because it is the only one above the 200k mark.... but yea for a normal day drive I would pick the S600 but I still have the addiction to feed... because every time I drive a 400hp I think I need 500... but then when I get behind the wheel of a 500 I need a 600hp... lol

Lamborghini_vs_Ferrari_Racer - 9/13/2010 11:54:53 AM

+2 Boost

Holy crap! That Mercedes has 1000Nm of torque o.0 Bloody Hell !!! I like it....I believe they are still using the solid old 5 speed automatic transmission as the torque literally shreds any others transmission including their 7-G tronic!!!

Yonder7 - 9/13/2010 12:20:09 PM

+2 Boost

Lamborghini_vs_Ferrari_Racer: You got it, They are working in a new transmission but for now, only the old 5 speed is able to handle to monster torque found in that engine.

JB007 - 9/13/2010 1:36:08 PM

+1 Boost

I feel the need, the need for speed!! All the way up to 55mph.

Neverfollow - 9/13/2010 3:26:41 PM

+4 Boost

Without a doubt the Ghost. The buyer for this car is looking for recognition. I don't care how many numbers or letters you put on the back of an S-class, it's still an S-class which everyone in this catagory of buyer has already had at one point in time or another. It's not like it's a Porsche where the guys all sit around the coffee shop and mull over specs and this that and the other. IT'S AN S-CLASS! Most of the people that have these can't use any of the features the car comes with other than the gas, steering wheel, brake pedal and ignition switch. It's kind of like that G5 that some of them fly around in. The Ghost strokes that kind of ego in the way it that only RR can do. One, it's cheaper than the Phantom and they all love a bargain! Second, it looks like a Phantom from a distance so their buddies won't know the difference. They'll all think they spent the $380 large....even better. Three, they all sit in rush hour traffic the same. It's all about the show for the people outside the car. Inside, they're on the phone anyway so who cares how fast or slow it is. It's a German/British thing anyway which means no matter what, it's fast enough.

JB007 - 9/17/2010 8:44:12 AM

+1 Boost

You have it sooo right !!

clsboy - 9/13/2010 3:57:08 PM

+3 Boost

Heck... get both of them!!!!...