I have also driven both cars and for me it was allmost the exact same car, of course you feel more power in the S and brakes discs are smaller this is only because the S has a bigger topspeed and you need this to brake on time from high speed, the S version doesn't sit lower... maybe you had other rims or no sport suspension on the standard version.... or maybe you didn't change your electric seat :laugh:! The balance is even in my opinion and the sound is the same you go in high rev's with both cars, of course you can go in much higher revs with the S than the standard.That was a great car, as was the GranTurismo MC Stradale, but something I did notice and this is more aimed at the European market is that there is a HUGE difference between the two petrol Ghibli's..... and I mean Huge !
The 410 BHP version (Ghibli S) sits lower, sounds amazing (totally different to the standard car) has amazing brakes and just feels so much better balanced than its 325 BHP stable mate.
This has really got me thinking... I have the 325 BHP version ordered and due to be delivered in September.... have I made the right choice ? I am really not too sure. There is a massive gap between my current car C63 and the 'base' Ghibli, it might prove too much....Maybe more time in the car and I will get used to it. To be fair, the demo I tried today did not have the paddles so that might make a big difference to how it drives. Saying that, the 'S' didn't either :-(
Hm really strange about the handling, i've drove the S and diesel after each other, 2 weeks ago and this week i've had the 330hp petrol and all where handling all much the same but I've only driven ons the street not on a circuit.Hi Schnippy, interesting observations and comments you make and I do generally agree but the 2 cars handled really differently (I'm not a good enough driver to really make a schooled comment) but the two instructors both commented how differently the two cars felt and behaved. It was really interesting getting out of the base car and then going into the 'S' it seemed to hug the road differently (we were going around the same hill and straight track each time) one thing I am certain of though was the sound ... The 'S' sounded a lot deeper and more aggressive but hey, they both sounded amazing !!
Having now been in both I decided to go for the 'S', the performance is more similar to my current C63 and according to the technical specs of both the petrol Ghibli's there is only 0.6 seconds difference to 62mph but it feels a whole lot faster..... I bet the 4wd our American friends have is just incredible.
Anyway, decision made, now really excited.