C63amg Tokyo

Hey guys,

Looking for some opinions from people that have owned/ driven both.

Getting rid of my current SUV so will purchase either an ML or G class at the end of the year.

In Tokyo the price for a 2010-11 G55amg with 20-40k miles is nearly the same price as a 2014-15 ML63amg with 5-10k miles. Mileage isn't really a concern as it rarely snows in Tokyo and people take exceptional care of their cars here.

The SUV would be my daily driver and also used for snowboard trips, camping, beach days etc.

I've been reading both sections on the forum and both choices seem good. If it was the G63amg I would probably go with that but it's quite a lot more expensive. (40+ grand more then the other choices)

I have a CBS that's my sunny weekend sports car so the sportiness isn't really a factor.

The things I'm wondering are ride comfort, reliability, interior, exhaust note from the cabin, spaciousness and overall drivers experience. I will test drive a bunch over the next few months but hoping for some insight or opinions from a different perspective.

Thanks in advance!

Rob

roadkillrob

You really have to give them both a good drive, very different animals, G Wagon is full frame platform that has been around and tweaked forever, but has exception capabilities offroad, ML is a much newer platform, unibody construction and built for on road capabilities much more than offroad, so get out in both and see what you prefer.

Forrest Gump 9

Ml63 if you value comforts. The G wagon is awesome but it rides like a truck. Plus the V8 twin turbo in the Ml63 is hard to beat.

C63amg Tokyo

Thanks for the feed back. I am excited to test them both out, such different vehicles. I may be leaning towards the ML since I won't be off roading much, it will be mostly a city vehicle except when camping which is very mild ground to drive on. But on the other hand, I've always loved the G wagon, glad it's body style hasn't changed over the past 40 years, timeless. Will let u know after I do some testing




Yea very true! Thx for your input

Adi-Benz

jeep trackhawk

lol

C63amg Tokyo

Not one of the choices I listed but thx.
- too expensive ($40k+ more then the ML or G that I'm looking at)
- isn't for sale in Tokyo
- I don't like it

roadkillrob

And it is still a POS Jeep, just a fast POS Jeep.

Vladds

Each time I look at the picture of your Black series, it looks like you have the solid roof and no panoramic sunroof. You must have gotten the angle of the picture just right.


Oh and get the G55. Someone will buy it from you many years down the road, maybe to ship it to UK or other RHD countries and make a project from it, paying good money for it. It's their destiny to hold value.

knowbenz

For comfort as a daily driver get the ML. I'm not sure how roads are out there but if they are rough you may be hating the ride quality. If you plan on doing off road, get the G

INS1GNIA

I don't have any experience driving them but I do see them both a lot on the road, so I can only give visual criticism experience.

Owning the G55 would be a very cool car to have I think. There is just something about it that stands out and everyone recognizes it, car or non car person.

I've run into a couple of MLG63 and they are a bit more subtle (hidden power presence) but seem very comfortable...and their *** is nice lol.

Not really sure which one I would chose, but like you said, would have to test out both and see.

BLKROKT

G55 HANDS DOWN

The ML63 is nothing special at all. Just look at the depreciation compared to the Gwagen. It's an ugly mass-produced SUV with a powerful engine. If you're going to get an AMG-anything, make it count. The G is timeless.

KrisKeeney

Surprised you didn't blast him for posting this SUV thread in a C63 forum. You're getting soft.

C63amg Tokyo

My black series is a hard top, luckily all the euro cars in Japan are euro spec. Hard tops and row airbox, 517hp instead of 510 stock. (I think that's due to the air box) really glad it's not the pano roof and no sunroof/moonroof.

And yes that's true, the G55 will hold its value better than the ML, good point!

C63amg Tokyo

Very good point. And if I'm honest with myself the G gets me more excited. Thx for your input.

C63amg Tokyo

Roads are very good in Japan. I just really need to start test driving.


Tough choice for sure, now I'm leaning more towards the G haha. Will let u know how some test drives go.

C63amg Tokyo

Probably because I'm a c63 owner/enthusiast and am looking for opinions and different point of views from other c63 drivers that I respect. Also a lot of guys here have SUVs aswell so it's not totally in the wrong section. Not like I'm a 1st time fake poster asking something retarded haha.

Vladds

I think the 517 is Brake Horse Power, vs Horsepower, there is a small conversion factor.
But the hard top is Huge News.
No further than 2 weeks ago, a German guy posted that no C63 in Germany, including the black series came without sunroof/panoramic sunroof.
Then most here think that in no part of the world there was a C63 without a sunroof.
So let me ask you this:
What's the advertised Curb Weight for your car? I wonder if yours is 75lb-100lb lighter than ours.




The one thing I would research about thew G55 are the brakes. I was looking at the E55 and the C63. The E55 had electronic brakes, first generation. This was blasted by all reviewers, including Jeremy Clarkson. Later in the life of the car, there is a very expensive module that needs to be replaced for those.
Even a guy from my office that drove one of those cars, said that modulating the brakes and getting feedback, especially at slow speed can be problematic.
What I noticed, was that with the end of the "55" generation and the beginning of the "63" generation, the electronic brakes were dropped.
Also, I think these had that gadget, where the ECU applies light brakes to wipe the rotors in rain.

C63amg Tokyo

I'll check out the curb weight for my car to give an exact number but definitely it's lighter without the pano roof. Very weird about the German guy who stated that no c63 including the black series in Germany comes without the pano roof, he's mistaken. Also a simple google search shows hardtop black series exist, just not as many as the pano roof. I remember reading a while back that only North America doesn't get the hard top version and the airbox is different with charcoal too.

As for the info about the brakes, this is an excellent piece of advice, thank you very much. I wasn't aware of this, I'll do some more digging.

The g63 is about 40k+ more for a '12 with similar miles as a '12 g55 but I suppose I'll have to test drive a 63 as well now haha.


Better angle for the roof.

ybaba888

What about newer G350 or G350d that available in Japan if you don't race By G wagon? If you are looking for daily driver, diesel gas is cheaper and the car provides enough torque. Both ML and G diesel models are sold in Japan. You may be able to find the car with factory warranty as well.

mrmotoguzzi00

Was in your shoes a few month's ago.

I've always loved the look of the G, I took out a 2006 or so G55, so the supercharged V8 version.

Pros
============
Great Sound
Who doesn't love the side exhaust ?
Nothing looks like this
Good power and acceleration
Truck...

Cons
============
Rides like a ............. Truck
Drives like a ............. Truck



In all Honesty I wanted to Love the G so much, but I just could not see me doing any long distances in it...


The ML63 on the other hand is not a Truck. Rides nice, corners nice, VERY comfortable.

Great sound

Very quick. like low 4 seconds quick...

Surprised by how well it tow's, I use it to tow a 5000lb boat and it's like it's not even there...

The air suspension is slick, it picks the rear back up an inch or so when the trailer is connected.


Obviously I got the ML63 instead, but if you can overlook the Truckness of the G it's still a great ride just not as comfortable as the ML for a long distance vehicle...

Not sure how long of a drive it is go to the mountains in Japan ?



Mike

C63amg Tokyo

I may test drive the 350 too but not the diesel models. Yes you're correct about cheaper than gas and more mileage but you're missing one important factor... the sound. Personally I hate the sound of diesel engines.

It doesn't have to be the newest vehicle for me to enjoy it. So it's unlikely I'll purchase a 350 model since it will be my daily driver and I like to have fun at times too. I think a 55 or 63 is more fun to drive. However I haven't driven a 350 model before so I will give it a test drive.

A few year old benz that has been properly taken care of is generally a good purchase. It's already much cheaper and still has a full life ahead.

C63amg Tokyo

Thanks for the insight, much appreciated.

As for distance, my office isn't far so daily commute 30-45mins one way. And for the activities, beaches between 1-4 hrs drive, camping 2hrs, mountains for snowboarding 2-4hrs (one way for everything). Anything farther I would take a bullet train or airplane and ship my gear.

I look forward to getting some test drives soon. Hopefully in a couple weeks I can.

hachiroku

ML chassis was built in America...unless you have a killer deal on one you'll not really enjoy the "American Built" interior. Same with the R chassis.

G Wagon is a body on frame so it will ride really stiff and rough.

If you're looking for a 4wd hauler I'd recommend a E63 Wagon 4-Matic. Twin turbo and 4wd. According to wikipedia from 2010 onwards, the E63 Wagon was offered with 4wd. I'm sure that isn't correct as only the 5.5 Liter Bi-Turbo onwards was offered with 4wd if i recall.