johnnyderm

Hey Gents,

I just completed a long drive from NYC to Detroit. Specs are attached (MPH, MPG, etc)
With this drive, it marks 9300 total miles for me. Happy miles.

The drive was 9 hours with the wife and twin boy 3year olds in the back. It's a long drive. The G did excellent the entire drive, 10 out of 10. I averaged 68MPH over 600+ miles. Truck drove amazing. Suspension was on Comfort, Exhuast was on. Sometimes in Sport+ but with Sport suspension when I was passing hard. Alot of seat massage usage. Windshield killed 100000 bugs. No Tickets! Wife was very cozy in front while managing kids in back (snacks, books, games, etc). Plenty of luggage space for a week away. I have ClearpPlex 2 layer on windshield which I think saved me from a major rock that hit me from a dumptruck in front of me... I stopped following so closely afterwards, not a pleasant reminder but it was fine, PHEW).

I was reminded by the presence of the truck. People GET OUT OF THE WAY when they see a black box flying up their rear. I am not too aggressive, but people just leave the lane for me which I like.

My small complaint if I must, (besides gas milage) was that my left wrist was a bit tired as i drive in left lane and fast, I find myself having to apply some pressure on steering wheel to the right so I stay straight on crowned-roads. Noticeable after 4hours. If i stay center in left lane it is fine, I just tend to ride the left line often....

I was surprised how cozy we all were for the ride. It was almost enjoyable, you know screaming kicking kids and trucks blocking both lanes :-)
After this ride, I know the adaptive seats are a mandatory option on the G class. The massage is great, but the way the G hugs me in turns or on bumps is insanely helpful and comfortable. If you get any option in the G, this must be the first.

Ride was on 22" stock wheels. Super smooth. I managed to nick the sidewall when I needed to go around a lo parking garage arm - pretty deep sidewall cut (no air loss, but I did put a dap of super glue there for time being until I return to NYC area when I will replace it (new tire was $365) and get my 10k mile service). I wonder if I need two tires for balance? Hmm

Anyway - spec and photo below:

68 ave MPH over 628 miles in 9hours. 15MPG!

SB Elliot State Park (pit stop for 1 hour, otherwise no stops except for gas)

almostordinary

Awesome!

Can't wait for my PCH > 101 drive this time next week. My G is a lot older, and has way worse gas mileage and I'll be replacing two twins with two 100lb dogs.

Glad it was uneventful aside from enjoying the drive! More people should get these trucks out there

Peterchrs

Great write-up, thanks for sharing! What's your setup in the back seat for your twins boys? What car seats do you use and do you have any kind of protection?

S-Prihadi

A classic indeed. Nice write up thank you.
My first drive on this beast was at least 30 years ago, very late 80s. Only 2.8Liter gasoline engine. Manual gearbox. 4 doors.
I am not tall at 167cm and my left hand reach ( right hand drive ) is too short for the gear shift, so got to lean my body forward to change gears
Underpowered at 2.8L , only160 ish HP I believe back then. It was tiring to drive, that "far-away-stick" manual gearbox.

I am sure your powerful 500+ HP G63 engine with automatic gearbox would be a good combo. At least 350HP is needed for such body weight.
Oldest evolving MB to date, amazing.

Limey Hooligan

When I drive cross-country in my 2012 G, the best thing I like about it is the cruise control. Really just about the best cruise control I've had in any vehicle - all operation on a stalk and easy to set, speed up, and slow down/cancel. Very intuitive and responsive. Of course nowadays you have lane assist and radar-controlled cruising speed, but the old G cruise control works for me and makes those long hours on the freeway pretty tolerable. I prefer to maintain more control over my own speed and not be slowed automatically when getting close to another vehicle. That can be pretty annoying

spourreza

great writeup... so far i only have a total 1700 miles on my 2020 G63 and my first long drive will be from New Jersey to Newport RI which is about 4 hours.... cant wait!

BTW, do you think you have an alignment issue because it shouldnt swerve to the left....

newyorktoLA

mine also does this and so did my old one. I always needed to apply slight turning to the steering wheel to stay centered on crowned roads. Pretty sure it's normal for the G

johnnyderm

@Peterchrs I have two forward-facing Britax car seats. They are large, but fit and work well for my 3years who now climb up into them from the ground.

johnnyderm

@spourreza - No, it's just the crowning on the road. It is very faint but after 450+ mile on one highway (I80) you can tell the crowning is there. I know it is dead on straight as once I am in center lane i can take my hands off the wheel for a while and it just coast dead center. I could fix this by not driving so fast all the time in the left lane! :-)

MS616

Love it!!!

sweet63

I got my 2020 G 63 a few weeks ago, and the interior is so much nicer than my Toyota Land Cruiser that it got me thinking about ways to protect it a little bit. We travel between Utah and Southern California twice a year, and I noticed that I always manage to scuff up the rear door panels, the rear seats and the front seat-backs when we load up boxes, clothes, dogs, guns, etc. Plus, our grandkids seem to be naturally "sticky," and their feet are glued to the front seat-backs the minute they climb in their car seats. Kids weren't as sticky 40 years ago :-j Anyway, Weathertech makes 2nd row seat covers, door protectors and front seat-back covers for the G 63 that are good quality and look good enough that I'll probably just leave them in place most of the time.

https://www.weathertech.com/mercedes...at-protectors/

JSwan724

johnnyderm:

Many thanks for the writeup. I was wondering if you had the econo mode activated during the trip.
Also, what was the miles per tank range? 1 stop around 350-400 miles and a refill at trip end?

I also noticed you didn’t mention wind noise at your trip speeds. So it must not be that bad to some.

Enjoy

sweet63

I was worried about wind noise also. I don't hear anything at all at highway speeds.

ima55r2

What are your highway speeds?

sweet63

I was on the freeway several times during the 1,000 mile break-in period, so I tried to keep the speed mostly around 70 and 75 MPH.
I even asked my wife while we were driving down the freeway if she noticed any road noise or wind noise? She didn't hear anything bothersome either.

300SE1993

Nice writeup! Great fuel economy for whait it is, and sounds like true luxury.

Festertester

wind noise not so bad but there’s a faint inconsistent whistle above 85mph

Festertester

@johnnyderm I’ve got 8600 miles in 14 months but we haven’t taken any major road trips yet. Seems to me that Windshield protection on road trip is a must...

johnnyderm

Yes - I really don't like messing around with "products" like these, but after almost a year now, I don't think ill live without the protective film... man I have taken some hits to the windshield that on a normal car I thought would be fatal! Or I am just lucky. I am taking off my first "layer" of film this December. I currently do not have any wear from my wipers. I was told I would see wear but so far I have not (despite snow and rain etc). Ill report back on the fresh layer looks and works out.

Cheers gang!

Mbracer26

Congrats on the cars. What does everyone do for a living?