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I stopped driving sedans 30 years ago when I found myself in Colorado. I changed over to SUVs and worked my way through a variety of brands to my current G550. It's ideal for the terrain and weather here (about an hour sw of Telluride), both which can change as quickly as tracks on the Burmester. Every vehicle I own is an SUV (2 Jeeps, a Lexus and the G), and I'd never drive anything else, even if I moved back to suburbia.
I stopped driving sedans 30 years ago when I found myself in Colorado. I changed over to SUVs and worked my way through a variety of brands to my current G550. It's ideal for the terrain and weather here (about an hour sw of Telluride), both which can change as quickly as tracks on the Burmester. Every vehicle I own is an SUV (2 Jeeps, a Lexus and the G), and I'd never drive anything else, even if I moved back to suburbia.
Thanks for your input, greatly appreciate it. I’ve been hearing that a lot from current G Wagon owners who’ve stated that they will not drive anything else.
Thanks for your input, greatly appreciate it. I’ve been hearing that a lot from current G Wagon owners who’ve stated that they will not drive anything else.
It's a fun ride, and about the closest you can get to a practicable Rocky Mountains sports car.
Have you tested a G? It's an acquired taste IMO. Radical departure from an S class. Make sure to drive one first. Particularly at highway speeds. If you're good with it then, there is nothing like it.
I think the longest I would want to drive my G55 on the freeway is for about 4 hours/day. But, my S55...I can easily do 8+ hours. So if you don't do a lot of long road-trips the G is an amazing car...very practical as well, similar to the S.
My daily is a Bentley sedan, but we also have a few older SUVs (and a G65). It will be a huge downgrade in comfort moving from an S65 to a W463 G63, but if you're okay with that sure... just make sure you drive the G63 first. Around town the G is fine, but it will beat you up much more on longer drives.
My daily is a Bentley sedan, but we also have a few older SUVs (and a G65). It will be a huge downgrade in comfort moving from an S65 to a W463 G63, but if you're okay with that sure... just make sure you drive the G63 first. Around town the G is fine, but it will beat you up much more on longer drives.
Well said. I find myself constantly wrestling the steering wheel on long highway drives. As I tell others, it steers right and pulls left
I would say go drive a W463 G63 for a bit before making the choice. I came from a F10 M5 and a F01 750li and always planned on using my G63 as a daily. Truth be told it’s definitely an acquired driving taste/experience and in the last three years I’ve only put about 4K miles a year. It wasn’t comfortable or practical for me to use as a DD.
The W463 is a brute. It’s definitely not comfortable and between the absolute poor MPG and truck like driving experience it’s definitely not for many people. I had never driven a G before buying my own. I’ve known plenty of people that have bought a G and traded it in within a few weeks/months due to the uniqueness of this driving experience. The G is also not luxurious at all IMO. Even with the top of the line leather trim and Harmon kardon sound system it just doesn’t feel as luxurious as a S class or a RR. Even the power delivery is totally different. Despite being the powerful M157 engine it’s a heavy big truck and it seems to require more throttle input when on the highway/passing. With all that being said I love my G and its got a special place in my heart and garage. I really don’t get how some of these guys put 16k-25k miles a year on these trucks. I could definitely NOT do that. My back starts hurting after a hour+ drive and I’m a young guy.
My daily ended up being a L405 LWB which is night and day between the W463. It’s more comparable to your W222 and is like driving in absolute luxury and comfort.
I say drive one and see how you like it and go from there. But if I was being honest if you want a S class driving experience with the added ability of having the benefits of an SUV there is no better truck than a l405 LWB.
I forgot to add the G also gets a ton of looks and comments from random people. Some people like that kind of thing but to me it gets old. It is one reason I have my windows tinted super dark.
I can always count on some person or someone on the road making some type of comment or trying to race/be dumb on the road every time I’m in the G.
I would say the G gets more attention than any exotic you could have and I’m in a area where there’s tons of G wagons and exotics driving around.
I am new to this forum and just recently joined in hopes to get some insight from the Mercedes-Benz enthusiast community.
I currently daily my 2015 S65 AMG W222 and I am thinking of switching into a G63 AMG (2017-2018).
Has anyone here made a similar transition and if so, what were your reasons and overall experience?
Thanks 🙏 ,
DK
What kind of daily driving do you do? Short, in-town driving, or longer trips/commutes? How much do you enjoy the comfort of the S65 and the silky smooth V12? Would you rather have a cool looking, rougher riding, but fun and rowdy SUV, or a stealth rocket ship that glides along the highway? The two are so different that your happiness will probably come down to a few factors, most of them having to do with how much you are willing to compromise for the cool factor of the G. Not sure any of that helps, but as others have mentioned, go drive a G63 and see if it is truly right for you. I love them, but I wouldn't swap to one as a daily if I had long commutes of any kind. The cool factor will start to wear off when you realize how awesome the S65 is on the road. If I was only blasting around town on surface streets for the most part, I'd go G Wagon all day long.
For all your inputs! I will be checking out a 2018 model nearby and see how that goes…
As for my daily commute, I drive about 15,000kms or about 9,320 miles a year. I am mainly on the highway and my trips are usually no longer than 30 mins.
My main attraction to the G Wagon is definitely the way they look and the road presence it has. They also tend to hold their value fairly well compared to other competitors.
But, a test drive will indeed steer me in the right direction and give me a better idea if the switch is worth doing.
Thank you all again for your experiences and input.
I have a 2016 S63 for 3 years now and a 2015 G63 for a year. Go drive a G63 before you decide (and take it on some good/bad roads). I have a love / hate relationship with it.
Positives - will probably always be a great looking vehicle, great exhaust sound, holds value really well for the metal brick that it is, great in the winter, good acceleration and high seating position. If you're seeking attention, this car will get it.
Negatives - very harsh stock suspension (i swapped mine to ohlins), terrible gas milage (9-14mpg avg), bad handling and awful steering response. One of the worst modern cars that I've driven for the price. Interior design and quality is dated (outside of the good quality leather on the seats and features are minimal. Significant other will hate it and passengers likely as well.
Personally, if I had to have one of these, then the G63 goes (which likely will in the next couple of months). The S doesn't hold its value at all but sitting in one I never think about upgrading to a nicer car - maybe a different car, but never nicer. I've always wanted a G63 probably for similar reasons as you and I got my chance to own one last year. When it comes down to it - what I love about the G63 is really how it looks, the exhaust, cargo room and the road presence it has but the driving itself is mediocre at best. The 2019+ is a different story - that is a car I wouldn't hesitate to replace an S class with and I am on a wait list for....
I have a 2016 S63 for 3 years now and a 2015 G63 for a year. Go drive a G63 before you decide (and take it on some good/bad roads). I have a love / hate relationship with it.
Positives - will probably always be a great looking vehicle, great exhaust sound, holds value really well for the metal brick that it is, great in the winter, good acceleration and high seating position. If you're seeking attention, this car will get it.
Negatives - very harsh stock suspension (i swapped mine to ohlins), terrible gas milage (9-14mpg avg), bad handling and awful steering response. One of the worst modern cars that I've driven for the price. Interior design and quality is dated (outside of the good quality leather on the seats and features are minimal. Significant other will hate it and passengers likely as well.
Personally, if I had to have one of these, then the G63 goes (which likely will in the next couple of months). The S doesn't hold its value at all but sitting in one I never think about upgrading to a nicer car - maybe a different car, but never nicer. I've always wanted a G63 probably for similar reasons as you and I got my chance to own one last year. When it comes down to it - what I love about the G63 is really how it looks, the exhaust, cargo room and the road presence it has but the driving itself is mediocre at best. The 2019+ is a different story - that is a car I wouldn't hesitate to replace an S class with and I am on a wait list for....
Thank you, @skeelo for your comparison. I’ve thought about the 2019+ models as well but one of my friends confessed to me that he prefers the W463 pre2018 models over the W463A models. That’s the other thing, waiting for a W463A is difficult to get an allocation here in Canada as well.
i own both. best of both worlds. and what worlds apart they are!!! i can be dr jekyll one minute and mr hyde the next. you can decide which personality drives which vehicle!!
I DD an E63 but will be replacing it with another G63..... as noted the seats leave something to be desired.... I plan to do Scheelmann's in this one... that and a debadge, slight lift/ 34's and a EC tune....alos the issue of people having comments or emotions about the G is for real...... other then cost/gas consumption its the only real downside in my opinion....
So…. I decided to pull the trigger and finally made the switch!! After the test drive, I immediately fell in love 😍.
It is exactly the way some of you have described, basically polar opposite compared to the S Class lol. Surprisingly, I am still on the same tank of fuel since delivery… which was a few days ago 😅…
So…. I decided to pull the trigger and finally made the switch!! After the test drive, I immediately fell in love 😍.
It is exactly the way some of you have described, basically polar opposite compared to the S Class lol. Surprisingly, I am still on the same tank of fuel since delivery… which was a few days ago 😅…
Delivery Day!
More pics to follow!!
congrats post some pics of the interior I’ve never seen that color interior before
I have the same exterior color you’re going to love it. also pick up some “matte paint cleaner/quick detailer” the magno black paint always has water spots from rain/car wash. Dr beasley or besley? I forget the exact name is suppose to be really good. I am ordering their kit tonight myself.
Congrats! One thing you might want to consider to improve the ride would be to replace the shocks. On our G65, I replaced the stock ones with Ohlins adjustable shocks, and the ride is noticeably less jarring
congrats post some pics of the interior I’ve never seen that color interior before
I have the same exterior color you’re going to love it. also pick up some “matte paint cleaner/quick detailer” the magno black paint always has water spots from rain/car wash. Dr beasley or besley? I forget the exact name is suppose to be really good. I am ordering their kit tonight myself.
I’m doing this exact switch going from a big w222 s550 which I love, to a 2016 G63 that I just agreed to buy. Overnighted them the cashier’s check this morning, should be arriving next week from MB of Roanoke. I am in love with both cars for different reasons. How is the OP finding the adjustment from the S to the G? I intentionally did not trade in the S because I see so many posts on here about what horrible road manners the G has that I wanted to make double sure I liked it first.
08-30-2021, 04:22 AM
