Fabbrisd1: THANK YOU for the update. Can you post if allocations/orders accepted were mostly from AMG PCs or mix of regular dealers / AMG PCs. Any suggestion of increasing the chance for acquiring one? Apparently ordering with an AMG PC did not work out for the initial allocation.

Also you mentioned 16 for 3rd decade of April - Is that for International orders since you said nothing posted for US in April?

My dealer is also saying 3/1 order cycle but has not been able to give me a window sticker as I have gotten in past ordered cars. Has anyone been able to get one?

My dealer just informed me.... That he got a copy of the release dates and the first ones will be available in mid July.

Where are you located? US?

I think the first build date - according to first allocations is 3/3. I think your order is showing an order cycle of 3/1 but probably the build date is blank. The GLs are delayed as the initial build date was in Feb. Allocations were less than expected.

long island ny

I too was wondering what Fabbrisd1 meant when he said nothing allocated in April in the US and then said the next 17 are for the 3rd decade of April. If that is the case, that the 33 orders are split across March and April, then we are looking at next allocations being made for a May build. May build means June delivery. That would be too close to MY 2014 for my tastes . . .

I agree. 33 for the month of March and April seems low. I am not sure why that is. It does not make any sense for MB to not produce enough GL63s to meet the demand. My AMG PC dealer was NOT happy for not getting an allocation. Apparently they spent millions to become an AMG PC and now getting short changed on allocations. I guess we are now waiting for May allocation for June delivery.

Mid July seems late for first delivery of the GL63.
I thought it was in May.

for the fans

Wow. Music to my ears. I want one!!!

Clearly I jumped the gun on my order.... GL63 justed listed on Canadian website for $7.00... no charge for options... buy now!

Me too. Now that's a steal.

"For a limited time only"

Have a PO number for the GL550 (finally). I have to decide to go with the 550 or wait for the GL63. I thinking of canceling the GL63 order with the AMG PC - the SA is not honest - he mentioned all of the allocation was in the northeast and the west coast and none in the south. My SA at my regular dealership looked it up - 12 in the south with 3 in TX. I am going to stick with my regular SA for the GL63 as well in hope of them getting an allocation.

You've waited so long, you can hold off for the 63! Besides, you've still got your existing 550 to hold you over!

Sam9187:

As you are thinking about the GL550 vs GL63 choice, you may find this perspective of interest. While I have sat in the new GL, I had never actually driven one until this past weekend, when I drove a new GL550. I was really curious to see whether I should wait for the GL63 or just go with the GL550. The GL550 has the same aggressive look that I really like, and there are some aspects of the GL550 that I prefer to the GL63, such as the the quilted pattern of the designo leather, the GL550’s 21 inch wheels and the fact that it would be roughly $24k less as I would option it relative to the GL63.

After driving the GL550, I must say that I was a bit disappointed, which I think has everything to do with my having unreasonable expectations going in that the GL550, as a true 7 seat luxury SUV, could be fun/sporty to drive. It was certainly very comfortable, luxurious and pleasant to drive – and I think it is the best looking SUV (in GL550/63 trim) on the market right now, inside and out - but I can’t say it was particularly fun to drive. The acceleration was strong in a deliberate sort of way, but it was not close to thrilling as is the case with my E63. The handling was fine, but it wasn’t particularly sporty. This GL550 did not have the Active Curve System option which probably would have helped a lot, but I did drive with the suspension in “sport” mode. The braking again was fine, but not “wow”. I appreciate that my expectation of sporty here is just not realistic as this is a 5,800 lbs full size true 7 seat SUV. I think the GL really needs to shed 600 to 700 lbs as has the new Range Rover to gain more of that friskiness, but unfortunately that is not going to occur until the next generation GL in 7 or so years.

So I came away from that drive thinking that I still want what the GL63 appears to offer, which is to take the very good GL550 and turn up the “sport” dial a bit from an acceleration, braking, handling (although the same as with the GL550 and the Active Curve), and exhaust sound perspective. I fully expect that 98% or more of the GL buyers should be more than happy with what the GL550 (or GL450/350) offers because who really needs/wants a sports car in their full size SUVs other than a few oddballs like me. Isn't that what our other car is for . . .

I must admit that I also came away from that drive less excited about the GL63 as well, as even with the “sport” dial turned up to high relative to the GL550, it still is a 5,800 lbs full size SUV that can only combat the laws of physics so much. I guess I am now more skeptical as to how much “fun” even the GL63 will be to drive. I also don’t particularly like the way the second row folding works, even with the power down option that I tried. With kids, it just doesn’t work that well as you can’t keep car seats in the seat when it does the power down and I could see younger kids having real trouble pulling the second row seat back up into position from the third row. Frankly, my Buick Enclave with captain’s chairs in the second row and a three person third row is much more efficient for the kids. That will be a real step back in moving to the GL.

So I haven’t cancelled my GL63 order or anything like that, but I am a little less anxious to get into the GL63 now and am fine to wait for the GL63 even if it means next fall/winter.

Good luck with your decision. Just go into it keeping in mind what the GL is (great full size true 7 seat SUV) and what it isn’t (luxury sports sedan equivalent).

Just remember, the GL63 is more than just a GL550 with an M157 engine crammed in it.

AMG touches a *lot* more, so it'll feel different, ride different, handle better, brake better, etc.

allot of criticism considering your still going ahead and spending well over 120k before taxes, regardless its the best thing out in 2013, I dont see anything coming close to a GL in any price point, only new SUV that is coming out close to the same class would be the Q7, if your looking for sporty and your spending this much money why not go for a Cayenne Turbo or even Turbo S? get a minivan for the kids on the side.

i agree with south ocean- coming from a gl63 preorder status last nov and deciding not to for all those mentioned reasons-
i agree amg adds alot more than most people can comprehend- physics is physics; a car that size- yes there will be a difference in performance between a 550 and a 63; it will not be as obvious as an e550 and an e63-
so yea- after all that and talks with my agent, since this one again is for the wife- MY 14 e63 is the other amg i'd love to have and so decided to keep the extra 20k+ aside for that-
i realized over time that if i expect the gl63 to do for me what a non suv amg does- its an unrealistic expectation- and a 0.2-0.4s diff in 0-60 was really a BIG one for me, for which i cant justify another 20k+; now the e63 with 3.5 and faster with 4matic- makes complete sense!

but to all of those getting a gl550/450/350 or a 63- do what makes sense to you and what makes u happy- hey we live once- enjoy it & be safe

A lot of good direct response, and good comment.

"Physics is physics" is particularly apt -the GL comparative are other luxury SUV's, and for that I consider the GL550 overall to be best in class, and the GL550 Designo black, loaded, the best-of-the-best out there in my opinion.

A performance sedan driver, especially coming from AMG, should have concerns, and those concerns are quite expressed.

The GL63 will is a great machine..but for the very select few...

Detroit Auto Show, looks like the cheap chrome is replaced by aluminum or at least aluminum look alike, wish they would have done this for the rest of the lineup!

Cookstar

Fair point about the critique - but again only from an outsized expectation perspective on my part. I agree with you and Fabbrisd1 that the new GL is the best full size luxury SUV on the market, and since I need three rows, this is the only one that would prompt me to spend the $120k to upgrade. If I didn't need three rows, or the extra cargo space, I really like the Jeep SRT 8 with the new 8 speed auto for the money. I actually thought for a few minutes leaving the MB dealership this weekend about keeping the Enclave and putting that $$ towards a used Audi R8, but then I would never get to drive the kids anywhere in it and I knew the wife would quickly nix that one . . . And since she has already signed off on the GL63, I have got to press ahead.

Thanks for posting the Detroit auto show video of the Gl63 - that was fun to see.

Kind regards

South ocean1 - thanks for your comments.
I cancelled (emailed the SA to get the deposit back) my GL63 order that I placed with the AMG PC. My decision was based only on the fact that the SA was not honest. As I have posted earlier he said there were no allocations in the south. My SA at my regular dealership is amazing and he looked it up there were 12 allocations in the south with 6 in FL and 3 in TX. My initial decision to place an order with the AMG-PC was based on the fact that they will get the GL63 allocation first. It has turned out not to be the case as regular dealers got the allocations as well. For ex. Of the 3 allocations in TX - only 1 went to an AMG PC and their allocation is scheduled for a 5/1 build.

Having said that I am following Southocean1 and tomshop footsteps by being faithful to the SA at my regular dealer who has helped me selflessly by putting my interest first even when it meant me getting the GL63 elsewhere. The interesting thing is that I have never bought anything from this SA so in that context his honesty means a lot more.
I already have a GL63 order that he placed early in Dec. I am going to buy from him - GL63 or GL550. I still have time to decide since next allocations for the 63 will probably come March end which is when the GL550 is suppose to come. If he gets an allocation for a 63 then I will buy the 63.

12 GL63 allocated in the south:

5 - diamond white
3 - black
3 - obsidian black
1 - cinnabar red

Makes me think twice about the iridium silver I ordered.