Originally Posted by MB.Suv

I was going to order a 2013 or 2014 ML350 BT, when out of curiosity, I test drove a 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel.

What a fun vehicle to drive. Everything just seemed right. The vehicle drove smaller than the ML, was more agile, and sporty but also seemed to not give up anything on luxury. To my surprise it gave a non-fatiguing ride, which I predict would be very good on long trips (like the ML).

Anybody go from a recent model Cayenne to an ML? Or from an ML to a Cayenne? Please share your experiences.

The Porsche is at least $12,000 more (similarly equipped). The Porsche dealer is 40 minutes away, while the Mercedes dealer is 10 minutes away, which is a concern of mine.

Which one will hold up over time and be very reliable is also very important.

I have owned MLs since 2000, so please feel free to talk me back into an ML

Originally Posted by tstires

Regarding ride quality the Cayennes were a much stiffer ride (mine did not have air suspension) and accordingly felt more stable going into corners at relatively high speeds vs. the ML which has a relatively soft ride. The early Cayenne transmissions had rough and harsh shifts at times whereas the ML is butter smooth in shifting. Late Cayenne models I understand shift much smoother as Porsche has constantly revised the transmission software. Years ago Porsche had top notch customer service and would go out of their way to make a customer happy. As they became a mass market manufacturer under the ownership of VW they kept their exclusive pricing and adopted the mass market customer service approach of VW. After spending over $110K on my 10th Porsche, a 2012 911S I experienced nothing but constant issues and recalls with the vehicle and asked to speak with the regional customer representative after the dealership overheated the engine to the point of warping heat shield etc. during the last repair attempt. I was told by Porsche "customer care" that Porsche representatives only return customer calls or meet with customers if they decide to and that only messages could be left. More than seven months after calling and sending a letter to the President of PCNA I have yet to receive any response whatsoever. Last fall I traded out of the 911S into a Maserati and will never look back. The ML is a solid truck and from all indications built by a company that still values its customers.

Originally Posted by pb12

I'm sorry, but that's a specious statement at best. Regular Porsche "maintenance" is never going to cost $4,000 on a new Cayenne. Was this a used car, that needed, say, new brakes or something of the like? And to say "nobody wanted it" is again, a Rediculous and hollow statement. Why? There is something missing From this story I would say.

Michael

Originally Posted by cookstar

Porsche Cayenne is better than the ML is almost all aspects but you also pay $$$$ more as well

Originally Posted by galion

I had the base gas V6 958 Cayenne and I like the MB better.
The Cayenne VW sourced VR6 engine was nowhere near as refined as my wifes Benz 350, it was coarse, unbalanced and felt rough on acceleration.
It was slow arround town compared to the ML, torque numbers are weak in the low rev range.

Originally Posted by galion

I had the base gas V6 958 Cayenne and I like the MB better.

The Cayenne VW sourced VR6 engine was nowhere near as refined as my wifes Benz 350, it was coarse, unbalanced and felt rough on acceleration.
It was slow arround town compared to the ML, torque numbers are weak in the low rev range.

Originally Posted by MB.Suv

I took the CD and ML BT out for another test drive. I would agree that the Porsche diesel engine does not seem near as refined as the ML. It seemed to vibrate and buzz. Not as smooth as the ML. The ML is very refined in every way. Maybe this is why Porsche is rumored to be developing a new diesel engine for the 2015 Cayennes.

I just am having a hard time getting used to the monsterous/high dashboard of the ML. It also has a hood "in view" of the road, which makes the vehicle feel bigger than it is and always reminds me that I am in a big suv.

The Porsche has such a nice low slung dashboard and clear view of the road.

1) Did you all get used to the ML's hood/dashboard heavy view?

I am also having a hard time getting comfortable in this model's ML seats. They don't seem as ergonomically shaped to my back as previous years, and they seem to rely more on air bladders, which doesn't seem to be a good substitute for proper seat contouring. The ML seats feel like a fairly staight back, without the comfortable curve in the seat like previous MLs. Could just be me though.

2) Anyone else have comfort issues with the ML front seats?

The Porsche 14 way seats are very comfortable as the air bladders don't even need to be activated to give proper contouring and support.

The Porsche has better road feel, drives smaller and has a better front view of dash and road. The ML seems more refined, lesser road feel, a bit more of a luxurious ride, better wind isolation.

For those that have owned both, or have extensive test driving experience of both vehicles:

3) Do you feel that the sporty drive characteristics of the the Porsche may be fun at first but will ultimately be a bit fatiguing in the long term...or is the ride nice enough or should I say close enough to the ML that it is a nonfatiguing vehicle on 2 or 3 hour trip? Around the city I think I would prefer the Cayenne due to its smaller driving feel and front road view.

I still love everything else about the ML (except for my concerns noted above).

I know this is a Mercedes forum and I do appreciate how the posters have given the pros and cons of both vehicles in a neutral manner. Not sure things would be so civil at the Porsche forums.