Whoopsy

One word, WOW.

The ML63 completely annihilated the 08 Cayenne Turbo into pieces.

0-60 0-100 0-120 30-70 1/4mile

ML63 4.5 10.9 15.9 4.4 13.1@109


Cayenne Turbo 5.1 12.8 18.6 4.9 13.6@106


Jeep SRT8 4.4 11.4 17.7 5.1 13.2@105


How badly can one be defeated? Seriously, if the difference were 0.1 second I could chalk it up to reaction time and timing error etc. But it was quit a shock to see so much gap between these 2 trucks.

Unless someone is really keen on seeing a Porsche in the driveway, there is really no reason to buy the Cayenne Turbo, the performance is just embarrassing for what the car was billed for, heck a even a Jeep costing half as much can dance all around it. This coming from a Porsche owner no less.

From the 4 ML63s that I have personally seen, the build quality and fit and finish is on par with Porsche, imo I think it's actually BETTER than Porsche, the few Cayennes that I have driven all have little defects that I can spot.

One last Ace up the ML63's sleeve, if I see a VW Toureg next to me I wouldn't feel like I have been stripped, robbed and raped by Porsche knowing the Cayenne IS a lowly VW Toureg with nicer trims and stronger engines.

Granted the Porsche won the braking test from 70-0 by 4 feet, but the ML63 really got a knock out win.

For comparison sake the ML63 and the Porsche are in the same cross-shopped category and the Jeep is in a totally different price bracket. As I have opinionated I consider difference of 0.1 seconds to be within margin of error so I would consider the Jeep and ML63 to have the tied the 0-60 time.

For a truck that cost half as much the performance from SRT8 is quite commendable, but at the end of the day it's not really a truck in the same cross-shop category.

This article basically validated my decision to go for the ML63 instead of a Cayenne Turbo, it was one of the smartest decision I have made. ML63 IS the new benchmark for all sports truck to be measured.

DoctorD

The 08 Porsche Cayenne Turbo is quicker than that, or at least the one we tested for EVO magazine was. The difference was more like 0.5 second. Mind you the car we drove was dynoed at 524 bhp (rather more than Porsche's claim) so perhaps it was a press-enhanced special.

kostis

A point for the Cayenne (though i 've ordered an ML63) is its offroad capability which may make a difference for (the very very few) people who plan on using it in this way.

Whoopsy

524 at the wheel? WOW what a ringer

Anyway yes the Cayenne Turbo is MUCH MUCH better offroad, but seriously anyone here even take a $100k car going offroad? Winter snow storms in the NE do not count

I tested a 07 Cayenne Turbo S before I ordered the ML63, it just does not feel like it's faster than the ML63, the new Turbo is 20hp less than the old S and the numbers from Automobile actually feels about right.

HouTxCLS55

"One last Ace up the ML63's sleeve, if I see a VW Toureg next to me I wouldn't feel like I have been stripped, robbed and raped by Porsche knowing the Cayenne IS a lowly VW Toureg with nicer trims and stronger engines."

+1 I have always felt the same way. I owned an Infiniti Qx56 and always felt that way about the armada but this is a whole different ball game at this price.

Common porsche change it up a little on the outside.

greenbeast

In my opinion, I also like more ML than any Cayenne...

But if we talk about power, the Cayenne with just few tweaks on the engine can be upgraded for 650hp with no major mods thanks to it turbocharged setup.

I just love to se the 6.5 liter AMG win turbo motor into th ML chasis!!

Whoopsy

We are talking about stock cars, tweaked cars are a whole different ballgame

But yeah the turbo on the Porsche is a great asset if someone decides to chip/mod it, hp will always be much easier to come by for turbo cars.

I don't think the 63 engine is gonna get a turbo or a supercharger in the near future, and definitely not in the current form. The compression is quite too high for it to take any forms of boost. But in stock form the engine is a fantastic piece of work, standing toe to toe with any engine currently in production.

DoctorD

Agreed. The '63 engine is the best engine I have ever owned, it has effortless torque, just loves to be strung out the red-line and yet feels so smooth. It also sounds so characterful when driven hard, pops on the overrun when changing down manually and makes a 2.3 tonne SUV move like a vehicle half its size.

When we tested the ML63 against the 2008 Cayenne Turbo one of the biggest differences though was just how ordinary the Cayenne sounded.

kokanee

I asked a renntech dealer about the tranny ECU upgrade . Apparently Renntech told the dealer I shouldn't bother until I get the 100 or 150 hp upgrade coming!! So maybe 650 isnt out of the question for the ML. Now that would be fun.

masmole

Finally received my copy of Automobile in the mail. Great article! Makes me glad I chose the ML63 over the others, even though my car hasn't actually arrived yet. I especially liked this comment from the article regarding the ML63:

The ML63's steering proved more linear than that of either of its german competitors, prompting senior editor Joe DeMatio to comment, "Imagine, Mercedes steering that's better than a BMW's or Porsche's!"

And I thought hell would have to freeze over twice before that would ever happen.

greenbeast

Here is the plan on my ML...

Actually I put AVUS 22", lowered and took off the charcoil filter.

Then will upgrade the ECU with Renntech, added headers exhaust and air intake when it's available.

We expect like over 575HP!!!

Regards!!

HouTxCLS55

Do you have any pictures to share??? I have a 08 coming in aug white/black. I would like to see what it looks like lowered w/22"!

spyderman

Wow...is right. Those numbers are truly looking very nice.

Disappointed that the Porsche didn't do better.

All hail the new King of the SUV's