So I test drove a 2007 ml63
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,455
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From: Bay Area, CA
2009 C63 AMG
So I test drove a 2007 ml63
And I have to say...while I was impressed with the raw power of the car...the handling was lackluster. I realize this thing is a pig, but I figured it would at least be somewhat nimble in sport mode...but I couldn't even tell a difference.
Now I'm faced with sticking with my guns and getting the ML63 as I planned...or looking into the X5 or cayenne. What do you guys think?
By the way...will the renntech and other similar lowering modules allow me to change suspension settings and make the chassis stiffer? If not...what mods are out there to improve the handling of the ml63? With an airmatic suspension....I'd figure that there should be an easy way to make the suspension stiffer.
Now I'm faced with sticking with my guns and getting the ML63 as I planned...or looking into the X5 or cayenne. What do you guys think?
By the way...will the renntech and other similar lowering modules allow me to change suspension settings and make the chassis stiffer? If not...what mods are out there to improve the handling of the ml63? With an airmatic suspension....I'd figure that there should be an easy way to make the suspension stiffer.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Midwest
'08 SL550 Sport, '11 BMW 550ix M sport
And I have to say...while I was impressed with the raw power of the car...the handling was lackluster. I realize this thing is a pig, but I figured it would at least be somewhat nimble in sport mode...but I couldn't even tell a difference.
Now I'm faced with sticking with my guns and getting the ML63 as I planned...or looking into the X5 or cayenne. What do you guys think?
Now I'm faced with sticking with my guns and getting the ML63 as I planned...or looking into the X5 or cayenne. What do you guys think?
Coming from an SLK, it would be a major adjustment.(Until you tow your boat and four other friends to the lake on the weekend, or blast down an onramp with those same friends going...WOW!)
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Bay Area, CA
2009 C63 AMG
I think you're maybe barking up the wrong tree if you're thinking that the ML63 is any kind of corner-carving performance car. (neither is the Cayenne or X5 for that matter... I've driven both) It is as you described it... a handling pig. But it is immensly powerful off the line and is a blast to drive hard, as long as it's in a straight line.
Coming from an SLK, it would be a major adjustment.(Until you tow your boat and four other friends to the lake on the weekend, or blast down an onramp with those same friends going...WOW!)
Coming from an SLK, it would be a major adjustment.(Until you tow your boat and four other friends to the lake on the weekend, or blast down an onramp with those same friends going...WOW!)
The road comparisons I have seen comparing the cayenne, ml, and x5 all say that the cayenne and x5 handle significantly better than the ml though. Most Cayenne turbo's that are in my price range, are friggin ugly though. I'd love to get a GTS, but the 08s are still around 69K. I can get a ML for the low to mid 50Ks...
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Midwest
'08 SL550 Sport, '11 BMW 550ix M sport
I guess I'll just have to make a compromise and give up my SLKs performance...in the corners at least.
The road comparisons I have seen comparing the cayenne, ml, and x5 all say that the cayenne and x5 handle significantly better than the ml though. Most Cayenne turbo's that are in my price range, are friggin ugly though. I'd love to get a GTS, but the 08s are still around 69K. I can get a ML for the low to mid 50Ks...
The road comparisons I have seen comparing the cayenne, ml, and x5 all say that the cayenne and x5 handle significantly better than the ml though. Most Cayenne turbo's that are in my price range, are friggin ugly though. I'd love to get a GTS, but the 08s are still around 69K. I can get a ML for the low to mid 50Ks...
Good luck with your decision!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Bay Area, CA
2009 C63 AMG
too bad the gts is out of my price range...im trying to keep the price in the 50s. I haven't considered range rover because of all the horrible stuff I've heard regarding their reliability. Should I take a look at them?
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Joined: Apr 2003
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If this new car won't be your only ride then look at RR.
The thing with RR is that the car looks great, the interior is worlds ahead of anything else and the seating position is the best of all of them.
You'll curse it when its in the shop for a stupid reason, I know I have, but I've got 100,000 miles on my HSE and it still is as solid as the day I bought it - no squeaks, rattles, nothing - it just breaks down every once in a while - when you least expect it - mostly electronic gremlins, but never anything serious just a real pain in the ***.
But I would say that most cars nowadays are just as bad, Ive heard horror stories from BMW, and Merc.
My 997 broke down on the autobahn 100 miles after I just picked it up at the factory in Stuttgart. So no manufacturer is really any better than the other right now as far as quality goes except for the Jap imports.
Why not look at the new GLK, it looks great more upright like the RR, the ML still has that mom minivan look.
The thing with RR is that the car looks great, the interior is worlds ahead of anything else and the seating position is the best of all of them.
You'll curse it when its in the shop for a stupid reason, I know I have, but I've got 100,000 miles on my HSE and it still is as solid as the day I bought it - no squeaks, rattles, nothing - it just breaks down every once in a while - when you least expect it - mostly electronic gremlins, but never anything serious just a real pain in the ***.
But I would say that most cars nowadays are just as bad, Ive heard horror stories from BMW, and Merc.
My 997 broke down on the autobahn 100 miles after I just picked it up at the factory in Stuttgart. So no manufacturer is really any better than the other right now as far as quality goes except for the Jap imports.
Why not look at the new GLK, it looks great more upright like the RR, the ML still has that mom minivan look.
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From: Vancouver Canada
07 ML63 Silver Dead at 85k, 14 RS5, 05 SL600
ML 63 can keep up on the road
While the ML63 is certainly heavy and doesn't like the slalom, it is actually rather quick on the road. For example on the 1.8 mile bedford technical track evo uses the ML63 gets 1:30.05 sec (tied with the SL 55 AMG) and the SLK 55 AMG is 1:29.30 The Cayenne turbo was 1:29.55 For reference the M5 is 1:29.95 I guess I'm trying to say that even though it feels like a big boat it can keep up with most cars on that twisty road up to the cabin. A true sports car will leave you in the dust but is will have to do crazy illegal and dangerous speeds to do so. If you lower it an inch or 2 its handling improves significantly and might even keep up with the Cayenne.
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2007 ML63 ///AMG
To begin with, I love the exterior look of the RR Sport. I think it's one of the best looking vehicles out there. I always turn my head when I see one, because I think they're very sharp.
That being said, I think the interior is terrible, and it drives like exactly what it is: a truck. When I was vehicle shopping out of an 03 X5, it was down to an ML and a RRS. In my opinion ML63>RRS>regular ML, exterior wise. At the time, I could afford an ML63 so I was pretty much set on the RRS, until I drove it. I hated all the plastic in the interior, and it didn't feel right performance wise (it was the SC I test drove). For the amount of money (Canadian) it certainly wasn't worth it.
Now, my wife has an LR3 and the RRS's platofrm is based on the LR3. I have no illusions on what the LR3 is. A go anywhere truck for my wife, baby son and two dogs. For that, it performs exactly on what it is billed as. I think the RRS is trying to add an element on performance to the equation, and I don't think they got it right. The driveability (sp?) of an ML63 is miles ahead of a RRS, or even a regular ML (I recently traded in my 07 ML500). To me, BMW has got it right, and after moving into an ML63, the difference between the two, I believe, is too close to call.
That being said, I think the interior is terrible, and it drives like exactly what it is: a truck. When I was vehicle shopping out of an 03 X5, it was down to an ML and a RRS. In my opinion ML63>RRS>regular ML, exterior wise. At the time, I could afford an ML63 so I was pretty much set on the RRS, until I drove it. I hated all the plastic in the interior, and it didn't feel right performance wise (it was the SC I test drove). For the amount of money (Canadian) it certainly wasn't worth it.
Now, my wife has an LR3 and the RRS's platofrm is based on the LR3. I have no illusions on what the LR3 is. A go anywhere truck for my wife, baby son and two dogs. For that, it performs exactly on what it is billed as. I think the RRS is trying to add an element on performance to the equation, and I don't think they got it right. The driveability (sp?) of an ML63 is miles ahead of a RRS, or even a regular ML (I recently traded in my 07 ML500). To me, BMW has got it right, and after moving into an ML63, the difference between the two, I believe, is too close to call.
