Hello Folks,

My first post! Great forum!!!

Hopefully I'll be a new Porsche owner in the near future. I was looking to replace my wife's Audi S6 with a Cayenne S and would have one by now if not for the horrible Porsche Dealers in my area, topic for another thread. But, my Mercedes dealer called and told me the 2012 ML63 AMG is going to be here in March/April and surprisingly it prices out the same as a well fitted Cayenne S.

So, I currently drive a SL55 AMG and love the car, never owned a Porsche, what would you do? A 2012 Cayenne S or a 2012 ML63 AMG? The car will be for my wife and I plan on replacing my car later this year with a Panamera GTS or Turbo.

Thanks for the help.

Al

 

The ML's get good reviews but have not seen a test drive of the AMG.
My guess will be that the Cayenne will handle significantly better especially with PDCC and PTV. The Mercedes will have a definite weight to Horsepower and Torque advantage and should easily win in 0-60 times. The Interior is yet to be seen, but AMG cars have nice upgrades so it may come down to personal taste here. Because the car is brand new, there is a chance that the Technology may be better in the ML. Especially after reading that you cannot listen to the Radio unless the engine is running in a previous post. That seems so 1981. Is it really true?

 

Tough one. The MB is nice especially in AMG clothes. You need to drive both since the is a massive diff in the way they drive. My guess is that the MB will work for the wife but if you were the driver you would prefer the CS. Good luck

 

For me, I will pick the ML63 over CS. Top trim of ML + AMG interior + AMG Engine say it all. Considering you are buying a car for you wife, power is not really a matter, the luxuriousness and handling (PDCC optioned)of CS is surely better than a ML.

 

The ML63 amg starts off at 95k. The CS at 65k. Although, the CS comes with nothing and there are more standard features on the ML63, I still say it will cost 10k more comparable equipped.

 

Went ahead and configured an S and Frank is spot on. Should be approximately 10K difference in a well equipped (by no means fully loaded) Cayenne.

 

I drive an 07 ML63 and my wife a 2006 Cayenne S. her new '12 CS is coming in a month.

The ML has way more power and torque. No comparison. 5000lb SUV with a sub 5 second 0-60. The ML also feels so planted and solid at highway speed.....my friends say it feels like it has been chisled out of a block of steel riding on rails when cruising at 90+. Cant speak to handling since a Cayenne with PDCC should be a whole new ballgame.

As for styling, I prefer Porsche.......feels more sportier inside and out. Both are great cars. If I had to get another SUV for myself right now, I would get a Cayenne S or Turbo......I dont like where MB styling is going and the Porsche can be personalized more. Really the power in the ML and the Turbo is overkill. Hard to resist though.

 

Hehe...I just estimated on that.

Don't forget the ML63 and I think the G63 or G55 were rated the worst in gas mileage <15 in real life.

 

My wife had a 09 ML63 and now a 12 CS. Before we purchased the CS I asked her if she wanted the new ML instead and her response was NO that too many people had MLs so you may want to take that into consideration.

Both cars are great but for every Cayenne you see on the road there are probably 10 MLs

 

Yeah Cayenne definitely wins when it comes to exclusivity. I see AMG's on the road almost every day, but not as many Cayennes.

 

I average 17-19 mpg depending on driving conditions FYI (ML63)

 

That's not true at all.


You can turn the radio on or continue listening to it after the car has been turned off. It will just turn off after a couple of minutes(around 10 I believe). it even says it when you turn the radio on with the power off, something like 'Extended listening is not available with ignition off"

That is almost standard in all modern vehicles.

 

Thanks for the great feedback. Regarding price, I configured a 2012 CS as follows:

- Premium Package Plus
- Classic Silver
- Two-tone Natural Leather
- Trailer coupling
- Panorama Roof
- Entry & Drive
- PDCC
- 4 Zone Climate
- Heated steering wheel
- Walnut Interior
- Burmester

with Destination it comes in at $99,555. The real option not available on the ML63 is the Burmester. But when configured similarly with Panoramic roof, full leather inside, multi-zone climate, trailer hitch, etc. I comes in around $100k even (base price has not been released yet). If I add performance package then it sits at $108k.

So $10k or less difference in price, also the ML63 comes with 20" wheels the CS with stock 18"...tough decision. After a slew of BMW M's and Audi Ss we've had a couple of Mercedes and kind of tired of them but the ML63 is a beast of a truck compared to the CS. If it was for the CTT then it would be much easier to get the Porsche....

Decisions, decisions....we'll see

Thanks again.

Al

 

Personally if I were to spend close to $100K on a CS, I'd just splurge a bit more and go for the CTT. Then you wouldn't even be thinking about the ML63 at all.

 

ML63 all day!