X5audi & StanF18:
Yes I did consider the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, since its performance is the same as the ML63 AMG, whereas the Turbo or base model are not as fast as the ML63. The reasons I did not consider it further include:
- I don't really like the way they look. The front end is not very elegant with the huge air intake grilles that give it a sort of vacume cleaner appearance in my opinion. The body tweaks that Porsche did for the '08 model year are an improvement, but obviously were not available at the time I was in the market.
- It does not have a built-in satellite-based on-board communication system like the BMW ASSIST or M-B Tele Aid systems.
- The repuation of the few Porsche Dealers in the Northeast US are not great. They charge an arm and a leg for any type of service on all of their vehicles and are rude in the process. They don't even provide loaner vehicles!
- The Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, fully loaded costs about $25K more than a similarily equiped ML63.
If any of you are interested, here is a link to a YouTube video of a comparison between the two vehicles. It is in German (but then don't most BMW drivers speak German.....?). I though it was rather silly in the beginning since it has both vehicles being driven off-road, thru streams, up gravel embankments, all things that probably 98% of all owner's of either vehicles would never dream of intentionally doing. Who is crazy enought to risk damaging a $95,000 vehicle by doing this.....? For those who are, the Porsche has better mechanics to get through the rough than the ML does.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=X_w6a5O1d...related&search=
If I wanted a true racer SUV I would have bought a Jeep SRT 8. It is a true hot-rod that is faster 0-60 mph than either the ML63 or the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, but as you reach 90-100 mph the greater torque of the M-B and Porsche will allow them to pass the Jeep. The Jeep is a lighter vehicle but with an interior filled with very low-quality materials (plastic everywhere). But to be fair, it was designed to not exceed a certain price point and it has not....