your merc looks fine :)


but much prefer your Cooper S in the background:thumbup:

Nice ride. Why did you get rid of the 4.8?

Owned the 4.8 for nearly 3 years, new X5 is coming out shortly so prices were taking a free-fall, on 3 seperate occasions my 4.8 was driven into and has never been the same since repaired. Also I have an X6 on order and needed something to fill the 18 month gap.

Otherwise I loved my X5 (still do) so it was a difficult decision.

I’m glad you haven’t been put of by the press demonising the 4x4 community here in the UK.
The MB looks great, I would have loved a 4.8is but the fuel prices here would have killed me!
Can’t wait to see the X6! :thumbup:

Nice choice for a change. Glad you like it.

The MB looks great!

I've been looking at the ML's but was a little put off by the location of the indicator stalk (being very low)

Has it taken much to get used to?

I keep struggling with Merc's universal stalk. It's stupid IMHO, and I end up turning the cruise control on instead sometimes. I'm getting better, but I can't help thinking now and then how nice it would be if Mercedes had just followed the more logical ergonomics as Audi and BMW do...

well steve a couple more days have gone by. I am sensing that you prefer the ML63 for everything except twisty roads and braking.

Is that correct. If you had to chose again will you still chose the ML63?

Curtis

Yes that's right.

The main plus points of the ML63 are;

- performance (much quicker and more effortless)
- gearbox (more often in the right gear and smoother than the Gertrag unit in the 4.8is)
- seats (front and particularly back seats are miles more comfortable than the X5)
- effectiveness (it really is 'much' easier to cover ground quicly in the ML63)

But... (negative points)

- The X5 is more fun to hustle. I have posted on here before about how I loved to unsettle my X5 and then use X-drive and the inherent balance of its chassis to recover a situation. In the ML63 it's competent and effective but not really 'fun' to hustle
- The controls on the X5 were much more ergonomic than those in the ML. Mercedes have some appalling ergonomics that frustrate me to despair sometimes. It really is THAT stupid..
- braking (the 4.8is just had better feel and control, the ML is hampered by Mercedes' brake assist technology and you sometimes wonder who is in control.

Overall I miss my X5, but appreciate the virtues that the ML brings that weren't possible in my old 4.8is. I would choose to do so again, but can see myself coming back to BMW for either the 4.8is replacement in the E70 or the X6. But I expect to stay in the ML for another 2 years.

I took a friends ML63 for spin recently but the "fun factor" and the in-control feel was missing. Agree on braking too. I will wait for X6 coming in 2008.