Then you encounter a delicious set of
corners—the kind you would have loved to attack in a nicely setup, low-riding
supercar or sports sedan. You’re going too quick and halfway through realise
that the car won’t make it. So you tap the brakes, and wait for the car to
respond as it starts to understeer – all 2.55 tonnes of it protesting through
the 275/50 R20. Pretty sure that it’s the end of the road, you close your eyes
and pray. Someone somewhere hears your pleas and the G63 AMG finally responds
to your inputs, the ESP kicking in rather violently and the high CoG upsetting
its balance and stabilising in a matter of fractions with you emerging
surprisingly unscathed. You heave a sigh of relief, because the recirculating
ball power steering setup is vague at best, not helped by the body-on-ladder
chassis.
There's
a new instrument cluster and centre console, as well as a more generous
standard equipment level than its predecessor
You slow down and start to appreciate the
finer things. Like the pretty decent sound insulation, the slightly lumpy but
decent ride, the general high levels of fit and finish and even that roaring
and snorting V8 burbling away through the firewall. You know there are three
different settings if you decide to go off-road, but today you leave them
untouched, keeping them for another time. It's a bit snug in there, not as
comfortable as a Range Rover, but not too bad either. The rear seats are a tad
upright, but your German Shepherd will love the room he has to gambol around in
the boot. Lots of V8 Bi-Turbo badges, AMG stickers and chrome all around, with
the doors shutting with a thunk of a bullet proof vehicle, which it is not.
Despite
the way it looks on the outside, the G63 is anything but a utilitarian vehicle
on the inside
Everything on the inside is a mishmash of
Mercedes-Benz sourced parts – the instruments, Comand system, buttons and knobs
– you never feel like you are sitting in a basic, body-on-frame MUV. Even the
external door hinges look cool – it feels less boulevard cruiser and more like
a gunship for terra firma.
Most
of the switchgear is familiar Mercedes fare, too
Most
of the switchgear is familiar Mercedes fare, too
All of which raises the question – what
possible need made Akash buy a G63? For that matter, why would anyone buy
something which costs nearly as much as a Range Rover Sport Supercharged or
Merc's very own GL63 AMG (not to forget the slightly pricier Porsche Cayenne
Turbo S), all of which are more resolved, comfortable and capable of feeling
more in sync with an acceptable dynamic package. The answer probably lies with
the sheikhs who commissioned it in the first place, or the numerous armies
around the world, including the UN, who have asked M-B to continue the G-Class
product line at least until 2025 (though I won't be surprised if it survives
for longer). Lunacy, sheer doggedness and a sense of invincibility apart, it's
got character and charm not unlike a Morgan 4/4. And if the world does decide
to end in one big plume of nuclear dust, there's a good chance you'll find some
of these which survive the nuclear winter. If any one of us survives, that is.
