A Week AT The East Coast With Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG

The G-Wagen has witnessed decades of change around it, but has resolutely stayed true to its original form. We spent a week with the G63 AMG on the East coast of the US to see just what’s given it such an enduring legacy.

I’ve always been a great fan of the Gelandewagen. It’s a purposeful vehicle after all. Square lines, body-on-frame chassis, and locking differentials – all of which adds up to serious go-anywhere credentials.

The G-Wagen was originally developed as a military vehicle, which was first offered for sale to the public in 1979. Well, it must be doing something right if it’s been on the market for the better part of 35 years. Like the Porsche 911, it’s one of those machines that just refuses to go away. They keep launching modern replacements, but the G-Wagen simply soldiers on – in keeping with its military heritage I suppose.

But, unlike the 911, which has been carefully honed and refined over the years, the G-Wagen has stayed largely the same – well, with the exception of slotting a 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 under the bonnet that produces obscene horsepower thanks to the good folks at AMG.

According to a plaque on top of the engine, Kristian Baban had carefully hand-crafted the immense power unit that lives under the angular bonnet of the G63 AMG that I would be living with for a week on the East coast of the US. Now, despite the fact that this a modern classic, and I love it to bits, I was a little wary of the G63. You see, to me, the G 500 seemed to make a lot more sense. It has stout V8 power, and it’s not trying to be something it’s not – a high performance machine. That’s what an AMG is, isn’t it – and, frankly, how can a two-and-half tonne body-on-frame off-roader qualify?

Well, before it finally drives off into the sunset, I was determined to spend a week finding out. What I do have to admit is that it is gorgeous – in a rugged, don’t-mess-with-me kind of way. It’s also fairly impressive on the road. Even in a place like New York, where they would likely ignore a falling meteorite and simply go about their business, people stopped and stared. Oh, and that’s to say nothing of the sound! If someone could just bottle up the V8 burble of the G63 through the absolutely exquisite side pipes and channel it into every single electric car that’s trying to appeal to your senses, they would solve the conundrum that is the future of motoring. One day, I drove North-East to the affluent New York suburb of Greenwich, Connecticut, to visit friends and family, and they felt the ground reverberate and the trees echo with the sound of the G63 before it even pulled into the driveway – I kid you not, that’s the kind of impact that this machine has.

On the American Interstates, it’s very easy to feel a tad small and inadequate. You could be in an S-Class, and be quivering as a big-rig or even a Ford F-350 Super Duty pulls up alongside – of which there are more than just a few. Well, for the first time, I was at eye-level with these mammoth machines. Not only that, I was louder, fiercer, and far faster – just in case a quick getaway was required.

So, the G63 was starting to make sense then? I was seduced by the solid, square lines. The way the doors on the G-Wagen shut is worth the price of admission alone – a bank vault would do well to lift one of these doors for its use. Even in a place like New York city, where you have to tussle for road space with the NYC yellow cabs, it provides the sense of security of an underground bunker. Visibility is great, and you can look down with consternation at the cabbie who invariably cut you off. Of course, the option always exists to leave him in a trail of fast disappearing V8 rumble. The power is simply addictive. The transmission is Merc’s trusty 7G-TRONIC, which had paddles on the steering wheel – that I didn’t feel the need to use even once. When you have 760Nm of torque and 537 horses to unleash you don’t really have to try all that hard. And if you do need to get off the trodden path and go through (rather than around) Central Park, it retains its three locking diffs – the buttons for which are prominently displayed on the centre of the dash.

In the cabin, everything is covered in leather and wood – even the old-school grab handle for the front passenger. The heated seats are incredible, with a myriad (and then some) of adjustments. The gauges and mini gear selector are typical AMG fare – and somehow don’t feel out of place at all. When you start questioning the G63, though, is the first time you go through a pothole. It sends a shudder through the chassis (it is a body-on-frame after all) that reverberates in your fillings. All I know is that, after a few days, I felt the need to write the Mayor of New York about a couple of spots in Manhattan that could swallow a lesser car whole – let’s just say that I had to brace myself every time I came across a pothole that would quite easily be dismissed by a more modern SUV. Then there’s the steering, which just about vaguely follows your intended direction of travel. Body control and grip levels are surprisingly good though, thanks to the 275/50 R 20’s at all four corners.

So, of course, there are compromises that you wouldn’t expect in a car that costs as much as a country house – and no, it doesn’t have the 24 cubby holes and 14 cup holders that you demand in a modern car. But all of that is part of the appeal. All of that just endears this timeless warhorse that much more. This is a square and analogue machine. And with the AMG drivetrain, it’s also raw and visceral. Quite simply, it’s a guilty pleasure – one that we may not have the luxury of indulging in for much longer unfortunately.

It’ll be a sad day when the curtain finally falls on this incredible machine. It’s a true legend. I may have been a bit sceptical going in, but after a week with the G63 I get it – I get it completely. And I miss it. A lot!

Weekend Getaways from NYC

If the skyscrapers of Manhattan feel like they’re caving in on you, there are any number of weekend getaways that you can plan from New York city. The Niagara Falls are just a six-and-a-half hour drive inland. An hour less will take you to Vermont, which in autumn has trees in every shade of red and orange. In summer, if you want to stay on the coast, you can head three hours North East to the historic port town of Newport, Rhode Island – which was once the summer home of some of the wealthiest families in the US. Don’t miss the famous Vanderbilt mansion – better known as ‘The Breakers.’ Built in the Italian Renaissance style, it speaks for the gilded age brought about at the turn of the 20th century as America truly established itself as a world power. And if it’s summer playgrounds that you’re after, you won’t want to miss the Hamptons. But if you do plan on driving down Meadow Lane – otherwise known as Billionaire Lane – in South Hampton, to check out some of the more modern mansions of the rich and famous, you’re going to need a machine that’s at least as impressive as the G63 AMG to mix it with the Porsches that are the staple diet in this exclusive little hamlet.