This would usually be a tricky one for me, but driving it in some truly awful weather with widespread flooding, it dawned on me that it’s the most versatile car I’ve ever had.
It’s an unpopular car, it’s both an SUV and an AMG. Many people don’t like SUVs, and often SUV owners and AMG owners agree that the two shouldn’t be combined.
It’s a 2007 W164 ML 63 AMG with the M156 naturally aspirated 6.2 litre V8 engine wihich was first our family car, later my commuting car, and now my winter car.
We’ve owned it forever and have covered 130,000 miles in it. It’s the only 15 year old car my main dealer has seen which has been fully serviced on time, every time.
It’s big. It can swallow four adults and luggage for a three week road trip with ease, with space for the dog (properly harnessed) or fifth adult if required.
It’s comfortable. It can cover 1,000 miles in a day without batting an eyelid, and driver and passengers hop out feeling almost as fresh as they did when they set off.
It handles. It’s not a sports car - far from it - but its handling is neat and predictable, cruising on the autobahn or attacking a B road. The ride is remarkably good too.
It shifts. It might be big and blunt but my goodness it goes well. Don’t believe the suggestions that a high revving V8 doesn’t work in an SUV body. It does. Perfectly.
It hustles. On a B road blast, a combination of raw pace and superb visibility means that a sportscar needs to be fast and driven irresponsibly to cover ground more quickly.
It’s charismatic. It has real character. Perhaps imperfectly perfect. Stood next to much more desirable metal it’s the car which attracts the most positive comments.
It screams. Whilst slightly muted compared to other models, it offers a softer edge to the M156’s remarkable vocal range from deep rumble to roar and on to a scream.
It tows. This is where the qualities become rare. Cars that can do all of the above can’t tow, either legally can’t or straight forward can’t. This one can, 3.5 tonnes in fact.
It wades. Also rare. With 4matic (4WD), winter tyres and airmatic suspension set high it will wade through deep water and plough deep snow. It goes anywhere.
Sounds too good to be true and must have some flaws, and it does, but they’re both expected and easy to overlook. Those flaws are part of the car’s charisma
It’s heavy. You can’t deny it. It’s a big car and therefore expected, but it hides it well, very well. It’s fast, rides and handles sweetly, and tyres last a very long time.
It’s thirsty. But again it’s expected, and not
that much more thirsty than other 63 AMG models. What it costs in fuel is more than offset in the complete lack of depreciation.
There are many memories, which don’t make it a better car to do anything and everything, but they do make it even more special to us. A truly great car.
A three week European tour with my family, ending with our first trip to the AMG engine factory in Affalterbach. Some of the staff even came out to look at it!
Driving through the night from the Italian Lakes to the Midlands, via the Mont Blanc tunnel, and in heavy driving sleet and snow, making our Eurostar just in time.
Driving a W204 C 63 owner to despair - between roundabouts on an NSL dual carriageway - both four up, he was with his mates - and they found it highly amusing.
Chasing a McLaren 675 LT across country. One of my favourite cars, so watching one make progress at close range on a crisp winter evening was special. And fun.
Driving around Donnington Park circuit splitting a Maserati MC12 and a Ferrari Enzo, all accelerating hard out of the Melbourne Hairpin and Goddards.
