FF replacement - Thoughts?

The FF is awesome but I find myself driving the G63 more often. Unlike previous G's (AMG) the G63 ride quality is easy to live with on a daily basis. It's a great truck and holds its value extremely well.

Mine has been modified by Kleemann and makes over 700HP. It's also been lifted 3" allowing larger off-road tires. All of the chrome and shiny bits have been replaced with carbon fiber. I removed the the side steps and replaced them with rock sliders. The AMG exhaust tips have also been removed and tucked up under the truck to allow for greater ground clearance. It's the real deal and spends a lot of time off road. I love G's.

 

The G sounds good but it's a lower pitch compared to the FF. Kind of a muscle car sound.

 

FWIW -

I'd put the FF and G-wagen in completely different categories. Both are great....so hard to compare, unless you can only have one.

We just got our 2nd FF, love the car. It's every bit a highly practical sports car....not a LaF or Speciale, but as close as you can get with 4 seats and storage.

We looked hard at the G63 AMG as our family SUV, my wife loved it and the AMG engine note was awesome (yes, rumble vs. V12 wail...both great). Our view with the G was that it was not the best driving vehicle for where we live, where we drive and how we drive. We went with the Cayenne Turbo S. The Cayenne is a blast on twisty 2 lanes, even with 2 kids and 2 dogs in it. Of course, it has 20 years worth of development time over the G...

The G is what it is....it's a tank, and the AMG version makes it a very fast tank. Would still love one, but as a "driver" with capabilities to be more sporty, the Cayenne was the pick (we also had 2 X5M's previously, the engines in both gave up the ghost around 60K miles so we're trying a different German car this time around).

G and FF are "complementary". If the G works for you (how you will use it and drive it) then by all means, it's awesome.

 

Just to throw it out there: Ford Focus RS. You could hang on to the FF a bit longer until its available in North America.

I know that suggestion will be regarded as heresy around here but, given that you have an Aventador, do you really need another high-maintenance, skittish exotic?

I have a Fiesta ST that I use as a city car and, I gotta tell you, I have a TON of fun in that thing.

If that's too pedestrian for you, I would join the chorus that advocates staying away from the Merc, especially the AMG versions. My experience is that they're way worse than Ferrari when it comes to excessive time back at the dealer. My Porsches have been miles ahead in reliability.

 

I'm at 12 years and four copies into the Cayenne, last two Turbo S's. I'm in love. A perfect car. I've only had 1st Gen and find it the most appealing body style. Just had the paint sealed again on the latest one with 22ple, looks and drives like new at 10yrs old. Not only a blast to drive but solid as tanks. The tts interiors are to die for. I watch the market all the time for the next one even though I have no intention of switching.

 

I get it. I'm sure we all get it. There are plenty of Cayenne's out there, and badging aside, very hard to tell one from the other if you don't know what to look for, as it would be say an AMG ML or GL. The G stands out, but not for me. Heard the ride is super rough and I don't care for the styling at all. Don't much care for Landrovers either, BUT, that's one that might get you more of the attention you're looking for. Not exactly an FF replacement though? I'm sticking with the Panamera Turbo S as the most direct replacement. Seems obvious to me, and they DO attract more attention than Cayennes. Some anyway, for now. There simply is no other exotic shooting brake though. No replacement is going to be as rare or head turning as the FF.

 

We've got a G63 also and I came from Range Rovers (however, the G is the wife's car and I still drive our Range Rovers more). I love the character of the G, and it's completely different from a Ferrari, but I love the sound of the AMG engine and it's surprisingly quick. Obviously terrible around corners, but hilarious when you're on the gas. It just sounds angry all the time.

I think someone said the G55 had leaf springs... completely incorrect info. All these Gs are on coils. Still, the ride is on the rougher side.

 

They should at least give you a Fiat 500 as a loaner, they have plenty of them sitting next door. Lol.

 

Rapide S ?

 

Neat car. Like it. Want one someday. Useless back seat.

 

Why not a new FF? - odds are you will get a good one

 

A 2014 991 Turbo is already $30K+ off MSRP, so it's decent value if you buy used now.

New 911 Turbo is ridiculously overpriced.

 

I drive my Bentley V8's as an everyday car and it is truly amazing! Especially in the wet. Plus it has an awesome V8 note.

I had the W12 before this and the sound was annoying as the car would always drone and it was using way too much fuel!

 

2011 911 turbo s is the mega value now.

 

I second the Bentley (v8 or v12) - stands out more than the TurboS, still kinda sporty, and really comfortable to counter the Lambo...

FWIW, my F-in-L has a G63, and has had a few, and never had any problems with reliability... Driven on crappy Chicago roads with no ride issues... It's not a Bentley or RR, but it's not meant to be either... If you can wait, I heard MB is coming out with a Maybach version of the GL550...

 

I went the other way. I would highly recommend you NOT buy a Porsche Turbo S. I drove a 997 911 Turbo with the Mezger engine. The car was fine and handled really well. However when I heard the sound of a Ferrari V12, I fell in love with it and proceeded to buy a ton of V12s starting from classic V12s (250GTE, 330GTC, 365 GTC/4) to a 612 which I drive every weekend. I love the Ferrari's so much I now despise the mass produced Porsches. I sold my 911 Turbo and I have never regretted it. Despite the German engineering mystique things still brake on the 911 and you'll find that repair bills arent much different with a Turbo vs a Ferrari. Also for everyday city driving in traffic, it will feel and sound like a Toyota Camry and you'll miss the days when just hearing the rumble of a V12 in idle put a smile on your face. My recommendation for you is to trade in your FF for a 612 and a 599 GTB and put some change in your pocket. My 612 runs fine and it's a modern classic and the 599 GTB is a beast. Even if one is in the shop you'll have the other to cruise around town with.

 

It is because it was cheaply made and it will not hold up with time. Also I would stay away from the non Mezger engine 911 Turbos. The DFS/A1 engines that are in the 997.2 Turbos (from 2008) and 991 Turbos are so cheaply made they do not even have cylinder liners. They are designed to catastrophically fail after some use and there will be no 'rebuilding' an engine. Porsche has a 'engine' replacement program where they will charge you minimum 15K to give you a new replacement. The Mezger engine 911 Turbos & GT3s can be tuned to 1000 HPs as it was used for GT racing.

 

>Drives a Bentley
>Worries about fuel

 

Id get another FF if you think yours is/was a lemon. There is nothing like it out there (at least if you need a AWD/4WD). Add a Novitec exhaust and some HRE or ADV.1 wheels and you are set.

G wagon has been taken over by rappers and such. Cool car but not the best image. Plus if you like sportscar, then that will not be it.

 

If you can get past the looks, the Porsche panamera. Simply an awesome car and very underrated. Built like a brick ****house, and amazing power with the turbo.

 

Not worried about paying the fuel. Heck, I reckon that I have one of the thirstiest collections know to man!

It was just so annoying having to be at the petrol station all the time.

 

My thought process exactly. So that's why I bought a new 2012 Maserati GranTurismo a few years ago. The best of all worlds. Great sounding exhaust note, 4 useable seats for 4 adults, much better looking than the FF (sexy body lines). a real head turner, and only $110K for a new car at that time. I still own it and still love it.

Porsche 911's are a "dime a dozen". The FF looks weird. Aston Martin is too expensive for what you get. Everything else only has two seats. I have 4 "twenty-something" kids, so 4 seats is important to me.

Maserati Granturismo is CLEARLY the only way to go!
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