S4Aero

Perfect license plate for the ML63 AMG I ran into today.

It was a beautiful day. Clear and cool, and I had an errand to run for the restaurant.

I was about 500 feet behind the ML when it dawned on me that it wasn't your "run of the mill" MB SUV, if there is such a thing. The driver was a guy about my age, and obviously a car enthusiast. Why else would you spend $80K (plus) on an SUV?

I pulled in next to him at a light and glanced over to see him admiring the RS4. I gave him a thumbs up for his (really) nice ride, thinking that was the end of the exchange.

I was wrong.

He gave me a little grin and a nod forward. Universal for "want to run that thing?"

Who am I to pass up a little red light fun?

Traction control - off.

Sport mode - on. (yeah, I do a lot of city driving in "non-S" mode)

Climate Control - off.

Revs - up to about 5000.

Green light! Clutch dump.

A little squeal and we're off. I pulled about 1/2 car length immediately that stretched to about a car length by 60. I've been working on powershifting 1-2, and 2-3, and absolutely nailed the 1-2 shift. That's what gave me the car length. I hit about 80 and shut it down with about that same (maybe a little more) lead.

When we got to the next light, he rolled down his window - suitably impressed, he said that he "hadn't ever lost a sprint like that before." I told him that "nobody had been that close before". He said that he'd heard about the RS4, but now knew what all the fuss was about.

We smiled, he turned right, and I continued straight.

I gotta tell you, that is one fast SUV. I'm sure that the RS4 is faster, but a missed shift changes today's result. Next time I'm near an MB dealer, I'm gonna swing in and take a look at that truck. It's already on the my short list of possible SUV additions to the stable.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

RICHBOY

Nice review! The ML63 is seriously built as I'm sure you know all to well. Did you both get off the line at the same time?

MoSs AMG

if u guys kept going to 100 or over the ml63 wouldve took u and started pulling away ... the weight differances gave u the advantage to start better.

audi_rudy

cool little story you have there. Glad to see someone using there car for what it was made for showin up those "tough" straightline AMG guys

The Artist

very cool story..the RS4 is indeed a freakin monster..just drove it yesterday again.. amazing car..

thos fast suv´s scare me..the Cayenne is supposed to be one of the better handling..and lord did i crap my pants when i floored the turbo..its a very wierd and nasty feeling..
far from the overly cofidence giving RS4 Quattro

S4Aero

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the ML pulled away at higher speeds. I wouldn't be surprised if it couldn't keep up with the RS in the twisites, either.

The launch looked to be about even to me.

PC Valkyrie

Wow....do you do that with every encounter? That's quite a high rpm launch! But then again, presumeably that's what you need to do to maximize your acceleration off the line.

DaSilva

Thanks for sharing S4Aero Cool little story!
I have seen the ML63 on the road a few times and it's sick! (not tested*yet)
but I still think the PCTS is the best SUV.(IMO - tested*)

RS4 vs ML63
Winner: RS4

S4Aero

No, that's the highest I've ever launced at. I did some experimenting with lower RPM launches, but it tends to bog a little at anything below about 3500 - 4000. There's just so much grab with the quattro, that if you don't get a little spin, it tends to choke for a second until the revs come back up.

Believe me, I very rarely launch the car from 0 mph anyway. My most fun comes in the twisties, not at the lights. But, it was fun to see what it does when you really try to come out of the hole as quick as you can.

Tumbo

Than you for the very interesting story S4Aero. I always enjoy reading them
Nice that you put that MB where it belongs