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oops.
Anyone have an opinion as to how much mark up they're making on these two dealer installed options?
Any difference for the 430 vs. 320? (We're probably aiming at a 320).
If MY'01 is ending early, does that imply there's a glut of MLs now/soon?
Thanks
2) It's smallish. 5 fit comfortably with room for lots in the back. If you open up the 3 row and sit 7 then there's only a tiny space in the back.
3) MPG for me is not great, I don't check it a lot but I think mine is about 16 mpg. Reliability good for 2000 and onwards.
4) I'm 5'11". I can sit in the 3rd row probably indefinitely.
There's no comparison b/w comfort/handling of Sequoia and ML. ML wins hands down.
Got the standard line about the brakes squeaking. Two of my friends have 99 ML320's and theirs do not. I told dealer that I found his response unacceptable and would not pick the car up until it was corrected.
This is my first experience with the dealer (Benson Mercedes of New Orleans). They appear uninterested in my warranty problems thus far.
I hate to be confrontational, but it appears that it's the only way to get things accomplished there.
The other service that Enterprise rent a wreck serves is that by renting us lousy cars it reminds us how good our own cars are. I never take the rent-a-car overnight, preferring even to pick-up my own car at 6pm if necessary.
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
1) smooth and quiet ride
2) don't need a lot of space
3) no off-roading
Seems like you should be considering something other than a SUV.
I've been on the look out for another vehicle myself because sometimes when I don't have a carful of people in the back I'd rather be driving a coupe.
If you use a lease on a car, you can also write off 100% of the lease, so you can consider cars in your list of choices.
thanks for the help-
kevin
With this, you can get a rock-solid installation, and enjoy the benefits of the Britax seat.
Mercedes is considering a smaller M-Class to compete against the new X3 that's coming at year 2003
The new M-class will be name "MLK" it will be based on the smaller cheaper A-Class model.
it is rumour to be all time 4wd, perfect for the rugged condition
hmm.... anybody have pic. of this car or heard of anything more?!
Thanks
Drew: BTW, we've talked about the dangers of side air bags before. Today, I saw the most irresponsible father ever. He was next to me at a stoplight. I looked across and his son, who looks about 3 years old, was asleep, sitting, without a seatbelt, leaning against the door. That's just death waiting to happen.
Check out the following site for some informative articles on the Quality issues.
http://mbspy.bacosys.be
Happy Mother's Day! I attended the M-B PowerTrip yesterday here in Los Angeles- it was pretty much the same thing as last year, except you could try out most of the other models, not just the M-Class. After signing a waiver at registration, and some light snacks (no meatballs this time), there was a short, theatre-style multimedia product demo, pointing out some features of the E-, S-, M-, and C-Class, etc. that they rolled into the tent. In the same tent, there was a stripped S-Class showcasing its safety features, a BOSE'd up C-Class, a Continental Tires booth, an M-B Credit Corp. booth, tables and bar stools, but no arcade driving games like last year.
Outside, there were a few models lying around to poke in and out of, like the C wagon, C Sports Coupe, C sedan, SLK, E wagon, CL, and ML320, all silver. You could line up to get your picture taken in an SL in front of a faux sunset background if you wanted, and there was a popcorn booth and free bottled water outside too. Mid-way into the event, which lasted about two and a half hours, they performed the M-Class roller test, which highlighted the 4-ETS+ system, and a frame twister demo, where an ML320 (with one lucky volunteer) was up on these rails, (on diagonally opposite wheels) and they rocked it back and forth and showed how you could still open and close the doors. Be sure to enjoy the Top-Gun style music blaring from various speakers, as an accompaniment to the revving engines. But onto the courses....
The first course was a lap consisting of an evasive maneuver test (with this cardboard kid "running" into your lane), a suspension test (with rubber mats scattered all about), an ABS test (a stop sign after a sharp curve), a short straightaway, some S-curves, an emergency lane change (watch for the lane with green light), and a slalom. Most areas had posted speed limits ranging from 15-30 mph, and the entire course was outlined by chalk marks and orange cones. One could finish it in about a minute, depending on how fast you drove. This course had these cars on it, and you had to get in a different line according to the class you wanted to drive, (e.g. M, S, CL, SL, CLK or E):
ML320
ML430 Sport
CL500
CL55 AMG
S430
SL500
CLK430
E320
E430 Sport
The SL and the CL had the longest lines.
There was another course for the C-Class and its competition. It was about the same layout as the one described above, but you could drive the either the C240, C320, C230K(?) Sports Coupe, Lexus IS300, Audi A4, or BMW 3-Series (I forget which one). There were separate lines for each car, and I think that one of the Sports Coupes was a stickshift.
The last course was the hot lap, with a bunch of curves, turns, straightaways, speed slides, fishtails, and other assorted driving scenarios that I don't get to encounter here in LA. You strap yourself in with a professional AMCI driver in this course. There was no video tape of your lap like last year's ML55 AMG run, and you had little hair nets to wear under the helmets this time. The cars available on this course were:
CLK55 AMG
CLK430
S55 AMG
E55 AMG
ML55 AMG
CL55 AMG
There was only one line, and as the cars arrived, you were called out depending on which one you wanted to ride in. I thought that this was the best part of the event. These drivers are CRAZY!!! The AMCI reps who manned (personned?) the courses weren't very knowledgeable about the products, but overall things went pretty smoothly. I wanted to know the name of the color of one of the C-Class Sports Coupes, (I guessed it was Orion Blue but wanted to make sure) and one rep I asked said it was "Mercedes Blue" and that any dealer would know what it was. He said that "all manufacturers have the same colors but call them different things" and that the blue in question would be called "Silver Blue" on Dodge cars. He lost all credibility with that remark. BTW, I brought 2 un-pre-registered guests with me, and they were able to get in without any problem after filling out a form and showing that they were over 21 (to drive the courses). We got a lanyard with a badge, and a baseball cap as freebies for coming.
That seems to be about it, feel free to e-mail me with any other questions/comments you may have, and take care everyone! This list rocks!
-Angel B.
no ML yet :-(
I test drove the : new C320, new C kompressor coupe, CL500, SL500, and ML430 on different little tracks they had setup.
Also drove the : IS300 and BMW 325i.
They also presented the new C wagon.
No AMG vehicles were allowed to be driven. There was however a larger track setup for the AMGs. They were driven by 'professional' drivers and we were allowed to sit in the cars as they raced around. VERY NICE . With out helmets on, my father and I , were driven in the CLK55 and S55. Got some video sittting in the CLK55, but I think it will take a while for me to make it an mpeg. There was an ML55 just sitting there and not available for runs. Towards end, there was only the S55 and the CLK55. The E55 and CLK430 was retired to tire changes which seem to take forever. There wasn't a CL55 to be seen on the track.
My last test run was the ML430 - grin. It appeared to be a 01 sport. I took the baby and pushed her really hard. Burnt lotsa rubber. When I got to the end, a 'MB guy' came up to me and said 'I was going far too fast' [i was supposed to have slowed down at the last series of turns-geez], he discreetly leaned over the window, took my 'tag' and crossed out my name. I wasn't allowed to drive after that. haha - I was like thanx a lot. Good timing though, our 2.5 hours was almost up and that is when we managed to sqeeze in a ride in the S55. That was the last ride ... we took that pic with a silver SL, we filled out a survey, got a MBpowertrip hat in return and it was over.
12noon session people began to arrive already.
Overall, the experience was pretty fun. Wait time was a little long. Due to lack of time we didn't get to test drive other MB cars like the CLK430 and the S430. I would also have liked to see the ML55 available for test drive.
To all the mothers out there, Happy Mothers' Day
dt77
'banned MBpowertrip driver'
I'd look at the new Street pilot color unit and for around $600 you will have one that you can use in any vehicle and save yourself $900.
chris
chris
Thanks!
What's up with that?
Was it that he only had 99s and up on his lot, or is there some truth to that.
I found the most beautiful 98, 35k miles, ups system, phone in dash, 1 owner, flares all rig. he paid 47k in dec.'97, wants 27k for it.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated
I would avoid the 98's. My turned in 1998 went for 27K last December (with other options that are not on the one you are considering like 3rd row seats). If you are really attached to this vehicle, I wouldn't pay over 21K tops. Just my thoughts.
Also with the 3rd row seat, is it possible to keep a child seat there for my kid and is it safe?
Thanks
It is possible to put child seats in the back and it is safe for them.
Please note that this M-class is equipped with the optional Sport Package. This is not how the new front bumper + foglamps will look. Note the new non-Sport Package wheels though (they're painted black on this vehicle, but won't be for the production units). Personally, I don't like the new wheel design from what I've seen. I bet they're using these particular wheels instead of the Sport Package wheels since there are currently no winter tires in the ML430's/ML500's/ML55's tire sizes.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=3645&sid=178&n=156
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Andrew.
The guy I had paint it, I think he sand papered it, then sprayed. I told him i didn't it shiny black. Just the same black as the grill. The result, a matte black.
pics below...
dt77 - http://fullspeed.to/ml