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Comments
Isn't it though. Land Rover, the keeper of the bottom position in any and everything concerning quality. You must overlook things salesmen say because often times they're just here to shamelessly (and cluelessly) bash any competitor in the hopes of making the products they sell look better.
M
Now if you would still like me to I will post a more thorough review of the car but be sure I will not pull any punches.
The lack of a safety catch in the power seat alone would disuade me from ever considering that car at all. I am a full sized adult that weighs well over 200 lbs. Keeping in mind that those rear seats are not really designed for a full sized adult and that mostly children will be back there and children love to play with buttons what do you think will happen?
Some 40 lbs kid is going to hit the close button and get pinned against the second row seat. When I was pinned against it it was at the chest level but a small child is going to have his face pushed right into the seat back.
Thank you, I tried the same thing in a GL450 Premier Edition a while back just as I would in any other vehicle and the seat didn't put any "force" on me either. It simply stopped moving, this about them crushing someone is utter nonsense.
M
M
Now I have broken just about every one of my ribs multiple times so maybe that is part of. I still think the seat should have a sensor in it to prevent it from moving when there is weight upon it.
M
M
Thanks.
I currently own a 05 Range Rover and have been very happy with the product. No problems, drives through anything, but the gas station. I'm thinking of trading it in for the Supercharge Range Rover. I looked at the GL, but it resembles the Toyota Forerunner. I own and owned several Mercedes and have to say that their quality has gone down tremendously. What lured me to buy our current Mercedes was the lease special that they had. How could I pass up a $55K car for $515.00 with tax for 27 months at 15K miles a year. It makes a great third car.
As it relates to Land Rover’s quality, I've had 25K trouble free miles on my 2005 Range Rover, which is more than I can say about the unreliable Benz I traded. I’ve seen too many older model Land Rovers on the road in the five states I’ve lived in to believe the majority of Land Rovers are as unreliable as the surveys report. Feel free to believe whatever you want!!!
Even if I currently had minor problems, I'd still buy another Land Rover. The classic styling EASILY turns heads. Certainly the same can’t be said about the boring soccer mom minivan look of the GL. $65K for a souped up M-Class, err minivan – no thanks!!!
The GL is a just a larger ML for sure, but it is no mini-van.
I'd take a Range Rover Sport Supercharged over the GL or ML too, well except for maybe the ML63 AMG. I said from the beginning that Land Rover still has the edge in luxury SUVs over various offerings from MB, BMW, Audi, Lexus and Cadillac. Land Rovers are unique while the others aren't so much so, IMO.
M
I never really got the chance as by the time I had a chance to drive the truck and shoot some video with my little digital camera the posts had already been moved here and I was being attacked.
I have already asked if anyone wanted to see the video from my more complete review but I am not going to pust it if I am going to be crucified.
Oh but of course, I'd like to read the review and the see the video!
M
Please continue in Mercedes Benz GL-Class: Prices Paid & Buying Experience
Alarm Replaced (Warranty)
Driver side Window (Warranty)
Transmission Shift Control Module (Unde Warranty)
Mass Air flow Sensor ($300)
Other than this, I did 80 miles without any major problems. I was never stranded or never had to be towed. Used to get about 20 MPG on highways. My experience was never so bad that I will rule out a Mercedez vehicle.
I am really happy with my Landcruiser and the only reason I am considering the GL320 CDI is because I drive about 60 miles to work each day and could use the milage. I average about 16 MPG in mixed driving in my Landcruiser.
I am still worried about the Mercedez quality, but I am hoping that they have got the message by now with all the bad press that they have been getting. I would still wait for the second model year. The 1998 ML320 owners had a lot more problem than I had.
1st Question for you: I have challenges getting the Cayenne cold in the summer in Las Vegas - the AirCondition runs on full blast for a long time and the rear is still hot - how is the 3-Zone A/C of the GL working out in the heat, does it cool the car all the way to the back? Noone could tell me yet if it actually has a separate compressor for the rear A/C
2nd Question: What extras/add-ons you feel are must haves and which ones are not working out as good as you thought - any recommendations?
3rd Question: Has anyone got any idea on resale value of the GL - any prediction on loss of value in 3-4 years?
Tks for your help
T
True Cost to Own
Cadillac/GMC/Suburban: Lots of space, but pretty mediocre quality of finishes and details, did not appear very refined. Drives like a big truck, while pretty fast accelerating, once you turn the wheel these SUV's show their construction on a ladder frame, not very reassuring. The main reason why not buying them though where the breaks - stopping from 70mph take a good 20feet longer than the others :confuse:
R-Class:Looked promising on paper, drove it when it first came out but it was not convincing, sluggish and neither better than a Minivan nor an SUV, not my choice. Pretty good discounts on the car by now, though. While it has 6 seats, luggage space is virtually none (enough for a case of water maybe, but certainly not for family food-shopping if you have the seats full.
X5: I don't like the dashboard of the newer BMW's (remember the curved dashboard in the 90's of BMW, they had created a great cockpit feel. The X5 drives okay, but is beaten in every category (including price) by the Porsche Cayenne
Porsche Cayenne: Great car, drives very very sporty (I actually have one right now), fast, great handling in corners, great breaks, great resale value, unfortunately only 5 seats - but if you don't need more, it beats all others hands down (and with the new Titanium Special Edition is is virtually the same price as the GL, I calculated my new GL to within $300 of the Cayenne with almost the same equipment.
Audi Q7: the Audi was actually my hope for replacing my Cayenne, same base just a bit stretched with 7 seats, but I was very disappointing when driving it. While the outside looks are subjective (I think it is too bulky in the front and the back is almost a carbon-copy with a Toyota Sienna), I was disappointed by the way it drives. It is substantially slower than the Cayenne (almost sluggish, despite the 350HP), handles more like a truck, breaks where soft and not convincing. While it has 7 seats on paper, the back row is not usable for anyone above 10years old
Mercedes GL: While I was a big Mercedes Fan when I was young, the last 10 years I was not convinced by their cars, too soft, too comfortable, not sporty. The local Mercedes dealer is a business associate and tried to convince me of many cars, but never really successful, even after driving SL, SLK, R-class and E-Wagon over several weekends as trials. With this ' I know that I won't like it' approach I had the GL one weekend and I was surprised. While it is softer than the Cayenne and calms your driving style, it actually is exactly as fast. Interior quality and finishes seems very good, I like the look and feel. The electric third row is priceless and it actually has quite a bit more space than the Q7 - both trunk space as well as fully usable seats for adults in the third row. Exterior Styling: it really is a question of personal taste, while I don't get excited about it and you won't get the 'wow', your car is beautiful' stares that you get in the Cayenne (yup, even after 3 years), I don't think the GL looks offensive (though think it is better looking in black than in a lighter color as black integrates the many black plastic parts. The base price of $55K is deceiving, MB does not really make any with cloth seats, thus leather is a must for $1500 and by the time it is at the dealer they are almost always $65K (and then you still don't have any of the visual add-ons like bigger tires, running boards, chrome etc).
I spend quite a bit of time looking at all these cars and literally ordered a black GL today (and having said this, my heart still bleeds a bit giving up the Porsche, but I have the space requirements of my little son to blame for this).
Can verify the GL = "fast" observation with my new one, as just got a speeding ticket, going 50 (per the cop) right after leaving a hairpin curve... can't believe it, since I remembered slowing the supposedly "top-heavy truck" in the tight turn.
One tiny contrary opinion: I was reminded that running boards wreak havoc on women wearing skirts (mud adheres), if you have any, so I eschewed that and have had no complaints, with the standard (non-adjusted) height quite convenient even for our smallest passenger.
As to the R - without the rear seats there is a lot of room. I was thinking the diesel engine would redeem it's other shortcomings. I don't believe they are selling the gas engines too well, and deals can be made, but my it's ugly. And those back seat doors - Yikes!
Edmund's long term test on the R is more flattering than I thought it would be.
I drove the Yukon XL and a Sequoia today. They are trucks, plain and simple.
I do like the GL a lot, but the price is out-a-sight. I wish it were selling poorly, so a deal could be made there!
I read that the BMW doesn't have much room either.
Too many choices, and not enough choices!!!
thanks
As a results, all these great engines that are available in Europe (think GL420 CDI - 310hp and double the torque of the GL450, dito the 10cylinder VW Touareg) are not available.
But to come back to your question - no maintenance issues or increased costs
A typical diesel engine in a truck might hold 14 quarts or more of oil. The gas motor that goes in that truck will probably only hold 6-9 quarts. Preventative maintance is slightly higher but generaly service intervals are longer and the whole engine will just last longer so again it balances it out.
comments?
besides the nameplate/prestige..would anyone consider buying the upcoming hyundai veracruz over the gl450?..costs much less, more cargo room, same/more leg room, better warranty than the gl450?...or am i dreaming?
anyone?
JD Power also includes percivied design flaws in at least one of their studies and that does not have anything to do with reliablity. The don't even define what a percivied design flaw is. So a cup holder that someone thinks is too far away or too small or even too large are all problems that go into their report.
Land Rover has also completly reinventied their lineup since 2003. None of the vehicles that were around in 2003 exist today with the expeption of the Range Rover and it has an entirely new powertrain and navigation system.
comments?
We got to give some credit to these rankings from JD Power.
On the other hand, the 05 Range Rover, I was able to get $3000 discount from sticker. After my experience with it for over a year, I would gladly pay full price for it. I was concerned about the reliability, but hearing from my friends about their experience I decided to go for it. My feelings was what could be worse than a Mercedes. I've had no problems with the Range Rover.
My R class has some problems here and there, tranmission is starting to have a jerk to it. Read the ML forum and find alot of unhappy owners. GL is made in the same plant. Its sad that Mercedes problems continues to linger.
Here are the things that are important to us:
GL:
More Power than GX
More luxurious than GX
Better handling than GX
Power folding mirrors (not avail on GX)
Integrated sattelite radio (only available as a separate unit on GX)
Power folding third-row seat (goofy third-row in GX)
GX:
Not as large as GL (12 inches shorter)
Rear-seat entertainment (also available in GL but for more $$)
Integrated Bluetooth (separate and expensive add-on on GL)
The difference in price is about $100/mo on a 3 year lease.
Should we get the Lexus and spend less money while still getting a nice vehicle ($1,000 over invoice), or should we go with the GL for only $100 more per month (selling below invoice - end of month deal)?
M
I got my GL last Sunday, love it, it actually ended up quite a bit cheaper than the Lexus - maybe you have to kick your dealer a bit harder (paid $63K incl. Premium/Leather/Sunroof/Keyless/Woodwheel/3-zone (do not skip this feature)/I-pod - List was $68K).
Reading through your list you already made up your mind - go for the GL, you will not regret it
I have never liked the looks of the GX, but my wife likes it alot. They are also extremely common in my area whereas I have yet to se a GL on the road. She is still partial to Mercedes though and has loved our past vehicles. We just turned in our 2003 ML350 Inspiration edition. It was a really great car. I loved the looks of it and it drove great. These cars, especially the GL, feel so solid when behind the wheel. I would really miss that if we went for the Lexus.
As soon as I told my dealer that I was considering a Lexus he immediately came down in price not wanting to lose a long time customer. I called back the Lexus guy to see if he would come down as well, but he replied that the "price is where it needs to be" (about 1k over invoice). This kind of ticked me off. The Mercedes dealer seems to be bending over backwards to keep my business and the Lexus guy seems to care less if I buy or not.
I seriously doubt that I will ever get the GL for cheaper than the GX. Not with the options I want anyway.
The GL I am considering is a Peuter/Black GL with the Premium package, & trailer hitch for about 61k *875/mo lease (3 year / 15k miles/yr.)
Were also thinking about the Macadamia interior but are worried about it holding up with young kids in the car.
Anyway, I'll post my decision when its all finalized. I need to complete this soon because there are only 24 more hours left in the month and they are really dealing right now.
thanks