I have two cars - this MB, and a 2015 GTI 4 door. I am thinking about combining them into one instead, and the GLE 400 keeps coming to mind. I like what a turbo does to a torque curve, I like the presence of a Mercedes Benz, and I need the ability to make clunky Home Depot runs. I’m also growing a little tired of not being able to see around larger cars in front me, pot holes putting me in the shop, and road noise. I’m thinking of a 2017 era, not new style.

Anyone have a GLE they can give me any warnings or support over? Are they basically the E sedan in SUV formatting? Any gremlins with the biturbo V6 as they age past 100k miles (assuming of course proper maintenance and no abuse).

I drove my E back from NC this past weekend, and that damn seat bottom started on me again for the first time in two years. And sitting so low with my feet kicked out flat to the pedals started to get to me a little too. I think I’m growing towards wanting a little softer feel overall and coming up a little higher off the pavement.

 

I'm zooming in on an S213 E400 for the reasons you describe as a next do it all vehicle - I'm too used to modern, cheap speed to live with an E350 and be happy with it for long, AMG's are hen's teeth, not to mention the newest AMG with jump seats was sold in 2009 and I could use the jump seats once in a while for kid events. S213 comes with a 1" taller wheel/tire package so a lot more sidewall than the under-tired 212's had

I think you'll be unpleasantly surprised at how much quicker a GLE with the TTv6 is vs. a W212 350 sedan - it'll be torquier yeah, but it's not going to be a huge improvement ebcause it's carrying around an extra half ton and shoving an additional 100% more frontal area throguh the wind on the highway

As for sitting down and standing up, every little bit of exercise helps! And soon you won't need to see over/around the other cars, at the rate people are going we're going to be able to look under them to see ahead in traffic. And if you get adaptive cruise, hey, it's the car's problem anyway!

 

I've found the gle63 ticks off a lot of boxes.... fast, roomy, comfortable, home depot runs... the ml63 was good to... was initially looking for ml550/gle550 but hard to find, unsure how many gle400's are out there ?

no SUV is gonna go like a GTI, just can't make 5k lbs nimble but the AMG's do handle quite well...

You will be surprised how comfortable the AMG seats are in a ml/gle...

start test driving

 

Thanks guys! I am bouncing between the GLE and the Cayenne (base). I know the Porsche won’t be turbo (too expensive), and rarity of the 400 as well - might be normal engine instead. But that’s ok - it’s not really about speed for this decision. Granted don’t want a total dog either that can’t get out of its own way. This decision will be comfort with a sense of style and sophistication.

I love the GTI for what it is. Unfortunately though, as a cruiser, it’s just not there for me anymore after 10 years and 3 of them in a row. Need a little more comfy. It’s not a great place to be when inching along in DC traffic. I will miss it for sure though on certain days.

 

I see your in DC, fly and buy to Florida is doable... if it's near Sarasota i will go take a peek...

 

Thank you for the kind offer! I thought about FL as well, as my folks are retired down in the Naples area. Thought about making it a trip to see them via 1way plane ticket and drive back. Challenge would be getting my two trades to them though. Not sure how that would work?

 

oh right forgot about the trades lol

 

Trades don't bring much value, especially when you are getting used car from a dealer.
I was considering small SUV since we do have lot of desert around, but it is always a compromise.
Older people buy SUV or truck for easier getting in/out, but that is not applying to us yet.
When we could use AWD occasionally, we don't really have to and paying high annual cost to "use it" once a year is not making you looking smart.
Obviously new technology is always tempting, but our recent E has keyless go, parktronic, blind spot radars and distance radars, so we are good till electric cars will take over the market.
Who know, maybe they figure out nuclear power by then?
So far I enjoy filling up our Bluetec every 2nd month. 7-800 miles on tank is hard to beat.

 

And sitting so low with my feet kicked out flat to the pedals started to get to me a little too.
This will lead you towards the GLE rather than the most beloved Wagon (IMO will hold up the reselling value, but with all the developing EV market, my statement might not be valid in coming years)
The seat bottom thing wouldn't be a problem in the newer models past 2016. Even the MB-Tex is comfortable (Loaner vehicles W213 E300 with MBTex has W212 leather feel).

 

Part of my learning curve climb, I just realized the GLE 400 became the GLE 43 instead. Now I see many of them available in CPO Land.

I called my mechanic and asked him about the V6 biturbo engine - said they’re very good and reliable. Certainly more complicated, but quite good.

I think it’s time (to try and find the time) to go for a test drive soon...

 

I looked at a GLE this past weekend (350). Liked it quite a lot....but... not going to do it, going to stick with the E for another year or so. Get some things fixed and get my financial house of cards in better shape. It’s hard to replace a car with only 45k miles and a loan balance of $15k. We’re going to wipe out the car loans in February and keep going with what we’ve got. Wife is really up next for a new car, but doesn’t see anything out there that she likes enough to justify the costs these days over her current Toyota Highlander. I should not complain here. We looked at the new GLE, very nice indeed, but we dont like the depreciation hit, will wait another year or two for the 20k mile lease returns/CPO’s to show up.

looked at a CPO GLS450 as well. She nearly sideswiped an S class with it. Ummm...no.

 

I'm also considering swapping my E550 for a similar year ML550. i love the engine power, but I hate swapping cars with my wife every time I need to get something big from point A to point B, and she complains about driving my E over her Nissan Murano, simply because she doesn't like to sit low. I'm wondering if the ML (GLE) would drive well enough to get me into an SUV again? I got out of them after getting tired of the body roll, and back into sedans. Straight-line performance should not be far off from the E, just a bit heavier. I don't want to "downgrade" to a V6, love the biturbo M278. The E400 wagon is a consideration, I was looking into their tuned output which is pretty comparable to my current stock power. I just don't really like the wagon form as much as the ML or Cayenne. It would only be cool in AMG form really.

I did test drive a Porsche Cayenne S (2012) as a possible trade, but found that it just didn't have the acceleration power I'm used to. I think the Turbo would be adequate, and I love that the air suspension can drop down for lower CG, but that also comes with it's inherent rate of failure. Good thing is Arnott just started making the replacement air suspension parts for the Cayenne. After reading some reviews and forums I found that the Cayennes are pretty reliable. The repair and maintenance bill for a Porsche scares me a bit. I'm a used car buyer, like not certified, just older. I don't like spending more than $25-30 K for a vehicle, and especially hate taking giant depreciation hits of new cars. I would probably be looking at a 2012-2013 model which are currently selling under $30 with decently low mileage. I have ridden in a 2013 Cayenne turbo I believe, and it was literally STUPID fast for an SUV. Felt nearly unsafe as a passenger. Prices for ML550 are in the same range year for year as my E550, I just need to test drive one. They are kind of rare, only a few available in my large metro area.

 

Don't make the mistake I did years ago. Bought ML55 for my wife, only to discover that the 5.5 l engine is not that much for heavier ML, so acceleration was so-so when stiff suspension on bumpy California roads was creating headaches.
Had to sell SUV at big loss.
That was W163 body, when newer SUV went long way from the design, but so did sedans.

 

According to Car and Driver tests of 2012 ML550 and 2012 E550 sedan both with the M278 biturbo, the ML goes 0-60 in 4.9, the E does 4.3, so less than a half second difference to 60. Very rarely do I keep my foot on the go pedal hard enough to make that time in normal driving. Anything under 5 seconds feels pretty darn fast.

 

In comparison for the 2012 model Cayenne, the S trim N/A V8 only makes 0-60 in a slow 5.9 seconds, while the Turbo model makes it in a brisk 4.4 seconds. A BIG gap.

 

jonUF02, I had initially gone looking for a ML550 a few years back... tough to find... came across a ML63 2012 and figured I will give that a go.... I'm on my 3rd one, the latest bought new Oct of this year.... unfortunately never got to drive the ML550 so dont know how they ride but the 63 version is great far from wallowy, very crisp handling, I think it rides good in comfort mode.... the 2012 i think was maybe 4.5 to 60 ? the new one is about 4 flat... too bad i didn't see this yesterday I was in Orlando, i could have popped over...

 

Very cool. I probably wouldn't go for the AMG for the same reason I didn't buy the E63, maintenance costs are high and the 550 is more power than I can realistically use. Prices are way better on the 550s. If I really want the power then I can take it around the corner to Eurocharged and pop a tune on it to bring it near stock AMG levels. Suspension may be totally different on the ML550 though.

We're probably getting a GL550 for the wife early next year, so I'll see how that is in comparison to the E550. Trying to talk her into the GL(S) over some hulking American Expedition or something.

 

if she likes to drove the e550 she won't like the hulking SUV's even with the big motors they seem slow...

 

She actually hates the E simply because it sits low, she would rather drive her Nissan, she gives me grief every time I take it to tow my skis for the day. She does like the power though.

 

Is it 4M that she considers too low? Those sit about 1" higher than RWD.
Unfortunately life is full of compromises. I loved driving SL500, but hated getting out of it.
Then getting into my F350 would be hard without step bar.

 

No she just doesn't want to drive a sedan or anything with a shorter point of view than a standard SUV in general, like most Americans, the sedan is dying.

I have to say I'm annoyed driving at night these days, maybe I'm getting old, but it seems every oncoming car has their brights on shining in my eyes. I think it could be all the high power headlights now combined with most being taller than mine.

 

got to admit i hated SUV's........... till i got one to pull the boat.... got to admit i like sitting up high... with the AMG it handles pretty damned well so don't miss that part in the sedans... its rough at my age getting in/out of the Cab lol

 

I am currently on 1200 miles trip in my Superduty. When high seating sure helps in predicting movements in traffic and helps a lot in rain, now in California, I miss the comfort sedan gives me on freeway bumps, even I have Sulastic hangers on my F350, who smooth the ride. Than in couple of emergency braking, wife couldn't help not to comment "that ain't Mercedes"
Can't have everything.

 

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Update? How is the search going?