View Poll Results: Which one?
Infiniti QX56
2
16.67%
GL - Class
9
75.00%
Other - (Post Suggestion)
1
8.33%
Voters: 12. You may not vote on this poll
GL vs. QX
12-23-2005, 01:53 AM
#2
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2014 C250 sport
We rented a QX56 a few months ago and while it had nice features like a back up camera, nav,xenons,etc. everything felt very cheap, like it all came from the Nissan Titan/Armada (except the wood trim). It road softer than our ML55, and didn't jiggle or shake as much, but it was obvious is was a body on frame truck chassis, not solid and carlike.It had a very jumpy throttle, but the engine was powerful and pretty smooth(not Lexus like though,in smoothness or quietness), and there were some creaks/squeaks/ and rattles. The GL is unibody so it will ride better, and most likely have nicer materials and build quality. I'd have the GL and day over the QX. The '07 Cadillac Escalade ESV looks like it's going to be pretty nice too though.
01-27-2006, 04:14 AM
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$5X,XXX USD according to Schmedlap Mueller, the SUV division chief, in his press interviews this week in Detroit:
GL's target market: Families, celebrities
Sunday, January 15, 2006
MICHAEL TOMBERLIN News staff writer
DETROIT - The full-size GL-Class was designed to be the big daddy of the Vance family - and it arrives at a time when some have to wonder if a full-size sport utility makes sense when pump prices hover over two bucks a gallon. Mercedes-Benz isn't concerned about the timing, convinced its biggest SUV will carry a sticker price lower than expected and certain it will appeal to families despite higher gas costs. "Just because gas prices are $2.50 a gallon doesn't mean you don't have three kids still," says Ron Mueller, sales manager for Mercedes vehicles in the United States. "You've got Jimmy, Johnny and Suzie, you can't just say, `Johnny, you've got to go stay with Aunt Mae now because I can't afford to carry you around anymore.' You still need passenger capacity, you still need cargo capacity."
Mueller said that with the GL, Mercedes has given dealers and the customer a third distinct choice, along with the R-Class and the M-Class, also made only in Alabama. Test models of the GL are now being produced, with the SUV expected to arrive in dealer showrooms in the spring. "The primary market is families, families, families," Mueller said. "It's our first heartland vehicle I feel very confident in. It's the first vehicle that dealers in the truck market know exactly who the market is."
Celebrities
Apart from families, there is another market. The popularity of Mercedes' Gelaendewagen as well as the Cadillac Escalade with the upscale urban market - particularly sports stars and hip-hop artists and rappers - makes that another area to direct sales. "Being Mercedes-Benz, we've got interest in the urban market as well," Mueller said. "We expect to see some of that. That customer likes M-B as a whole and they also like how they can customize it. We will cater to that."
Final pricing for the GL-Class hasn't been set, but Mueller said the company is shooting for the mid-$50,000 range, far lower than some had expected. "Everyone was expecting us to go after Range Rover with our pricing, so they were expecting $72,000," Mueller said. "But we said, no, we're going after the mainstream segment."
He said Mercedes is looking to sell from 15,000 to 20,000 of the GLs this year and turn that into a 20,000 to 25,000 average over the vehicle's life cycle.
Hitting those numbers will include bringing the automotive press to Alabama for a test drive and closer look in the coming days. Later, Mercedes will invite automotive journalists to California's Napa Valley to experience some quality time with the vehicle. An Internet marketing campaign has kicked off with more traditional advertising slated to start in April. The initial advertising will focus on Mercedes-Benz engineering. A separate campaign later this year will focus on the family of vehicles made in Vance.
GL's target market: Families, celebrities
Sunday, January 15, 2006
MICHAEL TOMBERLIN News staff writer
DETROIT - The full-size GL-Class was designed to be the big daddy of the Vance family - and it arrives at a time when some have to wonder if a full-size sport utility makes sense when pump prices hover over two bucks a gallon. Mercedes-Benz isn't concerned about the timing, convinced its biggest SUV will carry a sticker price lower than expected and certain it will appeal to families despite higher gas costs. "Just because gas prices are $2.50 a gallon doesn't mean you don't have three kids still," says Ron Mueller, sales manager for Mercedes vehicles in the United States. "You've got Jimmy, Johnny and Suzie, you can't just say, `Johnny, you've got to go stay with Aunt Mae now because I can't afford to carry you around anymore.' You still need passenger capacity, you still need cargo capacity."
Mueller said that with the GL, Mercedes has given dealers and the customer a third distinct choice, along with the R-Class and the M-Class, also made only in Alabama. Test models of the GL are now being produced, with the SUV expected to arrive in dealer showrooms in the spring. "The primary market is families, families, families," Mueller said. "It's our first heartland vehicle I feel very confident in. It's the first vehicle that dealers in the truck market know exactly who the market is."
Celebrities
Apart from families, there is another market. The popularity of Mercedes' Gelaendewagen as well as the Cadillac Escalade with the upscale urban market - particularly sports stars and hip-hop artists and rappers - makes that another area to direct sales. "Being Mercedes-Benz, we've got interest in the urban market as well," Mueller said. "We expect to see some of that. That customer likes M-B as a whole and they also like how they can customize it. We will cater to that."
Final pricing for the GL-Class hasn't been set, but Mueller said the company is shooting for the mid-$50,000 range, far lower than some had expected. "Everyone was expecting us to go after Range Rover with our pricing, so they were expecting $72,000," Mueller said. "But we said, no, we're going after the mainstream segment."
He said Mercedes is looking to sell from 15,000 to 20,000 of the GLs this year and turn that into a 20,000 to 25,000 average over the vehicle's life cycle.
Hitting those numbers will include bringing the automotive press to Alabama for a test drive and closer look in the coming days. Later, Mercedes will invite automotive journalists to California's Napa Valley to experience some quality time with the vehicle. An Internet marketing campaign has kicked off with more traditional advertising slated to start in April. The initial advertising will focus on Mercedes-Benz engineering. A separate campaign later this year will focus on the family of vehicles made in Vance.
Last edited by ClayJ; 01-27-2006 at 04:20 AM.
