AutoSaurus

If I can get the same deal (at invoice basically) then I'm going to get the GL b/c I really need the room plus I want the towing capacity more than anything. I like the looks of the ML better and its a perfect size but I've got two growing kids and a boat on the way so I need the increases. I'll trade back the ML most likely. Of course all this depends on the diesel release too. If it comes sooner rather than later then I'll wait on it.

chinhster

I was going to do that too until I saw another post where the guy said he could get a used one similar to mine (in terms of original MSRP and miles driven) for $44K! That would be a $10K hit (paid a little over invoice) for a vehicle I've had for 3 months.

Anyway, I think I'm gonna wait for them to work out the kinks of the first year model as well as for the 550 so perhaps this time next year. After I got my ML, I read many of the posts from last year of problems with the first run '06 MLs. My ML built several months later doesn't seem to have any of those problems.

That doesn't mean I'm not going to run down to the dealership once they get them to check 'em out! But I'm definitely going to wait to hear from the early adopters.

AutoSaurus

The new brochure I downloaded calls it:

"In an age of MONSTER TRUCKS, A Gentle Giant" "More Mercedes to Love."

JackStraw

"Enormous" is a subjective term. The Honda Odyssey is an inch longer and an inch wider than the new GL. Do you consider that vehicle enormous? I can tell you that it seats 7 comfortably and there is plenty of room behind the third row for luggage.

The Escalade ESV, Ford Excursion, Chevy Suburban and Yukon XL are 2 feet longer and a few inches wider than the GL....pretty darn big if you ask me.

I think Mercedes should have come up with something in between, for those of us with large families.

AutoSaurus

I currently drive a 04 Toyota Sienna Limited and I certainly don't consider it enormous by any means. I used to drive a Sequoia, which I really liked, but it was just too big and sucked gas like crazy.

Wolfgang

I got a good chuckle comparing the cargo volumes. MBUSA says the GL has 83.3 cu ft. That's smaller than the 85.4 cu ft of the original 98/99 MLs...

http://www.mbusa.com/pre-owned/1999/...ory=dimensions

AutoSaurus

Another example of the 2nd row seat being folded forward for access to the 3rd row.

Scoop55

Is this a pretty standard way to access the third row in an SUV? Is this how Volvo and Land Rover do it as well?

AutoSaurus

I'm not certain about those specific two but in a GM SUV, Sequoia and Expedition either side will fold forward manually and some automatically.

Scoop55

Hmmmm, automatic sounds neat, but slow (just guessing). I'm thinking when I open the door I want to yank that sucker forward quickly so the kiddos can get back there. Wait too long, and they'll be crawling over the seats! Oh well.

ClayJ

Quoted as 4 seconds -- is that "slow"?

vraa

Toyota Landcruise I think does that fold forward thing.
LX450 and LX470 Lexus both do it.

Juice it

This is the good thing about the 2nd row captains chair option on some SUV's. The kids can hop in and kids or adults can walk through the middle, no need to move anything. You loose a seat but gain a lot of convienence especially with kids.

JackStraw

Correct. So where did the genius designers at MB place the DVD player for the rear seat entertainment in the R? You got it-- on the floor between the captains' chair in the second row. Nothing like the kids stepping on that on their way to the back seat! In the GL it is not a problem because that part of the second row seating does not flip forward.

Scoop55

That's right on the edge......

ClayJ

LOL

That's what I figured -- and why I asked....