After owning mercedes vehicles since 1972 and seeing a steady perpetual decline in fit & finish I thought I had purchased my last mercedes being a 2004 CL500. The vehicle in my case and what seems to be usual and customary for circa 2000-2005 mercedes vehicles was a technological nightmare ( and still is). Also having a 2002 ML 500 with about 90,000 miles with little problem made me feel It was an exception to the rule by going over the talk groups.

Wanting another vehicle I didnt want to gamble with an overpriced , overly complex vehicle ( mercedes) with poor fit and finish & barbaric technology.

I was about to order a Q7 Audi after swearing I will not purchase another poor quality mercedes and I checked the mostly favorable comments about the GL on this newsgroup. Contacting both audi and mercedes the mercedes dealer located a vehicle similar to what I wanted before audi.

mercedes gl450 vin 4JGBF71E77A170494
( what I wanted )
Barlo red exterior,Macadamian leather
289- Wood steering wheel
218- rearview camera
P01- premium package
324- sunroof package
319- lighting package

(It also came with )
067- Illuminated door sills
396- voice control
864- rear sear entertainment
550- trailor hitch

Just got back from driving round trip Boston to NYC and this car is more then incredible. The handling,fit and finish and technology of the GL makes my 2004CL500 function like a model T. This is the first vehicle I took home with zero defects in the first month.

Mercedes arrogance within the past ten years is well know as well as their application of unnecessary ,overly complex technology systems coupled with barbaric electronics. The GL is a new breed that clearly surpasses all their current vehicles except for perhaps the S550. Thank you all for your comments and feedback. Without it I would be driving an audi Q7 and Im sure not as happy. It is hopeful in the long term, the stability of the GL 450 is there but certainly they have a winner to date.

Ralph W Sevinor

 

wow - the GL made in the USA better than the CL made in Germany?

i haven't been inside the GL, but assumed that it was just a larger ML...or did i miss something? industry wide, i thought most people consider the audi fit/finish on the interior was #1.

btw, given that i'm considering CL's, it'd be great to get your thoughts on why the CL interior was weak...and why the GL is better.

thx.