Dodson

Stumblefoot - We probably won't have them by then. When is the meet? I went in to the dealer yesterday to change one to Iridium (thank goodness my father has decided silver is nice, I didnt want to have 2 black ones that looked identical), and I asked on the timeframe. I was told, about 12 weeks from last week when the order went in. So, I think we should get them around the end of October or the first week of November.

Stumblefoot

We're all going to get together Oct. 26th - 28th. So, you are right, you may not have your 550's by then. However, depending on production and shipping, you may get lucky and be able to join us. Keep the dates in mind.

Steve the Pilot is negotiating with the Venetian to see if he can get a rate around $199.

Check the following link for more info; https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-x164/202574-link-oct-gl-meet-vegas.html

Dodson

Sounds like alot of fun! I drive down that way every so often. It is a nice drive (about 430 miles between Reno and Las Vegas). I hope we get the GL's in time.

DaCeptak0n

Far from pretending to pose my GL450 as a 550 but I was wondering if I could install those fender flares on the GL450 as well as the wheels? Anyone know if it's possible?

oknish

I know we have had some discussion on this and, if memory serves me right, the conclusion that it would be hard to do since the flares go down all the way in the wheel well. Of course, someone can prove me wrong

Dodson - 550 or not, come down to meet others. There will be enough GLs to cart you around

Newbie_2_MB

You don't need the GL's to participate! Come and drool with the rest of us over NJ's 550

Waiting-4-550

NJ may be first with 550. Guess he deserves it after waiting for 320 CDI for so long... He may have to charge for viewing sessions!!

Nevada Jack

Stumble should have his by that time...his build is early September.

Waiting-4-550

Well I'm considering charging for east coast showings and would include "happy endings" for surcharge. LOL

blittle

I do......well, not "off-road-rock-crawling," etc. but I do take my 450 on a 3 mile Vermont dirt road once or twice every month of the year. I can have anything from dirt to mud or deep snow/ice, etc. (the road is not plowed in the winter) My 450 equipped with the off-road package is better suited for that stuff than any other similar vehicle I have owned in the past 30 years. It is too bad that someone who wants that can't get it in the 550 but the 450 "ain't no slouch" either!

Germancar1

I agree, point taken.

M

Waiting-4-550

Lucky for MB most GL550s will never do more off-roading than a grass parking lot at a local country club.. I think MB have there clientele figured out very well and have come up with a great SUV for the American Luxury Market.. I can only expect even more accolades for the GL 550 over the 450.

blittle

GL450 is a fantastic luxury SUV. Gl550 sounds like it will also be a fantastic luxury SUV minus some of the "utility." I'm not sure about the criteria that would justify "accolades for the 550 OVER the 450" It's all in what you want..........what MB seems to have NOT "figured out" about the market is that some customers would like to have it "all" and certainly could afford it. If Land Rover or Lexus were the only vehicles that had offered the level of luxury AND utility that I wanted/required then I would have bought one of them instead of the GL450.......I would not be surprised if the off-road package shows up on the 550 in 09 or 10. Just my opinion.

Nevada Jack

I don't think so. I think the GL550 represents the pseudo AMG model for the GL Class and as such will not be put forward as an off road giant. I would imagine the AMG wheels on the GL550 would have to be modified or changed and that would detract from the GL550 as the luxury Flagship of the GL Class. They will probably add Distronic (Plus ?) but I don't think they will push any ruggedness features for it. That is for the GL450 and Gl320 CDI.

oknish

+1, blittle.

sraj

Blittle, I agree with everything you said. I was very impressed with the GL450 on my test drive, and might have ordered one with the with the off-road package, to get the ADS I wanted and also some additional capability in the snow. However, I really wanted the multicontour seats (my wife and I both have intermittent back issues), which were dropped for '08 on the 450. I don't go off road, so I gave up that capability to get the features I wanted. Would have been nice to have the choice. I guess I'll just have to settle for the 550.

One observation: if the ORP is ever offered on the 550, the AMG wheels will have to go.

oknish

What you are saying makes sense NJ but I think blittle is on the money. They are going to market OR pkg as another "luxury" so you can "off road in comfort". I doubt if they will market 550 as an OR giant at all. Heck, I haven't seen anything marketing 450 as OR giant. All I see 450 being marketed as pavement driver that can tow as well and do it all in "comfort and luxury".

Nevada Jack

Maybe so, but I think if they were going to offer the ORP on the GL550 they would have done it with the introduction. They could have offered the same combo package (ORP with ADSII) and made some money in the process. I think it was raj who referred to the fact he would have orderer the ORP if that was the only way to get the ADS. I would have done that with my 320 but they didn't even offer the OPR or ADS. The GL demographics I am sure reflect a very small percentage of ORP users, if any.

I think they may also be protecting the G Class since this is the only real "rugged" off-road, true SUV they offer.

We can't figure out how MBUSA makes some of the decisions now, and here we are discussing what they might do in 09 or 10...futile fun I call it...LOL

blittle

Yup......the upgrade wheels and ORP don't mix! NJ also noted that. I also wanted the multicon. seats and ordered them on my 07 450.....(also have the back issues!) I MUST have the ORP to have the ultimate security to go where I need to go.....sure would have hated to give up the seats to get the ORP! Conversely.....if the 550 was the only way I could get all of what I wanted, then I would have waited for one those! The logic of pulling the multi. seats from the 450 still escapes me..........

Carl Lassiter

The GL community on this site has a great level of knowledge and input. Very different to when i had my G500 where all is quiet in the forum.

The GL450 is a great 7-seater and the GL550 looks even more stunning. When kids arrive in the next few years I'll get the wife one. Nothing better than buying them a present you really want to drive yourself.

Looing forward to pics NJ. Not long left to wait now.

A question; is the 550 fully loaded including the rear TV screens? List is 81k, correct?

Waiting-4-550

NJ is on my side -- That's plus 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 points for me..

I love sparkin debate on this forum.. Truly an informed and enthusiastic car crowd here...

oknish

550 is pretty much loaded but does have a few options that are extra and rear TV is one of those extra options. List is just shy of 78K.

Nevada Jack

Thanks and I will try to send some pics the day I take delivery in Denver...

Here is the total option list for the GL550...mine will be everything but the storage box thing. This is it...everything else is standard (no Distronic and no Off Road Pkg.)

oknish

Nevada Jack

Distronic will be on the 2009 and possibly a mid year update...calm yourself nish...:-)