GL550 Road Test (Car and Driver)
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Southern, CA.
2007 CL550 Black/Savanna Cashmere, fully loaded; 2006 Navigator; 2005 Corvette (Sold)
will call for a replacement soon...uh oh...
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: LA LA Land
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Originally Posted by Nevada Jack
Would somebody please get this man a bowl of Cabbage Soup...:-)
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From: LA LA Land
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Originally Posted by Danno4x4
"Whereas lesser GLs look a bit tipsy, nouveau riche, and just sort of ugly"
Still have to experience the "riche" part though since I am always broke.
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Joined: Sep 2007
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2004 S55 AMG
Check out the Jeep SRT forum HERE, plenty of Dashhawk and track times...sub 4.4/4.5 is "average", modded guys have broken the 4s. Uber, hyper quick off the line thanks to AWD and gearing, but they don't have the chops much past the 1/4, relatively (AMG) speaking...
They're not much for the off-road either, anything other than a gravel driveway and you're pushing your luck!
Stoplight to stoplight MONSTER...
They're not much for the off-road either, anything other than a gravel driveway and you're pushing your luck!
Stoplight to stoplight MONSTER...
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Joined: Oct 2007
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2008 F-250, 2007 GL450
The "Whereas lesser GLs look a bit tipsy, nouveau riche, and just sort of ugly" comment was dumb enough, but then he goes on to insinuate that the 550 gets “crappy fuel mileage” compared to the 450. Huh? What are we talking about – 1 MPH difference? 
The looks I get driving around the city tell me it’s not exactly ugly. But, that’s not why I bought it. I bought it for performance and interior volume, comfort and style. I ended up with much more out of the deal including a beautiful exterior that seems to be getting even better with time.
Lets also not forget that the GL450 is, after the 550, the best performance SUV of it’s size ever made. So you “rich guys who care a lot more about the image they project” can have your GL550’s.
The looks I get driving around the city tell me it’s not exactly ugly. But, that’s not why I bought it. I bought it for performance and interior volume, comfort and style. I ended up with much more out of the deal including a beautiful exterior that seems to be getting even better with time.
Lets also not forget that the GL450 is, after the 550, the best performance SUV of it’s size ever made. So you “rich guys who care a lot more about the image they project” can have your GL550’s.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 111
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From: Reno, NV
SL500, ML350, 2 GL550's (on order)
Dodson and I win - you guessed 5.8 , we guessed 5.9 !
Here's the original thread :
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-x164/206887-gl-550-0-60-time.html
Here's the original thread :
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-x164/206887-gl-550-0-60-time.html
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Central Pa.
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
The "Whereas lesser GLs look a bit tipsy, nouveau riche, and just sort of ugly" comment was dumb enough, but then he goes on to insinuate that the 550 gets “crappy fuel mileage” compared to the 450. Huh? What are we talking about – 1 MPH difference?
The looks I get driving around the city tell me it’s not exactly ugly. But, that’s not why I bought it. I bought it for performance and interior volume, comfort and style. I ended up with much more out of the deal including a beautiful exterior that seems to be getting even better with time.
Lets also not forget that the GL450 is, after the 550, the best performance SUV of it’s size ever made. So you “rich guys who care a lot more about the image they project” can have your GL550’s.
The looks I get driving around the city tell me it’s not exactly ugly. But, that’s not why I bought it. I bought it for performance and interior volume, comfort and style. I ended up with much more out of the deal including a beautiful exterior that seems to be getting even better with time.
Lets also not forget that the GL450 is, after the 550, the best performance SUV of it’s size ever made. So you “rich guys who care a lot more about the image they project” can have your GL550’s.
Exactly why I bought mine! Regarding the CD article......like a lot of "car mag" articles lately, it seems to be written in the "loud, in-your-face, brash" kind of style that must be popular with the younger car guys......for me, I prefer a more thoughtful approach
Yeah, I know .....the only thing I didn't say was "in the old days!"
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2008 F-250, 2007 GL450
Exactly why I bought mine! Regarding the CD article......like a lot of "car mag" articles lately, it seems to be written in the "loud, in-your-face, brash" kind of style that must be popular with the younger car guys......for me, I prefer a more thoughtful approach Yeah, I know .....the only thing I didn't say was "in the old days!"
Yeah, I know .....the only thing I didn't say was "in the old days!"I guess part of the problem is it’s a “short take” article. Probably a single page in the magazine – including picture(s). I’m not a big fan of that practice. They took the time to drive the GL 1400 miles, then made the writer keep it to one page. I always feel cheated. Maybe they feel (maybe with justification) that many people have the attention span of a flea and they’re giving them what they want. That goes hand in hand with the in your face thing.
CD’s GL450 and GL320 articles were also short. Motortrend devoted a lot more space to the GL450. Their impressions were also spot-on. We can hope MT does the 550 which is a good possibility since the big 4 magazines do almost all the same vehicles every month. It wasn’t always that way. Why, I remember….
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Central Pa.
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
You forgot: “when I was your age…”
I guess part of the problem is it’s a “short take” article. Probably a single page in the magazine – including picture(s). I’m not a big fan of that practice. They took the time to drive the GL 1400 miles, then made the writer keep it to one page. I always feel cheated. Maybe they feel (maybe with justification) that many people have the attention span of a flea and they’re giving them what they want. That goes hand in hand with the in your face thing.
CD’s GL450 and GL320 articles were also short. Motortrend devoted a lot more space to the GL450. Their impressions were also spot-on. We can hope MT does the 550 which is a good possibility since the big 4 magazines do almost all the same vehicles every month. It wasn’t always that way. Why, I remember….
I guess part of the problem is it’s a “short take” article. Probably a single page in the magazine – including picture(s). I’m not a big fan of that practice. They took the time to drive the GL 1400 miles, then made the writer keep it to one page. I always feel cheated. Maybe they feel (maybe with justification) that many people have the attention span of a flea and they’re giving them what they want. That goes hand in hand with the in your face thing.
CD’s GL450 and GL320 articles were also short. Motortrend devoted a lot more space to the GL450. Their impressions were also spot-on. We can hope MT does the 550 which is a good possibility since the big 4 magazines do almost all the same vehicles every month. It wasn’t always that way. Why, I remember….
+1 !
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Joined: Sep 2007
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2008 GL450 / 1999 ML320
Last edited by ReachWest; Oct 25, 2007 at 02:30 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: L.A., CA
'08 M5, '10 Land Cruiser
Sounds a great vehicle and a much preferable image to the Escalade ESV. A very good review. Sounds like leaving the suspension in Sport is the thing to do. Is it just a suspension setting or do you lose 7th gear like the sports mode with most auto transmissions?
Nevada Jack- You're not really going to put an AMG badge on the back are you?
Nevada Jack- You're not really going to put an AMG badge on the back are you?
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: West Michigan
2007 E63
I think without the larger wheels and the fender flares, it's more "tall" looking than the 550. The additions to the 550 lower the stance a bit.
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From: LA LA Land
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Originally Posted by AsianML
I think without the larger wheels and the fender flares, it's more "tall" looking than the 550. The additions to the 550 lower the stance a bit.
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
Sounds a great vehicle and a much preferable image to the Escalade ESV. A very good review. Sounds like leaving the suspension in Sport is the thing to do. Is it just a suspension setting or do you lose 7th gear like the sports mode with most auto transmissions?
Nevada Jack- You're not really going to put an AMG badge on the back are you?
Nevada Jack- You're not really going to put an AMG badge on the back are you?
And yes, I am seriously considering an AMG Badge...as some have already done and reported in another thread. I looks much better than the 4Matic logo and as stated in the C & D review...it really is the AMG package without the AMG engine and brake mods. If we 550 owners don't put that AMG logo on you will never see a GL with it in the future...:-)
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Joined: May 2005
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From: San Jose, CA
2002 BMW 330i, and GL 450
It stays in 7th gear but the transmission works so well that if an upshift is needed it takes care of it.
And yes, I am seriously considering an AMG Badge...as some have already done and reported in another thread. I looks much better than the 4Matic logo and as stated in the C & D review...it really is the AMG package without the AMG engine and brake mods. If we 550 owners don't put that AMG logo on you will never see a GL with it in the future...:-)
And yes, I am seriously considering an AMG Badge...as some have already done and reported in another thread. I looks much better than the 4Matic logo and as stated in the C & D review...it really is the AMG package without the AMG engine and brake mods. If we 550 owners don't put that AMG logo on you will never see a GL with it in the future...:-)
I am more than certain that MB will come out with a 500hp GL 55, you just wait. Until then, go for it.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 456
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From: East Coast
19 MB G63, '18 RR Dawn, '15 RR ATB LWB, '14/'08 MB GL550, '11 MB CL63 AMG, '11 X5 50i etc etc
do you have any references or proofs to your comment??? as a newbie I'm sure most members here are not conficent you're right
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From: LA LA Land
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Originally Posted by ubrs
I am more than certain that MB will come out with a 500hp GL 55, you just wait. Until then, go for it.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Raleigh, NC
2001 BMW 540i/6-speed, 2008 GL550
The GL550 has plenty of performance and obviates the need for an AMG version, in my opinion. Even if MB produced one, the incremental performace gains would probably not justify the added cost for most people, and I expect that the sales volume would be minimal.
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From: LA LA Land
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Originally Posted by sraj
The GL550 has plenty of performance and obviates the need for an AMG version, in my opinion. Even if MB produced one, the incremental performace gains would probably not justify the added cost for most people, and I expect that the sales volume would be minimal.
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From: Central Pa.
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Raleigh, NC
2001 BMW 540i/6-speed, 2008 GL550
And the reality is.............putting an increasing amount "sports car characteristics" in an SUV (or pickup trucks) is as about as useful as increasing the towing capability of a McClaren........there are reasonable and practical limits beyond which..... one should consider buying another type of vehicle!
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 109
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From: San Jose, CA
2002 BMW 330i, and GL 450
I guess I should've said a GL 63. However, my thoughts are purely speculative, 380+ horses for MB never seems enough, they always seem to up the ante.
Last edited by ubrs; Oct 26, 2007 at 06:45 PM.
