PharmGirl

Actually, bench seats are the reason we are looking to get out of our Infiniti truck....we have 2 small children (almost 3 and 7 months) and having 2 car seats in a bench seating configuration renders the third row virtually useless for seating purposes. We considered getting the current model QX with captain's chairs this time, but love the ride and features of the GL. I even called MBUSA corporate to inquire about the availability of the CC's and was told that they may possibly be available in the GL in the near future....sigh....oh well, only time will tell!!!

jhcicco

No Way! Need the benchseat for 5 grandkids.

StevethePilot

Congrats on the four-legged kid! I've got a lot of them myself! You know, though, it's funny - when I was young, we called mixed breed dogs "mutts." I guess you can't charge as much for a mutt as a labradoodle or a cockapoo or a bug (Boston terrier and a pug), etc. etc.

Ahh, well. Let's see some pictures of the new puppy!

BJ021

But in about year or year and a half you will want that bench and 3rd row! We have 3 kids and we all know, they get louder as they age (not to mention more mobile!) - distance is king on a trip - and having the 2nd row up as a noise blocker is great!

Chicky Monkey

LOL. I continue to use this forum to prove myself foolish in many aspects of life....

expensive aftermarket lighted doorsills, $2,500 dog....

Ok, I'll make the puppy my first picture post to this forum if I can figger it out...

Chicky Monkey

Mmmm. I never thought of this, but it makes sense....

so, are you going to wait for MB to make CCs for the GL? Or buy something else?

PharmGirl

Hey Chicky!! I actually have a little bit of time before I have to make a decision (I have to get out of my current lease by Dec of 2008), so I might try to wait it out a while. Since we don't want to lease anymore, we're trying to do LOTS of research before we make our next purchase. I'm just afraid because after car seats come booster seats.....so we're looking at close to 4 or 5 years before my oldest is technically supposed to be able to safely transition from a booster seat to a plain old seat belt (according to the 8 years of age guidelines)....close to 7 years before the same is true for my youngest. Okay, so, no, I might not wait the ENTIRE 8 years to put my daughter in a seat belt, but in the meantime, do I really want to deal with the hassle of removing safety seats to access the 3rd row??!! Or worse, making people climb/hurdle the 2nd??!!

In short, I'm REALLY torn at the moment. We may just break down and get a newer Infiniti truck or the ML if Mercedes doesn't make any changes in the GL any time soon....Who knows, maybe I'll get a mini-van!! Any opinion on those anyone???

MKW

If you have two kids who will both still be in cinched down car seats ( not boosters) for a few more years and need access to third row often , you are better off looking at a GMC Acadia or Escalade ESV with optional captain's seats , as those vehicles are wide enough for easy walk through between the second row captains seats even for adults and can fit three adults in the third row, so you still can carry 7 people. Any parent knows that once you get the car seat latched down " just so " , it is a major hassle to remove /replace just to let someone get to the third row.

triggca

Chicky.....you have a $2500 dog? WOW thanks, you just got me off the hook!! My wife and Kids thought I was nut for buying a $2000 dog...HA

Stumblefoot

And, I thought I was nuts myself for buying an $800 dog.

Chicky Monkey

Stupid, I know!

I don't know that I would do it again.

Actually, the breeder's most popular colors go for $3,000...so I got a cheap version.

The best dog I ever had was also the cheapest dog. He's been gone 10 years now and we still miss him.

BJ021

Agreed. Our Goldendoodle (pictured) was $1,000. But far and away the smartest, coolest dog we've ever had.

Newbie_2_MB

I paid $225 for my Lab through rescue and got to write off $175 of it. Get a dog, get a tax deduction!

Stumblefoot

How did the tax deduction work?

Newbie_2_MB

I adopted him from a rescue organization that is 501(c)(3) qualified, so they are federal tax exempt. $50 is the value of the dog, so anything over that amount is considered to be a charitable contribution. The adoption fee is $225, so less $50 is a $175 deduction.

BJ021

The way my dog acts I've asked my accountant it I can add him as a dependent...

Newbie_2_MB

I hear ya! I had a diabetic Golden Retriever that cost me a huge deal of money each year. I sure wish I could have had her as a tax deduction. Seriously, I'd give just about anything to have her back; she was expensive to keep, but a wonderful dog.

GL Fahrer

Not to worry...captain's chairs aren't even being considered.
1-No need in the Large Luxury SUV market for a six seater.
The only way captains chairs would even be considered, is if the third row were expanded to three across. That wont happen in the lifecycle of the X164.
2-The popularity of the seven seat version of the R-Class has really taken-off and has shown how unimportant captain's chairs are vs a bench.