CommanderCody

First off, I want to thank all of you in the GL forum for the plethora of knowledge and information you've contributed to the site. I've been reading through this forum for several months now, and just last week, I finally took the plunge and bought myself a new 550 (Pewter w/Macadamia).

I moved to the GL from an '02 GMC Sierra 2500 and like many of you, I am finding that each day that I drive my GL I love it more and more. So far, I can only find a few items that could be improved on the GL, and I wanted to share them with all of you.

Things that I would like to see added/improved:

Larger side mirrors
Better iPod integration
Support for DVD mp3 cds
Support for Distronic
Active-Ventilated seats

This is by far the nicest car I have owned, and I am looking forward to many, many miles of enjoyment.

-CC

Newbie_2_MB

Congratz on your new GL & welcome to the forum!

I agree, this is a great place. I had never even ridden in a Mercedes until I test drove my GL and had a lot of questions that the sales person couldn't answer (I got the newbie at MB, I guess!). The people on this forum have been super helpful and a lot of fun.

Stumblefoot

Welcome Commander and congrats on your 550! I know exactly what you mean when you speak of the plethora of knowledge and information you've absorbed from this site. For as much as my sales person dissed the internet for misinformation, I must say this forum just proved to me the general level of incompetence that exists in the dealer network.

Enjoy every moment of your GL!

emayer

Ten-Hut!

Welcome to the forum Commander, and congrats on your new MB!
This is a well-informed and fun community and it's great to see others as enthusiastic about their cars.

axchung

Welcome to the GL family. The only downside to this forum is that is highly addictive!

Enjoy your GL!

BJ021

Congrats Commander!

I found it very telling when I reviewed BMW forums for the X5, a large portion of space seemed to be taken up bashing their vehicles and BMW for one issue after another. I found this site and was blown away by not only how much everyone loved their GL's - but were incredibly helpful. MB should offer $ to each and everyone one of you nice people for helping to sell their cars!!!

BTW - no ventilated seats bummed me out too!

Waiting-4-550

I second the above statement... Lots of info and very addictive!! Hence my "Senior Member" title

tm4exc

I bet you love your S4. I had a silver 87 that was a true 165 MPH motorcar, tested on the 5 and rock solid at that speed. I really regret selling it.

emayer

Thanks! A truly great car that was my favorite as a child. I'm glad to say it's in prisitne condition and a blast to drive. More confidence inspiring at handling and stable at speed compared to the 911. Amazing how the car seems current after 20 years!

Chicky Monkey

Welcome!

I agree with your assessment so far of the needed improvements. Still, like the rest of us, I think you will continue to appreciate what a great ride the GL is!

I too had never even been in a Mercedes. My favorite car to drive is a larger SUV and it never occurred to me that MB would ever make something for me...but I sure am glad they did!

sraj

Congrats, and great taste in colors as well!

tm4exc

Again off topic! If you take apart that V8 you will see how much MB copied the design for their early 5 liter, especially the block and heads. An easy 325hp and the engine was not even working hard. Of course MB got rid of the belt on the camshafts. My only problem was the driveshaft bearings going on me at 82000.

patsy1099

Welcome Commander, to the greatest place on Earth. Ok, well, a really cool place to hang. Congrats. I'm green.

Nevada Jack

Welcome to the most friendly forum on the internet Commander. A great bunch of people with a great bunch of GL's...

The more I drive this GL, the more I think MB made a mistake in the pricing...it is a wonderful machine. With almost 7000 miles on it now, the engine/transmission is working beautifully which is one of the prime reason for buying it

emayer

No doubt the timing belt is the Achilles heel in the engine design but the block seems bulletproof. Your points about the design being "borrowed" by MB is very interesting. Of course, there has always been an element of technology sharing amongst the brands going back to their inception. Heck, Ferdinand Porsche worked for Daimler back in the day!

Sorry for being off topic everyone, I couldn't resist the interesting digression!

sraj

This comment is particularly interesting in that you also have an S550. Nevada Jack has weighed in on this, but I would be interested to hear your comparisons as well. I ask because I considered an S550 before getting the GL, and I might look at it again when we replace our BMW in the next couple of years.

oknish

Digression?? We don't need no stinkin' digression Actually we excel at digression here. Go take a look at the Vegas meet thread and you will see how we are now discussing human anatomy with STP as the test subject

Welcome aboard, Commander!! And, as our Patron Saint of the GL forum would say, enjoy your GL in good health.

axchung

I guess MB priced it correctly in Canada...

StevethePilot

You guys are pickin' on me. I'm TELLIN'!

Chicky Monkey

It's a multi thread pick-fest, too!

oknish

We are very efficient multi taskers. Some of us even use COMAND buttons while driving

cjh.

Congrats and welcome! I guarantee you won't regret getting it.

Nice colors too.

AsianML

Welcome!! Great color.

CommanderCody

Good observation!

We actually bought both the S550 and the GL550 at the same time (We traded both the GMC truck and our 99 Lexus ES300). We were able to work a killer deal with the dealer because of the nearly 200K worth of cars we purchased at once (I got 1000 off invoice on the S, and sticker price on the GL). That aside, I must say that I feel that the GL just seems more fun to drive. The GL has more of a truck feel to it, where the S is like driving a magic carpet, it's almost too smooth for me. Perhaps it's just because I've been driving trucks all my life, and I'm partial to sitting up a little higher.

The S is an amazing car, nonetheless. It's smooth as silk, very well appointed, and it has acceleration that never ends (although, so does the GL).

The only thing that I think the S really has over the GL for me is the cabin tech. I'm a geek at heart, and I really enjoy the interface that MB has created with the new Command system. Hopefully by the time I go to trade in, MB will have brought the new COMMAND system to the GL as well. I saw it in the new C-class while I was at the dealer, so I'm sure it's their plan to roll it out to all of their vehicles.

Luckily, I get the opportunity to trade off between the two, but so far I'm leaning toward the GL as my favorite.

Stumblefoot

I'd lay a bet on the table that you're right.

I just hope that like tech companies that make their products backwards compatible, that if MB does bring out a new command module in the next year, us '07 & '08 owners will be able to upgrade.