If the delta is only ~ 10%, you'll recover that by avoiding the incremental (and immediate) '08 model depreciation hit.

 

100% go with the 09. The difference is only about 5k and you've already spent north of 70K anyway.

 

Haven't pulled the trigger on anything yet but now there's an additional $2000 cash for August so I could buy a new 2008 GL 550 with DVD, iPod, Keyless & lighted sills (MSRP 82,500) for $69,900. Very, very tempting as i was waiting to see what the 09 changes were like but now the difference is over 10 grand easy.

 

Thx for the tip RD. I think it is time to call my dealer.

 

let us know what your decision is

 

Thanks to Devil Red 's timely input, I was able to get ~US$13K off on a ~US$69K GL320 P2, etc.

There are no P2 units with running boards, hitch, etc configs in the DC area. The dealer is retrieving the vehicle from another lot out of state.

Factory installs on the running boards and hitch seem to be the way to go. Dealer adds on those items are aproximately 3 times the price of the factory install. This may not be new info for the informed crowd here, but it was quite the eye opener for this newbie.

 

That price sounds pretty sweet, but you are right, a big chunk of that discount will hafta go into those add-ons.... if they can even find the running board kits. My dealer says he sent all his to America to meet demand for some shortage down there.

 

cleek, what dealer did you go to? I am looking for something similar and I was waiting to see what kind of deals there were going to be on the '08s. Please let mr know thanks.

 

Each of the dealers I talked to said basically the same thing about running board inventory. At least one told me that he would rather go get a configured unit vs. dealing with installing something off of their lot(!?)

Fortunately the Dealer was able to locate the fully configured unit within reasonable shipping distance.
I did end up with a couple of options
that I'm not too keen on (voice control, Illum. door sills) but we '08 scavengers take what we can get.
P2/RB/Hitch have been hunted to extinction in this region.

As far as the discount, waiting until August saved me enough to fund an extended warranty. Since we keep vehicles ~6 years, *everyone* I know who owns an ML or S Class told me it was a must.

 

PM sent

 

CONGRATS, Cleek. Post some pics. Also, Voice Control is pretty handy. Illum sills while not useful are very popular around here for the bling value

 

So I had my wife go see & drive the 08 this morning and she likes it quite well. The smallish side-view mirrors and the lack of child-safety locks in the rear doors rubs us both the wrong way, not to mention the improved NAV, Blutooth and whatever else changes on the 2009. The rear DVD screens off the M-B build a vehicle site also look bigger and different than the 2008. The salesman also mentioned something about the NAV screen up front being bigger as well. Since they'll probably do an invoice deal on a 2009, we'll probably just order one and eat the 7-8 grand difference. The salesman said the 2009's are due any day so if someone has already gotten a 2009 or sees one at the dealership I'd appreciate any input on the changes. Cheers!

 

I does have child locks, in a way, in that when the doors are locked in the front, you can't pull the back lock pins up. This will also unlock with airbag deployment, unlike traditional child locks, to allow access to the rear from outside. Since many reviewers seemd to be confused, they are going the traditional route in '09.

 

I think you're making a good call DR. Given the upgrades, I would take the invoice deal on the '09 as well.

Thx again for the heads up on the additional Aug '08 incentive.

 

Yes, one of the salespeople explained how it worked quite well, as in your explanation. My wife's biggest beef is not when she's in the driver's seat with the doors locked but if she had her door unlocked or was outside the car before they were locked. Not insurmountable but every vehicle we've had since the twins were born in 2002 has had some form of child-lock. The Volvo she currently drives has a power engagement button in the dash, the best of both worlds. I'm surprised other manufacturers haven't adopted this so you don't imprison adults back there, which often happens to our adult passengers.