Let go of the R500 and got an '09 GL450. White with Cashmere, P2, RSE, running boards, illiminated sills, tow hitch and a few others. Have put about 300 miles since yesterday and so far so good. New Command much improved over the previous version but still not as good (IMO) as even the first iDrive. A few pics attached, driving impressions to come.

Question about TPMS: it came on within an hour of delivery but the dealer was closed by then; the tire pressures seem fine but it is not going off. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

you have to reset it for it to recheck and make sure everything is ok.

 

Congrats, very nice

 

Congrats......Enjoy and thanks for the pics.

 

Good looking car. I still can't get over the fact that the RSE looks like an aftermarket add on. I think they could have done a better job making it look as if it was matched to the interior.

 

The new RSE does look better in person. I had the same sentiments as you did till I looked at one in a GLK. It looks really nice and I would rather have the new one then the one my 07 has.

 

Congratz in your beautiful new ride! The first GL I ever saw was white & I loved it.

 

Thank you everyone for your kind comments. We are really liking the car. The white was the kids' choice so we had to go with it and now I agree with them that the vehicle does look good in it. Even though I would have preferred a black interior but that would have meant either compromising on other options or ordering the vehicle to our spec, which would have meant not getting a very good deal. So as long as I get the aftermarket mats which would keep the carpets relatively stain-free I am happy with the color combo.

The new Command is miles ahead of the one in my '06 R500. Love the HD radio (my first experience with it). The interior quality is hugely improved from the initial R's and GL's that I saw/tested in 2006. Now it does feel like a real MB (my R never did). This engine is vastly superior to the one in the R500, I can't believe that MB was installing that engine in its top range cars in 2006. That engine almost felt like an agricultural tractor's engine compared to this new engine family. Even my 1995 740iL's engine was significantly superior to that one. Looks like MB is now back on the right track to producing vehicles/engines that deserve to command a premium rather than just riding on legacy reputation. (Good riddance Jürgen Schrempp for pretty much running the company into the ground.)

Driving wise, this is the best driving large SUV on the market. Having driven all its direct and indirect competitors, none of them drive better than this and provide the same space. If I did not have use for a usable 3rd row, I would definitely have gone for the X5 4.8 as in my opinion that is the best-driving SUV on the market (better than any of the Cayennes), but that 3rd row is not very usable. The Audi's interior is probably of the best quality/feel/looks-wise but its ride is qute awful. If its jarring ride provided better steering feel or handling than the others, it could have been tolerable, but in spite of the harsh ride the steering is quite vague and the handling not very good. So in my opinion the best compromise for space/ride/handling out there is provided by the GL which was the deciding factor for me.

Jen: the Capri Blue was our 2nd choice and the car looks beautiful in it.

Oknish: you are correct about the RSE's looks in the flesh. I was also not too sure when I first saw them in the pics, but they look fine and well-integrated in the flesh.

 

Nice writeup, fq1.

Don't be shy in posting more pics in the pics thread (sticky) at the top of the forum

As a wise man says enjoy in good health.

 

Congrats!! IMO, The white looks really good!!

Enjoy It!

 

Very cool, good to know about the RSE. I think it looks like an afterthought, but haven't seen one in real life.