Forever

Last week we went out and got my wife a GL320. I love the car so much that I'm thinking about trading our SL500 for another diesel GL. Is anyone else out there this crazy for the GL? They are fabulous! Quiet, solid, comfortable and attractive.

My only complaint is the Nav system; which is as bad as the rest of the car is good. I've never seen a worse Nav system. It is a shock to me that MB is willing to subject their brand to this embarassingly horrible unit.

Regardless, I love the car and want another one really bad!

lkchris

If you think the diesel GL is fabulous, get a diesel E-class. Blows the GL away.

Forever

Interesting thought! Thank you. How does it blow the GL away?

Im having a hard time understanding where the E Class fits in the MB lineup.

MomsBenz

If my husband didn't need a truck, we would own 2 GL's in a heartbeat. We are on our 3rd GL and I can't see myself ever driving any other type of car Congrats on the new purchase!!

mp0i

I got a 2009 ML 320 Bluetec first and was impressed to the point to go out and pick up a GL320 Bluetec. So now we have the both of them. They have the same power train yet the ML seems a little more sportier, probably due to the reduced weight. The ML is a stripped model whereas the GL is fairly well optioned.

43221B

What year is your 320? They updated the navigation in 09 and it now does everything I need it to do. It could be better but I don't have any real complaints.

The diesel GL's are awesome. I just read an article about how the German brands are really going to start pushing their diesels to raise their fleet fuel economy average so that they can get closer to compliance with upcoming government mandates. The article stated that most buyers of German luxury brands are not going back to gas after owning a diesel. BMW supposedly is encouraging their dealerships to loan diesels during service visits.

BJ021

I hope this is true! I love my diesel and when I grow out of the GL I want another German diesel...and right now the options are thin in the US. I love the BMW GT - but can't get a diesel here yet...

Forever

You make a great point. Ours is a 2008. The Nav system was upgraded in 2009. It's nice to hear that you like it.

I don't understand why anyone is promoting hybrid technology over diesel unless it's for the extra performance; other than that, there are so many drawbacks when compared to diesel technology.

justthebest

SO TRUE. By far the worst part of a Mercedes, other than maintenance cost, haha.

I think the E Class is meant for successful people that don't want to / can't spend X,XXX,XXX on a sedan (read: S Class). The C Class is the entry level compact sedan on the other side, IMHO

StevethePilot

As a major proponent of diesel technology, can you tell me where a hybrid's system has extra performance? When you consider a hybrid is designed for a time when stopping is nearly equal to going in order to improve economy, I think performance is the last thing on the hybrid designer's mind!

The diesel's going to have the edge in "giddyup" off the light with it's low-end torque, it'll carry less weight per horsepower because it isn't lugging around all the extra batteries and motors, and no matter what the uber-environmentalists say it is cleaner because those batteries in particular carry heavy metals that will enter the environment when (not if!) those batteries need replacing. Plus the diesel's much less complex than even a non-hybrid gas.

Okay, maybe it's off-topic, but I was just curious as to what you meant by that?

Forever

Hi Steve,

Certain hybrid vehicles accelerate very well; better than I've seen from diesels. Maybe I'm not perceiving this accurately. I should look into this further.

I just read about the problems you are having with your GL. Good luck with them.

mdadgar

Well, electric motors have 100% of available torque at 0 rpm, so maybe not. I agree with your overall point, though!

- Mark

lkchris

The E is a rocket ship compared to the GL and will get 35 highway as opposed to 25 highway in a GL.

It has larger driver/passenger seats than the GL and you won't get a case of monkey butt on long highway trips.

The E is 2nd in line for sedans below the S-class and today is the only Mercedes sedan offered in USA with diesel power. They are made in Germany, not Alabama. No trailer towing, unfortunately.

dieseldoc

The S class will soon be offered in a diesel here in the states.

mdadgar

While I'd love to see that, I'd bet against it. They just launched an S-class Hybrid. My bet is their resources go to support that instead.

- Mark

43221B

In addition to the s class, the glk and c class are getting diesels.

https://mbworld.org/s-class/2012_Mer...Debut.php#more

https://mbworld.org/glk/Mercedes_Ben...e_way.php#more

mdadgar

Lots of conflicting reports on this stuff:

http://www.thecarconnection.com/mart...ylinder-engine

While I'd love diesel engines across the line, I'll believe it when I see it.

- Mark

lkchris

S-class diesels are certainly already made, but I'd expect for USA to see addition of C-class and GLK diesels--even B-class diesels--before S-class. It would be nice to be wrong, of course. Production of entire C/GLK vehicles is soon coming to Alabama, which also makes diesels easier I think.

StevethePilot

The E is a really nice car. Were I going for see-danss, it'd be the E, probably even if the S had the engine.

Still grumbling and whining about what to do. Good greif I'm indecisive sometimes.

pteam

I don't think you need two GL's unless your regularly hauling 12-14 people around...

Fourdiesel

In that case you need a Sprinter - sold by Freightliner, powered with the same M-B diesel as in out GLs but with a 4 speed auto tranny and NO AWD.

lkchris

Back before 2007 when the diesels were inline, there was the E270 which was a five cylinder and the E320 which was a six cylinder.

Beginning 2007 the engine was a V6 and the models were E280 and E320. However, they were both the same displacement engine, just different states of tune.

Earlier the Sprinters had the 5 cylinders and the V6 Sprinters have 280-tune engines. So, not totally the same.

Sprinter transmissions are the 722.6 5-speed.

Sprinters were once sold by Dodge dealers, but that's gone away, replaced by some/not all Mercedes dealers. Freightliner (owned by Daimler) remains.

StevethePilot

Of that I had absolutely no idea!

Forever

I have a slightly different way of looking at this. There are many other ways to use a GL. I have three young children, and like to ski, boat, fly, and work on my own stuff. I can use the space, especially when my wife's car is in maintenance.

Besides, I want another one and who cares about justifying the purchase anyway. 99% of us live the way we do because we want to and because we can. Almost everything people own is overkill; our homes, sports cars, clothes, dining, entertainment, etc.

Although having fun may not be needed to survive, it sure does add a lot to life and our ability to enjoy our friends and family. A nice house puts us in a safe neighborhood and a good school district but we don't need it. It also generates employment and tax revenue.

BJ021

Says the guy with all the fancy cars!! That's funny.