Arty

Hi There,

I'm in the market for a commuter car with decent cargo space. We currently have a Porsche Boxster GTS and Porsche Macan Turbo, and considered adding a Cayenne to the stable, but the it only looks marginally larger than the Macan and I think we'll need something larger.

So I've been checking the GL options and have come across some good 2013 450's and some 2012/2011 550's. Mileage and cost are roughly the same and while the 2013 is the new model year, the options available in the 1 year older 550 look compelling. I don't know enough about the GL to really determine which would create least buyer remorse. For example, does the final production year of the X164 have fewer gremlins than the first production year of the X166? Is the difference in tech, engine, dynamics, reliability significantly different between them?

Appreciate any sage advic I can get on this question!! I'll drop the same question in the X166 thread too.

YodaSyrup

I think the X164 has a more masculine stance and better design language inside and out. On the tech side, it was behind for it's day, now it feels downright analog. But the X166, while more advanced - wasn't bleeding edge either. The later years do seem better on the X164, but they have some known issues - air struts that fail for example. That said, I've had 2 X164's and love these cars. The 550s are great, jacked full of options, more aggressive engine, body kit, wheels and tires.

BlownV8

Get the 2013 450 and an ECU tune = 500+ hp.

chsu74

X166s will have Bluetooth audio and X164s don't...

Jason B

I agree to that. The x166 looks like a minivan. I'm not the only one that thinks this. The larger bulky body protruding fenders are gone and the newer taillights make it look like a van/bus.

not2fast

I had the same question. I ended up with the X164 GL550.

Now the wife drives it all of the time and I might be in the market for another SUV. I am leaning towards a GX460 for something different.

WinterPark321

I actually have both X164 2011 GL550 and X166 2013 GL550. We didn't get the designo package for the 2013 GL550, so the 2011 GL550, with genuine leather feels so much better than the 2013. Also, the 2011 GL550 has been more reliable than the 2013 GL550. Only items we've had in the past 2 years are both rear shocks, all 4 wheel speed sensors changed, transmission oil changed. Conductor plate issues have come up in the past, but transmission oil change has seemed to fixed that. 2013 GL550, on the other hand, has been in the shop every few weeks from September 2018 to December 2018, ranging from issues with the door lock replaced 2 times because they didn't lock, to the engine having "Cylinder 5 misfire". The dealer replaced the SAME injector 3 times without success. 2013 GL550 as of right now, is still in the shop. It has been from Christmas 2018 to right now, 2019 because they actually took apart the engine to find "valve seals" leaking on the cylinder head.

That being said, the 2013 GL550 handles way better in my opinion than the 2011 GL550, and has faster acceleration due to the 4.6 liter Biturbo V8 whereas the 2011 has the 5.5 liter N/a V8. The 2013 GL550 has bluetooth audio whereas I still use the aux cord connected to my phone in the 2011 GL550. Furthermore, the 2013 GL550 actually has electric steering compared to the 2011 GL550, which has power steering. While the 2011 power steering is already very soft in "comfort mode", the 2013 GL550 steering takes it to another level, with even more softness in the steering. Steering becomes so effortless. The body styling, especially the front end, for the X166 has a more aggressive look, IMO, compared to the X164 where it feels more bulky.

If I chose the X166 production line model, I would definitely get an extended warranty as repairs would have gone through the roof, whereas the X164, in my experience, has not had anything major go wrong.

Just my 2 cents.

kombifan

try carpro cool stream. It gives you Bluetooth audio for your x164