My wife and I are considering a GL.

Our options at this point are a 2015 450 custom ordered, an off the lot 2014 450, or the 350 diesel.

We will be doing majority city driving. No off roaring or towing. Looking for a good combination of price and value.

Seems like a lot of people don't like the V6 idea. If it's the same HP and torque, shouldn't the performance be about the same? For the diesel lovers out there, can you guys explain to me why it's so great? I've never had the pleasure of driving a diesel.

Also, are any of you aware of incentives for the differing models? I live in the NE but am willing to travel for a better deal.

Thanks for the info.

 

There is a 3rd option - a 2015 GL that has been ordered by the dealer, slotted for factory production - that has not been "reserved" with deposit by a customer.

2015 GL's are in production now - but will be "held" by MB until formal 2015 release which "should" happen end-August.

 

I'd suggest driving the GL450, 350 and even the 550. If you put a couple of options on a 450, you're getting close to 550 pricing because it has many desirable options standard.

Before I ramble on, I'll just give you the bottom line: I'd get the 350 head and shoulders above the 450 and even though I chose the 550 this time, I'm not sure it redeems itself as superior to the 350 other than the smile it gives you when you use the loud pedal. I'm almost certainly getting 350 next time.

I've driven all three many times and owned two 350's, each hit 30K miles, now with a 550 with over 10K miles of towing, snow, sand, road trips, camping, water sports, boats, race car trailers, gardening, mud, dirt, bricks, pavers, tools, all seats taken sometimes, two roof boxes, a motorcycle on the hitch, dirt bike, desert, etc.. They all have poor lag. It's a matter of what you find acceptable.

I used to dislike the 350 for driving, but it quickly grew on me -- to the point we simply updated and bought a new one after 30K miles on the first one and a basically $10K "update" cost to step into a new car made for very affordable motoring in a fully loaded 350 ... it had great resale retained value.

The merits of the 350 are extraordinary range between refueling, excellent mpg around town or at high speed (70-80) and reasonable for towing (keeping in mind, the gas engine mpg towing is atrocious, but the diesel is good ... I see you're not going to tow, but it's a credit to the car in any case.)

So the thing I really appreciated was buying biodiesel (B5 or B20 blends, never had a hiccup, btw: always refuel with nitrile disposable gloves, no matter what I'm handling) and refilling less than once a week or being able to drive a whole road trip of 500 miles or more and not have to plan for a fuel stop for the whole weekend and even drive the next week before getting around to refuelling.
Diesel is also cheaper than 91 in California (at present, but some years ago, it was higher) and it's readily available (plus the gasbuddy app will direct you to the nearest best price, so you don't have to pay too much.)

The 350 diesel in bluetec form is very quiet, runs like any normal engine, no fussy start-up, but it's certainly recommended to let it idle warm and avoid harsh acceleration (this is true for any engine, but especially for diesels ... the emissions folks will insist you just drive off from cold because their tests are designed that way, but it doesn't improve vehicle net emissions or mpg because the exhaust system wastes energy and diesel emissions fluid into the task of clean emissions ... not improving the world, just causing the engine to suffer and your mpg to be worse.)

My wife drives the GL as a family bus for the most part. She's never once complained about any adverse issues, plus I really like that my kids are never (never) at a gas station in the diesel ... you can always plan a route and timing to take the opportunity to refuel when you don't have passengers. The 550 loves the gas station and hates to pass one by.

I've driven the 450 only as a loaner and found it to be fine, if a little underwhelming once you're used to the 550 and it exhibits the same lag. After a while, it becomes familiar and unintrusive. I spec'd all four GLs this time and the 550 was the best value, especially after decent discount (about 8% and some discounted warranty and prepaid service sweeteners.)

Personally, I'd shop for a mint condition X164 350 bluetec unless you really want some features of the X166. I'm sorely tempted to pick up an 'old' 350 in this way and have it as a second household SUV garage queen until the 550 runs out its lease or gets sold (they're still apparently in demand and in short supply.) But chances are, I'll procrastinate and then want something in the 2015 or 2016 update (f'rinstance, I'm keen to get HUD night drive if that becomes a reality.)

 

ymmv:

Thank you so much for your reply. I would love to check out the 350 - the dealership I visited did not have one. I just started the search, and plan on calling the various dealers to see if I can test drive one.

A few questions about the diesel:

1) Are the diesels quick off the line?
2) Why the gloves? Does the diesel smell? Isn't there just a separate diesel pump at most stations?

Sorry for the dumb questions - this is the first time I am considering one.

Thanks

 

1) Quick off the line... No. Diesels are better at in gear acceleration.
2) Gloves.... I do not use gloves but fuel for diesels can be waxy and does not vaporise like gasoline does. For me this means diesel fuel is not as smelly but if i did spell either fuel on me i would wash it off.

Driving a diesel is different and may need some adjustment. It is driving using tourque and not reving the engine. I have known people accustom to diesel to try the gasoline version of the same car and complain that the gasoline version has no power. But people accustom to gasoline try the diesel and report that has no power.

So the benefits of diesel?

1) as already said, a long range. Simply not having to stop and fill the tank as often is a great convenience.

2) how you feel about mileage and economy. Forget the money savings on something this expensive as really it is not the $ saved but how you feel about using less fuel. When asked how much fuel does it use? A: about the same as a regular sedan. Or for the gasoline, Q: how much fuel does it use? A: OK it uses a lot but you only live once.

Which answer do you feel better about?

The both drive really well once you are accustom to them. Does not having to stop for fuel so often make a difference? Which one do you feel better owning?

 

Ogre,

Thanks a lot! That post really helps put things in perspective.

I spoke to a salesman who owns a 2014 GL 350. He offered to let me test drive his personal car because there's not one available. He was recommending the GL 450 though.

Like you said, I will have to decide which makes me feel better.

Thanks again for all your help - will hopefully find the right car soon.

A

 

id go for the 14 450 - most dealerships will search for the car you want if you want the current year - i am in the process of looking for one now and have been able to find a bunch with the options we want - anything can be shipped -

my last 2 MB's were not bought locally -

personally i'd go for a 14 and then take to EuroCharge and tune it - will get same output of a tuned 550 for $1500

 

I can't really add much to YMMV's assessment - it was very thorough.

We don't really know much about the 2015 450 with the V6. It could be the best thing ever, we just don't know. It clearly won't have the ability to be tuned to a 550's specs, but most people don't need/desire that. It may provide decent fuel economy without going to the 350.

I've had a X164 450 (2007 MY) and now the X166 350. The X166 is exceptionally well appointed compared to the X164. It really is a much nicer vehicle. I like the diesel for it's fuel economy. Not many SUVs can boast of mid 20's mpg.

 

I think I go along with the other posts here comparing the various gas/diesel options.
None of the GLs will really jump off the line like a strong V8 sports car!
The diesel has lag and so do the new turbo gasoline V8's. My 2014 GL550 has lag from a standstill, but hell, after the first so-called "60 foot" of the drag race, it's really starting to haul.
As for gloves, all fuels are poison and the pumps are never clean -- better to keep hands clean and leave the disposable gloves in the trash can at the gas station. So I keep a stash of nitrile gloves in the car. I think 100 gloves costs about $10, so ten cents each or maybe 20 cents if you wanted to wear a glove on both hands (?) to pump gas. I know that diesel is an equal or worse carcinogen than gasoline and it stinks, plus I've worked around cars all my life (used to "wash" my hands in gas to get the grease off!) until I noticed it would sting (then I switched to kerosene ...) so now, I'm really careful about poisons and toxins.

 

FAB, when do the 2015 GL350s become available at the dealerships?