jtse

Okay, polar white GL550 it is, with distronics and spc order side airbags and auto 2nd row folding button thingy magic.

Test drove it last night, realized the text message doesn't disply the whole text while driving, forces me to listen to it. Well, it can't read non-english letters. , it just says "QUESTION MARK"

Deal breaker? I don't know, I guess a smartwatch is better and safer in this case.

I am quite torn right now, the design is quite old of the NAVI unit, but with a bigger family, a 7 seater is needed.

I hope the car drives great day to day, as the GM told me no one has ever complained about the GL and its functions.

I don't wanna be an emotional buy as I initially wanted a GL 350/450 until the V6 change, and no available 350 diesel pushed me to a 550 pretty much fully loaded.

U know, I had the STOP function on the car at red lights, and that made me hate vehicles without it. With distronics' speed matching, I think I will change my driving habit so much, that I cannot drive anything less. I hope not, but I can see it coming.

So, GL 550 here I come, its gonna be a monster on the road.

I was merging on the freeway yesterday of my test drive hitting 60 before even merging. The passenger on the left in a small sedan literally moved away from the chair towards the driver and stared at me scared that I will crash into their car. The merge was one of those last minute you see car is going to merge type.

Too bad it didn't have designo leather, and I cannot wait for a build order till January.

Black on Black was another option, but so many friends and family said that is a mafia looking car and it looks too serious. My businesses cannot afford to have that type of image, so white is a much kinder feeling than all black.

Okay, I'm just blabbering because I have time to kill before I go see the finance manager. I will report with my experience.

OH, btw, for those who think invoice price is the dead bottom, it is a lie.

All dealerships has about 3% more to go not including any factory/finance incentives to go.

So, bargain with them invoice - 3% price always to get the best deal possible.

tarantas

What did you drive before?

jtse

2014 GLK 350, its gone now, traded it back.

Got the While GL 550. First impression is it is very large and very wide, and the lane departure already kicked in 4 times after driving 40 miles on it.

jenz

So invoice is what % below MSRP?

fq1

CONGRATS!!! Enjoy in good health. Please share how much below invoice you were able to get it for.

cyclrder

Congratulations on the new car!

Turn off the active lane assist.... You will find it annoying after awhile and the one time that you are trying to avoid someone coming into your lane and you move to the right ..the unanticipated push back from the car will be alarming.

Turn off the Eco and drive the car in S not C.... The car will start to shrink in size and feel much better.

Hook your iPod into the system (the hookup is in the center armrest) also... Try streaming pandora via Bluetooth to the unit... It works great.

You have more car than you know.... Enjoy and welcome to the club!

Oh... One last thing... Not sure where you live. But pay close attention to your tires .... Sometimes they come with summer or all season tires that are a compromise... I would suggest dedicated winter radials.

jtse

Thanks for the accolades!

I live in Hawaii so tires should be of no problem unless I move.

I actually don't have eco, as I gotten the 2014 GL550 becasue I didn't see any difference to the 2005 (they said the break calibers are red in 2015, the dealership just had one in, and it was standard looking just like mine.....) .

I'll try out the S mode and see the difference.

How different is the standard and passive lane assist?

Also, the manual didn't say if they car can do perpendicular parking by itself or not?

Nihsel10

ummm. The GL550 doesn't have a S or C button. Only a Sport or Comfort suspension setting, right?

I know the 63 has those C-S-M buttons along with the suspension settings.

cyclrder

I'm pretty sure that it would have the C -S modes (like most Mercedes cars) ... My 164 body GL550 actually had the C-S modes and also had two suspension settings...(the 166 doesn't have the suspension settings)

Maybe someone else could chime in here to clarify.

The GL63 has C-S-M and 3 suspension settings.
Both the GL550 and GL63 have adjustable ride height for ground clearance.

Nihsel10

My 550 doesn't, which is strange because it should have it. It only has the suspension settings.

I am checking the pics of some 2015 and 2014 550 from dealers. The area where the c-s-m button is suppose to be is not there. The 4 slot is empty. Only thing i see is ride height, dsr, and the suspension settings. Something is not right.

jtse

Wait a minute, are you guys talking about the C/S setting for the car to delay shifting?

or just the suspension?

My previous GLK has the C/S engine/transmission setting that basically just upshifts 2 gears and make it go.

Also, GL 550 and I assume all GLs, start in gear 1, due to weight I suppose, and my previous GLK 350 start in 2nd gear in C mode.

jtse

Just go to Truecar.com and I think you can find your invoice price fairly easily.

mist68

The Off Road package is required to have remapped engine response in GL550.

cyclrder

the C/S changes what gear the car starts in... but it also changes the shift points and how sporty the car runs and feels. It probably does not have an effect on the suspension but that should be clarified in your owner's manual.
GLs do not always start in 1st gear.

in the AMG.. changing from C to S is a drastic effect on the car.. it seems to add 200hp to the way the vehicle feels.

Dalema

So inquiring minds are curious - what percentage below invoice were you able to get?

I would have thought pricing was tougher in Hawaii.

fq1

Did you end up paying less than invoice or how many dollars below or above invoice were you able to do?

jenz

Unsure why OP went radio silent on this point all of a sudden

jtse

I didnt go silent, my internet however did for the past 2 days. My negotiation is super complex because my dealer had to take back a 2014 GLK that they gave me as much trade in value as possible over the price the fair value. Basically, the dealer GM reviewed all his cards and told me the 3% dealer hold backs, extra free cars they get if they hit a certain volume, etc.... I got a good deal below invoice because i massively complained to the BBB....... i am writing this on the cell phone. Screw time warner.....i will update more.

Ah_gl450

So reference sake below are details on my deal.

MSRP: $79,695
Invoice: ~$75,000
Fleet: $2000
Hold back: 3% of MSRP
Purchase Price: $71,500~

jtse

Good job! I got about the same deal. I serious want to start a thread or basically write a book on how to be an expert at car negotiations. Anyone care to get together and write one?

Ah_gl450

Not everyone who buys a benz cares about the killer deal they got (many actually don't care). When I was getting my car, a guy flew in from FL picked up an SLS, and then really like the CLS AMG next to it so got that too. Paid MSRP and cars were on a delivery truck within 2 hrs and he was catching a flight out.

and frankly, to expect dealers to dip in their hold back always is ridiculous IMO.

jtse

I understand your sentiment, and I personally group them in a group I call who has more money than sense. Granted, they might be so successful in life that a car is worth nothing to argue over a few thousands of dollars. However, no matter how rich you are, there is a price that you will care about, whether it is a yacht, house, a business you want to acquire, etc.... And negotiation comes into play in all of those things when the stakes is high enough to matter. What I mean is that the lower denominator of negotiation for most folks is usually around a high 4 to low 5 figure of differences.

Most Americans are not used to or taught how to negotiate. Our education and society and culture do not put much emphasis on it, generally speaking.

However, car dealership industry is still stuck in the older ages of pricing, negotiation is needed to get a fair price through haggling. I believe it is one of the last surviving business/industry that uses this tactic to get a little more here, and little less there.

Thus, the significance of understanding and giving the consumer the transparencies of their purchase is important. There is no high road to take here and say: Oh, the dealership has to make at least something.

With that type of mentality, one would never be a successful businessman as last time I checked we are still living in a capitalistic society (though slowly and subconsciously we are more socialistic now, but that is another topic for another day).

With today's technology, the buyer has more power than the seller, and thus the transparency of pricing, and the tactics of negotiation can be taken to the next level. The true ultimate goal would really take haggling from the customer out of the equation and no longer have price discrimination between the customers that walk through the door. Until then, customer negotiation tactics is here to stay.

jtse

For those who don't know, the sales team, sales manager, finance manager and who ever gets involved in your buying process has been professionally trained on how to put on a show so that they can try to make the most money from you.

The moment they ask you if you want coffee, or tea or what not, that cup of joe is now the $100K cup of joe. It is meant for you to feel reciprocal for you to give something in return like buying a nice car from them. You should bring a pack of gum with you and say would you like one so that you don't feel subconsciously owning something to them.

The rose they give your wife in the end is another aspect of saying you should come back for repeat business.

These are just some of the small details that most people subconsciously miss but are felt.

Dalema

I think a lot of people would value your thoughts and tactics in a new thread. Would help a lot of people.

43221B

I agree. One point you need to keep in mind though is that often people don't disclose all of the unique circumstances that enable them to achieve a given discount. For instance, a guy that replaces his GL every 12-18 months and bought a new S-Class 3 months ago is frequently going to get a very different deal than a guy that walks into a dealership and attempts to strike a deal without ever having owned a MB product. A salesperson might be willing to forgo a sizable commission to maintain this type of client.

Your suggestion is still good, people just need to have realistic expectations.