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I thought we could use this forum to post any news regarding a possible 2016 mid-cycle refresh of the GL. The rumor of a possible MayBach edition of the GL is very intriguing. Hopefully this is really in the works.
I also attached a spy photo of the 2016 ML Coupe that may suggest a similar refresh for the dash of the GL.
Not really interested in a refresh, If I was in the market for a GL again I would wait till they come out with the next generation and buy it in the second year when the bugs and kinks are fixed, would love to see it lose 500-800 pounds vehicle weight, proper twin turbo turbo diesel with 300hp and 500+ lb-tq and the 9 speed tranny.
renaming confirmed and possibly a GLS Maybach in a couple years
"When it comes to the brand's big, roomy family haulers, its SUV and crossovers, all will now start with a G. The GL becomes the GLS. The ML becomes the GLE. The GLK becomes the GLC."
I like the redesign of the ML dash pictured above. My son just purchase a new C400 which has a similar display design and the same touch controller. It looks good and functions quite well in real-time driving.
I also curious to see the rumored Maybach edition of the GL (or will it be called the GLS by then?).
I like the new dash also, in fact that is the main reason keeping me from pulling the trigger on the 2015, looks more modern and the resolution improvement was needed (saw it on the c class). It grew on more though, but this is the direction auto makers are going.
Seems this facelift is quite a big change... The name and the dash and most likely some in the front end.... Definitely worth holding back my order now although I am quite in urgent need of a 7 seater...
Can't think of a competition that's even close in the market...
Hope they will improve the second row headrest as well ... Now not that user friendly to have to move it up manually after resuming the seats from folded
Last edited by phonetics; Nov 15, 2014 at 04:57 AM.
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
I will be ready to buy again in 17 or 18.....BUTTTT...if MB does NOT keep the "essence" of a true SUV in the vehicle, then I will not be buying my 4th GL... I will run this one till it falls apart or will look at Land Rover ( ugh) I enjoy having what one person described as "a mountain goat in a tux!!" My GL's have been the most comfortable, luxurious and yet highly capable SUV's I have ever owned.......by "highly capable" I mean the "off road package" giving me the ability to deal with some pretty messy stuff at times. The G wagon, of course, is the true "goat"....but is not a practical day to day driver..... the GL has been a great blend of all that MB has developed in the luxury and 4WD arena..... The change to a V6 in the 450 is not a good indicator for me....... I will watch and see what develops!
I'm with you blittle. I have the biodiesel issue with the 350, can't really see myself buying a V6 450, can't see myself justifying a 550 price tag.
As an aside, I had a Dodge Durango for a rental car a few weeks ago. While it's clearly not in the class of the GL, it does have many of the same features (distronic, pre-safe brake, parktronic, blind spot assist, auto sensing wipers, heat/ventilated leather seats, etc). Gas mileage is in the 20's. Fully loaded it's $40K less than a comparably optioned GL.
While I'm not jumping off the bandwagon yet, it did cause me to think a bit.
I bought a Chrysler LHS several years ago and that was huge mistake. I had it back to the dealer so many times that after 18 months I traded it. I've owned several Lexus SUV's, these are well made vehicles but were a bit boring (IMO). My GL550 is easily the best vehicle I've ever owned. They are expensive to be sure, but as they say: "you get what you pay for". There are many more affordable alternatives to buying a GL, but they just will not measure up in the long run (IMO).
I'm looking forward to the refresh and the full redesign down the road. If the new S and C are any indication, the next full redesign of the GL will get a much plusher interior.
Rumor has it that MB will rename the entire SUV line up to:
GLS (the current GL)
GLE (the current ML)
GLC (the current GLK)
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
Originally Posted by JimBarnhart
I'm with you blittle. I have the biodiesel issue with the 350, can't really see myself buying a V6 450, can't see myself justifying a 550 price tag.
As an aside, I had a Dodge Durango for a rental car a few weeks ago. While it's clearly not in the class of the GL, it does have many of the same features (distronic, pre-safe brake, parktronic, blind spot assist, auto sensing wipers, heat/ventilated leather seats, etc). Gas mileage is in the 20's. Fully loaded it's $40K less than a comparably optioned GL.
While I'm not jumping off the bandwagon yet, it did cause me to think a bit.
As I said..... I will be riding this horse till 2017/18 ....what MB offers at that point will determine what happens next. My 13 450 is without a doubt the best overall SUV I have ever owned......I'm with you on the 450 V6 AND the 550 price!
I hear what you are saying Brad but a 450 V6 may be more popular than we think. If fuel economy goes up and performance is similar to the current 450 V8, that is a win/win. I know the price of GL550 is not for everyone but when you compare it to the other offerings available (Range Rover, Escalade, Lexus LX570), it is not actually overpriced. IMO it is the best value for a hi-end luxury SUV. If you have any doubts, price out a fully loaded RR or LX, then go drive them. The GL550 is the best choice and to my eye the best looking SUV on the road. Of course there is the GL63 if you want even more engine power!
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
Originally Posted by JoeMa
I hear what you are saying Brad but a 450 V6 may be more popular than we think. If fuel economy goes up and performance is similar to the current 450 V8, that is a win/win. I know the price of GL550 is not for everyone but when you compare it to the other offerings available (Range Rover, Escalade, Lexus LX570), it is not actually overpriced. IMO it is the best value for a hi-end luxury SUV. If you have any doubts, price out a fully loaded RR or LX, then go drive them. The GL550 is the best choice and to my eye the best looking SUV on the road. Of course there is the GL63 if you want even more engine power!
I hear you.....and, what I would have to do is test drive a V6 450 because what I DONT want to hear is that V6 having to rev like crazy to haul the bulk of the 450 around...... I truly like the way the current V8 just sort of "idles along" at speed. What I think they should do ( to satisfy me, of course ) is offer the buyer "engine options".....sort of like the way you used to be able to buy vehicles back in the "old days!" The MB way is "if you want this engine, ya gotta buy THIS level car" Fine .... but if I priced out a 550 with what I WANT....which is no more than what I have on my current 450, .... it is way more expensive for basically the same vehicle. The other vehicles that you mentioned...the Lexus, is fairly equal, but gas mileage ( and looks ) are much less....the RR is interesting, and, can move the functionality up a notch with locking center AND rear differentials but has bad reliability reviews......so,for now....I enjoy my MB GL 450 and will see what things look like in 2017/18!
The biturbo V8 was the selling point for me and I think it was worth every penny. I will not spend the kind of money I did for a GL that is equipped with the same engine that is offered in a $48,000 C Class that weighs 2000 lbs less. No way. I agree with blittle, my GL would be priced around $100k if I had gotten the same options on a 550 and that is just more than I'm willing to spend for a family hauler. The reason I bought my first GL was because it really was not far from the prices of the optioned up Yukons/Denalis/Sequoias. I just don't think the V6 offers the value I should expect. The competition has gotten much better as well.
I agree with you both Blittle and 43221B I remember the days of underpowered engines and I refuse to compromise on that. It's interesting that guys like us, who have had multiple GL's over the years, from early adopters to current generation and we have a sour taste in our mouth over new models.
I have usually kept my vehicles 6-10 years, so my next GL should probably be an X168, have auto-drive, get 50mpg and go 0-60 in 5 seconds, right?
I agree with you both Blittle and 43221B I remember the days of underpowered engines and I refuse to compromise on that. It's interesting that guys like us, who have had multiple GL's over the years, from early adopters to current generation and we have a sour taste in our mouth over new models.
I have usually kept my vehicles 6-10 years, so my next GL should probably be an X168, have auto-drive, get 50mpg and go 0-60 in 5 seconds, right?
50 MPG and 5s in 0-60 there are just incompatible with each other
BTW, I just got the 2015 GL450. Plenty of power and mine is well loaded just except the B&O. Just before I get this 2015 GL450, I drove 2014 V8 GL450 for rough 3500 miles. Trust me, the only complaint I have right now is the exaggerated gas milage...
I think we would all agree that the 15 has plenty of power as do the new Yukons, Infinitis, etc. The Biturbo V8 is just a special engine that set the GL apart from the competition. If Mercedes wanted to knock $7,000-$10,000 off the price for the V6 equipped GL, I would be okay with that. It's just crazy that the price stayed the same with a significant performance drop.
As for the fuel economy in your V6, if you baby it, you are going to get V6 fuel economy with V6 power. If you push it it will drink fuel just like a V8. That's the nature of turbocharging. My city fuel economy in my X164 Bluetec was just a little better than what I get in my X166 V8 Biturbo because I can baby the V8 and get the same acceleration I got from pushing the diesel. Highway mileage is a different story.
I think we would all agree that the 15 has plenty of power as do the new Yukons, Infinitis, etc. The Biturbo V8 is just a special engine that set the GL apart from the competition. If Mercedes wanted to knock $7,000-$10,000 off the price for the V6 equipped GL, I would be okay with that. It's just crazy that the price stayed the same with a significant performance drop.
As for the fuel economy in your V6, if you baby it, you are going to get V6 fuel economy with V6 power. If you push it it will drink fuel just like a V8. That's the nature of turbocharging. My city fuel economy in my X164 Bluetec was just a little better than what I get in my X166 V8 Biturbo because I can baby the V8 and get the same acceleration I got from pushing the diesel. Highway mileage is a different story.
I'm surprised to see you getting similar results around town. In our GL350 we see a minimum of 20mpg in congested LI city driving, usually it's closer to 22.
I totally agree that it's a shame they downgraded to a V6 with much less usable power and charged the same price! Now there really is little reason to get a 450 over a 350.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
) is offer the buyer "engine options".....sort of like the way you used to be able to buy vehicles back in the "old days!" The MB way is "if you want this engine, ya gotta buy THIS level car" Fine .... but if I priced out a 550 with what I WANT....which is no more than what I have on my current 450, .... it is way more expensive for basically the same vehicle. The other vehicles that you mentioned...the Lexus, is fairly equal, but gas mileage ( and looks ) are much less....the RR is interesting, and, can move the functionality up a notch with locking center AND rear differentials but has bad reliability reviews......so,for now....I enjoy my MB GL 450 and will see what things look like in 2017/18!
