New '15 GL450
 

Build looks good with must have option assuming you are going to order the car, not buying from the lot, and glad you are going with Active Curve it is on very few cars and only those people get who really know what it is I miss that option every single day, as my current 550 does not has it, anyways you can go with Leather seats as you can save $744 from above because when you add Active Curve, ADS comes by default thats the reason it is $3700 for GL450 and $2900 for 550. Also why are not adding Trailer Hitch and Rear Seat Ent Pre-wiring because both of these are very important item you might not use them but they can come handy when you really need them, and it also increases your vehicle value.

Also few other cheap options

1) Black Headliner
2) Heated Windshield washer
3) Lower dashed wrapped with MB-Tex

Thanks

Just signed for a 2015 msrp $89k, negotiated $8,100 in savings, which included a usaa $2,000 rebate.

My first post, thought I would help.

Dreamszalone,

Thanks. I have heated windshield washer and lower dashed wrapped with MB-Tex listed already. I didn't go with leather because I have kids and the MB-Tex has held up well on my E350. I don't know what benefit Rear Seat Ent Pre-wiring provides. It just seems like an unnecessary added cost. I didn't know about the ACS including ADS, thanks!

Mike450,
Good deal! Was that a 450 or 350?

450.
Will post up some pics and specs once I pick it up this week.

Similar equipped as above, excluding active curve system, but with designo black and piano trim.

Nice config Jerome,

Dealer negotiation seems to be highly geographic, seems like best discounts are in the NYC area and can be model specific.

For a new GL450 search around a bit on the forums, but Mike450's deal seem reasonable.

Power EASY-ENTRY is horrible if you have children that need car seats installed. The headrest that come with this option make it very uncomfortable for kids that need a simple booster and also makes it difficult to install a convertible car seat for younger ages. There is a 10 page thread on this under "2nd row headrest".

just my .02, make sure you drive a 15 before you order.

i wanted a 14 with that brute V8 bi-turbo, but waited to long and what was on the ground didn't match up with options we wanted - waited for the 15 to come out drove the V6 and was bummed out - end of day ended up ordering a 350 BT - finally hit 1200 miles and i am ready to chip it and unleash the tq this monster has -

just my opinion - but love the BT and i love watching the needle not move on the fule gauge.

I think that you can add extra airbags for the rear for a couple of hundred bucks..

also.. the easy entry is fine if you pull the pin so that the headrest falls back or you switch head rests (look for previous posts and then my post).. when your 6 year old is in back with out easy entry... they can't lift the seat.

but good build.. though, you could consider a used GL550 and get that stuff and more for similar money.

Good Luck.. welcome to the club.

Thanks, I'm in NY. I hope you're right.

I thought about this. It's really my wife who will drive it most. She's coming from a small Mazda SUV so the 450 V6 should be a nice improvement. Gas will be about the same which does keep my eye on the BT. :)

I have a 5 year old so rear airbags don't sit well with me.


I saw your post on pulling the pin from the headrests which is one reason I'm going with the easy entry option.


The 450 is for my wife. A 550 would be a bit much for her, plus we want something brand new.

I spent the night looking at 450 vs. 350 threads because baldmike73 screwed me up :rolleyes:

I'm now considering the 350 a little more. We have never owned a diesel and I'm concerned about my wife putting the wrong gas in the tank, the potential problems mentioned, bio-diesel issues and the added expense. We will definitely not be doing any towing. The only benefit I can see is the gas savings. The additional power at the low end, doesn't mean much for my wife. Resale or Trade-in value?

Resale will definitely be superior, but dealer willingness to discount won't be as great vs a 450.

To add, there has also been a growing price per gallon gap between diesel and gasoline since the decline. These two issues really put the financial screws to buying a diesel.

Wife drives a 2014 Passat TDI for work and loves it. I too was worried she'd jam a gasoline nozzle in there ...lol

I am finally starting to see a diesel advantage. Diesel seemed to drop slower than gas, as the prices go back up the diesel seems to be moving slower. Today's prices in MN:

Premium Gas: $2.65
Diesel (winterized) $2.75

That said, I've had diesel pickups for years and it's been rare here to have diesel priced in the same ballpark as premium gas. It's always higher, just varies to how much.

I agree about the 450 for the wife... my wife never takes my GL63 outa eco.. and quite frankly that is fine with me.

I have a 4 & 6 yo...but I figure for side impact the extra bags are valuable.
did you consider the active system? its expensive but really makes the 450 handle much nicer.

Seems to be a regional type situation with the spread of diesel to premium.

Here as of today, diesel averages ~$3.40/gal while premium is $2.75. The spread has been as much as $1.00 vs regular.

That said, I agree there are some great advantages to diesel power, most notable the infrequency of fill ups and range. Big low down torque is nice also.

sorry to put doubt in your mind but spending 80K on a truck should be one that has enough power to do whatever is required of it.

we purchased the GL for the wife as well, but she is also a driver and when she gets in the E63 she drives it like she stole it -

ultimately just wanted you to think about it or even try find a new 14 Gl450 and then you will really not want the 15 - sorry man -

Not all of us purchase SUVs for the power aspect.

I agree with Mike and that's reason I had to switch to 550 from 450.
And as you said not every one purchase SUV for power aspect well I too agree on this but occasionally there is a need of power and when you really need it you get LAG instead of power that will really let you down or keep you wondering :nix:.

So no doubt GL is good but 15's are way under powered, just test drive thoroughly and try merging from exit on a busy highway....You will get it where we coming from.

And a V6 in that big 7 Pass truck it will beat the hell out of :smash: engine, in the long run....

FYI - Benz is coming up with 4 variants GL400(V6) GL450(V8), GL550(V8) & GL63

So there is a reason to bring back V8 in 450......

Thanks

The Honda Pilot I drove for years never had any issues with passing or loaded power. :dunno
Per specs, the Honda's 250hp needed to pull more weight per HP,had a few less gears to work with and a boatload less torque than the TT450.

I'm all for HP myself, but it didn't make a whole lot of sense for the family hauler when all was said and done, for me. My need for brute force is taken care of with other cars, when I'm alone.

I was drawn to the 550 for the much more aggressive look though. That is what I was really after, not necessarily the extra HP.

Well said Mike. A few other SUV would fall in this category.


Dreamszalone -- I don't believe this is true in the US, --- Benz is coming up with 4 variants GL400(V6) GL450(V8), GL550(V8) & GL63

That's the first I've heard this, what's your source?

Here's the way I understand the models:

The V6 is a GL450 in the US, but is a GL400 elsewhere in the world.

GL350, GL550 and GL63 are the same around the world.

This is my understanding as well.

I switched from a 4.2 V8 Audi Q7 with 350HP to 2015 TTv6 450 and don't feel like I downgraded .For a family hauler it has more then Enough power ,plus I get same mileage as my everyday 2010 v6 accord did 17.4mpg avg.:zoom:
And never have any problems merging on freeway :nix: