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For those who have been asking about 2016 GL models, they are beginning to land at dealerships now. First 2 2016 GL450 models landed locally several days ago. Just thought I'd let you all know if anyone was wondering. I was expecting August arrivals, but they are coming in now and available for retail. Only differences noted was MBRACE not being on the window sticker (basic package will come included for 2016 models as standard) and some differences with Sirius XM traffic/weather being included for so many years along with free map updates increasing from 3 years to 5 years, I believe...
Stopped off at my local dealer this weekend to look at the GL550 one more time before picking up our new Escalade and they were sold out. 5 2015 GL's (3 - 550's / 2 - 350's) there Monday and all gone by Friday night. Sales person told me that the 16's were stacked up at the factory waiting to be delivered in a couple of week.
Great question and one we struggled with for a couple of months before deciding on the Caddy. We have been in MB's for the past 5 years and have gotten spoiled by the ride and performance. We drove the Caddy on a whim late one Friday afternoon "just to check it out" and I was honestly ready to sign the papers after the test drive was done. I managed to hold off while trying to rationalize why we did or didn't want the Caddy over the GL.
Our thinking:
The middle row seating layout and room were important to us in this buying decision. We have two teenage boys that play team sports and the rear seat in the wife's ML is a little too tight for them now that they are growing. The GL offers the same seating for the middle row and all gained space is in the 3rd row / cargo area. The captains seating vs the bench was another very nice to have as it allows our lab to easily climb in to the wider door opening and lay down between the two seats vs under foot or in the rear cargo section.
The other key factors were fit / finish of the interior and technology. The Caddy interior on our Platinum series is impeccable - every surface you can see / touch just screams luxury. The suedes door panels, the deep lacquer trim, the touch sensitive controls, etc.. were all very alluring. The technology package is pretty amazing and I would liken it to the new S class in terms of appearance, functionality and ease of use. The GL will get a significant upgrade in 2017 I'm sure and be back on par with whats available but for now it is a bit stale. Familiar...but stale as we've been in MB's for the past 5 years and they have all been very similar in technology and controls. Something to be said for familiarity which is why I wanted to go look at the GL550 one last time before writing the check.
The final input to our decision was the local dealer support / maintenance costs. the Caddy comes with the first 4 years / 50k miles of service included and the local Caddy dealer is very accommodating. Picks your car up if asked, loaners anytime, free washes anytime you want to drop by, etc.. The local MB dealer makes you feel as if it is your privilege to hand then your money. Loaners available only for warranty and if scheduled 3+ weeks out, very poor wash service - if at all, and sky high service rates. "A" service was 2x what we paid in SC and 3x what we paid in SoCal when we lived there.
I'll keep my E550 for a while longer but probably look at the new XTS-V that is due out late next year along side the CLS / New S class. Nothing else out there really stirs my interest.
Great question and one we struggled with for a couple of months before deciding on the Caddy. We have been in MB's for the past 5 years and have gotten spoiled by the ride and performance. We drove the Caddy on a whim late one Friday afternoon "just to check it out" and I was honestly ready to sign the papers after the test drive was done. I managed to hold off while trying to rationalize why we did or didn't want the Caddy over the GL.
Our thinking:
The middle row seating layout and room were important to us in this buying decision. We have two teenage boys that play team sports and the rear seat in the wife's ML is a little too tight for them now that they are growing. The GL offers the same seating for the middle row and all gained space is in the 3rd row / cargo area. The captains seating vs the bench was another very nice to have as it allows our lab to easily climb in to the wider door opening and lay down between the two seats vs under foot or in the rear cargo section.
The other key factors were fit / finish of the interior and technology. The Caddy interior on our Platinum series is impeccable - every surface you can see / touch just screams luxury. The suedes door panels, the deep lacquer trim, the touch sensitive controls, etc.. were all very alluring. The technology package is pretty amazing and I would liken it to the new S class in terms of appearance, functionality and ease of use. The GL will get a significant upgrade in 2017 I'm sure and be back on par with whats available but for now it is a bit stale. Familiar...but stale as we've been in MB's for the past 5 years and they have all been very similar in technology and controls. Something to be said for familiarity which is why I wanted to go look at the GL550 one last time before writing the check.
The final input to our decision was the local dealer support / maintenance costs. the Caddy comes with the first 4 years / 50k miles of service included and the local Caddy dealer is very accommodating. Picks your car up if asked, loaners anytime, free washes anytime you want to drop by, etc.. The local MB dealer makes you feel as if it is your privilege to hand then your money. Loaners available only for warranty and if scheduled 3+ weeks out, very poor wash service - if at all, and sky high service rates. "A" service was 2x what we paid in SC and 3x what we paid in SoCal when we lived there.
I'll keep my E550 for a while longer but probably look at the new XTS-V that is due out late next year along side the CLS / New S class. Nothing else out there really stirs my interest.
Goes to show how important the service/dealership aspect is of an auto brand. The Mercedes & Audi dealerships I take my cars to are like your Caddy dealership. They make us feel good/important, wash our cars and thank us every time we go in. If those two dealerships were not here, I would be in another car brand, because the Lithia Mercedes dealership us awful.
so the GLS isnt for 2016...? facelift, better interior?
sorry it has taken me a bit to reply. been stacked up at work. absolutely no changes aesthetically for the 2016 vs the 2015. only differences are included MBRACE connect that is soon to be released and extended weather/traffic through Sirius.
so will they name it gls, you would think they would as the ml, glk etc are getting changed over...
its a shame the gl or gls isnt really a S class version of the suv...i really think for the price u pay it shoulndt just be a longer ML, with the same interior bits and features..
it should have cushy seats and 14 different massage features and all that crap
so will they name it gls, you would think they would as the ml, glk etc are getting changed over...
its a shame the gl or gls isnt really a S class version of the suv...i really think for the price u pay it shoulndt just be a longer ML, with the same interior bits and features..
it should have cushy seats and 14 different massage features and all that crap
MY16 is still GL
GLS is simply based on the new nomenclature to more align the models based on their SUV/car comparable model
the GL550 is slightly more in line with what you are thinking with the S-class. the big thing you have to remember that the S is 'basically' a longer E-class. the gadgets/technology/seating/etc warrants the 6-figure sticker. you can get the GL, a longer ML, for in the $70's with good equipment, compared to an S550 that has base pricing of mid-$90k. S-Class is the flagship and will always come with the 'goodies' and ask a premium. that being said, it you go look for a GL that stickers around the $110k mark, let me know the bells and whistles that it has compared to the 'standard' GL around the $75k mark.
naming, in my opinion, is to simplify the differentiation and understanding of models for the general public that has never really paid attention to the Mercedes brand because they thought it was unattainable. new nomenclature more aligns them so that people can figure out a C-class is 'similar' to a GLC, E-Class similar to GLE, and so on...
The S-Class is not just a longer E-Class. Not even basically. Totally different car and not even related to the E-Class.
M
okay, poor analogy. the point i was trying to make is that the GL is not even close to having the same standard equipment and features as the S, hence the price point being so completely different. the S is in a class by itself
The price point is not all that different. A typical gl550 is mid 90s. A new s class is a little more but same realm
GL550, yes
GL350/450, no
so yes, you are correct. they are same realm. $90k vs $95k base MSRP with very similar characteristics and equipment. hence GLS to correlate with S-line
That's what im saying is that the gl should be more s class like in its features. Its not. Its more e class like right now.
now that i can agree with. i'm interested to see what changes may come with the MY17 release of the GLS and if there are significant upgrades to make it more like the S
now that i can agree with. i'm interested to see what changes may come with the MY17 release of the GLS and if there are significant upgrades to make it more like the S
It won't be, already discussed many times. It will share the interior of the newer ML.
Isn't the E getting the S like interior upgrade soon?
Great question and one we struggled with for a couple of months before deciding on the Caddy. We have been in MB's for the past 5 years and have gotten spoiled by the ride and performance. We drove the Caddy on a whim late one Friday afternoon "just to check it out" and I was honestly ready to sign the papers after the test drive was done. I managed to hold off while trying to rationalize why we did or didn't want the Caddy over the GL.
Our thinking:
The middle row seating layout and room were important to us in this buying decision. We have two teenage boys that play team sports and the rear seat in the wife's ML is a little too tight for them now that they are growing. The GL offers the same seating for the middle row and all gained space is in the 3rd row / cargo area. The captains seating vs the bench was another very nice to have as it allows our lab to easily climb in to the wider door opening and lay down between the two seats vs under foot or in the rear cargo section.
The other key factors were fit / finish of the interior and technology. The Caddy interior on our Platinum series is impeccable - every surface you can see / touch just screams luxury. The suedes door panels, the deep lacquer trim, the touch sensitive controls, etc.. were all very alluring. The technology package is pretty amazing and I would liken it to the new S class in terms of appearance, functionality and ease of use. The GL will get a significant upgrade in 2017 I'm sure and be back on par with whats available but for now it is a bit stale. Familiar...but stale as we've been in MB's for the past 5 years and they have all been very similar in technology and controls. Something to be said for familiarity which is why I wanted to go look at the GL550 one last time before writing the check.
The final input to our decision was the local dealer support / maintenance costs. the Caddy comes with the first 4 years / 50k miles of service included and the local Caddy dealer is very accommodating. Picks your car up if asked, loaners anytime, free washes anytime you want to drop by, etc.. The local MB dealer makes you feel as if it is your privilege to hand then your money. Loaners available only for warranty and if scheduled 3+ weeks out, very poor wash service - if at all, and sky high service rates. "A" service was 2x what we paid in SC and 3x what we paid in SoCal when we lived there.
I'll keep my E550 for a while longer but probably look at the new XTS-V that is due out late next year along side the CLS / New S class. Nothing else out there really stirs my interest.
Well damn....
We got the call to come pick up the new Slade and upon arriving at the dealer we were told there is a problem. The service tech took it out for a test ride and found that the AC controls had an issue. The diverter actuator that directs flow of cool air to the driver side would not open / close properly. The temperature blowing out of the driver vents was 78 degrees when set at 65. They had the dash torn down to the actuator housing with a 1" x 2" hole cut out of the housing trying to repair it. The service manager said that there was excess flash internal to the housing blocking the full open / close of the diverter gate. They have ID'd the part needed and it would be here next week but would require tearing the dash out down to the firewall including removal of the front seats / center console. I don't want a truck that has been torn down that extensively - thinking rattle trap down the road.
First off, this dealer has been fantastic and very up front about everything. He has another Platinum in the same configuration as ordered that has ~350 miles on it he is willing to allow an additional $1000 on our trade if we take it. The whole ordeal has given us pause in the process and is leading towards concerns on overall quality of the platform. I have been reading all of the other issues on the Caddy forum with ride, transmission, back-up camera, etc.. for the past month but had gotten over them assuming the major issues are with a very small population of vehicles sold. Then to walk in with a significant quality issue on something this obvious tells me that quality control at the TX factory is a bit lacking. Now wondering if we should stick with MB and just get the GL550 and put up with a crappy local MB dealer. I hate to give up the second row captains chairs but want a truck that is going to be rock solid for years to come.
We got the call to come pick up the new Slade and upon arriving at the dealer we were told there is a problem. The service tech took it out for a test ride and found that the AC controls had an issue. The diverter actuator that directs flow of cool air to the driver side would not open / close properly. The temperature blowing out of the driver vents was 78 degrees when set at 65. They had the dash torn down to the actuator housing with a 1" x 2" hole cut out of the housing trying to repair it. The service manager said that there was excess flash internal to the housing blocking the full open / close of the diverter gate. They have ID'd the part needed and it would be here next week but would require tearing the dash out down to the firewall including removal of the front seats / center console. I don't want a truck that has been torn down that extensively - thinking rattle trap down the road.
First off, this dealer has been fantastic and very up front about everything. He has another Platinum in the same configuration as ordered that has ~350 miles on it he is willing to allow an additional $1000 on our trade if we take it. The whole ordeal has given us pause in the process and is leading towards concerns on overall quality of the platform. I have been reading all of the other issues on the Caddy forum with ride, transmission, back-up camera, etc.. for the past month but had gotten over them assuming the major issues are with a very small population of vehicles sold. Then to walk in with a significant quality issue on something this obvious tells me that quality control at the TX factory is a bit lacking. Now wondering if we should stick with MB and just get the GL550 and put up with a crappy local MB dealer. I hate to give up the second row captains chairs but want a truck that is going to be rock solid for years to come.
Have you had a chance to drive a 550 with Designo interior? If you haven't, you are doing yourself a disservice to drop around $90,000 on a Cadillac.
Have you had a chance to drive a 550 with Designo interior? If you haven't, you are doing yourself a disservice to drop around $90,000 on a Cadillac.
Really? It's not a disservice.
The highest price Platinum edition, the ESV 4WD, cost around 98k. Max price of the regular Platinum 4WD after adding some options, will cost around $95K-$96K.
The one thing you didn't consider is the sales tax, title, and tag fees. Here in FL, we have a 7% sales tax. If you include the sales tax, tags fees, and title, the total cost of the vehicle will be way over $100k. Manufacture pricing may say one thing, but in reality, you are pay a lot more than what the actual price of the vehicle.
Sure the Escalade will have issues, but this is the 2015 of a new design model. Anyone remembered when the newly designed GL was release and some people went through the similar issues new Escalade drivers are going through? Similar situation.
I am actually glad that I got the 2015 model because I haven't experience any of the vibrational or any other issues. I have encounter electrical issues like the tire pressure warning going off and the safety features like the Distronic, blind zone, pre-safe brake, etc disable on it's own.
I'm not sure if you are agreeing or disagreeing with me? Several people have made comments here comparing the GL interior or ML interior to that of the Escalade. All I'm saying is you need to do an apples to apples comparison. The poster said he/she was looking at an Escalade Platinum which has a >$90,000 msrp. A GL550 with Designo interior will be more in the price range and use cabin materials that are comparable to the Escalade Platinum. Ironically, a GL is the more accessible vehicle because of a starting msrp in the high $60k range. Performance and handling wise, the 550 is going to have an edge because of the V8 Biturbo and unibody construction. Even other long time GL owners that have moved to the Escalade have admitted the Escalade has a more "truck like" ride. "Truck like" is not a ride or handling character trait I find endearing in a vehicle. If you need a longer SUV, then obviously the Escalade ESV would be worth looking at but it really isn't in the same class of vehicle as the GL. I'm not dissing the Escalade, I'm just trying to offer a different perspective since this is the mbworld X166 forum.
I find this last post by 43221B to be a very accurate assessment - confirmed by my customers who own/drive both - frankly the "new" Escalade is quite pricey - but has the largest interior cabin - especially the "Extended" - even die hard Escalade owners "know" their "road expereince" is not as sophisticated as their GL's - and take their GL's for trips - and use their Escalades for around town..
I just got a GL63 and also considered the Escalade Platinum. It was not an easy choice, but in the end I liked the handling and performance of the GL63 as well as its Renntech tunability. I drive from Dallas to Vail a few times a year and the bi-turbo in the mountains and superior handling were big for me. I will say the Escalade has come a long way. I had one 5 or so years back and the interiors are much nicer now. It is hard to think of dropping 95K or so on a GM car that is just badge engineered to be a nicer version of a Tahoe. I do wish they had the bucket seat option in the GL.
I have to say I really like the GL63 - I was coming out of a Range Rover Sport needing more room. I originally went in to look at the GL550, but couldn't help but get the GL63 after driving it.
Well... there is a strong "directive" that the 2017 GLS will have a 2nd row bucket seat option as mandated from MBUSA top/top management - product management and engineering were assigned the task - all subject to passing Federal crash safety standards of course.
I have customers with both GL's and new Escalade's in their garage - they too take their GL's for highway trips where they don't have the full load of teenage grandkids.
Another thing - they hate the Escalade touchscreen - wish they has a separate knob controller added - hate the fingerprints from hand lotion and the like - great looking screen/layout clean - a around town trip - a few presses here and there - messy !
Well... there is a strong "directive" that the 2017 GLS will have a 2nd row bucket seat option as mandated from MBUSA top/top management - product management and engineering were assigned the task - all subject to passing Federal crash safety standards of course.
!
Fab - you are killing me with this news. We picked up the Escalade Saturday morning after fretting about the decision for a few more days and came down to the interior room for the boys and 2nd row captains chairs. Guess we will take a second look at the GL when the 17's come rolling out. Thanks for sharing.
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