South Ocean1

Sam

Very interesting info on the GL 63's listed so far. I am surprised that so many of those were not already sold to customers - but dealers do that kind of thing all the time I guess. I wonder how much over list those dealers are looking for (if at all).. In terms of demand, I think it is very strong worldwide. I think supply will catch up with demand, as it always does, particularly when the car makers make good money on sales. But in the short term – which I'd say is probably the next year or so – supply will be short. Heck, In all of Chicagoland right now they are only 11 new GLs and no GL550s - with the 550s selling as quickly as they come in. Our new GLs will still depreciate like a rock – but it will be hard to got one in the order combo you like for a while - Which makes me glad to be in line now.

Kind regards

JasonMayes

^ Big demand up here in Wisconsin as well. There are a few GL's here now, but sold out of GL550's and GL350 BTCs for a while..and a waiting line 4 deep for GL63.

sam9187

I am sure type is demand but its not what it seemed like 2 months ago. We were all thinking that it will be hard to get a GL63 and were thinking of placing the order with the right dealer to get a 2013. It seems now that its a reasonable chance to buy a GL63 from a dealer that has a unsold one. Fletcher jones sold theirs at MSRP.

Hastings7elb

I ordered a GL63 when the order banks opened but the dealer indicates that allocations and build slots have not yet been provided to them yet.

South Ocean1

Sam

I don't understand how the dealers work. When I was in Newport Beach this past fall, the salesman whom I kind of know at Fletcher Jones told me they had 20 orders in line for the GL 63. But then why did that first one come in unsold? Even if he was exaggerating a bit, I'm sure they had over 10 orders. And then one showed up for sale on cars.com from MB Fort Lauderdale but we know that Trimmer2 is waiting in line for his allocation at that same dealership. several of us on this board tried pretty hard to get a model year 13 but couldn't (except for Adam12). It just makes me scratch my head. In any event, I hope we do stay on schedule for a July build and August delivery. . .

sam9187

I think dealers and the SA lie all the time or are not forthcoming. I doubt they had 20 people in line for the GL63 and then when it arrives not one person wants to buy it. When I called they were willing to sell it to me and ship to Texas. Another example is Parkplace - they told me they had 12 people in line and then last week they had a GL63 that they wanted to sell to me for immediate delivery. The only problem - It was a diamond white with brown interior which is not the color we like on the exterior or interior.

I am not saying that dealers will not sell the GL63 or that its going to be on the lot for a long time. My point is simply the initial demand was overinflated as based on what we were thinking the only way is to be in line with the "right" dealer. It clearly seems like that's not the case. I could have easily bought the GL63 at park place or newport beach.

fabbrisd1

I'm am not confused at all - because a good part of this is inconsequential misdirection - and although it is unintentional - misdirection none the less.

There have been close to 60 GL63's delivered - and no one here, or anywhere I know of, that has reported a GL63 "shipped" outside of market area. If I am "wrong" about that - then please let me know.

There have been two GL63's that I know off delivered to members who have previosuly posted here - one reported, and one not reported - and I think the decision for the non-report was for a very good good reason...

A telephone conversation with a sales consultant is certainly easy - the call is cheap - and nothing but confusing unintentional misdirection.

GL63's will continue to sell - the production rate at/about/slight increase over low 20's a month will continue on stream.. that's how it started, heaven forbid that was clearly outlined here... and yes, if you want to have a GL63 in your market area this year - then yes, I would recommend you align yourself with the right dealer/horse.

cyberorth

When he tells you there are 20 people in line, it makes you think you are competing with 20 other people. Since its all about supply and demand and this particular car has such a small niche that it is hard to actually verify demand, you as a potential buyer may agree to a less desirable deal.

South Ocean1

Fabbrisd1:

Thanks for your comment. You mentioned that close to 60 GL63s have been delivered to-date. Does that mean that they were delivered ahead of schedule??? I recall that there were something like only 18 scheduled for late March production and another 17 or 18 scheduled for the first decade of May production - then more in June. To get to 60 those had to be pulled forward? Can you comment on that? Just curious.

Hastings7elb:

Sorry about your delay on getting an allocation. That is very frustrating, particularly when you were in that original order group like several of us on this board. I hope you get good news with an August or September build date for early Fall delivery. What are the specs on your order?

Sam and Cybernorth:

I so hear you on the "misdirection" that some/(too) many dealers will give us. It really is sad - and one of the reasons I want to stay with my dealer (or more particularly my SA) since I am comfortable he gives me the straight scoop. When I was in my search for a MY2013 to order a Pearl Beige, one local dealer who I was talking to, after I told him I was going to stay with a 2014 after all since I had just gotten an August allocation and decided that was the more prudent course, told me with a straight face that my dealer was not telling the truth and that there were no August allocations . . . so stay with him for a "sure thing". I knew he could look in the MB system and see what was confirmed by others on the board. No thanks.

In my dealer's case, there were four in line for a GL63 earlier this spring when I asked (including me at the top of the line). That's just one reasonably sized dealer in Chicago among 10 or 11 in Chicagoland. I think at the end of the day MBUSA will make available/sell around 500 per year in the US - or 2% of the total GL production for the US each year - per the MBUSA exec quote in that Car and Driver article). That will probably be more than enough to satisfy car nuts like us and allow for reasonable supply/demand balance and discounts of list. The problem is that I don't want to wait the two years for that to occur.

Sam: Did you hear about your build date moving up to July?

sam9187

SO: My SA is on vacation so I will learn more when he gets back. I will keep you posted. I am looking forward to the new S class release next week

sam9187

GL63 in a matte finish

http://www.autogespot.nl/mercedes-be...166/2013/05/10

Designo or aftermarket???

2-550's

Looks like magno platinum. Damn that looks good. I would def go with that if I could. Don't think Alabama plant does designo work.

sraza

that def does looks sick-- and does not look like aftermarket wrap-
i agree i think its magno platinum- what a color!

sam9187

Since all GLs are made in Alabama - it had to be the Alabama plant that painted the GL magno platinum.

2-550's

The great thing about Mercedes mango paints is even though your car may be a bit dirty it still looks great. Ordered mango allanite grey on wifes new E63. Looking forward to seeing it in person although it looks like Ill be waiting as long as you GL63 guys to get it.

2-550's

Since this is Europe, they probably had MB repaint it over there after delivery.

South Ocean1

Or maybe a custom matte wrap . . . I am sure it was not painted that way in Alabama.

Sam: Please keep the cool photo links coming. I particularly liked the white one with what looked like a Brabus hood badge and unique interior - likely added by Brabus.

sam9187

7 GL63s now listed on cars.com. The one at NC even has pics so I think it's available

xxGenericSNxx

Might I ask where you see the GL63s listed on cars.com? I sort by most expensive GLs and there are only GL550s on top and when I go to the "style" submenu, there are no GL63s listed. What am I missing?

sam9187

Try this link:

http://www.cars.com/for-sale/searchr...AD&enableSeo=1

Either you were searching for used cars or distance was a limiting factor.
Thanks

xxGenericSNxx

Thanks Sam! You're right, out of habit I always search used cars on cars.com and simply forgot to look it up under new. Cheers!

alx

After the initial export spike (mafia guys in eastern europe and all) there will be little demand for the gl63 as it is first and foremost a large family truck so more power is not necessary something the average buyer will need, yet the truck gets 10-15mpg and costs a lot of money. Precisely for the same reasons the gl350 might as well be made of unobtanium - just like the 164 truck 6-7 years ago.

fabbrisd1

real - al-the-x - actually GL550 has worldwide ultra-spike and GL350 ultra-spoke due to Asia, especially China - so nice try... GL450 demand is steady/growth on-track..

alx

Sorry. No. Next year they will not be able to give the v8 models away. I am not going to even argue with you on that.

South Ocean1

Sam:

To lighten things up after the last poster (whom I will be sure not to argue with), have you seen the photos of the Iridium Silver GL63 for sale in Las Vegas. That's pretty close to your build. Looks good. There certainly are at least a few MY2013s that did not come pre-sold, as you noted.

Fab, I am still curious, did MB accelerate the build on some of the GL63s to get to the 60 you mentioned as having been delivered?

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...nal&listType=1