I noted this 21 months ago! As a designer it is annoying; there are many ways this could have been handled more authentically. Doesn't keep me up at night, though.
Useless & Tacky
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 34
Likes: 13
From: Coast of SC
2021 GLE53 AMG Coupe
Audis are better built than the GLE in my opinion. Audis are much more attractive as well. MB trying too hard to get noticed. Acura is a level down from the Germans. Most fun car I've had though was my 1993 Acura Integra R. All 3 recent Audis I've owned were even more solid than the Cayennes I've had. Even though I like my GLE53 Coupe, I will most likely go back to an Audi next go around if I'm still towing my race motos, otherwise its 911 time and I'll buy a used F150 to tow. If the SQ8 was introduced before the GLE53 Coupe, I would most likely have been driving one. I should have known better, the Alabama plant is run too much like a GM factory. They source everything locally except for the engine and transmission. I've toured both the Alabama plant and the VW plant in Chattanooga. More impressed with the VW plant. You also get better support from Audi and Porsche when there is trouble. Even VW has given better customer support than MB in my experience. You'll see in my other posts about the niggling issues a $100k vehicle shouldn't have. I've owned over 40 vehicles in my lifetime and the GLE53 sadly reminds me of a poorly built Peugeot 405 I bought in 1990. It doesn't feel like its been German engineered like a S class or even an E class. Too many misses that Germans typically think about.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 34
Likes: 13
From: Coast of SC
2021 GLE53 AMG Coupe
umm....that is not a fake vent. There is a button to turn it off or on. The middle portion blows indirect air. Kind of like a gentle diffuser versus blowing directly into your face. The wife likes it. The Cayenne has a similar vent on top of the dash that looks like a speaker grill but blows air gently over your head. It works quite effectively to get rid of hot air above your head in the summer.
Member
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 81
Likes: 23
From: Ontario
2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve
Audi wins the fake exhaust award too! I didn’t even consider one myself. Too little in terms of options, particularly with interior colours. You better like black! And frameless windows on a midsize SUV. Trying too hard!?
I’ve rented a number of Volkswagen vehicles in the past and have found them very well built, but completely soulless.
I’ve rented a number of Volkswagen vehicles in the past and have found them very well built, but completely soulless.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 34
Likes: 13
From: Coast of SC
2021 GLE53 AMG Coupe
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 34
Likes: 13
From: Coast of SC
2021 GLE53 AMG Coupe
Audi wins the fake exhaust award too! I didn’t even consider one myself. Too little in terms of options, particularly with interior colours. You better like black! And frameless windows on a midsize SUV. Trying too hard!?
I’ve rented a number of Volkswagen vehicles in the past and have found them very well built, but completely soulless.
I’ve rented a number of Volkswagen vehicles in the past and have found them very well built, but completely soulless.
Member
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 159
Likes: 42
From: Oro Valley (Tucson Area) AZ
2021 53 AMG SUV, 2021 GMC Denali, 2015 Bentley Speed convertable
If we are having fun-
Ya want a car with soul then you need 12 cylinders, over 600 hp and then ya got soul!! Throw in twin turbo's to sweeten the soul!!
Ya want a car with soul then you need 12 cylinders, over 600 hp and then ya got soul!! Throw in twin turbo's to sweeten the soul!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 482
From: Reading PA
26 EQS 400 SUV, 23 EQS 580 SUV (sold), 19 X7 (sold), 17/14 GLS550 (sold), 13 GL550 (sold)
Hi Greg, I haven't crossed paths with you in nearly two years. No doubt you and your wife have been enjoying your GLE. Our X7 has been an enjoyable SUV and I've never regretted moving to it. However, my wife and I are interested in the EQS coming this fall as our next and first EV. We may end up waiting for the EQS-SUV that's at least another year away. I agree with the post above about things changing quickly and the move to EV's by a number of manufactures is well underway.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,784
Likes: 1,276
From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
X7 & EVs
Hi Greg, I haven't crossed paths with you in nearly two years. No doubt you and your wife have been enjoying your GLE. Our X7 has been an enjoyable SUV and I've never regretted moving to it. However, my wife and I are interested in the EQS coming this fall as our next and first EV. We may end up waiting for the EQS-SUV that's at least another year away. I agree with the post above about things changing quickly and the move to EV's by a number of manufactures is well underway.
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Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 35
Likes: 17
GLE 350d 2020
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 482
From: Reading PA
26 EQS 400 SUV, 23 EQS 580 SUV (sold), 19 X7 (sold), 17/14 GLS550 (sold), 13 GL550 (sold)
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 24
Likes: 35
From: Discovery Bay - California Delta
GLE 450
Just Venting
Vent doesn’t bother me though i did notice it my first test drive i appreciated the symmetry. The small area for the wireless charge was more egregious imho. I took the rubber mat out to make more room for my phone.
Ive had the GLE450 for several months now and have driven the ***** out of it. Costal trip, highway, city you name it. Know what. I LOVE THIS VEHICLE.
So much nicer than my dream car the 2013 BMW 750Lix i had that spent weeks in the shop and over 20k in warranty work in major engine issues prior to 40k miles. I used to love BMW but their quality with that model is very poor.
If we are talking about quality BENZ of yesterday vs today - The GLE also is way better than the 1978 450SL convertible my parents bought brand new. Great status car at the time but a lumbering sloppy ride on curves and stupid 500 pound (not really 500 but felt like it) removable roof that we had to devise a pulley system to winch it to the garage ceiling when you wanted to go into summer soft top mode. That design was dumb af. Our 1968 280SL - same deal.
My white 450GLE w Macchiato Beige interior has a sweet ride, amazing tech, turns heads and is FUN. Start stop is whisper quiet unlike the GLK i just had prior.
Cast me as 1 vote for happy client.
Ive had the GLE450 for several months now and have driven the ***** out of it. Costal trip, highway, city you name it. Know what. I LOVE THIS VEHICLE.
So much nicer than my dream car the 2013 BMW 750Lix i had that spent weeks in the shop and over 20k in warranty work in major engine issues prior to 40k miles. I used to love BMW but their quality with that model is very poor.
If we are talking about quality BENZ of yesterday vs today - The GLE also is way better than the 1978 450SL convertible my parents bought brand new. Great status car at the time but a lumbering sloppy ride on curves and stupid 500 pound (not really 500 but felt like it) removable roof that we had to devise a pulley system to winch it to the garage ceiling when you wanted to go into summer soft top mode. That design was dumb af. Our 1968 280SL - same deal.
My white 450GLE w Macchiato Beige interior has a sweet ride, amazing tech, turns heads and is FUN. Start stop is whisper quiet unlike the GLK i just had prior.
Cast me as 1 vote for happy client.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 24
Likes: 35
From: Discovery Bay - California Delta
GLE 450
Button?
umm....that is not a fake vent. There is a button to turn it off or on. The middle portion blows indirect air. Kind of like a gentle diffuser versus blowing directly into your face. The wife likes it. The Cayenne has a similar vent on top of the dash that looks like a speaker grill but blows air gently over your head. It works quite effectively to get rid of hot air above your head in the summer.
