Just before buying the GLK I decided to try loading my golf clubs in the cargo area ... OOPS !!! Not enough width or length in the cargo area to load my golf bag. It looks like the German engineers forgot that most of Mercedes Benz owner are golfers. What a huge disappointment !

 

Yeah. This vehicle is a joke. I took one for a test drive and then tried to sit in the back seat and couldn't even get in the thing.

So for $45K, there's no room for golf clubs, no room for anybody over 5yrs old in the back seat, no room for a full size spare tire - what kind of SUV is this?

 

I tried it and I think it has enough space in the back and in the boot. It's 4.5 m. long, what do you expect same space as a GL? And it is not 45k, it's 35k USD (in US). You can opt for a full spare tire if you want one. And not everbody cares about golf..

Try Audi Q5 it's bigger...

P.S. Don't complain about the price, we (in Macedonia) pay 42k EUR for the 220 CDI model (4 cylinder with 176 HP) with no options. The GLK 350 is 57k EUR.

 

That's what I thought when I saw the ad on TV touting $33,900. In reality, every one on the lot is $45K. You start at $33,900 for a 2WD version, add $2K for 4-Matic, metalic paint is $720 (unless you want white, black or red), leather is $1,750, premium package 1 is $3,150 (pano sunroof, satellite radio, power hatchback, electric garage door opener), lighting package is $1k (xenon lights), multimedia package is $3,350 (navagation and crappy HK sound system), parktronic is $800, heated seats $750, 19" rims are $1,900, 20" rims are $3,300.

So if you buy a 4WD (which is the whole point of buying an SUV in the first place), buy metallic paint, leather, mutimedia and some 20" rims, you are at $45K. Good luck trying to find one without options for $35K

 

Well, I, being much older than 5 yrs, tried the back seat and found that there is plenty of legroom and foot room, more than a C Class in fact.
Maybe you are an extra large person. If so, maybe you should look at a larger SUV. How about a Chevy Equinox ? It's cheap, boring, basic and has a very roomy back seat.

 

Or even better than a Chevy Equinox (I know that seems impossible, but here goes anyway) and for about the same price as the GLK with options...get a couple year old ML350, it's larger and you get to stay in the family. Nice!

 

Can you qualify what % of MB owners you mean when you say "most"? Source for that would be great also.

Else these sweeping generalizations tend to add nothing but rhetoric to an argument.

 

A kid hauler/grocery getter/take me to school then soccer then dinner kind of SUV. But that is just my opinion.

 

Try to buy a big car.

 

The GLK would never have worked as our ski mobile or summer vacation hauler with three kids, an occasional neighbor kid along, mtn bikes or skis, gear, supplies etc. GLK is not aimed at that market. GL or Suburban etc.

GLK is great for two to four average size adults going to dinner, golf, or a ski trip. IMO and test drive. I am 5'10" and sat behind my 6'1" sales rep on test drive to test rear seat space/comfort. Because of the high/upright seating design in back seat, I had plenty of leg room for extended trip. I liked wide center armrest and visibility, but did not check to see if seat had a slight tilt back position.

GLK did pass my tailgate test without folding down rear seats. A std size folding card table fits flat on the floor between wheel wells and tailgate can close. Room for cooler, four folding chairs, portable BBQ, cooler and groceries, with only partial loss of rear window view.

The GLK is perfect for empty nesters in so many ways.

My sales rep should have my order placed today. Almost got one via dealer trade that met my spec last week, but turns out dealer did have it sold.

 

I echo MtnMachine views. We have a 10 year old and from time to time drive my in-laws around town. We currently drive a B200 and this should give us a bit more room. Specially in the front and marginally more in the cargo area. I particularly like the ability to have 4matic and the other additional safety features not available on the B200.

Like he mentionned, when we go away for extended vacation - once a year - we rent a Suburban. Otherwise, we have plenty of room in the B200 - and by extension would in the GLK - for our day to day activities.

My current lease is up this summer. So time will tell if I get a GLK or an other B-200.

 

... and I do not golf.

 

hmm...this vehicle has been letting me down actually...just MO...but i mean its probably due to the fact that if im gonna spend 45G's on an SUV im going to look for something that can pack stuff. I want to be able to not worry about space in my "SUV"...it is nice...just not for me i guess...from what i have read...must be right for some individuals...i was very impressed with it...but dang! i cant even throw my nike slingshots in the back?

 

i can understand how the OP is feeling, if i got my new SUV home and it couldn't fit my clubs in the back i would be disappointed also. seems like something you should be able to fit in a "sports utility vehicle". i can fit like 4 sets of clubs in the back of my W203, the trunk is actually pretty decent. if they were trying to build a smaller SUV i dont think they should have made it so small you cant fit something as small as a set of golf clubs in it - that is too small IMO.

 

Cargo boxes, anyone?

 

If you dont like the car then don't buy it or reply in the GLK forum


The base is $33.5k. As will ALL cars you pay for the options on the car... they don't come standard. You aren't forced to buy the options, hence they are "options"




and about the golfing... I'd like to see a study of how many MBZ owners actually golf. Just another MBZ owner stereotype...

 

That line and your signature pic present a nice riddle. How do MB owners fit their Golf clubs in their Smart car

 

This is not a BIG SUV. it is a SMALL and easy to drive and maneuver and park SUV, perfect for city driving and small trips to beach, picnic, hike, bike or camp, especially for a single or couple and their dogs! It looks good and its a good size. I do agree though that MB could have included a few more items in their packages for the prices being charged or at least offered a couple of different Premium packages to add a little more value.

 

Well said ! Your description echoes my own requirements. Those who need more space than that provided by the GLK need to consider larger SUVs.

As for pricing in the US, it appears that many of the initial GLKs have been loaded up with options, either by the dealers or by MBUSA. Furthermore, the bundling of so many options by MBUSA into a package like the Multimedia package also has the effect of raising the price more than necessary for many prospective buyers.

In addition, how many folks really need "running boards", or "reverse camera" or "appearance package with 20"wheels" ? These kinds of options may look cool, but together, they add thousands to the price.

 

Thanks to mybenzguy for posting pictures on his blog about how his golf clubs fit in a GLK:

http://mybenzguy.com/blog/?p=511

 

Good find...

 

You have to take the S-Class to the club LOL jk... I've never golfed. Gasp!

 

It's FYROM.

 

Hi Everyone...my name is OKNish and I drive a GL. I have never golfed.

There you happy now

 

I've read this similar post on this board before and to that I say that you must not have owned or looked into a German car before. It is common these days for German auto makers to charge for metallic paint, leather, sat radio, xenon lights, heated seats ect. BMW is the exact same (X3 set up the same way and starts at $39k) as is Audi for that matter.

A close look at the GLK options will show that you get more for your buck than if you were to purchase a C class. As for the golf bag not fitting, did it ever dawn on the other user to get a new golf bag, or perhaps lay the rear seat down. I realize its not practical to lay the rear seat down if someone is sitting back there, but people just need to realize this is a vehicle being used to fill in for the C estate that won't be making it state side.

As for price, which goes back to my first paragraph, no Benz is cheap and adding options only balloons that price. Easiest thing to do is to order one to your liking, with the same options I usually get the GLK came in at $41k, cheaper than what my current w204 C class would cost. If you can stand to wait around a GLK a model year the deals will start coming down to real world prices and I would expect a $41k GLK to be easily had for mid $30k's. Hit the dealership at left over time and walk away with even better deals.

Company's aren't stupid, they know their customers want whats new and improved, they want to be the first on the block, so they charge what they want to charge knowing if the customer wants it bad enough they will pay for it. Given a year on the market the demand will dwindle down and deals will be had as the demand equals out.

And for the rest that need to complain...an ML 350 with P1 can be had for $43k - $45k easily without even having to twist anyone's arm.