3121D

My very first post in MBWORLD.

Long time E90post member is thinking to switch to the dark side.

We just had our first kid (girl) in April and my wife wants a bigger car. (A compact SUV will be ideal.)

I found a black on black fully loaded 2011 GLK 350 with AMG Package for $33,000 without tax. It has 20,000 miles on the clock.
Do you guys think this is a good deal? (The dealer is 1.5 hrs away from where I live. I do not want to make a trip there for nothing.)

Unfortunately, the GLK 350 does not have 4MATIC. Otherwise, I will be all over of it already. I live in DC metro area. We had a few big snow storm in past winters. I understand that having 4MATIC is like having an extra security blanket. (My E90 with summary tires are horrible on the snow.) Do I really need 4MATIC in the winter? or GLK 350 Rear-Wheel Drive will do the job?

P.S: If I order a brand new full loaded 2012 GLK 350 with 4MATIC, it will cost me $47,000 +. (There is no big different between 2011 and 2012. Facelift will come in 2013.)

Please feel free to post your opinions. Thank you!

Spooner

I assume it's a CPO? What do you call 'fully loaded'? Price sounds reasonable assuming it has nearly everything, but I think it was $2,000 to upgrade to 4 matic.

I haven't driven mine in snow much as we got it at the end of winter last year but I wouldn't want to risk it where you are. Can you not find any others? It's almost impossible to find them without 4 matic and you should be able to find something with good options for not much more than that one.

venchka

Search dealer inventory. Be prepaired to spend a nice long weekend going to get your new GLK. Your family is worth 4matic.

Edit:

Lots of them out there.

http://www.mercedesalexandria.com/in...reowned&page=1

Wayne
Waiting since Sept. 3, 2011 to get his new custom built GLK350 4matic on (+ or - ) Nov. 12, 2011.

venchka

Define "loaded". Mine is almost fully loaded and M.S.R.P. is more than $47k.

MBNA109

First of all congrats on your first child!
We are also walking down that path & decided to get the vehicle first before expecting. haha.

Anyhow - I was sent this ad for your the car you are interested in by a friend just today. It's nice.

Some thoughts:

1) 20K may be not a lot of miles in DC area but it sure is like a lot in one year in Richmond (I live here & grew up in NoVa)

2) The AMG package with the 20" big wheels is a stiff ride. So while you are coming from BMW's sporty ride, your young infant may get jostled.

3) Black is extremely tough to keep clean. The only time it looks good is on the dealership floor. I detailed my Mother's black C300 a few weeks ago & after finishing wondered why I even bothered.

4) That being said - Black is also the easiest to find a deal on esp. with the AMG package. Consider the Grey also. It's a nice glossy darker grey but not charcoal.

5) For the price, your sample above is a great price - if it had 4Matic. I would expect another 1-2K off esp late in the month when deals are easier to come by. Get the 4Matic esp. for your family's peace of mind. If you youtube video of the GLK off-road capabilities, you'd be amazed what this thing can do. MB definitely did their homework & engineering on it.

6) Like Wayne posted, there are tons of pre-owned & even CPO deals everywhere on 2011 GLK like the MBUSA.com site.

GLKKa2H

Congrats on your first child!

The cargo volume could be of importance, and in that respect is the GLK short with regard to the comparable compact SUVs; XC60: 30,8 cu. ft., Q5: 29,1 -, X3: 27,6 - and the GLK 23,3 cu. ft.

YYZ-E55

4MATIC will increase safety and resale value, at virtually no gas mileage penalty on the GLK (though gas mileage on the GLK in general is rough). Definitely hold out for a 4MATIC.

venchka

You should also consider Volvo. The XC70 AWD is the ultimate family hauler, grocery getter, fun to drive vehicle with considerably more cargo space behind the rear seat. I know. I parked my XC70 next the GLK350 and measured all the important dimensions. Our XC70 has a turbo. Big GRIN factor there. Sneaky quick in highway situations. Smooth as silk between 90 & 100. When the Minister of Transportation and Driving Rules isn't in the car.
Good luck! Enjoy your daughter. My daughter and her 3 daughters are treasures.

Wayne

MBRedux

^ This....

venchka

Until and unless you take a car seat, both types-rear facing infant & forward facing toddler, and a full size folded stroller to a GLK and verify that all of the stuff needed to safely transport a child actually fits in a GLK, I am skeptical that the GLK with rear seat up will work for you. The child seat belongs in the center position. When you factor in everything required for 3 people to go on a multi-day trip, the GLK is probably too small.
Once again, and you heard it first from me: 4matic is a must.

Wayne

MBNA109

The only thing I would suggest is if one can't forgo the style, performance, & cache of the GLK & must have it even with the cargo & storage limitations then options are:
1) Roof container carrier
2) Rear Hitch carrier like this

I know my wife & I will be heading down this path in a year or so & the heart wants what it wants so we will just have to adapt & over come! haha

venchka

Roof container = 5mpg penalty or more. Been there. Done that.
Rear hitch carrier: Probably a better alternative to the roof box. Looks like it might be a P.I.T.A. if you have to access the rear of the vehicle.
There are alternative vehicles.

Wayne

MBNA109

I agree there are alternative vehicles.
But like I suggested that if you are already set, then a rear swing out hitch carrier can be had & is no more hassle than unpacking your rear hatch area in a bigger vehicle.

venchka

A hitch mounted rack and boxes (ice chests lined with contractor bags would be a weatherproof solution) is the best alternative from a handling (cross winds, center of gravity, etc.) and mpg point of view. The hitch wouldn't be any more expensive than the roof rack & box. Probably less expensive.

Wayne

venchka

ps:

Or a GMC Yukon XL Denali 4x4.

Wayne

MBNA109

Or a Honda Odyssey if we are talking kids mover (& dream killer)!

venchka

Odyssey??????????? EwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhh

The Denali 4x4 is way cooler for a family of 6. Climbs N.C. mountain roads covered with fresh snow.

Calling on myself.

Wayne

Mad Dawg 350

Agree.

Speaking from my own experience, the GLK will likely be too small. Today I have a 2012 GLK350 4Matic given as a loaner while my E is in for scheduled service. It's really small in the back for anything more than just a couple of standard sized suitcases. Forget about thinking of adding all the baby's things unless you add a roof rack and travel box if there is a rear trailer hitch.

My wife and I owned an Explorer and within 6 months after having our daughter, we had to buy the bigger Expedition to fit everything - our stuff, stroller, pack-n-play, baby's stuff and a 40-lb dog. When our dog passed on and our daughter was much older and did not need all the baby stuff, we downsized and bought a Lexus RX350. 11 months later, and after trying to fit everything in after visiting the parents for the holidays we sold it and bought a Tahoe. I guess once you go big, you'll never go back to small. Today, the Tahoe is my daughter's "swim taxi" for her and several of her swim teammates.

Congrats on the baby!!!!

venchka

We went bigger in 1989: Trooper II. Then moved sideways and up to a XC70 in 2003. We didn't give up anything in the change & actually gained space for unusual sized things. Like a 6'+ wardrobe we found on a trip or a couple dozen 2"x6"x8' boards for the deck at our house.

Wayne
Keeping the Stealth SUV Race Wagen for hauling big stuff.