If you live in an emission free state, there is no better car than the GLK250 in my opinion. Sold mine last week while the price was still elevated and moved onto a Model Y.

I didn't want to roll the dice on the emissions after warranty, especially since most dealers are not skilled enough to exactly pinpoint issues and just start throwing expensive parts at the problem. Being at the mercy of a dealer being able to retain top diesel mechanics was too much risk... and the fact indy shops will unlikely have that expertise either.

However, I essentially put myself in the same situation with the Tesla
only Tesla can make repairs and DIY is simply impossible.

Summary of comparison
- I personally hade Toyota-like reliability with the GLk250. Only the intercooler hose issue came up for me, a battery cable, ZERO emission issues
- Think of the model y as a 20k Honda Civic with a 30k Tesla battery. Interior/Exterior quality to Mercedes is incomparable.
- GLK still feels solid after 10 years. I suspect made in Germany has alot to do with it
- GLK actually feels better on the highway and for some reason quieter than the model Y on highway
- GLK is like the perfect car - drives like a small car(nimble) locally and a big car (stable) on the highway
- Model y in 'chill mode' drives very comparably to GLK locally and on highway... but in sports mode, all bets are off. The Tesla just pulls and pulls forever with instant torque
- If I lived in an emission free state, I would have deleted the blueTec and kept the GLK forever

 

I'd say "agreed" ... "attention to detail" is a born trait (I know first hand)

That's the result of "build quality".

Good luck ...

Let the games begin ! < opens a bag of popcorn >
.

 

Thanks for the comparisons and opinions.

As far as service, the new ICE cars aren’t very DIY friendly, either. We refer to our 2021 GLB as the cell phone on wheels. Lots of great features, little beyond routine maintenance that most DIYers can do.

Eventually, EVs will probably surpass the current ICEs. But the new manufacturers don’t have the experience in chassis and suspension that the legacy builders do. EV development is an immature industry.

My peer group is anything but immature. For now we have, as a group, decided to stick with what we know. Our grandkids will probably see things from a completely different perspective. Who knows what they’ll drive in their mid years. BEVs, solar EVs, fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen ICEs, hybrids of these?

We’ll be watching whatever they do from the lawn seats.

 

Unfortunately, it looks like they'll just do away with the wheels...

 

Interesting perspectives and comparisons. You make valid points regarding the future availability of mechanics etc. but personally I'm a bit skeptical of Government-driven "trends" and initiatives. I haven't seen a natural consumer-driven movement demanding 45 min re-fueling times and limited range. It seems more like "this is the future, I'd better get ahead of the curve despite the inconveniences." Government initiatives are notoriously fickle, often illogical and subject to random political winds of change so the future of electrification seems far from certain despite the prognostications.

I've been following the You Tube postings of a Porche Taycan EV owner in the UK. He's a business owner who travels extensively across the country and documents his experiences with his EV. After interminable issues with public charger reliability, availability and inconsistency his verdict is "don't buy an EV under any circumstances". Considering that there are 11 US States and 10 Canadian Provinces with larger land mass areas than the entire UK, his experience with long-distance EV practicality doesn't paint a pretty picture for North America.

No doubt EV technology and infrastructure will improve so, as others have said, it will be interesting to sit back and observe developments.

 

There are those who can benefit from an EV, based on operating costs (especially if they have access to free charging at work). So if you have a long (50-100 mile) commute daily, the savings will probably make the EV a viable option.

OTOH, drivers like me wouldn't dream of pulling that trigger. My mileage around town is quite limited, so I'd never come close to breaking even with an EV (whether measured in my personal cost savings, or the total environmental impact compared to an ICE vehicle). My REAL mileage is put on in 900-1,200 mile days on cross-country road trips. Stopping to let the dog relieve himself is annoying. Waiting for an EV charger... unthinkable (it would push my arrival time from "late" to "oh-dark thirty" for each leg).

I think the real wake-up call will be when the owners of the current crop of EVs realize that their batteries wearing out (10-12 years max) "totals" the car. It'll be interesting seeing $60-80K Teslas trading on Craigslist for chump change in a decade or so (if there's any residual value at all). Or maybe someone will come up with a viable replacement battery (or my prediction, super-capacitor, after they work out the technology).

When the government "helpfully gets involved" in technology, they invariably mess it up. Think about all the money they poured into CFL light bulbs. Yes, they use less energy, but at the cost of unpleasant light and who knows how much more real environmental damage (I think legally you're supposed to call someone to dispose of the stupid things). If the government(s) hadn't gotten involved and subsidized the whole CFL thing, the market would have fast-tracked the (much, much, much better) LED light "bulbs" and we would have been in a better place today.

 

Based on facts (first mass produced Tesla is now 10 years old), I don't believe this is a 'major' concern. That old tech is showing less than 20% degradation, and the newer cars are predicted to be 10%. The rate of degradation slows significantly(its not linear) after the first several years. However, if definitely makes road trips 'less' convenient.

I don't think there will be MASS adoption until the average EV gets 400-500 mile range to account for degradation later... or until the government FORCE chargers to be as common as gas stations. The government is definitely premature in 'forcing' the switchover before the infrastructure (electric grid) is in place, if they rush this I can see electric prices go through the roof and cause misery for everyone "for the sake of the environment."

 

Sounds like you had a good run, bugelrex. I'm glad the Bluetec didn't leave you with a sour taste, as others around here have complained. In the end, you choose what's best for your needs/likes and it's no one's business to judge

Enjoy the Y, which in my book is probably Tesla's best-looking model.

 

Sleep well and be proud:

 

That's one perspective. Another might be that a clearly well-informed individual makes a rational decision based on his unique situation and outlines his rationale. Others have their own perspectives and express them in a respectful manner with no hint of judgement. Take your pick.

 

Got mine about the time you got yours. I'm in an "emission" state, California. I've had ZERO problems of ANY kind on mine. I've never contemplated a move to another vehicle in spite of no M-B dealers nearby. The nearest is about 70 miles away and the "better" one is about 200 miles. A local Indy is all I have and I've never contemplated dumping mine. May be buried in it. Still rock solid, never one warranty problem. Couldn't be more perfect. EV definitely NOT in my future!!!

 

We have both, we love them both. I call them them beauty (white Y) and the beast (black 250) and the names fit them perfectly too