SW20S

I actually really like this PHEV Pacifica, much better than the gas ones we had. Just have to figure out what to do with the S560!

nc211

Any reason to replace the 2020 now? Or just ready for something newer?

My only gripe with BMW's is that a 4 year old BMW looks like a 4 year old BMW. Whereas a 4 year old MB, still looks fresh and new. But just my own opinion on that. Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder for sure. They just seem too gimmicky / trendy for me and don't think their appeal ages as well.

SW20S

The lease is up in November, otherwise I would feel no pressure to. It really just doesn't make sense to buy it out since I would only keep it for another year maybe.

You're right about BMWs, its the nature of their high style look. MBs are timeless in most situations and stay much more modern.

450Benz123

Totally agree. The GLS is stable up to 80…then crosswind hits and it sways a bit, like the steering is straight, but ways in the lane a bit. I rented an x7, exceptional, hit 100 easily and comfortably lol.

SW20S

I will have to give an X7 a good test drive

Splaktar

I have not noticed this up to about 98 mph. It feels exceptionally solid and my MY24 GLS 580 goes from 80 mph to almost 100 mph with a minor press of the gas. It's risky to take it off of adaptive cruise due to this...

SW20S

I haven't driven a GLS580 as extensively as the GLS450, but I would absolutely not want to be driving the GLS450 I had for a week at 98 MPH...

May be what each of us is used to...

mikapen

That's not my experience at all, although I drive a GLE. Had some outrageous 45mph plus crosswinds last week across Kansas and the car was arrow straight at 90mph cruising speed.

Lots of bugs, though. Surprising, since I would have thought they'd have sought shelter.

SW20S

GLE is different, and yours had e-ABC. I had a GLE350 loaner and it felt better at high speeds. The GLS feels underdamped for its weight at high speeds. The dampers need to automatically increase the damping at highway speeds more than they do.

nc211

Where are you driving that you can get above 50mph for more than 3 minutes in this town in general? Ha!

Ours is stable, I've run it up to about 95mph before for a brief moment or two while making the drives back/forth to NC/DC. What I don't like is the way the rear tires are set to be kicked inward and going over say a slick spot (or road marker stripe) and the opposing wheel pushes the rear sideways a little. A bit of a wiggle in the butt. Not a fan of that at all, wish they would just setting the alignment straight up/down instead of angled. Wallet would like that too, instead of $800 every 25k miles.


That being said, it is NOTHING like that 2014 E350 at speed, and therefore NOTHING like your S either. I don't know about the S, but that E I had, got better and better the faster it went. It's like the aerodynamics allows the wind to push the car down onto the road more, a vacuum is created under it to the pavement, and it just glides with 100% confidence. Nothing like it out there! I remember coming out of Naples FL up to Tampa a few years ago, early morning, nobody out there, except an AMG E that came flying up next to me, signaled for a run, and we took off for about 10 minutes at around 130mph. My windows were down, and it was as if I was driving at 30mph. Unreal! That....is Mercedes. No way you'll ever get that out of these new SUVs of theirs now.

mikapen

I have ARC now, not E-ABC. But I've always been impressed with the crosswind stability of my MLs in the past as well.

I think you're asking too much of an SUV in comparing it to a sedan. They are different and they have different purposes.

I happen to need the cargo capacity, I tow(ed) a 27-ft RV, and I explore some nasty forest service roads from time to time.
If I didn't have those needs I'd probably be in an E-class wagon.

I agree that a GLS is not an S-Class, but on the other hand, the S-Class isn't a GLS.

Although it's a little awkward, I'd say the statement that a GLS is the S-Class of SUVs is fair. But then, it's not a sedan, and caters to people with different needs.
There are trade-offs.

Maybe a AMG 63s GLS would address your concerns. ARC is standard, which improves both ride and handling.
167 AMGs aren't the (unacceptable to me) tooth rattling suspensions of the 166 and prior.

SW20S

I can do 80 every day on 270! lol

Totally, the S feels better the faster you go. To be fair though...our Pacifica feels better at 80-90 quite frankly than the GLS I had.

I totally agree with this, and I don't expect them to be the same at all. My question really was has anybody made this change and how do they feel about the tradeoffs.

I do believe from having driven the car for over a week that it is underdamped on the highway. Putting it in Sport mode helps it a lot at high speeds, and if I had one I would always do that but thats annoying, the vehicle is overdamped in sport mode in normal driving. What it needs is the adjustable dampers to tighten up another 2-3 clicks when speeds get over 70MPH. I did test drive an X7 over the weekend, and it felt much better at all speeds and felt much closer to a sedan...

EWL5

It's hard to beat an X7 unless you really desire interior and trunk space w/3rd row up!

mikapen

It's hard to compare brands, and comparative test drives can be difficult to arrange.

The second thing I do when I compare vehicles I'm considering, is to check the tire pressures. Odds are that they're wildly out of spec. Yes I carry my gauge.

The first thing is getting away from the salesperson, and I will have pre planned my route.

But as much as I like my ARC-equipped GLE, I found the standard air suspension too "floaty." There was a cadre of posters who agreed, in the first years of the 167. Steel springs didn't have that trait and I (and my wife) actually liked them better.
If It hadn't been for ARC, I'd be in another brand. Or maybe an E-Class All Terrain, but I've never found one to drive.

I haven't driven a GLS or an X7, but the last time I drove an X5 I was really disappointed with its handling.

As I think about it, I'm surprised that I can use the word "handling" in describing the way a 2 1/2 ton lump feels. They are large cars.

wildta

The real question is, which one would you rather be in with screaming children in the back?

SW20S

GLS definitely has better space...

Thats precisely what I'm talking about, it feels too loose and floaty and higher speeds. That should be easily fixed with damping...

LOL, probably the GLS for the additional space. As a family vehicle I would get the GLS, as a sedan replacement for me with the additional plus of having lots of room and additional seating I think the X7 is the better choice. I prefer the looks of the GLS inside and out though.

W205C43PFL

I guess the going from W222 to X167 GLS will make you feel right at home mainly due to the side by side screen, basically the good ol Mercedes screen layout/setup opposed to like the W223 where everything is now in the screen, it is now vertical too as you already know. The GLS at least you get good ol clicky physical buttons for many functions including the climate control.

Missourian

The 22" wheel actually has the tallest sidewalls.

nc211

I do agree, it’s definitely a floaty ride, but never felt like it was out of control for me though. I think my neighbor who comes from a family who’s business was contracting for the European car brands on design and interior materials basically summed up Mercedes quite well recently with - they’re basically Germany’s version of Buick. Once he said that, I could immediately see it myself. Not a bad thing, not meant as an insult. He used to have a new AMG E53s when they moved in back in 2018. Apparently the engine ate itself before 15k miles. He’s been BMW ever since. 7, 8, two IXM (first one shorted out), X5M. He loves them. Wife used to only drive Q7’s but recently switched to the X5M.

we like ours, but it’ll be the last new MB for us unless they change some things. I have been detailing it this week, and have to say, it is pretty poorly assembled in certain areas. Why it’s not a rattle bucked is beyond me. You guys ever push up on the headliner before? It’s basically just sitting there on top of the plastic side pieces. Too much squeaky plastic for a $100k car in my opinion now, although ours is as quiet as a church mouse.

SW20S

Not out of control, just not confidence inspiring at speed like you would expect it would be.

I wouldn't call MB a German buick. They still make a ton of engaging vehicles.

AKSwift

I am not convinced that your neighbor has been in a Buick in the last decade. I'm sorry, but that's a silly statement to make.

OldManAndHisCar

Nope, the listed (according to the Fed) weight is just under 5,500lbs...it is NOT on the list. This is the main reason when I got the GLS550 I did not get the GLS450.

SW20S

No. CURB weight is just under 5,500 lbs. The number that matters for the tax deductibility is GROSS weight which is 7,300 lbs



GLS 450 absolutely qualifies for the 179 deduction. The list provided by the IRS is not complete.

EWL5

How do you pull up this list? Is it publicly available?

I agree w/Steve that the list is wrong. IRS only looks at gross weight, which is well over 7000+ lb for the GLS450!

TNS550

I am confident that the IRS has not compiled a list of qualifying vehicles. Congress in the tax code and the IRS via regulations sets forth and clarifies the definition of qualifying vehicles, but is not going to expend the resources to maintain a list of vehicles. Many organizations however do compile such lists. I agree that the GLS does meet the weight test for qualification.