Hello all,

I am 16 and looking for my first car. With out any doubt Mercedes is my favorite car and not just because I think the cars are "sick" and "awesome," (what most 16 y/os like cars for), but because I really love the brand and its prestigious history. In fact, my most favorite model is the S-Class. I think that if I won the lotto, I would have a garage containing a car time line of the S models (300SEL 6.3, 450SEL 6.9, 560SEL, etc.). I just have a love for this brand I can't even explain.

From the image of driving one to the way they feel when driving them. Frankly I don't understand how people compare them to BMWs, other then the fact they are both German.

Moving on, as far as Mercs, my dad owns a 2008 S550 (Black/Savanna), and a 2007 SL55 (White/Red). I get to drive them and have a good feel for how wonderful and solid these cars feel.

But those two cars are not why I am here. I am 16, and soon turning 17 which means I will be getting my license. I am trying to find the best car for me.

It's gotta be an SUV(heavy winters, I plan on doing handyman work in college), and $15,000.

I would love the GLK350, but my father would never let me get such nice car as my first car.

So I have narrowed it to the ML55 or Cayenne. I have $5,000 of my own money to spend and my dad said he would pay a maximum of $10,000 extra, so I have $15,000. The ML55 seems nice for me. It would hopefully be a 2002 (after facelift).

I have a few questions about it though:

Is this car reliable? (I know the early MLs weren't, but were they by 2002)

Does anyone ever think that this style ML is a little Feminine?

Does this car use the SmartKey, if so how much does it cost to have a new chrome key made for it?

Xenon lights?

Hope to engage is good convos,


-Conner

 

it's a reliable car, mine is a 2002 has about 140k miles, and haven't had much go wrong with it. Key is still the old fold out ones, so no smart key. the 2002 comes with bi-xenon's...

As for is it feminine? any of your friends say that to you, take their car to the line and put them to shame. This SUV does 0 to 60 in like 6.5 seconds.

 

define reliable..

my ML55 never left me stuck anywhere for the 4 year and 80K miles I put on it. truck has 158K miles on it now. If that is reliable to you.

but you will need plenty of maintainence. The truck will give you plenty of warning symptoms and you will have to get those issues addressed. Its not like a Honda that you can just get gas and change oil and forget about it.

BTW ML55 will not look girlie. remove the resonator and the truck will rumble of 345hp V8 power. you will surprise people.