Im considering purchasing a new vehicle & being resident in England have the following options available:-

ML320 - UK Price £35000
X5 3.0i Petrol - UK Price £35-42000
Lexus RX300 - Uk Price £33000
Mitsubushi Shogun? - Uk Price £25+

Any thoughts or comments on the above?

Im currently an owner of a C200K (2001) & own via a business 3 Vito vans which im very impressed at so favour the ML.

Comments gratefully received.

 

Go with the ML, you will enjoy it a lot.

 

Given those choices, and not knowing what a Mitsu Shogun is (Montero?), I'd have to say I'd buy the Lexus.

 

As an owner of a 98 ML 320 99 RX 300 and 02 X5. I would say that the X5 and RX 300 are my favorite. Each has their own better points. The X5 is by far the most fun to drive. The RX 300 has been superior in reliability (no repairs with 53,000 miles). The ML 320 has been the most frustrating with regards to repairs. I would opt. for the X5 or the RX 300. If reliability is important then the RX 300 is your choice. If driving is important, the X5 handles like my 740i. Both the RX 300 and X5 have similiar capabilities with regards to 4 wheel drive. The ML 320 excels here. Unless you plan on going 4 wheeling, avoid the ML 320.

 

I would say - yes the X5 is more performance and driver-oriented, while the ML stresses more on interior space (which the X5 is lacking in) and being able to handle harsh conditions / off-road. The ML has been improved greatly since model year 1998, and so have the features.

The 2002 ML still has some quality problems but not nearly as many as the 98 did. In fact, when I went to test drive the 98 ML, a lot of the center console buttons justed popped out while I was adjusting them, and the dealer didn't know what to do with the trunk, which was rattling excessively. However, a lot of the quality problems have been fixed through the 2001 and 2002 model years.

The RX has a better build quality (made in Japan) but it is weak, along with the X5, in 4x4 capabilities and interior space.

The Shogun (called Montero here in the US) is not really in the league of these luxury sport utes, so I wouldn't really think of it as an ML/RX/X5 alternative.


mbakshi

 

If you're not into 'off roading' buy anything but an ML...

Tim in San Diego

 

Hey remember me, I thought you didn't own an X5. Boy o Boy, you should put your money where ur mouth is. I guess the reason u said u wouldn't give me ur vehicles over on the other forum is because YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE VEHICLES. If you want lie, at least try and be consistent buddy!

 

I feel I do need to clarify the X5. As I mentioned on the other forum, I don't own an X5. I agree that the previous post is misleading. I do own the RX and ML. The X5 has been a vehicle we have used from the dealership during times when our vehicles have needed service and maintanence. The sentence should have read. I own a ML and RX 300 and have experience with an X5. I also guess that somewhere there was question as to the year of the ML. The ML is a 98 and not a 99. Also you may have noticed the mistyped BMW 550. It should be 750. As I have mentioned on the other forum ALBoston, feel free to challenge me on the point if I have these vehicles (buy them). So you are right. I do not have an X5. I guess I was trying to convey the fact that I have driven one several times and have had experience with them. I suppose it would be nice to think that someone would lie over something as silly as a vehicle rather than understand the point made about the vehicles. Enjoy your ML

 

X5 has been plagued with many quality problems including a recall for catching on fire. And the RX300 which is a rebadged Toyota Harrior, is suffering from an engine sludge problem. Neither vehicle can go off road, (the ML can) and both vehicles are dangerous in rollovers. The roof will cave in on both the RX300 and the X5. This will not happen on the ML.

I don't believe either the X5 or RX300 has won "car of the year" in any of the major auto mags.

 

The Car of the Year award really doesn't mean much. Past Car of the Year award recipients include the 1971 Chevy Vega, 1974 Ford Mustang II, 1977 Chevy Caprice (again in 1991), 1980 Chevy Citation, 1981 Chrysler K-Cars, 1983 AMC/Renault Alliance. These are borderline terrible cars.

 

I've noticed what seems to be a lot of people on these forums who are very unhappy with their MLs!

The current sentiment on the barod is that the 2002 models are MUCH better in reliablity and build quality than the previous models.

We have been very happy with ours (2000 ML320). So far (in about two years) we have had one "problem" (fuel pump) but it was fixed in half a day and (other than a squeak or rattle here and there) the thing has been trouble free.

The X5 came out just as we were looking to buy a car. We
went to the BMW dealer for a test drive. First of all, I was extremely UN-impressed with the sales staff - poor service, no knowledge, no interest - the kid we got must have been right out of high school.

Well, anyways, we test drove the car, and (unlike many other people, it seems) we did NOT like how it drove. In my opinion it is much smaller feeling inside (more cramped), and it has very twitchy, sports-car-like steering. Now I like sports cars, and have owned a few myself, but IMHO that vehicle was not nearly as "easy-to-drive" or relaxing as the ML. To me, a sport-car-like SUV is just too strange a concept, I guess.

We also test drove the RX-300. It was very nice to drive (it is quite car-like) but it was also small-feeling. The LX-470 was definitely BIG - but it drove like a truck, and was pretty expensive.

So the bottom line is, drive all the cars - they are quite different - and see which one you like. Not everyone's preferences are the same.