cte430

Looks like it's the ML! Me and my wife went out yesterday to do some more looking. Took her to see the T-reg and she did not feel comfortable sitting in it. I gotta admit, I really like it. I had some of the same concerns as others here have mentioned though. Reliability, it's a VW (not sure if that should matter, but I did think about it), don't know what i'll be getting as far as the dealer goes, etc.

So we stopped by my MB dealer so look some more. She drove the 350 but felt it was underpowered so i'm waiting for pricing on an ML 500 SE. I prefer black or silver, but she saw an S class in Pewter. Can't recall seeing any ML's in Pewter. Anyone here have one? My sales guy said "so, I guess you'd like a 500 for the price of a 350"? That would be good I said. We'll see what he comes back with.

After leaving the MB dealer we drove past a Volvo dealer. My wife wanted to see the XC-90. We went in and I was really surprised to see a totally basic (no leather, no nothing) on the showroom floor. She really like it, but like someone else here said, "might as well get something with a little more Bling"! Also, the biggest engine they have is a V6 (turbo) with only a few more HP than the ML 350. I told my wife she wouldn't like it. The other thing I realized is that it's not even a Volvo engine. I told my wife no way am I buying a 50K car with a Yamaha engine. Fully loaded, it does look like a pretty nice vehicle.

Ormond2004

Chris,

Volvo is going to offer a V8 engine. I believe it will be on sale in January. Check with the dealership.

As you may know, the ML will be redesigned shortly, so I would expect nice discounts on the current body style.

Let us know what you decide.

Happy Hunting,
Ormond

cte430

That's funny because I just went on Volvo's webpage and they are showing a V8 engine! Is that also a Yamaha?

I know the ML is getting re-done, but not interested in the "joys" of new MB's. My wife will NOT have the patience I do with my car and some of the issues i've had with it.

amb9800

Well in general VW has had quite a bit of issues reliability-wise in recent times. A few of my friends have Passats (3-4 total) -- decent build, but absolutely terrible reliability - from transmission lockups (sudden jump into 4th gear, inability to shift down) to taillights randomly not working to individual door electronics just cutting out to radio problems, etc. The Touareg is, of course, newer, but it's had a bunch of issues as well...

Yes, the XC90's new V8 is a Yamaha as well.

cte430

good if it's also a Yamaha. Can tell my wife no Yamaha engine LOL. Are you sure, though? I was just on a volvo forum and unless I read it wrong I thought I saw that it was a Ford enigne? Ford owns them, right? Either way, i'd rather have the Benz.

greenm

Yes, the 2005 ML500 SE is available in Pewter. Got one in Pewter with gray interior for my wife in August. Pewter is only available on the Special Edition.

saturnstyl

Good choice. Enjoy it!!!

Kar don

hey chris!
There are a few 2004 ML500 "inspiration editions" in my area with parktronic and bixenons (2 VERY rare options, esp parktronic) if you are interested in buying out of state... They are capri blue and obsidian black.

cte430

Ali, do you know how much? Geez, i'd almost feel guilty doing that to my dealer LOL. If I don't like their price, I can always threaten.

BTW, i'm wondering how much I could get the ML for with the new one coming. I know there is typically only about 7% in the cars, so I don't think i'm going to get a screaming deal on an '05. We'll see.

GDawgC220

This new V8 will be Volvo's first V8 EVER in it's history of building cars. It's totally from scratch...

Ford does own Volvo.

Kar don

they are going for mid 30k. I believe they have like 9-15k on em. I only threw the idea out there because they have the lighting package AND parktronic... very rare to find both of these on an ML. I personally wouldn't buy and ML without these 2 options if I could do it all over again.

amb9800

Well technically it's both lol (Ford and Yamaha). It was engineered and is built by Yamaha, but Yamaha originally designed it for the Ford Taurus SHO of yore. Of course, it's been modified a bit since then (larger displacement), but it's the basically the same engine. You can just run a Google search for more info on this V8.

Actually, the XC90 V8 is not at all "totally from scratch." See above.

anthonymoody

I just picked up my 05 500 SE in Pewter and it is the saweetest thing there is! And fyi I paid dealer invoice. The holdback allows them to make money at that price so don't shed a tear...

TM

cte430

Hey we're probably going with Pewter also! What color interior did you get? Any pics, I don't think i've ever seen a Pewter one.

Darkmann

Hey Al, what happened with the IS? They seem to be nice cars. When did you pick up the Bimmer? My wife has ben nagging me about a 330Csi (I think that's what it is) and a New Beetle Convertible so she doesn't have to drive her E430 as much. She wants regular gas but insists on the Bimmer!!!!!!!!!

baco99

IMO, a Yamaha engine is a HUGE plus for the XC90. The Yamaha Ford used in the SHO Taurus was one of the best ever in a car besides a 351 Windsor. I didn't know they were outsourcing engine design to Yamaha, but that really is a feather in Volvo's cap. Nothing to scoff at.

Kar don

It just had a lot of issues and the dealer service was very bad. Drivers seat was making a lot of noise... the tech took out the passenger seat and tightened it up (wrong seat idiots!). Steering rack had to be changed out at 900 miles, transmission fluid had to be changed at 15k because it became very difficult to shift. Transmisson began making the infamous chirping noise. Stability in foul weather conditions was very poor. Chassis felt very nervous and jarred the cabin over every single bump.... mid corner bumps were the worst! I probably would have kept it if I had the automatic trans.