I am in market for a 2006 R500 and have been looking for a R500 at different dealerships. I like the shape of R500 and also the fact that these crossovers aren't on road as many as others. I have done some research on the R500 and like the options as well on 2006 models.
The issue is, almost every dealer that I went to, call it, "oh the mini van" which disappoints me that even dealers call it "mini van" instead of crossover.
Yesterday, I went to another dealer and he asked me the reason for buying a minivan instead of an SUV. He said usually women with kids get the R class and asked to consider ML500 instead.
I am sure one of the reasons could be that everyone have low stock of R500 than ML500. On the other hand, it made me consider ML500 as an option well. I don't want my friends to laugh at me for driving a minivan.
I haven't done much research on the ML500 yet. So I wanted to ask the R series drivers that how others react to their cars and if they really think that you are driving a minvan?
Second, how well ML500 compares to an R500 for the same year, 2006?
thanks.

 

Here's what I'll say- I am a man in my mid-30's, married and just had my first child. I've had the R for 2 years, so before I had my son. I got a heck of a lease on this car, much better than on a comparable M or GL. I like to mountain bike and have a dog so the R was a much better fit. I can fit my dog, 2 mountain bikes, some small luggage and our baby in his car seat and head out for the weekend in the R. It is a little more family than the ML, but who cares what other people think. And your dealer is trying to get you to buy what he has in stock. R500's are very hard to come by, but they get great reviews on this forum from the people who own them.

 

Who cares what other people think.
In my opinion,It is Cross Over and drive better than most minivans and SUVs.

 

It is not as "tough looking" as the ML and we do get people that call it a van sometimes.....but we put nicer wheels on and tinted the front windows and we get tons of compliments on the look of this vehicle. One thing you should do is drive them both. We looked at both models, but once we drove the R it was all over for the ML. I can honestly tell you that this car his smooth. What a luxurious ride for a large vehicle. The ML is more truck like and has a very different ride (also a nice vehicle but not the ride we wanted). Once again take a nice test drive in both and then decide for yourself. I would not listen to a sales guy who wants to sell you what he can make money on. The deals on the R class are presently unbelievable and I smile every time I think about it. Good luck with your decision and let us know what you think after driving them.

 

Perdesi,

I have an '07 R500 with 40k on it. I've begun calling it a station wagon, which is what it would have been called had it been built and sold in the mid 1950s. I'm getting fed up with the marketing labels attached to vehicles. There are cars and there are trucks. Cars nowadays are built as unibodies vs. body-on-frame. The latter is a truck setup. If it has four doors on the sides and a big door on the back, it is either a station wagon or a hatchback (My second car was a VW Squareback). Minivans are cars too.

The R500 is the best CAR I've ever had in 50 years of driving (I started young at 12 years old). It is tall enough to allow me to see over the tops of cars that don't sit as high up. It is fast enough and handles well enough so that I never, ever, ever feel intimidated by anything except a Dodge Magnum with blue lights in the grill. I check my speedo when I see one coming up behind me and move over when he or she hits the siren. Otherwise, I merge with the right lane traffic and settle in behind the faster driver at a safe distance and let him be the rabbit.

I drove an ML when MBUSA did an intro in Baltimore. I was surprised how well they handled. I autox my R500 once a month. I put summer tires on it last summer in time for the last event of the season. I tied with an E430 for second place and he had autox-specific tires on his car. I don't believe I'd enjoy driving the ML as much as I do the R. The R is classy - like an S is classy. The ML is a wannabe that can be compared to such vehicles as the Toyota 4Runner and the Nissan whatever and the Lexus and Infiniti versions of those truck-based vehicles. It is also comparable in the marketer's minds to Lincoln Navigators and Cadillac Escalades. Once you buy the ML, you gotta get 22-in chromed wheels and low-pro tires so that you can keep up with the appearance of show-off vehicles like the Navigator and Escalade. Do you see yourself doing that?

The R is cool. The R is classy. The R is the Bomb!

 

+1 well said.

 

salesman probably makes more money on ML than selling R's - usually pretty low profit margins w/ lower demand.
PL

 

salesman probably makes more money on ML than selling R's - usually pretty low profit margins w/ lower demand.
PL

 

BINGO! x2

 

Especially since the ML outsells the R by such a wide margin he's going to have an ML in stock and it's very less likely he'll have an R-class. This explains the approach better than above.

 

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I'm staying on track for R500.

 

I have a R500 and it does look like a mini-Van. However, as someone stated earlier, new 22" wheels with silver/white/black exterior (my opinion), the car does look very agreesive looking.

On the other hand, if you normally have less than 3 passengers, I may go for the ML500 since it does look nicer without any mod. More than 3 passengers, R500 is no brianer.

Good luck and either car will be great.