Nevada Jack

I had not intended to announce this decision until I had a formal agreement with Greg at Westminster MB in Denver. But I have decided to shift gears and get into a GL320CDI (X164.)

Reason is very simple...I want to do some traveling in the west and many roads are gravel or two lane secondary roads which is not the best situation for a S550. In addition, my wife and I had owned wagon/diesel combos from MB before and I had a desired to get back into one. She is not here to experience either the S or the GL but would certainly approve...she loved the diesel wagons.

The GL as I said will be the diesel model in Obsidian Black with Ash Leather and all the options except for the RSE, hitch and heated seats. Build will be late March or early April with delivery in late April.

The S550 is absolutely the best MB I have owned since I started buying them in the mid-70's. I will miss some of the goodies and the ABC ride but test driving the GL450, I found the ride to be more car-like than SUV-like. 18 months of driving the S Class (W220 and W221) had been a pleasure and I look forward to my trips in the GL.

Shot a pic today of the S today while joy-riding...what a fantastic car!

NZ_Benz

So your selling the 550? Yup you are insane.

tee_tz

Yeah, are you selling or adding? Sound like you're trading....


Tee_Tz.

kenstudios

Remember the S430? They didn't want to give you anything for it but turned around and made big $$$$$$$$. Dont trade.

newton22

No man, the 550 is a beauty. She's a keeper!

Doctodd33

id take both...write off the truck, or if your s550 is a lease write it off.....just do anything to keep em both.

T

Nevada Jack

Nobody "made big $$$$$" on the W220. I received what I thought was fair for my S430 from Glauser (much higher than competing dealers)...the last I saw it was priced on the internet by them for less than $4K over what I received for it in trade. The '06 S took a beating from MB trying to clear out the factory and putting huge dollars in the trunk. I received a good portion of that when I purchased it...

Whether this deal will be a trade or sale is still to be determined. There may be interest in purchasing it from some individuals on this and other forums or if push come to shove, I will trade it. My decision is not based on profit and loss but on personal desires to enjoy myself.

Nevada Jack

I am retired and don't even think about write offs or leases....:-) And having two cars in my present garage would be a complete waste of space...one is more than enough. I have had my S Class experience, enjoyed it no end and will enjoy the GL just as much as I have all my other MB's through the years...:-)

Nevada Jack

Hey Newt...a keeper for someone but not me. Will miss the ABC ride and the goodies but there is more to life than the S Class...

newton22

Well, I'm glad you're enjoying life and simply prioritizing the pleasure over anything else in your current position. I guess what really counts is what satisfies you the most.

I still have a LONG way to go and currently, spending wisely and maintaining a healthy financial status means everything to me. Each to their own.

Nevada Jack

Keep that attitude and when you are 75 you can make choices based on what you would like to do and not what you have to do....

alboogiee

Nevada Jack, if you dont mind me asking, what are you retired from?

Nevada Jack

The Rat Race...:-)))

20 years with the US Navy and an additional 16 years with the National Archives in DC. Retired at age 39 from the Navy and at age 55 from Government service. Don't stop paying your taxes...LOL

alboogiee

right on... by living in Vegas I thought you might have been mobbed up

I am currently in the AF and contemplating serving out 20, unsure yet...the children have been making my life decisions lately. Wish they would turn my position into a GS slot...I would jump all over it.

taxes...what are those?

bt1340

I highly recommend the GL. I have owned an ML430 2000 and a G500 2004.
Liked the ML, did not like the G500. Drove the GL when it was released and had to have it. It seems to offer the S class in a SUV. Pure and simple. A wonderful vehicle. My wife uses it as a daily driver. I would recommend loading it up because the base equipment leaves much to be desired. Be sure to consider the lighting pkg, appearance pkg. and seating in addition to the group option. Best of luck, I have enjoyed reading your posts! And a happy new year to you and yours.

AsianML

I knew it'd happen!! At least you stayed with another MB. So is the GL going to be delivered straight to you?

Is the GL320 CDI available with Off-Road Package? If I recall correctly, the ORP comes adds some more "stuff" to the Airmatic, like an adaptive damping system or something like that, which would improve the ride even more.

The GL rides like a car because it's on a unibody chassis.

Once again, beautiful shot of the S, I'll miss them. But I'll be looking forward to some beautiful GL shots now...LOL.

eddietr

Sounds like you're doing the right thing to me. If the GL is a better fit for you, it's a better fit for you. Life's too short to be driving the wrong vehicle.

I hope you'll give someone on the board a chance to own the car, though. All your pictures were a definitely a part of my falling in love with the W221.

04S430

At 70+ myself, I agree with you!
The G320 CDI is probably a good choice, recalling your astute way of researching! Going back many, many years, I owned two 300D's. Even in those days, nothing was wrong with Diesel cars. Just remember, you must step harder on the accelerator to get going, but then things were different in 1975!
Good luck to you, Jack.

Nevada Jack

Spent a lot of time in Maryland...loved the Bay. The GL will be loaded except for RSE, hitch and heated seats...the test drive also convinced me I could live with it ride-wise. Thanks for your nice comments.

AsianML

When you say heated seats, does that mean the fronts too, or just the rear is excluded?

Nevada Jack

You had me figured out AsianML...:-)

The ORP is not available in the US with the diesel? But I am not going to cross any rivers and stuff...just want a more reasonable ride to reach some places an S Class should just not go...

Nevada Jack

Thanks. If someone is interested in taking an April delivery in Denver they can PM me and we can talk. I do have one interested party but nothing concrete or even in the mix yet.

Nevada Jack

Thanks. We do what we feel like doing at our age...:-)

Hope you get the 550 real soon...you will totally love it...a really great car.

eddietr

I would be, actually. But hopefully I'll have my car with exactly what I wanted by then. But I'm sure more people will be interested by the spring.

It is a beauty! I look forward to your GL pics. Now I'll fall in love with the GL and have to get that, too!

MBZFAN55

Jack - Hope you enjoy your new ride as much as we have enjoyed your participation on the W221 board. I always had a feeling that after the R-Class situation, an suv was always a possiblity again. Enjoy !