Looking at an '08 Mercedes GL450 for the wife--anyone w/ Mercedes experience lately?

[JonT]

Comments, tips, and helpful information would be much appreciated regarding this vehicle or Mercedes products in general.

[Dottore]

I have the '08 ML 320 CDI (diesel) as a daily driver and am very pleased with it. 50K kilometers on it this far and not a single problem. The quality on the 2006 and later cars is very good IMO—and from what the service guys tell me.

The GL 450 won several SUV of The Year awards when it came out. (I think from Motor Trend and C&D) Very fine vehicle. My brother bought one a few months ago and loves it (traded in an X5—and much prefers the GL).

The first series SUV's made by Mercedes were very poorly built—and some blame this on the distractions Mercedes had during the Chrysler merger years. I have heard that Mercedes management read the riot act to their engineers, and insisted that the second series (post 2006) cars needed to be perfect—and I think these cars are very close to it.

Also check out some of the Mercedes chat rooms. There's a reason these cars are selling as well as they are.

[MRM]

I read an article recently that claimed the late model Mercedes GL class had one of the worst reliability ratings of any vehicle for the year. I think the verdict was that they were beautiful, capable, and unreliable. Kind of sounded like a Range Rover review. My wife has an 08 E350 that we couldn't love more. After driving my wife's car I'm thinking maybe of getting an E500 or S500 for myself.

[daepp]

We bought a new 07 GL450. It now has 74K miles on it.

Great SUV. Great family car. Very spendy on maintenance minutiae. Probably would not do it again though - too sophisticated for me - lots of stuff that gets you into the dealer...

[alf]

Wife had the last gen ML, 05 I think, lots of broken little things and afternoons wasted at the dealership.

[stealthn]

Test drove the GL350, nice ride fit and finish, but pricey. I would not get the 350 as it has huge lag! Almost dangerous, but I hear the 450 is a lot better.

I think it's too much money, but if money were no object I'd get one for the wife and family.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by stealthn

I think it's too much money,

Says the guy with the Cayenne TT.....

[stealthn]

Yes but I paid much less than half the new price 4 years after

[daepp]

If I had it to do over again I'd go Japanese rather the MBZ.

[HardDrive]

2006 E350 here. Very happy with it. Isn't built as tightly as my wifes Lexus, but I find it much more comfortable.

The local trophy wives seem to love their 450s for carting the kids around.