07' GL450.... anyone here yet own one?
 

I am wondering... anyone here fortunate enough to own the new GL450? I think they look awesome.

If so, what do you like best about it?

No one.... lol... no one can afford one..... LOL. :D

Too expensive for my tastes, but these guys seem to like them http://www.benzworld.org/forums/gl-class/

Test drove one for a weekend then got financing approved and drove one off the lot...only to bring it back the next day.

Couldn't live with the crippling monthly payments!!! Decided my ML will have to suit my needs for now.

Nice vehicle though...only thing I didn't like is how much the options sheet would set you back...and why MB makes getting the DVD package seem as if it's such an exclusively rare option? After all, every other manufacturers' SUVs practically COME already equipped with one!

Gl450
 

We got one back in July. We had it for 5 months now. Really love it. It is the most advance SUV out there as of today.

I'd love the CDI version of the GL, but I can't bring myself to dump my 02 Suburban. Maybe next year.

Thanks for the replies guys. Please keep us posted on reliability, issues, etc. I may be able to afford one in 2015. :D

Kamal- I notice that you have a Tundra as well. I have a 2000 V8 4wd Tundra. How do you like yours? I LOVE mine, but the MPG is horrid. Only about 14 mpg in town, which is what my old 95' GMC Suburban SLT 4wd got.

I would not have bought mine new. It sticked for $33,000 and it was not even the "Limited" model, but a highly optioned SR5 model.

Tundra is very reliable
 

I had Tundra for almost five years. I got 60k miles on it. never had any issues with it. regarding mileage, i was never able to achieve the upper limit advertise for tundra vs GL450 does exceeds its upper limit of specified mileage. I get about 16.5 for mix hwy and local. Also mine is 2wd SR5 access cab. I really like space in cab. Oh! there was brake issue for pulsation, which I got it fixed. There were couple of updates done by dealer. one was oil pressure reading low. Also once I took it for alignment and they replaced ball end joints as an update.

Oh yes... I have the brake issue as well. Seems to be the rear brakes on mine causing it.... so I am told.... I am soon going to have rear brake shoes and drums installed and hope it subsides. The drums are rather costly it seems however. :rolleyes: I do love the truck however.
I also have to take it in soon for the dreaded timing belt change.... all of the local Toyota dealers are quoting around $500 (including water pump, which should be replaced, since they are so close to it anyway when they remove the timing belt). A friend of mines father is a Toyota tech and I think he is going to change mine for about $250 if I supply the parts.... which I can get pretty cheaply at "anythingtoyota.com".

Did you know that they have also recalled the 2005-06 models for ball-joint failures? So far, my 2000 is not in the recall. :uhoh:

It was a technical service bulletien (TSB's) not a recall. That's whey you did not get a letter.

Just bought a 2007 GL450. We were looking for a 7-seater and after I drove this one, I loved it!

It's got the most design faults of any Mercedes I've ever owned, but still like it. Great highway vehicle. REALLY poor in-town vehicle.

What are the design faults?

Really poor brake pedal feel, makes smooth braking unlikely.

Very narrow seats, uncomfortable on long drives.

Diesel engine and 7-speed transmission are incompatible.

Too much body roll side-to-side.

External visibility--except through windshield--is nonexistant

Driving these things in urban settings is a comedy of errors.

Do these things have SBC like other 2000-2006 Mercedes'? A complaint with SBC was poor brake pedal feel.

It's a shock such a big car as this would have narrow seats, especially for such a large SUV.

I thought the 450 was a V8, and was unaware the GL was offered in a diesel.