I'll tell you what Joe, so far we really like that ML. My wife, the polar queen herself, has gone out of her way to comment on how she likes it, and how nice it drives/rides. Even polar-queen-in-training, my youngest daughter and the ML's "owner" likes it, and is comfortable driving it.
We had absolutely no use for the AWD aspect, and to be honest, I didn't have any idea they were AWD. But I would buy any car Tyler has been driving and de-bugging. Or simply a car he recommends. Used cars are luck of the draw, but I trust his summary of the starting condition.
But you never know. I trust my summary of a vehicle's current condition that I've owned, but that didn't help Tyler when the '95 I sold him chunked a tranny in 3 weeks. (still sorry about that Tyler!!)
Shoot Joe, we hardly need a heater down here, much less 4WD.....
Oh, and good to know another human visited this forum!

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John