When my new '01 C320's delivery was still a week away, my dealer wanted my trade-in C280 so they loaned me a one year old ML55. After the novelty of the horsepower wears off, about one day, one fixates on the fuel gauge needle which seemed connected to the gas pedal. 10MPG. Then I thought I might wash the beast. Turned out I needed a stepladder. There is little chance a car hobbyist would be able to easily maintain the exterior because of the size of the thing. The only use I got out of it was hauling sixteen bags of bark home.

When I returned it, I asked my salesman what the mission of the vehicle was. He said he really didn't know but that seemed to come back after about one year. He also pointed out that they were pretty much useless off-road because the tires were too large.

And now that the NEW ML has been revealed, the old one doesn't look so hot. Buy the wagon.

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Roger E.