Mercedes GL SUV-opinions?

[lee_44106]

I'm in the market for a large capacity SUV, for the wife to haul the family around. I'm in a location that does see snow, but car is mostly for street/highway driving. NO chance of off-roading unless she slides into a ditch.

Priorities are safety, safety, and reliability, in that order. I don't care about "flash"

I test drove the GL recently. It looks small on the outside, being billed as a 7-adult seat capacity. It's not as small on the inside, but not as roomy as I imagined. Salesman told me it's made in the Alabama plant; this makes me weary as there is the well-publicized problems with the ML class when it first came out.

-So, any first-hand experience with the GL?
-Any other SUV's you can recommend that I look into?

 

[skalogre]

I would actually recommend against a SUV if you won't be going off road. Not that they are good off-road, most modern ones, but the inherently bad handling and compromises make them a real liability in snow/ice. Concentrate on a estate/staton wagon with all wheel drive, like an Audi with quattro, a SUbaru Legacy/Outback, an awd BMW wagon et.c. Much safer in snow and ice on normal roads.

 

[briancl]

Originally Posted by skalogre

I would actually recommend against a SUV if you won't be going off road. Not that they are good off-road, most modern ones, but the inherently bad handling and compromises make them a real liability in snow/ice. Concentrate on a estate/staton wagon with all wheel drive, like an Audi with quattro, a SUbaru Legacy/Outback, an awd BMW wagon et.c. Much safer in snow and ice on normal roads.

My girlfriend went from a Land Rover Discovery to an Audi wagon. She needs a lot of room for hauling things around for work, and the wagon still has plenty of space.

 

[lee_44106]

The reason for looking primarily at an SUV is that they are, in general, much heavier in size than the average wagon-type AWD vehicles.

I really don't care about gas mileage. As far as I'm concerned, the bigger car wins in a crash.

 

[GQgeek]

Then get a hummer ;p

 

[briancl]

Originally Posted by lee_44106

The reason for looking primarily at an SUV is that they are, in general, much heavier in size than the average wagon-type AWD vehicles.

I really don't care about gas mileage. As far as I'm concerned, the bigger car wins in a crash.

Bigger car also cannot maneuver as well as smaller car to avoid the crash. Bigger car also cannot stop as quickly as smaller car to avoid crash.

 

[dirk diggler]

then get the Escalade with the 22's.

 

[LeatherSOUL]

I highly considered, and even had one on hold, a GL450. Seems like a great truck. Very nice driving, great interior and exterior, and also much more affordable than people think.

I ended up getting a Cayenne because I wanted something sportier and I didn't need all the size.

A great truck I once owned was the Lexus GX470. I highly recommend it if you don't mind that they may change the body in a year or two.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by lee_44106

The reason for looking primarily at an SUV is that they are, in general, much heavier in size than the average wagon-type AWD vehicles.

I really don't care about gas mileage. As far as I'm concerned, the bigger car wins in a crash.

Wins is very relative. COntrolled deformation and airbags make a huge difference, which is why just making something larger and heavier does not mean it is automatically safer. From a mechanical, physics and material science perspective, that is a fallacy.

 

[Dormouse]

Why not consider a Range Rover Sport?

I really don't care about gas mileage. As far as I'm concerned, the bigger car wins in a crash.

Akin to the opinions of those dreaded soccer-moms. Quite a silly reason to choose an SUV over a more economical solution.

 

[matadorpoeta]

consider a volvo.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by matadorpoeta

consider a volvo.

+1

 

[Bergdorf Goodwill]

Originally Posted by lee_44106

The reason for looking primarily at an SUV is that they are, in general, much heavier in size than the average wagon-type AWD vehicles.

I really don't care about gas mileage. As far as I'm concerned, the bigger car wins in a crash.

This sort of thinking has ruined personal transportation.

Get thee to the nearest Canyonero dealership.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by Bergdorf Goodwill

This sort of thinking has ruined personal transportation.

Get thee to the nearest Canyonero dealership.

Excellent!

Can you name the truck with four wheel drive,
smells like a steak and seats thirty-five..

Canyonero! Canyonero!

Well, it goes real slow with the hammer down,
It's the country-fried truck endorsed by a clown!

Canyonero! (Yah!) Canyonero!
[Krusty:] Hey Hey

The Federal Highway comission has ruled the
Canyonero unsafe for highway or city driving.

Canyonero!

12 yards long, 2 lanes wide,
65 tons of American Pride!

Canyonero! Canyonero!

Top of the line in utility sports,
Unexplained fires are a matter for the courts!

Canyonero! Canyonero! (Yah!)

She blinds everybody with her super high beams,
She's a squirrel crushing, deer smacking, driving machine!

Canyonero!-oh woah, Canyonero! (Yah!)

Drive Canyonero!

Woah Canyonero!

Woah!

 

[Lucky Strike]

I don't know about the new GL SUV, but the old Geländewagen would be far more of a proper off-road vehicle. It's a Hummer without the bling effect.

Edit: And the G-wagen will "win" most crashes.