[cmitch]

You fared well for many reasons, the main one being the ML outweighed the other car by a factor of 2. Then, that car was sitting still in your lane and when you struck it, the ML pushed it which absorbed most of the impact. I'm not minimizing what you say. The ML's are the safest SUV's on the road, but not the 99 you were driving. The ML had some front end mods that beefed up crash protection in 2000, mostly in the footwell area. It is those mods that brought the ML up to the best standards. My 2002 ML weighs several hundred pounds more than my 99 ML430 and I can attest the 2002 ML320 handles slightly better. BTW, it costs more for me to insure my 99 ML430 than the 2002 ML320. Both collision and liability/medical payments are substantially more on the 99.

I'm glad you're okay AND the fact you were driving the ML saved you some physical trauma. They are very safe vehicles and the post 2000 model years are even safer.