Yuck, another pimpmobile ala Escalade, Avalanche, Navigator, Murano, Lexus RS and IS, Cayenne, etc., etc. Soon we will all be driving quasi-SUV's that look like Japanese suppositories with tons of plastic trim and bright, oversized chrome wheels. That hideous grill is begging for a gold trim package to attract the Lexus crowd (I'm surprised the new G500's don't have such a package - it would probably increase sales by 25% or more). I’m sure the Japanese can assist in working out the new-model bugs – they seem to have mastered the art of producing androgynous vehicles to satisfy the American appetite, and it looks like the Germans are close behind.
Is MBUSA's marketing department psycho or am I just really far removed from the mainstream? It makes me gag every time I see those huge rims on a G500. I am used to Mercedes being the leader not the follower, not taking design cues from the Japanese.
I am interested to see what the equipment list will be. Will this pavement primadonna have a low range or lockers?
Why you always look down to others as if they all are no good. For your information the Japanese has Mega Cruiser for years and has capabilities of Hummer and is very realiable, perhaps not less than Gwagen (not much written about it). I read it when Hummer was coming out. I own one Gwagen, but not putting down others. You can do comparison but not putting down other, like Gwagen the best car in the world.
No one here is putting down the fact that there are many capable vehicles out there to buy. The problem we are seeing is that a once great carmaker is caving in to "faddish" and "fickle" styling changes simply to sell cars. My first Mercedes-Benz was a 1958 180 sedan. Very plain! No air of course, and a radio that was an antique. This was certainly the most beautiful desgin of the early ponton models. I think the engineering was flawless. Now, we see designs that are more from the marketing department and less from the engineering department. Demand for G-Wagens has fallen off considerably, new or old. Re-sale price have dropped 25% and in some cases, 30%. A change was in the works long before that was realized. This simply speeds it up. I like the 460 model styling even though it is dated, it suits my needs. After owning two ML's, I realized that they were just not what I was going to be happy with. ML prices have dropped like a rock too! Will the GST solve the marketing problem of these two models? Only time will tell.
As an unsatisfide owner of a ML 500 I would be afraid of anything coming out of that plant. Between the management style,design and enginering,material choices and line quality as well as the abcence of the ethic for building a fine car I wouldnt touch another Bama built Benz with a friends ten foot pole. Too many shortcuts being made every where,door hinges,dash, guages,trim,window frames,audio,seats,headrest you name it. Anyone who is honest with himself will admit this model is not worth the Mercedes name nor does it even come close. American built Benzs will be a short lived production life wait and see.
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