I've been eyeing a diesel GL for about a year. I live near the city, mostly use public transport to commute, but have a growing family and tow a moderately sized trailer full of roadracing bikes to races along the east coast.
I've been waiting to see if the GL420 would arrive, looks like the answer is definitively "no." So now the question is to order a 2008 CDI or wait for a 2009 Bluetec. Either way, I would get a loaded one, my current car is 11 years old, I'm a buy and hold kind of person, don't put more than 8k miles a year on my car.
08: spare tire, no 8 gallons of bluetec liquid to refill, vetted for quality over the last 2 years.
09: 20" tires (I would have paid the $2500 to put those on anyway), adjustable suspension, lumbar, better nav, bigger TV screens, 50 state legal (possible I may have to move to Calif next year).
I haven't owned a Merc before, and would appreciate the input of those more knowing. I'm not too worried about price, I have access to the USAA buying program and will get the car for no more than $1k over invoice.
It will be legal to move to California with an '07 or '08.
The '09 can only be better quality as it's the same vehicle as the '07 and '08 with more production experience.
Agree that moving to CA will not be a problem for any diesel with over 7500 mi at the time it is registered.
Disagree that the '09 will automatically be 'better' than the '07 or '08. The following is my experience: My '07 had some tranny upshift issues my '08 has never had - the '08 is silky smooth throughout. My '07 got MUCH better fuel mileage - 27 mpg on a trip to San Diego and back - than the '08 can even think about (it gets 25 MAX)! According to what I've read about Bluetec, the mileage may be much better with that engine set up. Part of the problem on my '08 is due to the 19" Continental tires it came with. The '07 had 18" Michelins.
I LIKE the leather seats on the '07! M-B text on the '08 are OK, just not the nice feel of leather.
On the other hand: the '08 has Keyless Go - a feature I will NOT be without from now on! The heated seats all around are very nice.
The NAV systems on either one are not very good compared to the Garmin units I've used. They CANNOT be updated to current road conditions - even manually. Want to add a favorite service station on the map? Forget it! They are not very user friendly and the database is full of errors and omissions.
On balance, I wish I still had the '07.
Whatever you get - with the 20" tires - make SURE you specify Michelins or Pirelli tires. Do NOT accept Contis! The 19" and 20" tire/wheel combinations will NOT accept tire chains (wrecks the wheels on low profile tires). If you are going to be in a part of CA where chains may be necessary you must take that into account. Also, you will find that by moving to CA, where you drove 5-6000 miles before, you will now drive 10-12,000! Thats just California.
btw - Fourdiesel - Were both of your GL's equipped with a roof rack?
No - only the '08. I almost NEVER carry a load there (too lazy to take them off) but I don't believe they have a measurable effect on mileage/drag. I guess I COULD take them off and find out -- what a concept!
No - only the '08. I almost NEVER carry a load there (too lazy to take them off) but I don't believe they have a measurable effect on mileage/drag. I guess I COULD take them off and find out -- what a concept!
That rack will have a far greater impact on your mileage than the size variations between your 2 different OEM tires sizes, especially at highway speeds.
The 19" and 20" tire/wheel combinations will NOT accept tire chains (wrecks the wheels on low profile tires). If you are going to be in a part of CA where chains may be necessary you must take that into account. Also, you will find that by moving to CA, where you drove 5-6000 miles before, you will now drive 10-12,000! Thats just California.
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