honestly i cant see any reason for suv's. if you gotta carry a lot of kids around then buy a minivan, if you gotta go offroading and do work and still carry 6 people buy an F-Series Supercrew. Things like the HMMWV and the G-Wagon are military vehicles and are just trucks that have the beds covered
The ML is arguably the worst Mercedes-Benz ever made. The ML's build quality is a pathetic when compared with other MBs.
An E class estate is available with awd, has more cargo room, more performance, and better build quality.
The September, 04 issue of Motor Trend says that there might be an MB MLK to compete with the BMW X3. Great, now there will be even more cheap german cross-overs.
Even the old school, 25 year-old, off road beast that is the G wagon will be replaced by something much more on road-biased (and way less cool) next year.
Rickthecoinman - 7/28/2004 11:06 PM
The ML is arguably the worst Mercedes-Benz ever made. The ML's build quality is a pathetic when compared with other MBs.
The ML is not my first MB, and I disagree with your "pathetic build" comment. My ML ownership experience has been very good.
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An E class estate is available with awd, has more cargo room, more performance, and better build quality.
What is the towing capacity?
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Even the old school, 25 year-old, off road beast that is the G wagon will be replaced by something much more on road-biased (and way less cool) next year.
I never really cared for the G - looks too "Range Rover".
I'll repeat my earlier question - what do you drive? i.e. what do you have first hand experience with?
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_______________ '08 Acura MDX w/ Tech package
Previously - '98 ML320 - 285k miles in 7 years
With the BM's you don't fully click the stalk all the way over to activate it. All you have to do is tap it and it will blink a few times and then it will turn off.
Now that you've mentioned it...this feature is in my CLK 55 AMG as well. It was definitely missing on my previous non AMG 209.
BTW, I have no issues with MB quality so far. For me..its continued to be better, more stylish and luxury orientated. I am an ex-BMW loyalist till a couple of years back. I believe that a a result of the competitive wars within the auto industry...there's been a massive lift in quality & tech. innovation/isues over a decade or so. As consumers ..our expectations have risen accordingly. I could'nt imagine making comments about quality or tech stuff ..say 5 years ago. Overall us consumers will continue to benefit from this auoto industry war in the future!
Re. the MB ML issue....I don't own one...but did try the AMG & non AMG MLs. Way too much diffrence in the ride quality incl. firmness, suspension feel, comfort levels..and ofcourse that incredible AMG power. The Toyota Landcruiser , Lexus 470 or Prado seemed better than the US made ML. Ofcourse, it comes down to personal preferance at the end of the day...and we have the right to share our two cents!!
If you don't own a MB, Don't hate!! You can not go out on Saturday, drive a few MB cars around for 10 minutes and think you know everything about them!!
I've OWNED a 98'ml320, and a 01 Ml320 Sport. The 98' although it was a 1st year vehicle, turned out to be the most durable, reliable car I'd ever had. I had 153K in it when I sold it.
Although I liked the 01 ML sport better, it was only because they had improved a lot from 98. Sport suspension,Sport tuned engine, Quick Blinkers, Nav, etc....
I do not like the new ML350's because they in my opinion are not the same as the 320's. The engine is geared way differently, so it feel more like my Acura MDX on the freeway. That's okay if you have an MDX, but not okay if you are in a BENZ. This was enough for me to decide not to purchase an 05'. Plus little stuff like the nice thick steering wheel they used to have is noe replaced with what looks like belongs on my C-Class. So d=some differences there, but I think some of the changes are just plain mistakes. I am out of the MB SUV market because of it.
As far as sedans go, I had a 00' E320 which I absolutely loved. This was just an overall awesome car to drive. I Had it laced with 18" AMG wheels so it handled like a dream.
I now own an 04 C230K sport. I absolutely love this car!! It's smaller than the E, but really quick, and I like the electronice way bettter than the 2000 model electrical.
I guess my point to all this is, every car has quality problems,and MBenz certainly has their share but all in all, I think they make some of the most safest reliable cars out there.I've been really impressed with the way they stand behind their cars.
You can still go out today and buy a 98 Ml320 off the street, and have the battery go dead and mercedes will still come out to wherever you are and see about you no questions asked!! There are not many cars out there that their owner have this type of testimony. That's got to account for something.
Location: Serbia, South Africa, Australia, Jamaica... actualy ROTW!
Posts: 685
RE: A true example of why mercedes is cheap now
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UncAl - 7/28/2004 9:20 PM
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Rickthecoinman - 3/7/2004 8:10 PM
MB should get rid off the excess models and esp. the vision and the ML.
BTW, I've visited the factory at Vance, and was very impressed! As far as your US vs. German manufacturing quality, remember that the German factory workers are primarily immigrants (e.g. Turks, etc.). Its all about the engineering.
Workers are primarily European, Eastern European and that's the way it is gonna stay for long.
Why?
The trade/craftsmanship education in former Eastern block was MUCH higher on all levels than what is in most private schools in USA. Having workers that can work in a assembly plant and can understand very essence of what they're assembling (unlike thier peers overseas) is welcome by Mercedes.
Thus do not underestimate quality of Euro assembled car.
However, who do you think works better: a worker that will always think that he is underpaid or the "turk" that gets his wage and go back to Turkey and spend every weekend as if he is the king of Turkey?
With the BM's you don't fully click the stalk all the way over to activate it. All you have to do is tap it and it will blink a few times and then it will turn off.
I've heard that this feature is on the new E's from July 2004 as well.
It's on my 05 C230 too. You just tap it a little bit and the it will blink ONLY 3 times. It's intended to be used when you're changing lanes or overtaking. Its a great ferature, I am addicted to it now. When I drive a rental keep trying to do the same.
i dont agree with alot of you. mercedes is and always was the innovater. its not mercedes copying japanese cars like kia hyunday ect.. its the kias and cheeper cars puting mercedes parts in them. cheeper companies put nice interiors these days only what people see. for mercedes its always been the other way around. mercedes has inovated most car products when they invented the diesel people were sckeptic as well, boy they were wrong. mercedes is just creatign cars that work better, you say you dont like the curves these days, well there more aerodynamic, thus more efficien. mercedes always tried somethign new, and if it didnt work they will discontinue it. theve done it since 1896 they know what there doing.
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