My mom has a 1999 ML430, and I have mixed feelings about it. First and foremost, it looks hot. Everyone who's seen it has complimented its style. Some guys talked shit about it being a soccer mom minivan, until they heard the 4.3L V8 sing. Then it was different.
I disagree on the soft suspension, I think it's very much firm for an SUV. I've been up twisty roads in the mountains and have come out on the other side with a huge shit-faced grin on my face. The P275 tires and independent suspension help. Nothing like an AWD slide in an SUV [:D] Try that shit in an Explorer with a solid axle and leaf springs.
Now at 70,000 miles, it's pulled our jet ski, pulled our 20ft Monterey boat, carried a whole bunch of stuff up to the Sierra Nevadas, through snow deep enough to start regretting you didn't buy snow chains, and it handled it beautifully. It looks good, has all kinds of power (heh, I've caught many a Mustang GT by surprise when I started pulling on them, while making quick grocery runs) and is very versatile.
It has some rattles when you go over bumps, but the stereo dampens those right out [:D] The passenger airbag cover is warped on top of the dash..on a six year old car, that's not really expected, but whatever, could be an isolated occurence. One of the climate control knobs came off in my hand. Other than that, no mechanical issues or anything else. Firm, yet comfortable, stylish and utilitarian, all in one. Shit, if I had the money, I'd buy another.
Oh, and my dad put on ML500 bumpers and painted that black grille into a nice silver, so it looks 5,000,000 times better [:D]
So why did this turn into an ML haterade thread?
] and although now I drive the new one, but no way I'm getting rid of the old.::
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