Traded our 2000 ML320 for a Pewter/Ash R350 and could not be happier. This vehicle drives like a LWB S class.
Couple of comments:
1) Airmatic is a necessity. Drove an R500 without it - no comparison. With Airmatic the car drives like a dream. The ability to raise the car on demand is also key.
2) Got 20 MPG on our first (non-broken-in) 200 miles. ^
3) COMAND in this car is such a huge improvement from my last S Class.
4) Our well-loaded car (Comfort, Heating,Premium, Lighting and Airmatic pkgs plus 2nd row console, Sirius radio, Multicontour seats etc.) came in well below an S.
The Adaptive Light headlamps are outstanding. Genuinely room for six adults and a dog.
How big is the dog?
It is not the kind, that seat in cupholder?
Anyway, tell us more. I own 99 ML320 with about 70k on it. How much would I have to bring with it to drive away in R?
Congrats!! What was the msrp on the vehicle? How were you able to get the multicontour seats, did you have to order the car? My dealer told me that there was just one car available in the country with that option.
Congrats!! What was the msrp on the vehicle? How were you able to get the multicontour seats, did you have to order the car? My dealer told me that there was just one car available in the country with that option.
Were you able to get a great deal?
Thanks
LOL, I guess we got that one car then!
Actually, our salesman was looking at three out-of-state cars that he could dealer trade for, but then the car we ended up with showed up in our dealer's inventory literally the same day we leased it. So no special order, just got lucky I guess.
MSRP $62,510. Lease payment is $505/mo + tax for 39 mos. after $12k trade in on the ML which was more than fair. They knocked about 5% off MSRP as well. I consider it a great deal. The loaded R's seem to sell much faster and command less discounting than ones with fewer options, in my limited observations.
The multicontour seats are very nice - my wife has problems getting comfortable while driving so even though we didn't go looking for this option, I'm very glad we ended up getting it.
One option I do not consider "optional" is the absolutely awesome Adaptive bi-Xenons.
Initial observation about power/acceleration - the 350 is more than adequate with the vehicle lightly or moderately loaded. The most I've had in it so far was 2 adults, 3 kids and the dog (no luggage) and it never lacks for power as far as I'm concerned. We're still in break-in so I'm not anywhere near flooring it and am keeping revs below 3500. This is a large, heavy vehicle with AWD so the 20.0 MPG we got on the first tank of gas in mostly city driving was impressive for a not-yet-broken-in car. The most we ever got from the ML320 was 16-18 in similar mix of driving. We test drove an R500 and I would not trade the better fuel economy of the 350 for the extra power of the 500. YMMV.
Overall, we are absolutely thrilled with this car.
To answer the other poster, the dog is an 80 lb. Labrador and he fits perfectly in the area behind the third row. He'd be happier if we folded the third row flat to give him a huge playpen, but actually I think he's safer in the event of a sudden stop or collision with the third row up.
Thanks for the reply. I am most likely going to get one this week. You probably definitely got the one that my dealer told me about. I have had BMWs over the past 10 years with "Comfort seats" and they are outstanding. It's hard to get into any other seat, but the multicontour sounds similar. Does the thigh support extend out and does the top of the backrest articulate separately?
How many miles/year is the lease for? Congrats again on the new ride!
The top of the backrest doesn't articulate separately, unfortunately - I would say the R-class MC seats are good, but not as good as the ones in my 2005 A8L.
Adjustments are: side bolsters in-out, lumbar support up-down and inflate/deflate, and front cushion (thigh support) extend-retract.
Our lease is 10,000 miles/yr - we don't put a lot of miles on cars so am fine with that. I'm pretty sure we could have haggled it to 12,000/yr at the same payment.
I have had several comfort seats from BMWs over the past several years.... they are the best seat on the market...
I have an R with their multi contour seats... they are no big deal.. not worth the effort to get one... let alone money..... I would not make that a heavy priority....
The parking sensors are, in my opinion the only necessity on this vehicle... although I did get mine loaded as well.
fq1, my dealer's online inventory is showing an Iridium/Black R350 with identical options to the car we got, so there's at least one other car with multicontour seats available.
mbeuvan: Thanks for all your replies and going out of your way to check with your dealer. I will ask my dealer tomorrow to locate the car because you pretty much have everything I require (except for the DVD/entertainment).
Innhitman: Thanks for your input, it was very useful. I was actually making those seats as the deal-breaker thinking they would be similar to BMW's. But after all the great input from you guys, if I find all my other options needs being met, I will consider the vehicle without them.
(Double posted)
Dropped by my local NY MB dealer today, spurred by the NYT article about the new R class. Way back in 1980, I needed a wagon and I wanted a Mercedes and so i was delighted to discover the 300TD. I still have it and it runs beautifullt and looks fresh as a new model, except for a few small rust spots.
Point is, if I were in the market for a wagon today, I'd probably gobble up this new model. It sits like an S class, feels like a sedan and holds six adults in comfort, or four adults and a pile of crap in the back.
The R class has none of the drawbacks of the SUV. But it seems to have all of the attributes one wants from an SUV except sitting a foot higher off the road.
If performance and reliability are good, this baby is a winner.
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