[Gnomad]

but, $4K for a very nice 380SL was our introduction to the world of Mercedes. She's been a very proper little missy for the summer, my wife's daily driver, our evening/weekend/sunny day car, I even took it out for a day on my job as a copier guy and what a glorious day that was!
So, based on our experience with a 27 YO car that runs and rides better than considerably newer vehicles we have owned between us, when it was time to consider a vehicle for winter the wifely one she was thinking Mercedes. We found a really nice (I mean this one looks like it literally new) 2002 ML320 with considerable bell and whistleage and a mere 90,000 on the clock. We plan to close the deal tomorrow, in plenty of time for the onrushing Alaska winter.

We have looked at some other ML's, no other example really was as nice as this one. One felt like it was about to die and showed no real pride of ownership, the other didn't have the level of B&W that our "new" one possessed, this one looks and feels like it was pampered for its existance.

Anyway, what I'm really saying is that once you have sampled the fine products of the MB corporation, you no longer have cars. You have obsessions. You have been warned, those of you on the fence and doing your due diligence, run away or be absorbed :surrender: .

 

[Noodles]

Enjoy it and please take some time to look at Boca's info for new W163 ML owners.
There is lots of help here and people that really know these trucks.
Welcome to the world of the first and best MLs.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/att...85155-new-members-guide-new-members-guide.pdf

 

[Gnomad]

I did a lot of research in here before deciding to pull the trigger, and from what I can see these ML's seem to be solid and durable, if maintained, which seems to be a common theme among european makes in general. They'll last ages if you look after them-which is why we found the one we decided on so appealing.
We're also Volvo fans here-between us we've owned 5 or 6 of them, mostly 240's except for my DD, a V50 T5 AWD. Our weekend workhorse is a 84 240 wagon, a youngster with a mere 221K on the clock.

We're looking forward to the new arrival-a road trip may be in order. Maybe Seward, maybe a Denali Highway run. The fall colors are in full glow here.