GLS 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL - Reviews Thread

[Merc1]

GL63 AMG - Review: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130405/CARREVIEWS/130409932


M

 

[Wolfgang]

Latest inventory report. My dealer has one (1) GL450 4MATIC Gelände Limousine in stock at present.

 

[Gianclaudio]

You need a chainsaw to cut with Autocar's bias these days..........

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/mercedes-benz/gl/first-drives/mercedes-benz-gl-350-amg-sport-first-drive-review

 

[Kilcrohane]

You need a chainsaw to cut with Autocar's bias these days..........

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/mercedes-benz/gl/first-drives/mercedes-benz-gl-350-amg-sport-first-drive-review

- the comments are wonderful, with the exception of the painfully obvious, latest JLR Gaydon marketing dept paid shill, 'Winston Churchill'.

It took a thoroughly nasty piece of work like this Nic Cackett and his jaw-dropping attack on a JLR competitor, to thoroughly and finally disabuse Autocar's all too trusting and loyal readership of any remaining belief that Autocar and Haymarket are anything but a bought and paid marketing tool for Tata/JLR, in their planned run up to an IPO sell off.

Autocar is the worst offender of this disgrace to journalism, but closely followed by Car magazine, Pistonheads(Haymarket stable), Auto Express and EVO. Their dreadful hacks bat too for JLR and its spurious Britishness, or more likely, for Tata's beneficence in rupees.

The Americans are little if any better, with AOL's Autoblog.com probably the most obvious candidate for being totally in the pocket of Tata's advertising/'entertaining' budget, compounded with a general nasty antipathy to German product. The one possible exception in America, maintaining some journalistic integrity, is Edmund's Inside Line - perhaps.

The mind-boggling arrogance shown by the likes of Nic Cackett shouldn't be misread though. This uber bullish stance, with JLR products being lauded as in another universe, above the also-ran Germans, is actually a statement of panic and desperation.

Behind the scenes, JLR's parent, Tata Motors/Tata group, is tanking, thanks to the imploding home Indian economy and demand for steel worldwide, and the window of opportunity to get JLR off their hands at a profit is shrinking, as the likes of the Evoque-killing Porsche Macan and Merc GLA, and exposing as a ridiculous, overpriced, piece of mutton dressed up as lamb, tat F-type, sub £60k, 450 hp, 1,550 kg new M3, and $55k Chevrolet Stingray, hove ever closer into market view.

Nic Cackett has done us all a favour. He's both exposed the always true agenda of Autocar and similar British auto rags, trading deceivingly as serious journalisitic works, and the sheer desperation and panic going on inside JLR/Tata as their cash-cow Evoque starts to crash and burn after the initial marketing hyped sales success, and the F-type and new R/R and R/R Sport are exposed as massively under-engineered and massively overpriced cynical short-term products, with no real new product or technologies in the pipeline.

Tata must get JLR away now or be stuck with an imploding, cash-devouring 'asset', hence the need to have 'presstitutes' like Nic turn up the attempts at controlling the car buying public's mind in favour of JLR to 11, and hence blowing the speaker and the amp in the process.

 

[Human]

- the comments are wonderful, with the exception of the painfully obvious, latest JLR Gaydon marketing dept paid shill, 'Winston Churchill'.

It took a thoroughly nasty piece of work like this Nic Cackett and his jaw-dropping attack on a JLR competitor, to thoroughly and finally disabuse Autocar's all too trusting and loyal readership of any remaining belief that Autocar and Haymarket are nothing but a bought and paid marketing tool for Tata/JLR, in their planned run up to an IPO sell off.

Autocar is the worst offender of this disgrace to journalism, but closely followed by Car magazine, Pistonheads(Haymarket stable), Auto Express and EVO. Their dreadful hacks bat too for JLR and its spurious Britishness, or more likely, for Tata's beneficence in rupees.

The Americans are little if any better, with AOL's Autoblog.com probably the most obvious candidate for being totally in the pocket of Tata's advertising/'entertaining' budget, compounded with a general nasty antipathy to German product. The one possible exception in America, maintaining some journalistic integrity, is Edmund's Inside Line - perhaps.

The mind-boggling arrogance shown by the likes of Nic Cackett shouldn't be misread though. This uber bullish stance, with JLR products being lauded as in another universe, above the also-ran Germans, is actually a statement of panic and desperation.

Behind the scenes, JLR's parent, Tata Motors/Tata group, is tanking, thanks to the imploding home Indian economy and demand for steel worldwide, and the window of opportunity to get JLR off their hands at a profit is shrinking, as the likes of the Evoque-killing Porsche Macan and Merc GLA, and exposing as a ridiculous, overpriced, piece of mutton dressed up as lamb, tat F-type, sub £60k, 450 hp, 1,550 kg new M3, and $55k Chevrolet Stingray, hove ever closer into market view.

Nic Cackett has done us all a favour. He's both exposed the always true agenda of Autocar and similar British auto rags, trading deceivingly as serious journalisitic works, and the sheer desperation and panic going on inside JLR/Tata as their cash-cow Evoque starts to crash and burn after the initial marketing hyped sales success, and the F-type and new R/R and R/R Sport are exposed as massively under-engineered and massively overpriced cynical short-term products, with no real new product or technologies in the pipeline.

Tata must get JLR away now or be stuck with an imploding, cash-devouring 'asset', hence the need to have 'presstitutes' like Nic turn up the attempts at controlling the car buying public's mind in favour of JLR to 11, and hence blowing the speaker and the amp in the process.

You forgot to mention TV journalist and programme FIFTH GEAR, best team score for any car went to the RR Evoque and the saga continues In other words I feel your frustration

 

[Kilcrohane]

You forgot to mention TV journalist and programme FIFTH GEAR, best team score for any car went to the RR Evoque and the saga continues In other words I feel your frustration

- yeah, forgot about Fifth Gear. It's unwatchable lowbrow crap at the best of times, with Butler-Henderson's shrieking and overacting, but at least Tiff Needell gets time off for good behaviour for his truth-telling efforts elsewhere, in regards to his skewering of the 'perfect' McLaren MP4-12C, and his singlehanded exposé of the '911-killing' F-type 'sports car', as a heavy, old tech, off-the-pace barge at EVO.

It goes without saying, though, that Clarkson's money grubbing, when it comes to prostituting his Top Gear programme as an extended advertising vehicle to all comers, but especially Tata's JLR, makes the likes of Cackett, Cropley, Sutcliffe et al, look like rank amateurs. For that and his constant encouragement of mindless morons to attack cyclists means Clarkson is condemned to burn in hell for eternity, watching reruns of Dave.

 

[rollo]

-

The Americans are little if any better, with AOL's Autoblog.com probably the most obvious candidate for being totally in the pocket of Tata's advertising/'entertaining' budget, compounded with a general nasty antipathy to German product. The one possible exception in America, maintaining some journalistic integrity, is Edmund's Inside Line - perhaps
.

Nothing could be further from the truth Kilcrohane. The vast majority (if not all) of American publications hold German automobiles in very high esteem, right down to VW.

And BTW, your broad stereotypical swipes only diminish the validity of your perceptions.

 

[Kilcrohane]

Nothing could be further from the truth Kilcrohane. The vast majority (if not all) of American publications hold German automobiles in very high esteem, right down to VW.

- they have no choice but to pay grudging regard, as the Germans are de facto the world auto industry. At least 50% of all new significant product in the last 20 years or so has been from German makers or essentially German-rooted product, like Ford US's Fiesta, Focus, Fusion(Mondeo) and Escape(Kuga). Same goes for the world auto supply industry, dominated by German companies like Bosch, Siemens, ZF, Continental and so on.

Just because the US auto journalists have to acknowledge the Germans, due to their sheer dominance of the global auto industry, and more particularly its technological and high-end cutting edge, does not, in my view, mean that these journalists 'hold German autos in very high esteem', or even 'ze Germans' as they invariably call them, per se - quite the opposite - with a more typical ill-concealed envy mixed with denigration.

 

[rollo]

- they have no choice but to pay grudging regard, as the Germans are de facto the world auto industry. At least 50% of all new significant product in the last 20 years or so has been from German makers or essentially German-rooted product, like Ford US's Fiesta, Focus, Fusion(Mondeo) and Escape(Kuga). Same goes for the world auto supply industry, dominated by German companies like Bosch, Siemens, ZF, Continental and so on.

Just because the US auto journalists have to acknowledge the Germans, due to their sheer dominance of the global auto industry, and more particularly its technological and high-end cutting edge, does not, in my view, mean that these journalists 'hold German autos in very high esteem', or even 'ze Germans' as they invariably call them, per se - quite the opposite - with a more typical ill-concealed envy mixed with denigration.

You have just officially lost all credibility in my book, although something tells me you will not care that this American is not impressed by your arbitrary, baseless and ridiculous comments with racial overtones.

Your sense of reality is truly warped.

Good luck, my first use of the ignore feature will follow. Betty was right.

 

[Merc1]

I have to admit that all of this is fascinating reading though.

M

 

[rollo]

^
" "ze Germans" as they invariably call them"

Seriously M?

 

[Kilcrohane]

this American... ...racial overtones.

'American' is a race? Until only a few decades ago the vast majority of the 'American race' were white European ethnicity. Of that European-rooted majority those with German blood or 'Herkunft' were about one-third.

I have little argument with Americans as such, especially as so many of them have/had German and Irish heritage. I do however have a problem with 'American' auto journalism, and its partner in crime, 'British' auto journalism, as both are default-setting anti German, as typified by the likes of the racist Clarkson and 'writers' at Autoblog, like Zach Bowman for example, and unlike the Americans and Brits they purport to represent and inform tend to have a preponderance of shall we say 'dual nationals' amongst them, who tend to have an automatic bias against Germans.

PS for what it's worth, this anti-American racism thing you attribute to me, I must remember to tell that to my first cousin, the US Army Brigadier General (retd.) when I see him next, or perhaps I'll remember my late uncle, who spent most of his working life as a manager on the New York mass transit system, or my grandmother who spent several years in Phildaphelia before returning to Ireland, or my own mother who spent nearly ten years working in New York, serving the likes of Nelson Rockefeller and Eli Whitney Debevoise.

 

[Human]

I have to admit that all of this is fascinating reading though.

M

@rurella

Me also, does not mean one totally nor partially agree with everyting but I have my own beef with motoring journalism in general and that goes for the publishers in my own country. The sh!t they feed the public One must always keep in mind that we as a forum community on GCF is a drop in a ocean of people who actually know, try to know or are at least interested in automobiles. We are not the only forum community nor enthusiast at that, nevertheless in total those who are and do care stays the minority.

Let's face it, it's we that call the bluff. if you read a road test or review you instantly recognise the truth or the BS in that write-up/review/test instantly. He/She writing the article or video reviewing is either 'one of us' at heart, making an effort to relay the truth about the car he/she reviews/tests. Or it's in every other way, word, thought etc. bias or bribed BS.

Journalism - is the key word here, same thing as the or that certain political journalist you hate so very much.

 

[rollo]

^

I am saddened and surprised to read your post Human. Journalism about automobiles warrant these stereotypical and venomous tirades that brand and brush entire countries and ethnicities? Unless you are Irish or German American, than we are what?

Unless you have lived under a rock in the USA or are not well read regarding the majority of automotive publications here, German cars are held in the highest regard (it's indisputable). In fact, the editorial staffs of same usually are bombarded by those who suggest they are too biased (especially regarding BMW).

Read his posts with fascination or whatever other attribute they invoke for you personally. To me, his vulgarity and nonsensical whims have left me wanting to read them no more.

 

[Human]

^

I am saddened and surprised to read your post Human. Journalism about automobiles warrant these stereotypical and venomous tirades that brand and brush entire countries and ethnicities? Unless you are Irish or German American, than we are what?

Unless you have lived under a rock in the USA or are not well read regarding the majority of automotive publications here, German cars are held in the highest regard (it's indisputable). In fact, the editorial staffs of same usually are bombarded by those who suggest they are too biased (especially regarding BMW).

Read his posts with fascination or whatever other attribute they invoke for you personally. To me, his vulgarity and nonsensical whims have left me wanting to read them no more.

FYI. I am too 'old' at 37 and have been managing people too long to be personally impressed by anything the whole spectrum regarding people. For one I always tell the sales staff that I do not believe in motivational speakers, if you can't motivate yourself nobody else will and in our company/group salaries is 10-12% above industry standards + incentives that is motivation enough. That in short incorporates what I am trying to rely here. Everyone is opinionated and thinks him/herself to be the proverbial "motivational speaker" or the "I now it all/better than you" - lets call it human nature. What is real is nothing in life can be as far from reality as ever changing human behavior and human nature. And as i always say, the only one in life you have to convince is yourself.

We do not have a "Partially Agree" icon to click. And I do not always have the time to go into what I agree on or then not the each post. BUT the thing I try o to do (fail at it sometimes) is NOT to take posts/opinions seriously, for when I do mostly my 'clutch slip and then the gears also go haywire' The times I fail to 'keep it together" is the times I let of steam at you guys. For here, at work I cannot, ever loose my cool - deep breath, thinking it through and managing the problem and the best solution is mostly finding the midway...

On the forum the international standards of human behavior, thoughts, culture, nature, views, beliefs etc. etc. differs per second. That's why this Forum, threads and posts is HEAVILY moderated and managed. They can not slip up. As interesting and nice it is here it could be a potential ticking time bomb.

Managing, that is the balancing act of life

^How do you do it here? NEVER take it personally or too seriously. Hard sometimes but true.

 

[rollo]

FYI. I am too 'old' at 37 and have been managing people too long to be personally impressed by anything the whole spectrum regarding people. For one I always tell the sales staff that I do not believe in motivational speakers, if you can't motivate yourself nobody else will and in our company/group salaries is 10-12% above industry standards + incentives that is motivation enough. That in short incorporates what I am trying to rely here. Everyone is opinionated and thinks him/herself to be the proverbial "motivational speaker" or the "I now it all/better than you" - lets call it human nature. What is real is nothing in life can be as far from reality as ever changing human behavior and human nature. And as i always say, the only one in life you have to convince is yourself.

We do not have a "Partially Agree" icon to click. And I do not always have the time to go into what I agree on or then not the each post. BUT the thing I try o to do (fail at it sometimes) is NOT to take posts/opinions seriously, for when I do mostly my 'clutch slip and then the gears also go haywire' The times I fail to 'keep it together" is the times I let of steam at you guys. For here, at work I cannot, ever loose my cool - deep breath, thinking it through and managing the problem and the best solution is mostly finding the midway...

On the forum the international standards of human behavior, thoughts, culture, nature, views, beliefs etc. etc. differs per second. That's why this Forum, threads and posts is HEAVILY moderated and managed. They can not slip up. As interesting and nice it is here it could be a potential ticking time bomb.

Managing, that is the balancing act of life

^How do you do it here? NEVER take it personally or too seriously. Hard sometimes but true.

Well, thanks for the repsonse Human although I do not agree with your conclusion, nor your suggestion on how to handle slanderous, stereotypical comments that are a product of bigotry and whatever else drives warped perceptions when they appear on this forum.

In fact, I think you have it completely backwards. The langauge in question should always be challenged in my view.

Regarding your bio, you are actually still cutting teeth in this game of life, as I am 53 years old. I am also Executive Vice President of a private U.S. company (direct and indirect responsibility of 250+ employees). I could go on and on with my life experience but hopefully the aforementioned is enough of a snap-shot to add some additional texture to my comments.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I do however have a problem with 'American' auto journalism, and its partner in crime, 'British' auto journalism, as both are default-setting anti German, as typified by the likes of the racist Clarkson

So "Clarkson" is "typical" of the British motor press? The British press are by default "anti-German"? You're just making utter clap-trap up! EVO are accused of having a Porsche bias. The last time I looked Porsche was German. Autocar seem to have a BMW on the front of their magazines every other week.

Jeremy Clarkson is seen as a faded, out of touch xenophobe and a boorish, middle-aged, friend of David Cameron. He's not even a serious motor journalist! It's entertainment.

You are a bitter and twisted person that makes even me look like a ray of sunshine. Seriously, get some help for this bleak outlook you have on life before it gets too much for you.

 

[Kilcrohane]

^ blimey, and I thought people entrusted to safeguard hundreds of lives on aircraft were meant to be emotionally stable.

 

[gdm]

If so called "anti-german" is right,the german automobile journalism is "Anti-world",because almost all comparable tests done by german auto magazines ,the winners always are german brand cars, .

 

[Human]

Well, thanks for the repsonse Human although I do not agree with your conclusion, nor your suggestion on how to handle slanderous, stereotypical comments that are a product of bigotry and whatever else drives warped perceptions when they appear on this forum.

In fact, I think you have it completely backwards. The langauge in question should always be challenged in my view.

Regarding your bio, you are actually still cutting teeth in this game of life, as I am 53 years old. I am also Executive Vice President of a private U.S. company (direct and indirect responsibility of 250+ employees). I could go on and on with my life experience but hopefully the aforementioned is enough of a snap-shot to add some additional texture to my comments.

Respect, in there I read somethings usable and actually, maybe I just did not see the bigger picture in your argument in your previous posts. The core of it brought to mind many previous posts from other members archived in my mind. I had to read the 'paper trail' over again and to come into and actually take the time to see the bigger picture. Thanks