New Mercedes-Benz GL-Class officially unveiled

[Centurion]

LOL i dont wanna be rude but that guy looks funny.. hahahaha.. i cant stop laughing.. maybe its the crack actin up again...

I guess you aren't the only one on crack. He doesn't look too happy to be amongs the first people to sit in the new G-ride

 

[LaArtist]

LOL.. well i dont see a problem here with the last seats.. they are okay.. they are not made for adults.. or do we really want that.. in that case we need like a 6.5 meter long suv.. and this is allready to big for most markets..

 

[Merc1]

I for one particularly can't stand this half-wood steering wheel and there is a noticeable gap between the buttons and the wheel's hub. These things scream cheap outsourcing. Why can't the R/M/GL have the steering wheel from the S-Class? The S-Class' steering wheel is much, much better looking and it has wood on both the top and bottom and even the bottom spokes. This American-supplied wheels is just cheap and only has wood on top to make it easy/cheap to produce. Why oh why couldn't all three of these Bama-made vehicles have a variation of the interior from the Vision GST Concept from 2002?

M

 

[SDNR]

I for one particularly can't stand this half-wood steering wheel and there is a noticeable gap between the buttons and the wheel's hub. These things scream cheap outsourcing. Why can't the R/M/GL have the steering wheel from the S-Class? The S-Class' steering wheel is much, much better looking and it has wood on both the top and bottom and even the bottom spokes. This American-supplied wheels is just cheap and only has wood on top to make it easy/cheap to produce. Why oh why couldn't all three of these Bama-made vehicles have a variation of the interior from the Vision GST Concept from 2002?

M

I see what you are saying Marcus, I don't want to be too critical of this vehicle, Mercedes have had a tough time - I've been hard enough on them lately. If the outsourced parts are not up to scratch then I blame the top management in Germany for not being more demanding, it would be unfair to immediately attack the US side of the company for any quality issues.

 

[wltsm]

When I first saw the GL, it thought, are MB turning American, it looks like it was designed for that market, and I dought it will sell that well anywhere else because it is so big! It is also very ugily! I wonder if there will be a 63 amg version!

 

[PHYBENZ]

I for one particularly can't stand this half-wood steering wheel and there is a noticeable gap between the buttons and the wheel's hub. These things scream cheap outsourcing. Why can't the R/M/GL have the steering wheel from the S-Class? The S-Class' steering wheel is much, much better looking and it has wood on both the top and bottom and even the bottom spokes. This American-supplied wheels is just cheap and only has wood on top to make it easy/cheap to produce. Why oh why couldn't all three of these Bama-made vehicles have a variation of the interior from the Vision GST Concept from 2002?

M

The B and the A share the same steering wheel, so I am not sure if it is so much Amercian outsourced stuff, or justt the design of the steering wheel for MB multifunctional vehicles. It might be a little bit of both cost cutting and design, but I happen to like the steering wheel and think that wood on the bottom part would actually make the wheel too busy because it would class with the silver accents.

 

[Merc1]

I don't know it just looks so cheap and reeks of obvious cost cutting. I mean really how much money would it have costs to put a better wheel on a vehicle as expensive as the R/M/GL triplets? IMO they should have the same wheel as or one of equal quality to the S-Class.

M

 

[Merc1]

When I first saw the GL, it thought, are MB turning American, it looks like it was designed for that market, and I dought it will sell that well anywhere else because it is so big! It is also very ugily! I wonder if there will be a 63 amg version!

You know there will be a GL63 sooner or later. Such an engine does not blong in any of these Bama made trucks, but hey Mercedes is determined to pimp AMG for all its worth. I must confess though there is something I like about the R63 though.

M

 

[Merc1]

I see what you are saying Marcus, I don't want to be too critical of this vehicle, Mercedes have had a tough time - I've been hard enough on them lately. If the outsourced parts are not up to scratch then I blame the top management in Germany for not being more demanding, it would be unfair to immediately attack the US side of the company for any quality issues.

You know what I think it really is. I got a chance to really look over the R-Class again a few days ago and Mercedes is outsourcing a lot of things from the same suppliers to supply GM it seems. This means the metal looking exterior accents and skid plates on the M/R and new GL are just plastic. I can't stand that. I swear the leather on the R-Class has the same smell and feel of that in some American cars. That steering wheels I hate also feels cheap in the hands too. Mercedes is clearly trying to save a buck and/or doesn't have the confidence in the American factory to be able to assemble some of the more complicated trim pieces that are present on German-built Mercedes-Benzes. I guess it isn't feasible to just have all the German suppliers come over here and set up shop and then train our workers how to put together a real Benz. Scathing criticism I know..

You know the wierd thing about these three vehicles is that I seem to like the R-Class more than ML and I think I'm liking the GL more than the M too. Do I at some subconcious level resent the M because it was the Mercedes that ruined Mercedes reputation for quality in this country? Or because it is built here and suffers the same iffy build of the average American car? I might need professional help.

M

 

[SDNR]

Look at it this way Marcus, it could be a lot worse - they could be made in France - now that's a frightening thought isn't it.

 

[tennmb]

I swear the leather on the R-Class has the same smell and feel of that in some American cars. That steering wheels I hate also feels cheap in the hands too. Mercedes is clearly trying to save a buck and/or doesn't have the confidence in the American factory to be able to assemble some of the more complicated trim pieces that are present on German-built Mercedes-Benzes.

I couldnt' disagree more. I actually feel the materials in the R and the M exceed those in the E and the C. The R is particularly nice inside. The reason the leather feels different is because much of it is not leather. The C, E, ML, R do not come standard with a full leather. I personally like the more durable MBtext.

 

[Yaz]

.... I swear the leather on the R-Class has the same smell and feel of that in some American cars. That steering wheels I hate also feels cheap in the hands too....

M

Yea, I’d have to disagree with you on that too Marcus.
We had a 2002 Ford Explorer before we got the ML350 (we’ve always bought American cars, especially Ford, until my dad surprised me with the ML) and I’ll tell you it’s a totally a different interior. My roommate’s father has an ’02 Explorer as well and I drive it occasionally. The steering wheel feels different in both cars, the ML’s has much better look and feel even though it’s a W163. The seats are a lot more comfy on the ML, the Explorer’s are very cheap and they’re not even leather. The interior and the materials used in it are also different, very different, they definitely come from a different supplier. The ML’s interior is warm and welcoming compared to the Ford’s cheap interior with ugly plastic all over the place.

Overall, if the old ML makes me that comfortable compared to the Explorer, the new ML (R and GL as well) should be super comfortable compared to the older model.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Explorer and most American cars.
Matter fact, I think it’s a better performer than the W163. Ford nailed it with the Explorer’s performance this time and I hope they kept it up with the new ’06 Explorer’s. I’ve seen a couple of them on the road and they look pretty much like the previous generation, but the interior looks a lot better and different.

W163 ML350


Ford Explorer


2006 Explorer

 

[Merc1]

I couldnt' disagree more. I actually feel the materials in the R and the M exceed those in the E and the C. The R is particularly nice inside. The reason the leather feels different is because much of it is not leather. The C, E, ML, R do not come standard with a full leather. I personally like the more durable MBtext.

Well then we disagree because the Bama-built Benzes aren't as good as the German built ones that for sure. I know that the lower line models don't come with full leather, but the C-Class and its leather inserts looks, feels, smells better than the M or R with their "leather inserts" to my nose and hands. The R/M/GL steering wheel has visible gaps between those hard plastic buttons. For the price of the M and especially the R they should a steering wheel like the E or CLS class cars. No way the R is built better than the E. Not only does the build of these Benzes differ but the interior design is just plain looking and you can easily tell it was designed for ease of assembly. I guess MB doesn't think the American factory can put together an interior like the CLS or SLK. What happened to the gorgeous interior from the concept Vision GST is the queston.

M

 

[Merc1]

Yea, I’d have to disagree with you on that too Marcus.
We had a 2002 Ford Explorer before we got the ML350 (we’ve always bought American cars, especially Ford, until my dad surprised me with the ML) and I’ll tell you it’s a totally a different interior. My roommate’s father has an ’02 Explorer as well and I drive it occasionally. The steering wheel feels different in both cars, the ML’s has much better look and feel even though it’s a W163. The seats are a lot more comfy on the ML, the Explorer’s are very cheap and they’re not even leather. The interior and the materials used in it are also different, very different, they definitely come from a different supplier. The ML’s interior is warm and welcoming compared to the Ford’s cheap interior with ugly plastic all over the place.

Overall, if the old ML makes me that comfortable compared to the Explorer, the new ML (R and GL as well) should be super comfortable compared to the older model.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Explorer and most American cars.
Matter fact, I think it’s a better performer than the W163. Ford nailed it with the Explorer’s performance this time and I hope they kept it up with the new ’06 Explorer’s. I’ve seen a couple of them on the road and they look pretty much like the previous generation, but the interior looks a lot better and different.

W163 ML350


Ford Explorer


2006 Explorer

Well the Explorer is just one American vehicle. Yeah it does have a much better interior than last years' model. As far as the MB's see my previous post. The R/M and likely GL since it uses the same interior aren't up to Benz' car standards. Even the front/rear ends on these things are nothing but plastic...skid plates included. The reek of American car assembly.

M

 

[tennmb]

I've worked for MB for 7.5 years and again I couldn't disagree more. The skidplates are a cosmetic thing and not meant for actual offroad performance.

I am very impressed with the material quality in the ML and R. The ML and R are the quietest MBs on the road and yes I think they are better quality than the E.

 

[Vivaki]

Good to see you here and posting TennMB

 

[Deutsch]

I've worked for MB for 7.5 years and again I couldn't disagree more. The skidplates are a cosmetic thing and not meant for actual offroad performance.

I am very impressed with the material quality in the ML and R. The ML and R are the quietest MBs on the road and yes I think they are better quality than the E.

I agree, the car couldn't feel more German.

 

[Merc1]

I've worked for MB for 7.5 years and again I couldn't disagree more. The skidplates are a cosmetic thing and not meant for actual offroad performance.

I am very impressed with the material quality in the ML and R. The ML and R are the quietest MBs on the road and yes I think they are better quality than the E.

Good to see you here, but I have to disagree with that. The ML and R are nice, but they aren't up to their pricetags when it comes to material quality. The SLK, CLS and new S have proper Mercedes interiors in the classic tradition. The R's half-wood steering wheels stands out compared to the rest of the MB lineup. This wasn't done for asthetics, it was done for cost reasons.

I know the skidplates are made for off-road use, but IMO why have them at all. I'd rather they'd be metal, or not have them since they're fake. The whole front and rear ends assembly on the ML/R are just hunks of plasitc compared to Benz's cars and this was done for ease of assembly.

No way the ML and R are quieter than the S-Class. I'm really curious to know in what way you think the M/R are better "quality" than the E-Class?

M

 

[SDNR]

I agree, the car couldn't feel more German.

Well considerring it was designed and built in America, I find that to be a very strange comment.

 

[Deutsch]

Well considerring it was designed and built in America, I find that to be a very strange comment.

Since when was it designed here????? I'd really like to know??? It's amazing how backwards you guys have it, the parts are all made in Germany, then shipped here for assembly. That's all, this is thorugh and through a German car. Period. If you're gonna label the GL, ML, & R "American", you might as well do the same w/ the X5 & Z4. If you guys can't get past the fact that these cars are assembled here in the states, I'm afirad it's going to be a very hard road for you in the future.. as costs of production rise in such places as Germany, companies are forced to build their cars elsewhere where the labor is cheaper, just another form of cost cutting that none of us can do a thing about. In all honesty this is like nit picking over a very irrelevant and trivial matter. I'm more concerned w/ how the car drives.