| Author | Message | ||
| Noelrp (Noelrp)
Member Username: Noelrp Post Number: 342 Registered: 8-2001 |
I own an '98 ML320. Bought it new and no major problems to date. I never experienced the gremlins that are common to 1st year production vehicles (lucky I guess) and I plan to keep it for many more years. I like it. It seats 7 adults comfortably, can go further off-road than X5 or Cayenne (not that I tried it), and off course the MB crash worthiness (who can argue with MB's safety reputation). Some may argue that the quality is below the competition but realize that it's a truck (or SUV to some). I bought it as a semi-luxi transporter and I never expected it to be a luxury vehicle. Would I recommend it to minivan buyers? YES! | ||
| Modified348ts (Modman)
Member Username: Modman Post Number: 766 Registered: 11-2001 |
I have an ML55 and unless you've owned and driven one properly you'll never know the true power and handling of this vehicle, I can drive this car like as if driving a high performance car and this car responds the way I love it and the only other 2 SUVs that can compare is the BMW and the Porsche. The Porsche is ugly and needs a turbo to keep up with the AMG and the BMW is slow on the throttle response although I do like the BMW looks better on the outside and inside. You have to remember you cannot compare an ML3 series or even the 500 series as the brakes, suspension, power is much different. One thing about the ML55 is that it's got plenty of torque and can take out most sports cars off the line weather 348 or my lambo, I would be glad to demonstrate the performance of the ML55. At first I had to get used to the handling due to the weight of the car but after learning the threshold of the vehicle I am truly confident with the power and handling of this car. Yes it drinks as much gas as my Lambo but hey it's a performance vehicle so it's no surprise to me, at least it's better than my former slow dawg 4-Runner 17mpg. I'd sacrifice mpg for power any day and it's well worth it for me. It's hard for me to ever own another car with no torque. Anyway getting back to the ML55, it's made in the U.S. and it's a 66k vehicle which in my opinion should have better built cosmetic components but all that went away since the performance made up for that. I also like the fact the ML55 is a sleeper and also be made much faster as there was one made to do 12's in a 1/4 mile. I like sleeper cars that can outperform most sports cars and drive smooth and quiet with no effort, yeah I'm getting older each day surrounded by kids and adults alike wanting to race me whenever I took the Ferrari or Lambo out and it's pathetic to see one rev their engines up, for what?, to move fast for a straight half block?, I try not to waste time with those type of drivers as they are only wasting their cars time and themselves too. Oh well, can't help what they've become, I just go on with my own way of life. Hope the ML55 part of my speech helps answers your questions Ross. | ||
| Adam (Fasttalk)
Member Username: Fasttalk Post Number: 301 Registered: 8-2002 |
Ross, what about a Lexus LX470? or a Toyota? Adam | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
Advanced Member Username: Countachxx Post Number: 3305 Registered: 2-2001 |
Ross how about a FIAT Multipla ?  | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1375 Registered: 3-2002 |
figured it out. the rs6 does not have the 7 seat option, although i bet if you begged them they would do it. but the regular and allroad a6 has the option for an extra �1000. am checking the used market now..... ps, does anybody rate the cadillac srx? | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1373 Registered: 3-2002 |
well i just went to their website where you can configure and price your car, and there is no option for the extra 2 seats in back. so whats the story there? | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1372 Registered: 3-2002 |
the audi s6 comes with jump seats in the back ??? never seen that before. is it stock or some kind of aftermkt possibility? | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 983 Registered: 2-2003 |
Go with the S6 Avant, it can be modified (meaning, become really quick) and still be usable for everything your talking about until you need room for 7 adults. Then, its 'burban time. Sunny | ||
| Chris Tanner (Ctanner)
Junior Member Username: Ctanner Post Number: 68 Registered: 5-2001 |
You want 7 seats, you want 4 wheel drive, you want a powerful engine, you want the Audi S6 Avant. Works great if two of your passengers are kids. The back has a third row seating for kids, definitely not adults. I love my audi wagon and my X5. Never looked at the ML. | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 926 Registered: 3-2003 |
It's weird. Makes the turn with a very high perspective, just like the giraffe. Unsettling, but it works. At least, that's what I think he means! I love the phrases/imagery he and Jeremy Clarkson use. | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1371 Registered: 3-2002 |
can u define that for me? is it bad or good? | ||
| Rijk Rietveld (Rijk365gtb4)
Member Username: Rijk365gtb4 Post Number: 303 Registered: 1-2002 |
According to Tiff Needell (sp), the xc90 corners like a giraffe Rijk | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1369 Registered: 3-2002 |
yes, thanks for all the views. my problem is i need 7 seats, but don't want something huge because i live in central london. i want 4 wheel drive because i will often be taking it skiing. i thought about the e class wagon with 4matic, but there are not too many of those around on the used market and i never buy new. and i like the idea of a powerful one so that on-highway i don't feel like i'm lugging the whole house with me. so given those criteria, the x5 (everybody concurs is better) is out, so is the porsche, landrover, and touareg. the only other suv that meets these points is the xc90 volvo. my problem there is i just can't see myself driving a volvo, regardless of performance. so from what it sounds like, i can either get an ml55 and live with the issues, or i can continue to search for an e430 4matic. | ||
| Dan (Bobafett)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobafett Post Number: 1524 Registered: 9-2002 |
There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. --Dan | ||
| Kds (Kds)
Member Username: Kds Post Number: 288 Registered: 5-2003 |
Dan.... As a former Benz salesman for 7 years...I too would happily take an X5 over an ML or any other SUV any time. | ||
| Andrew S. (Andrew911)
Junior Member Username: Andrew911 Post Number: 52 Registered: 9-2003 |
If you want an ML, buy it slightly used. The resale is very bad relatively speaking. | ||
| Evan Jones (Jonesn)
Junior Member Username: Jonesn Post Number: 136 Registered: 8-2002 |
I've never liked the ML class. The fact that it's built in the middle-of-nowhere Alabama (forget the town name), well, that doesn't help much. It always seemed to be the Benz for those who really needed to say they owned a Mercedes. | ||
| Dan (Bobafett)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobafett Post Number: 1522 Registered: 9-2002 |
Drives like a bad truck, looks are subjective (err, no thanks), not exactly a confidence-inspiring vehicle at speed (with the 55 in mind), and QA has gone down the drain. Better to look elsewhere. No experience with the Porsche Pepper, but the X5 people seem to love. --Dan | ||
| TC (Houston) (Tec)
Member Username: Tec Post Number: 280 Registered: 2-2002 |
I've got a 2003 ML350 Inspiration Edition and it has been great. I find build quality to be quite good. Supposedly they've improved the ML a lot over the years. | ||
| Chris Horner (Cmhorner17)
Member Username: Cmhorner17 Post Number: 327 Registered: 4-2002 |
I've always liked Mercedes V8 cars, especially the E class and CLK class. Never owned the SUV, but drove a ML430 and I thought it was one of the worst SUV's I've ever driven. Quality was subpar, hated the ride, and couldn't see much justification for the price outside of the 3 pointed star. | ||
| DL (Darth550)
Member Username: Darth550 Post Number: 451 Registered: 7-2003 |
I had an ML 430 for 2 years and had to get rid of it. At first, it was fine but little cosmetic things such as: center console bubbles, door trim tape on the outside, glove box etc. started occuring. Then the transmission went out. I had it replaced. The second transmission (or the linkage) caused it to shift to reverse from park! I have a 2 1/2 year old who runs around ALOT and that is unacceptable! I replaced it with an Aviator and am much happier with it. Faster, more comfortable, better handling, etc. ML55's are not much faster than the new ML500 AND you are giving up 1/3 of your rear cargo space with the spare. Too many other options are available now, as well. DL | ||
| Kds (Kds)
Member Username: Kds Post Number: 286 Registered: 5-2003 |
The ML55 is great and from the experience of my clientele very durable. We have a few high milers up here who drive quite a bit......no real problems. Gas guzzler though....real bad in fact if you'd hear the customers statements. | ||
| Tyler (Bahiaau)
Intermediate Member Username: Bahiaau Post Number: 1087 Registered: 12-2001 |
Ross, I do not own one, but have a good friend who has a 2001 ML55. He loves it and has put over 40,000 trouble free miles on it. He had a ML430 before the 55 and said there is a difference in quality. His 430 was in the shop quite often. Might also ask at www.mercedesshop.com | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1367 Registered: 3-2002 |
anybody have one of these? anybody specifically own an ml55? |