MERCEDES-BENZ GL-CLASS 4X4 READER REVIEWS

My car

We've had our GL320 since April 2009.

Mecahnically it been fine, and my wife loves the car to pieces.

Must admit I've never been a real fan of the 4x4 but my wife talked me into it.

Main complaint would be the cost of ownership. It's top level road tax, large fuel bills (£140 to fill the tank) and limited tyre choice (Mitchelin / Dunlop £275 each).

Servicing has been fairly reasonable via the fixed price scheme (about £325-400). I'm also not looking forward the cost of new discs and pads.

As a family car its great, seven seats is just enough for 2 kids, great grandparents and the dog in the back.

Reviews seem to make a big deal of the size and to be honest we've never found it to be an issue apart from super-market car parks, which only seem to cater for cars the size of a rollerskate.

Seems to turn in about 25mpg on average but I've manage to get 34mpg on a clear run between Staffordshire & Sussex.

The car does not really excite me like my previous S-Class, CLK and XJ's. However its a different kind of car which works for us as a family, would I buy another one? Probably not, unless they get the CO2 down and improve the mpg.

Local dealer has been great, but thats to be expected when you spend GL kind of money. Will make a decision about whats to do next when it hits 3 years, must admin I do fancy a CLS in the new 4-cylinder blue efficency diesel, but don't tell the wife.

My car

Having leased this car for three years I clearly had the Friday afternoon lemon! Mechanically it never had a proble (quite frankly its only saving grace)! The component quality was very poor, Mercedes should not borrow Chrysler tech, I'm buying a Merc not Voyager. The car was back in the garage at least once a month for a year, and beyond. The boot wouldn't work, the radio wouldn't work, nor the DVD. Rear window replaced. Sunroof kept opening itself, twice. Great when you park up and it rains . Guys on servicing great. But constant problems to repair....... Never again. De=fleet people have now stung me for £800 bill, car is great idea for those with four kids but Merc are building on the cheap. Mercedes love to sell them but really need to address the quality for that much money.(30 pages of servicing and repairs tells me that)

My car

Having had the vehicle since December 06 I found it to be well built with a strong on road feel. I have taken it off-road up ruts and all sorts with standard road tyres. MPG around cheltenham I get 22-24 MPG. On the motorway a speed of 75MPH I get 30.1 MPG with two Adults and three dogs weighing 110KG total. At between 30-60MPH have recorded 36.4 MPG, amassing when you start the engine and MPG starts dropping from 29.9 MPG.

We recently had a detachable tow-bar fitted, 126 mile journey consisting of 4 adults, 1 child, 3 dogs and a trailer full loaded (2 ton) on the back. We got 27.1 MPG one way & 27.3 the other (at 60MPH).

You can have snow chains fitted if the vehicle has the standard wheels on. One difference between the standard wheels and bigger ones is 4 grams of CO2 less.

An emergency stop at 50 mph bl**dy good, same as my 05 BMW 320ci coupe. Had a motorcyclist hit the front drivers side. just a scratch in the wheel.

We have no plans to change the car till its 5 years old. What else can I say.

My car

Second review of this vehicle and all I can say is try everything else then go drive a Merc GL.

You'll find it difficult to arrange a test drive, but it's worth persisting.

Don't let the base price put you off. Look at the standard spec of the GL and most of what you want will be on the standard car, even the 320 CDi entry model that I've got has the main options tick list items.

You get Sat Nav, premium Hi-Fi with iPod con, cruise control, speed limiter, rain sensing wipers, electric seats... all the usual stuff on the standard car with a load of other stuff most people won't notice.

The mpg of over 25mpg reported on this blog are all true in my experience.

Go drive a Toyota Landcruiser (one of the best off road vehicles in the luxury class) along a country lane, check there are no other cars about and jam the brakes on whilst going round a bend. You'll end up in the ditch. You will find the same experience for most of the serious off roaders.

The GL has all the off road ability and yet manages to retain the highest level of safety features and ability. Do the same test as in the landcruiser and you will find the seat belts tighten up instantly fixing you firmly in the chair sharpening your instincts further, maximum braking is applied to the foot pedal automatically and then you feel computers taking over braking individual wheels to get the car to go where you want to go ie. round the corner.

It has to be experienced to be believed.