"macanamera" (macanamera)
11/13/2014 at 14:25 • Filed to: None
9
33|
"macanamera" (macanamera)
11/13/2014 at 14:25 • Filed to: None | 9
| 33 |
My car was in the shop for a few days (accelerator pedal sensor malfunction, needed a replacement), and by fortunate happenstance, I was given the opportunity to drive either a 2015 C-Class or a brand new 2015 diesel GL for a few days. Although big SUVs are really not my cup of tea (I actively dislike them), something about a diesel Mercedes appealed to my inner Jalop, and so I left the dealership in this big, black SUV with less than 1000 miles on the odometer.
(Full Disclosure : One time in middle school I knocked an entire shelf of dictionaries down. I blamed it on this other kid that had to pick them all up, even though he didn't do it. Sorry, man.)
(Also, Mercedes asked me not to put any fuel in the car before returning it. They were afraid I would fill it with gasoline. Come on, Mercedes. Everyone knows diesels only take 87.)
ExteriorTronic:
To be perfectly honest, I don't love the way this car looks. Mercedes' design language of late is not really to my liking, but the design still works. It's fluid and non-offensive, and there is nice attention to detail on certain bits, like the delicate texturing on the headlamp lenses, the amber LED accents on the lights, the aluminum running boards with little rubberized inserts. This particular GL also wore 20-inch rims, which actually look a little small on it. It's a big car. At least it didn't say 4MATIC on the back, which in my opinion is quite stupid sounding for an AWD system (second only to SH-AWD)(why would Acura write SHAWD on the back of their cars? Who thought that was a good idea? Call me, Acura.)
InteriorMatic:
The interior is nice place to be, and pretty cavernous. You really can seat seven in this car, and you can seat six in absolute comfort. There are some great things about this interior, and some not-so-great things. Let's start with great. The steering wheel is genuine leather, soft and supple, with this cross stitching that feels excellent to grip:
This car doesn't have too many interior options, but there are some interesting highlights, for example, heated and cooled cupholders:
The seats are very comfortable and widely adjustable. I'm 5'8" and my friend is 6'6", and we were both able to find very comfortable driving positions. The seats are nicely bolstered without being excessive, but the MB-Tex just doesn't feel like leather to me. I know it lasts longer and it's easier to clean, but I feel that a $75,000 car should have genuine leather seats. Also, the MB-Tex doesn't smell like leather, which is a shame, because Mercedes leather has always had this distinct scent that I love. I'd also like to add that the 2nd row seats also recline, which should be standard in SUVs like this (I'm looking at you, Range Rover).
AccelerationMatic:
It's a V6 diesel SUV that weighs something like 5600 pounds. At 240 horsepower and 455 lb/ft, it's got a good bit of grunt, but it's obviously not fast. In any case, I was easy on the gas, because this car is most enjoyable on the highway at 1400 rpm in seventh gear, surfing the torque wave and getting 35 mpg highway (!). That's not bad in a big, heavy SUV. That's not bad at all.
RideTronic:
The ride is excellent! Granted, my daily driver rides on 5-spoke 285's wrapped in what are basically black rubber bands that say "Continental" on them, so in comparison I consider everything smooth, but the GL truly does ride well. Potholes and road imperfections are hardly noticeable, and it doesn't bounce and jiggle over speed bumps like some big SUVs and pickups do. This thing is just big, smooth, and tracks straight as an arrow. It feels superbly solid and stable on the road. The big rims (20") don't really reduce ride quality, probably because there is still plenty of tire around them. Also, for 20's, the rims are nicely understated and don't make me feel like I'm shooting a music video (I'm looking at you, Escalade).
HandlingMatic:
It's a tall, long, 5600 pound Mercedes SUV. It handles like that. It isn't an SUV that thinks it's something else (I'm looking at you, X5/Cayenne). It knows it's an SUV, and acts like one.
ToysMatic:
This car didn't have too many options, so there aren't too many toys to talk about. Unless you consider empty buttons as options, in that case it has lots!
The third row seat has a pretty trick electronic access system, where you push a button on top of the second-row seat, and it folds down and up and out of the way, so that you can basically just walk into the third row unobstructed. You can change the color of the interior LED ambient lighting from Solar (orange) to Neutral (light orange?) to Polar (blue). I think I liked Polar most. The navigation system is basically the same as in every other Mercedes, except for the new S-Class and C-Class. It's kind of outdated, and compared to Audi's navigation systems, seems to be behind the tech curve.
AudioTronic:
This particular car did not have the upgraded stereo, which for me would be a must in a car made to cruise long distances on the highway in comfort. I find the base Mercedes system to be a little flat, and it doesn't pack much bass. If I were to option this car, the upgraded Harmon Kardon or Bang & Olufsen or whatever would be a must. As for the engine, it is the quietest diesel I've ever driven. A person unfamiliar with diesels would probably not be able to tell it isn't a gas engine.
ValueTronic:
I mentioned before that this was a $75,000 SUV, which is clearly not cheap. It's also kind of interesting that when you are in it, it seems to be very sparsely optioned, although the base price is 63k and it has 12k worth of options. However, consider that at $75,000, this thing is a full $2,000 cheaper than a base model 2015 Escalade (!!!). In that context, I guess you could call it a good value. I think I would rather have this than a new Escalade, if only because of that sweet diesel engine. Diesels are awesome. Did I mention I was averaging 34.3 MPG in highway cruising?
ConclusionMaticPlus:
This is actually a really good car. The problem with this particular car is that it is so oddly optioned. What do I mean? Allow me to explain.
1. It's a $75,000 Mercedes-Benz with 20 inch rims and aluminum running boards and LED headlights and dual panoramic sunroof and navigation and cooled/heated cup holders. It has fake leather seats.
2. This SUV is 17 feet long and just under 6 feet wide. It has Active Lane Keeping AssistMatic. It has Active Blind Spot AssistTronic. It has a radar thingy that beeps if you get too close to the person in front of you. It does not have parking sensors.
3. It has options like "Rear Seat Entertainment System Pre-Wiring- $170". It does not have Rear Seat Entertainment.
All that aside, this car is excellent to drive. Which brings me to the conclusion that if it were optioned properly, it would be a great car.
Brian Silvestro
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 14:30 |
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I'm not even gonna read the review, the gem is right here
(Full Disclosure : One time in middle school I knocked an entire shelf of dictionaries down. I blamed it on this other kid that had to pick them all up, even though he didn't do it. Sorry, man.)
Also, how did you know the pedal sensor was bad, did it just not work?
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macanamera
> Brian Silvestro
11/13/2014 at 14:33 |
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I didn't have a clue what was happening, I was just driving along and suddenly it was like PRESAFE DISABLED SAFETY DISABLED SAFEMATICTRONIC DISABLED ACTIVE LANE KEEPING ASSIST DISABLED PARKING ASSIST DISABLED DISTRONIC PLUS DISABLED TRACTION DISABLED
So I was like, Warranty City, here I come. Turned out it was a pedal sensor, they swapped it out, and everything is just peachy.
...And I do feel bad about those dictionaries.
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Brian Silvestro
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 14:34 |
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[disabled intensifies]
How does a pedal sensor even do all of those things?? Mercedes is weird.
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macanamera
> Brian Silvestro
11/13/2014 at 14:37 |
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Yeah. 61 computers in that car.
Sixty. One.
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Brian Silvestro
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 14:40 |
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At what point in the production cycle does someone at Mercedes say "what the fuck this is absurd"
V8 Rustler
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 14:41 |
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DAT PLASTIC
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macanamera
> Brian Silvestro
11/13/2014 at 14:45 |
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The company that makes the 740 lb/ft S65? Absurd is not in their vocabulary.
Slave2anMG
> Brian Silvestro
11/13/2014 at 14:46 |
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I don't reckon they've gotten there yet....
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Brian Silvestro
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 14:46 |
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I cannot express how badly I want an S65 Coupe.
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macanamera
> Brian Silvestro
11/13/2014 at 14:55 |
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Is that out yet? I thought it was just 63 coupe for now. My dealer has a lovely matte silver first edition or whatever S63 coupe stickered at 198,000. It had the largest front rotors of any car I've ever seen. Ever.
Jcarr
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 14:59 |
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...where you push a button on top of the second-row seat, and it folds down and up and out of the way,...
I understand what you were describing, but it still made me think of this:
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Brian Silvestro
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 15:00 |
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Have you seen the SL65 rotors?? Monster rotors.
I think they announced it, didn't they? I'm unsure.
If it does happen, you must acquire.
You should also get a 997 GT3.
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macanamera
> Brian Silvestro
11/13/2014 at 15:07 |
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GT3s are too jarring for all my commuting. Carrera S please, CPO warranty through 100k. That's all I want.
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Brian Silvestro
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 15:08 |
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Imma join the search for you. I consider myself oppo's Elite 4 correspondent.
AlmostJalop
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 15:12 |
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my parents are still debating between CPO GL or new Q7. I'm liking the GL based on the roomy third row, which is where I'll be spending most of my time besides the drivers seat.
Yeah I think it's just stupid that leather isn't standard.. At least MB-tex is one of the better leatherettes (i'm looking at you BMW).
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macanamera
> Brian Silvestro
11/13/2014 at 15:12 |
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Elite 3 correspondent ***
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Brian Silvestro
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 15:14 |
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Yeah, I really don't talk to BTU much.
How 'bout this one?
http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/…
TELEPHONE FUNCTION NOT AVAILABLE
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macanamera
> AlmostJalop
11/13/2014 at 15:15 |
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I have no experience with the Q7 at all, so idk. They are just too crossovery for me.
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AlmostJalop
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 15:21 |
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I know what you mean, but my mom likes the looks and size. It's also much easier to find with the TDI engine. It's not as easy to find a bluetec GL in the DC area, but my dad is thinking about going 450/550 anyways.
Did you feel like it was too big? My dads original choice was an escalade ESV, but after an extended test drive my mom refused due to how big it was.
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macanamera
> Brian Silvestro
11/13/2014 at 16:03 |
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That's super nice. Only thing that could be better is color. And it could have sport chrono and upgraded audio.
I can't dig that color.
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Brian Silvestro
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 16:13 |
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boom perfect:
http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/…
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macanamera
> Brian Silvestro
11/13/2014 at 16:18 |
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boner alert
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Brian Silvestro
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 16:19 |
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dat color doe
Steve in Manhattan
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 16:25 |
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There is no excuse for the Escalade. There, I said it. Buy a Tahoe, buy a Suburban, buy one of these, buy anything else. Except a Navigator. Another horrible vehicle.
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macanamera
> Brian Silvestro
11/13/2014 at 16:35 |
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It's fantastic
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Brian Silvestro
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 16:35 |
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yuo shud buy
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macanamera
> Brian Silvestro
11/13/2014 at 16:36 |
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Someday Brian
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Brian Silvestro
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 16:44 |
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macanamera
> Brian Silvestro
11/13/2014 at 16:45 |
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russellcrowelookingthroughwindow.gif
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Brian Silvestro
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 16:47 |
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you should get AMG GT
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macanamera
> Brian Silvestro
11/13/2014 at 16:52 |
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Never. it's awesome but I'll never go not manual again.
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Brian Silvestro
> macanamera
11/13/2014 at 16:52 |
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Yeah, you fucked up. Get a Miata.
blackjack666
> macanamera
11/17/2014 at 04:22 |
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Much appreciated write up! This new generation of GL Bluetecs is the car I most lust after ever. I also love the looks.
I don't mind the fact that it has fake leather, but rather that you can't get ventilated seats without optioning for the real leather. As for the blind spot stuff, totally unnecessary in my opinion, would rather option for the Parktronic package.
Oh, and awesome titles for the paragraphs!