I purchased a used minivan.

"victor" (victor) 02/09/2018 at 18:03 • Filed to: None

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First time I purchased a CPO used car. Other times have either been family hand-me-downs or new cars. Bought it used because it’s going to perform Home depot mulch runs, road trip and child duty knowing the interior is going to get wrecked. 2.5 years old, 7500 miles, basically unused.. Also, it cost about the same as a upper spec sienna or Honda pilot new. MB was also throwing in free maintenance for a few years and an extended unlimited mileage warranty for like 4 more years.

Hrm....maybe I should’ve put some thought into the interior color with kids...

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Seattle folks, get ready to visit this at MB Bellevue for all the unscheduled service visits!

WilliamsSW > victor 02/09/2018 at 18:15

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Nice!! Thats Designo leather, too, right? That’s pretty hard to find on any ML/GL or E-class around here.

M-B seems to have a very good CPO program.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > victor 02/09/2018 at 18:17

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Love the interior, but yeah, the kids may wreak havoc...still, an awesome family hauler!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > victor 02/09/2018 at 18:18

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Gonna put kids on that white leather?

victor > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 02/09/2018 at 18:19

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Can’t be worse than bags of mulch, right?

victor > WilliamsSW 02/09/2018 at 18:21

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Driver assistance package with distronic (Auto Cruise), Pre-safe, and Intelligent lane keep and blind spot was the must have.

This particular example also has “Active curve system” which includes hydraulic dampers and hydraulic body control. Missing the lighting package, but I think there are people working on getting them working. I saved like 40-50k off of the new car, so I figure I can live without a few things, and I can live with a white interior.

victor > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 02/09/2018 at 18:22

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Yeah, we passed on a 2016 or 2017 LC with 5k miles because ultimately, this thing holds people better.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > victor 02/09/2018 at 18:22

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Wait, that’s a minivan? Are you sure? I thought the GLS was considered a 3-row SUV.

WilliamsSW > victor 02/09/2018 at 18:24

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Very nice! If the kids are in car seats, you can put a mat underneath the car seat if you’re worried about it. That, or keep up with the cleaning.

Enjoy!

victor > victor 02/09/2018 at 18:26

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This is what seats look like when no ass have ever touched them

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > victor 02/09/2018 at 18:30

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Nice Panzerwagen!

and 100 more > winterlegacy, here 'till the end 02/09/2018 at 18:31

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Aren’t all 3-row SUVs basically minivans?

victor > winterlegacy, here 'till the end 02/09/2018 at 18:32

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Yeah, but it’s basically a minivan. The GL/GLS is still unibody, and its gas mileage is pretty good for the size and weight.

We originally wanted a Sienna AWD, but then saw this crash test.

Which is just a sign that the Sienna is a bit too old and needs a refresh with a stronger structure.

So, then we looked at the Atlas (too slow), the Armada (too thirsty) and Land Cruiser (amazingly cramped). We ended up with this car because it has the best head and legroom, as well as 3rd row feel of any car we tested. No fucking way were we going to spend 90k new, so we just waited and waited until the right one showed up. This doesn’t have everything we want, but it’s good enough for Costco/Home Depot runs, road trips, and Ski trips with the kids.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > and 100 more 02/09/2018 at 18:35

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No, they’re just SUVs with even less cargo space despite having a longer wheelbase.

Most of the 3-row SUVs I’ve been in have uncomfortable second rows and afterthoughts for the third row. Then again they were all Chevy...

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > victor 02/09/2018 at 18:37

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I see. I suppose the Odyssey was out of the picture due to a lack of AWD.

Kind of a shame that a 3-row SUV is considered a mini van nowadays... but then again minivan was always a bit of a misnomer.

Chariotoflove > victor 02/09/2018 at 18:38

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Enjoy the upholstery. Throw a drop cloth on it for most kiddo activities, and pull it off once in a while to do adulting things.

I’m like you. My last purchase was my first ever used car purchase. Only new before that.

AestheticsInMotion > victor 02/09/2018 at 18:40

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That sentence brings me pain.

The interior looks great, hopefully it’s easy to keep in good shape in spite of the home depot runs!

HammerheadFistpunch > victor 02/09/2018 at 18:45

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im not going to lie, I thought it was a VW Atlas until you said it was 2.5 years old. the GL is a nice car but a stand out style wise it is not.

HammerheadFistpunch > victor 02/09/2018 at 18:47

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I don’t think I have to tell you that you don’t want a Land Cruiser if you want to put teen age or up in the back seats on the regular. that rear row is a nice gesture that a car this size really should seat more than 5.

victor > winterlegacy, here 'till the end 02/09/2018 at 18:47

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Yeah, we got both rain + 20% grades around our house, plus the additional snow that occasionally happens. All the fun Seattle snow videos you see are from around where we live. We’ll buy an odyssey AWD or even a Metris 4Matic if any of these guys get around to it.

victor > HammerheadFistpunch 02/09/2018 at 18:50

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Oh yeah, I’m not offended. They’re all just blobs to me. It’s especially devoid of character vs. my E-class wagon. That said, the TTV6 is apparently chronically underrated. MB claims 370ish BHP, but it can move 5800 lbs to 60 in the upper 5s. Renntech and a few others claim it can push 450bhp with an easy tune that includes powertrain warranty.

We have yet to decide who is going to be forced to drive it. We really need the 3rd row about 20% of the time as we have family from both sides visiting every month from California.

fintail > victor 02/09/2018 at 18:58

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Funny, you appear to be loaded with fancier upholstery, distronic plus, etc., but they forgot to check the box for lighting, oh well.

I assume this is an off-lease car, if you want to buy a modern MB rather than lease, that’s when to get em.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > AestheticsInMotion 02/09/2018 at 19:04

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Too nice for its own good.

victor > AestheticsInMotion 02/09/2018 at 19:04

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We detail all our cars annually, and that includes clay bar and thorough leather conditioning if needed. I don’t think we’re going to trash the car that badly. I already use my E wagon for dump runs and home depot runs, and it seems fine.

victor > fintail 02/09/2018 at 19:08

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Yeah, that irritated me, especially since I have the lighting package on my S212 (wagon). This car is an off-lease, and it was a decent deal. Also, their recent cars have seemed pretty reliable. Word was that MB was tired of enriching dealers as they were basically cashing in on repair revenue.

I actually really wish MB allowed dealers to program updates so that one can manually install one of the ILS lights on these things. There are some guys in china that can do it, but you still need access to a MB engineering laptop.

7:07 > victor 02/09/2018 at 19:20

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I prefer light color leather interiors because you can actually see where they are dirty. Black leather tends to hide everything - I would much rather know what’s lurking there and properly address it.

His Stigness > HammerheadFistpunch 02/09/2018 at 19:28

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I’m glad I wasn’t the only one.

His Stigness > victor 02/09/2018 at 19:28

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I weep for the future.

xc90v8/I4 :( > victor 02/09/2018 at 19:41

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Nice car. I really like the GL. If only petrol wasn’t this expensive around here.

Do you know anything about the previous owner? 7.5k miles in 2.5 years isn’t a lot...

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > victor 02/09/2018 at 19:47

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Oh! Third row

Steve in Manhattan > victor 02/09/2018 at 20:13

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Now all you have to do is bungee two iPads to the back of the headrests and your done. They’ll never make a sound.

boxrocket > victor 02/09/2018 at 20:32

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Pretty sure that’s an unpainted school bus.

It puts the “ga!” in “Kindergarten”. 

boxrocket > victor 02/09/2018 at 20:34

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Y u no Expedition/Navigator?

victor > xc90v8/I4 :( 02/09/2018 at 21:25

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Not really any info. My wife drives about the same amount, so it’s not unexpected.

fintail > victor 02/09/2018 at 22:06

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Depreciation on most models is intense - so much lease volume makes for off-lease surplus. I’ve leased 3 212s, and had nothing but a couple quirks with the cars - the current E250 has been flawless as I approach 2 years. I think most of them are quite reliable now, I don’t even hear much grumbling from S-class people.

Lighting package is a must-have for me, lacking it is a deal breaker. As you say, retroactive installation is virtually impossible.

My current lease is up in a little over a year, and I haven’t decided if I will re-up, try to buy it out (the residual is comically higher than predicted real world value) or buy another car, likely a used MB. I’ve already started looking, and I don’t look at cars without lighting (I am thinking of another E250, or a wagon, with the left field choice being G-Wagen for their high depreciation floor). But I am really weird and OCD about options and colors, I want specific cars, and some things (black paint, for one) I don’t even look at.

hike > victor 02/09/2018 at 22:15

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I’ve driven every model GL and never thought the GL450 needed more power. The 550 and 63 models are just hilarious though. Nice buy! Way comfortable than any new minivan or non premium crossover.

victor > hike 02/09/2018 at 23:40

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The 550 is already ridiculous. The GL/GLS63 is really just down right stupid. Not that I wouldn’t own one

hike > victor 02/10/2018 at 08:57

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The 63 really doesn’t feel much faster, but hearing that exhaust note out of a giant crossover is just crazy.

victor > hike 02/10/2018 at 11:47

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The GL is surprisingly large, but the length and width footprint is pretty good, about the same as the much smaller q7 and around the same as a sienna. This is where this car shines. It’s a minivan inside.

But even the GL450 3.L Ttv6 hustles faster than a V8 escalade and it wafts along like an S class at an ungodly 80-9o mpg while kicking back 22mpg easy. No other XL suv drove as planted/easy/maneuverable like it.

Yet, Ford dealers were asking 70k for a expedition platinum and 80k+ for a Navigator. Granted the ecoboost v6 was fast, but it still drive like a truck.

That’s why we chose the GL. They call the GL/GLS63 as the American S class or the S class of SUVs. I call it the Sclass of minivans. .

victor > fintail 02/14/2018 at 13:08

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I found a way to do retroactive installation, but it requires some deft handiwork and shipping shit from China. regardless, I just installed Carplay on my E350 Wagon (which is loaded with vented seats, rear seat heaters and distronic and parktronic, and I like better than the new wagon, because 3rd row motherfuckers!), and I’m tempted to burn 2k to do the same on the GL. I guess I should see if it’s reliable like my E350 first.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > victor 03/05/2018 at 21:04

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I have been weighing these against last gen LR4's and the XC90 refresh with the rear seats.