We have a GX470 and wife and I found out kid #3 is on the way We went to check out the new GX as we would like something newer and perhaps a little bigger. The new GX fails, in many ways. Most disappointing is the 3rd row of seats and how small the back is with them open, and the raised floor board, etc. I like the GL450 but am not sure about MB reliability. Anyone have one, comments are appreciated. also which of the Mb forums is the CL of benz since a couple I went to looked deserted. TIA fella

 

Check out the Buick Enclave...or its GMC Acadia cousin (though the Buick has a MUCH better interior). The third-row seat in the Enclave is huge, compared to those of much of its competition. Its reliability rating, from Consumer Reports, is average.







Here's the 3rd-row seat:

 

My sister drives a '09 GL550. No problems or issues during the past two years. I've driven the GL quite often and really like the vehicle. I haven't driven the GL450, so I'm not sure if the GL450 feels underpowered compared to the 550. As you noted, the problem with most SUVs in this class, once the third-row seating is used, there is essentially no storage/trunk space. The GL suffers from this same problem (but so does my Escalade). If you really need space, maybe consider looking at the Escalade ESV.

Mbworld is the closest forum to CL activity wise, but the GL forum is pretty dead. Good luck with the purchase....and congratulations on child # 3! Hmm, maybe it's time to start looking at mini-vans

 

Sienna is very nice, but it is a minivan.....decisions decisions

 

Honda's been making a big push lately with their Odyssey. Yeah yeah, I know this is a Toyota based forum...

Turby

 

mbworld is definitely the CL of mb, but don't put your hopes up, that site is very dead in many ways....

the gl is a nice car, especially with 3 kids, it's a good setup. but like jay said, 3rd row is still a problem, though it's better than the gx i think. have you considered the lx570 as well then?

if you talk about practicality, you can't beat mini-van, never. but driving one is a different story. so will leave you at that

 

GL has been very reliable as with any MB made after 2007 they have been spending $1 Billion a year to get quality up to Mercedes standard so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

If you prefer something that drives more like a car with a lot of space you might like the R class. It has the same space and size as GL but with a lower center of gravity for better handling.

As for mini vans....no.

People who drives mini vans usually print this out stick it on the dash boardand just pretend they are rock stars and block out what they are driving mentally and keep repeating to themselves "swagger wagon, swagger wagon"

 

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the storage room of the new GX with the 3rd row down
Never have I said FAIL BADLY in a lexus

bmw and mb are leases, if bought, just get the extended warranty.
I haven't heard of much complaint either on the gl, unlike the old glory days of the 1st gen ml

mbworld is the other forum, just don't mention "lexus" when you're there or you'll get tired of hearing toyota thrown around

please remove that pos honda with the sienna if you're going to mention swagger wagon and bash us minivan drivers

I don't need a sticker, it's engraved in my brain already

I'm married with kids (so I don't need to impress the blonde next to me at the stop light that I would need in an suv), no towing, never go offroading, or a frequent mall cruiser so the minivan is perfect for the family----/sarcasm

plus I don't understand the madmoms out there speeding and cutting people off in a minivan either

 

Mercedes and GM reliability in this class of large SUV is average at best. Not in the same class of reliability of Toyota/Lexus/Honda/Acura, but still acceptable, but not above average. I know from experience from owning a 06 ML350 of which ML/GL/R platform is produced at Alabama factory. Also my experience was consistent with CR reliability report findings.

 

Natter what anybody says, R-class is a minivan to me, and a ugly one too

 

glad to have an mb owner on board with unbiased experience

uh, it's a hearse, not a minivan

 

The R-Class, Chrysler Pacifica (now discontinued), and the smaller Mazda5 are really hard to define as a vehicle-class. They are the only vehicles in the American market with both 2+2+2 seating and regular, car-type, front-hinged doors. I would consider them a unique cross between a conventional minivan (or, in the Mazda5's case, a mini-minivan) and a conventional station wagon.

 

It's not worth trying to define (so subjective and it can be whatever) R-class, since the EPA has already done that (sport utility - 4wd). But the R-class (not being OP's topic) is certainly ugly and a consistently a poor seller.

 

The EPA, though, defines vehicles by bureaucratic, cut-and-dried formulas....as with the subcompact/compact/mid-size/full-size classes by interior-volume (never mind how much of that volume is actually useful or easily-acessable). Most of us, here, try and speak of, or define, vehicles in more-practical terms.



Agreed......IMO (and subjective), it's not the best-looking vehicle out there (Chrysler, overall, did a better-styling job with the similar Pacifica), but I've seen lots worse......2Gen Honda Fit, Pontiac Aztek, Isuzu VehiCross, Nissan Juke (or Joke?) , 1995-99 Taurus/Sable, 1Gen Scion xB, to name a few.

 

Yes, vans are actually fun to drive. Ask the guy in the BMW 328 that I smoked in my Odyssey!

FWIW, SUVs are the new soccer-mom mobiles.