Buying a GL x164 - advice please!

[the zacster]

Hi All

Wonder if you can help?! I’m in the market for a GL (absolutely superb car ) and have recently test-driven a few ‘07/’08 320s and 420s. The 420 was simply awesome, but the 320 had enough power/torque to be more than adequate for my needs. On paper, the 420 is less economical to run (with an ‘official’ 24.4 combined mpg, compared with the 320’s 28.8mpg). However, whilst some of the threads on this forum suggest that the 420 is delivering c.20urban/c.27motorway, I’m not quite sure what the 320 is getting in reality? If the 320 was genuinely getting 4mpg more than the 420 (as the official number suggests), then I’d probably go for a 320, as (1) I don’t really need the extra 80bhp and (2) I’ll clock up c.15-20k per annum and the extra mpg will make a material difference to running costs over the next 4-5 years. However, I can’t help wondering whether the 320s are, in reality, only marginally more economical than the 420… in which case I’d probably go with the 420.

Anyone here able to share their experiences of mpg on either car? I appreciate that mpg is influenced by a myriad of factors, but any info/advice would be very much welcomed! My driving is a pretty even mix of country roads (so I'm looking for xenons too), town and motorway. Many thanks!

PS. Secretly I’m rather hoping that the difference is so marginal that I can justify the 420 to the wife! Just hope to God that some leftie doesn’t introduce some punitive tax on 300g/m cars (like the 420)
PPS. Any other advice on buying either car would also be welcomed!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

PS. Secretly I’m rather hoping that the difference is so marginal that I can justify the 420 to the wife!

In that case, I am a leading authority on both the GL320 and GL420, and I can confirm the difference is so marginal that you should buy the GL420.



Seriously, both are great cars, and you won't be disappointed with either. I can't ever remember wishing I bought a smaller engined model though, so do what the burger chains tell you to do: GO LARGE!!

 

[Deleted member 37751]

PS. Secretly I’m rather hoping that the difference is so marginal that I can justify the 420 to the wife!

The 420 CDi does 50mpg around town and 200mpg on a run.

I bought a Q7 4.2 TDi three month ago, I discounted the 3.0TDi simply because these types of vehicle are BIG motors and I'd always feel a little underpowered if I went for a 6pot.

Also keep in mind that unless you will use the seven seats, give the ML a chance; you can get the 320 & 420 CDi in those as well.

 

[the zacster]

Thanks Gents!

Your enthusiasm for the V8 is well-founded (and shared!): its a truly remarkable car! However, given that I'm rarely going to be in a position to use those extra horses (although I'd certainly give it a shot!), I need to be mindful of the shekels when buying and, by my reckoning, the difference between the two motors over 4-5 years could be c.£8k (c.£3k difference in purchase price; .c£5k in fuel IF the mpg difference is as big in reality as the official numbers suggest). However, if the real-world mpg difference isn't as significant as the official figures suggest, then I'd happily pay the extra £3k up-front for the 420... hence my interest in understanding the real-world numbers for the 320!

 

[the zacster]

Also keep in mind that unless you will use the seven seats, give the ML a chance; you can get the 320 & 420 CDi in those as well.

We did look briefly at the ML, but we need the extra seats (country living means we're frequently taxiing hordes of kids around the place, and the boot is just not big enough to carry the loads that we somehow manage to lug across the country). Very good car, though...

 

[Deleted member 37751]

What's the budget?

Good bargaining can mean initial purchase prices can be the same...

 

[the zacster]

Looking at low £20s... preferably from a stealer (as I'm not technically competent enough to know a good 'un from a bad 'un; a few of the ones I've driven to date have felt/sounded a tad ropey, so I'd feel more comfortable buying with a full year's MB warranty, and then getting it serviced thereafter with an indie). There are definitely a few about...

You're spot on - huge depreciation to date on both cars means that the purchase price difference doesn't tend to be huge (tends to come down to options fitted more than anything else), which is why I'm less bothered about purchase cost, and more interested in running costs.