Got a loan ML320CDI Sport today...

[Brett]

A few observations so far:

You sit high! Really high! Compared with the CLK it is really noticeable, almost like I was trying to drive it by sitting on its roof. Even compared with the Touran we have, it has a very lofty perch. It takes a little getting used to at first, I have to say but is quite useful along the country lanes around my place.

The seven speed box is incredibly smooth compared with the five speed on the AMG, but it almost makes it feel like nothing is happening when you hit the loud pedal. Ok, I am being unfair in comparing it with happens when you plant the foot on the CLK, but it just appears to gather speed steadily until you are going too fast, with no real drama. This, however, makes it a pretty relaxing drive.

I found it much, much easier to stick to the speed limit in this car. There was never the real temptation to let loose in the same way as there always is in the AMG. I did around 50 miles coming home, and averaged 26.5mpg - given that my long term average in the CLK is 20mpg, this was a useful improvement over the norm.

It goes back tomorrow. I should be getting a CLS320CDI on Friday to try overnight...should make for an interesting comparison!

 

[davidjpowell]

Don't become a 4WD'er please. Am feeling most put out today. Had my car washed yesterday, and it looked great. We had a downpour here so had to go through a 4 inch deep floor. Going nice and smoothly in middle of road so on the crown, this bl***dy Cherokee could not be bothered to wait, charged past me. Mud all the way down one side of the car. Ignorant **** ( I am slightly irrate).

The ML is nice, I had a pre-facelift 270 cdi for a couple of weeks a few years ago while my company car was being repaired/rebuilt. Nice car, but horrible fuel consumption!

David

 

[Brett]

Don't become a 4WD'er please.

To be honest, it is not an easy decision to make what with the image that has been cultivated for them as planet destroyers. All good and well, but I'd love the greenies to come and live through a typical rural Scottish winter and then see what they have to say. I agree that for an urban environment, there are better modes of transport, but I am not in an urban environment all that often. "Sorry I can't come to work because I can't get out of my driveway" only washes for so long.

That said, the driver that covered your car in mud showed a level of ignorance and/or arrogance that is not acceptable. That said, he could just as easily have been driving a white van...

 

[Gucci]

Yes enough of the 4x4 beating please. I don't bully, I just enjoy the look, sound and substance of the car. Mine doesn't destroy the planet - i do about 4k miles a year...who uses their car everyday then? tut tut

 

[DaveK]

Wouldn't expect my ownership of an MB 4X4 to bring me in to contention with other MB owners but it looks like the anti 4X4 campaigners have left their mark everywhere.

 

[Gucci]

Wouldn't expect my ownership of an MB 4X4 to bring me in to contention with other MB owners but it looks like the anti 4X4 campaigners have left their mark everywhere.

It's pathetic. It's an easy target because it's easy to recognise. Once the nuclear issue hits the headlines (backlash from oil/fuel costs/global uncertainty/defence etc) then people can stop swinging their herbal tea bags about.

 

[glojo]

We had the ML 320 to play with but we also had the GL420 and if I had to choose between them then the GL woulkd be tempting apart from the high rear floor

I do not understand the green issues regarding vehicles, but that could be down to me not caring. Buy what you like and enjoy it.

Regards
John

 

[DaveK]

'Don't become a 4WD'er please'...
It's like you become some sort of monster because you have the facility to provide power to all four wheels. Why ?

 

[Brett]

it just appears to gather speed steadily until you are going too fast, with no real drama. This, however, makes it a pretty relaxing drive.

Ok, definitely unfair. Had to make a mad dash down to the nearest town to try make the last post this evening. Went to pull out from the track leading to our house onto the main road, and discovered that this baby has a turn of pace if pressed into action. Quite impressed really. Maybe it just doesn't seem that much is happening because it is a heck of a lot quieter than the AMG. That ROAAAARRRR does make me smile like an idiot though

 

[Brett]

'Don't become a 4WD'er please'...
It's like you become some sort of monster because you have the facility to provide power to all four wheels. Why ?

I must admit that I have considered the Audi Allroad and the Volvo equivalent but I am a "Mercman" at heart and couldn't see myself in one. Might have to take a drive in one to prove myself wrong though

 

[Brett]

We had the ML 320 to play with but we also had the GL420 and if I had to choose between them then the GL woulkd be tempting apart from the high rear floor

Absolutely agree John, but I have had to let a little practicality get in the way. The wife thinks the ML is too big as it is....maybe I've approached this the wrong way around...I should have brought the GL home first....

 

[DaveK]

So the ML is too big.
Park it, chalk a line right around it. Then drive it away and see which cars when parked in the chalked area stick out at the front or rear of the outline.

 

[glojo]

Absolutely agree John, but I have had to let a little practicality get in the way. The wife thinks the ML is too big as it is....maybe I've approached this the wrong way around...I should have brought the GL home first....

I was surprised just how manoeuvrable these things are and my wife turned the GL around in our driveway.

I think the sales staff let themselves down when they gave us the ML320CDI to play with as it was very basic regarding options, plus the fully loaded GL was being sold at a price I nearly could not refuse

That ML sounds very nice and hopefully your wife might get to like the driving position and laid back style of driving it encourages?

Does the ML have a reversing camera? A great option that really impressed me on the GL.

Regards
John

 

[Gucci]

So the ML is too big.
Park it, chalk a line right around it. Then drive it away and see which cars when parked in the chalked area stick out at the front or rear of the outline.

Nice work sir

 

[Brett]

So the ML is too big.
Park it, chalk a line right around it. Then drive it away and see which cars when parked in the chalked area stick out at the front or rear of the outline.

Quite agree, however it is certainly imposing in terms of its overall impression of size. Parked up next to the Touran it gives the impression even more so, but that may be because we are both used to the Touran being the taller car on the drive when compared with the CLK.

That said, we had a S320 Limo for a while and that was really, really long. Getting into a standard space was impossible. She didn't complain (too much) about that one.

I suspect she'll prefer the CLS once we've had that for an overnight stay...

 

[DaveK]

It's one of the points I use to 4X4 antis, gucci, especially those who go on about the size. Most 4X4's take up the same footprint as family cars when you apply the chalk test but of course are a lot taller. Is that what they object to, the use of the airspace above it ?

 

[Gucci]

I suspect she'll prefer the CLS once we've had that for an overnight stay...

I sat in a CLS and thought that to be a swine to see front and back compared to an ML higher up.

 

[Brett]

It's one of the points I use to 4X4 antis, gucci, especially those who go on about the size. Most 4X4's take up the same footprint as family cars when you apply the chalk test but of course are a lot taller. Is that what they object to, the use of the airspace above it ?

I deliberately got her to come home via the house on the way to pick up our little boy from nursery this evening. There is a very tight parking area at the nursery and I wanted her to drive it in to pick him up and out again. The first thing she said was that she was going to leave the car on the main road and walk down to get him. In the end she did drive in, reverse park quite easily (she is very good at parking though), picked the wee man up and drove out again. No drama. That put that particular problem to bed as there is probably the most awkward manoeuvre she will ever have to make driving that vehicle.

 

[Brett]

It's one of the points I use to 4X4 antis, gucci, especially those who go on about the size. Most 4X4's take up the same footprint as family cars when you apply the chalk test but of course are a lot taller. Is that what they object to, the use of the airspace above it ?

I actually made the point to my missus this evening that the new Mondeo is longer than the Land Rover Discovery. Didn't need to say anything else - got a raised eyebrow in response which said it all.

 

[davidjpowell]

'Don't become a 4WD'er please'...
It's like you become some sort of monster because you have the facility to provide power to all four wheels. Why ?

It is if you use that power to bully the poor little C class in the puddle! Just because a driver is higher up does not mean they should forget their manners.

It has nothing to do with the green lobby or emmisions, just my own experience this afternoon.

David