ML250 vs ML350

[acej]

I am about to order my wife a new ML and am debating a 250 or 350. She doesn't do a lot of miles so economy isn't a real driver but less petrol stops is a plus. She currently has a 11 plate 350 which has been a great car. I have been offered a really good deal on a 250 ( a lot better than the 350) but it feels it's 40bhp deficit but I am not sure that really matters in the real world.

Has anybody got a new 250 and if so how have you found the power plant in terms of day to day driving and long haul motorway driving?

Thanks in advance.

 

[gbjeppm]

I have one, and it is plenty fast enough, 400nm of torque is great.

And 170 quid in road tax will put a smile on your face. i am sure that the 350 is even better, but in my opinion you dont need it, whether that is round town or on the motorway.

I have done 12k miles in it so far, and have never regretted the missing power.

 

[acej]

I have one, and it is plenty fast enough, 400nm of torque is great. And 170 quid in road tax will put a smile on your face. i am sure that the 350 is even better, but in my opinion you dont need it, whether that is round town or on the motorway. I have done 12k miles in it so far, and have never regretted the missing power.

Thanks for the feedback I haven't seen a road tax bill of £170 for a long time. Glad your getting on well with yours.

 

[Liquid silver]

I am about to order my wife a new ML and am debating a 250 or 350. She doesn't do a lot of miles so economy isn't a real driver but less petrol stops is a plus. She currently has a 11 plate 350 which has been a great car. I have been offered a really good deal on a 250 ( a lot better than the 350) but it feels it's 40bhp deficit but I am not sure that really matters in the real world.

Has anybody got a new 250 and if so how have you found the power plant in terms of day to day driving and long haul motorway driving?

Thanks in advance.

I have had my 350 for 15 months now. If, as you say, consumption is not that important go for the 350 you will only loose 2-3 mpg, so much more powerful and smooth. The 250 is only 4 cylinder and a bit corse you WILL regret it. As for getting a good deal I got a 12% discount on mine including extras didn't think that was to bad for a factory order. You will be enjoying the car long after the extra cost has been forgotten.

 

[Alex]

Justin Hi,

I drove a 250 ML on a couple of occasions (main dealer track day on proving grounds and as a loan car). It was okay but don't expect much more than that.

My wife was apprehensive about the idea of a V8 ML at first with fuel economy as her main argument. Later she said it was the best decision made and she is the farthest from a "racing" driver you can find (she does want to do a track day though so I might have a company later in the year!).

Let your missus drive them back to back and decide.

 

[acej]

Thanks LS and Alex

Not sure the misses will be that bothered but when I take it on the long haul I may be thinking otherwise.

Alex,

How's the build going? Is the CL going to be in good shape for GW? Looking forward to see you and the car, I may have a new gadget up my sleeve for the day as well;-).

 

[sherco450]

Hi there . l have driven both . 250 a little course compared to the 350 . the torque figures are ok , but the wagon is 2 tonne, depending on what your doing with it. Towing ,Long drives, Quieter cabin go the 6 cylinder. lf your misses don't mind a little rattle the 250 is fine.

 

[Alex]

Alex,

How's the build going? Is the CL going to be in good shape for GW? Looking forward to see you and the car, I may have a new gadget up my sleeve for the day as well;-).

Will be interesting to see what you bring!

My own car mate, poor CL has no idea what it's gotten itself into. I've got to build the engine before the new SC goes in. That alone will take a few weeks. Starting hopefully after GW (don't want to miss it). Just fitted the new wheels and tyres last week. Not sure if you've seen them?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/12651599043_c7a8395443_h.jpg

 

[acej]

Will be interesting to see what you bring! My own car mate, poor CL has no idea what it's gotten itself into. I've got to build the engine before the new SC goes in. That alone will take a few weeks. Starting hopefully after GW (don't want to miss it). Just fitted the new wheels and tyres last week. Not sure if you've seen them? http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/12651599043_c7a8395443_h.jpg

They look really good. Very nice indeed.

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

Hi Alx, I like those. Very much

Sent from my GT-I9300 using MBClub UK

 

[MarriedBlonde]

My wife has an ML350 sport that I ordered last september. I looked at getting the 250 as before that we had the ml320 so thought modern engine being better etc. On paper there doesn't look like much in it.

There is in reality. It might be a little cheaper on the tax but in the grand scheme of things I dont think that should be a deciding factor.

The bigger engined car is so much nicer to drive, having the extra urge makes all the difference. In the 250 i was caining the pants off it every where. In the 350 I wasn't.

Fuel economy is shocking though. Its worse that our old model. Doing the school/shopping run its low 20's, on a fast run with all the family and luggage etc I managed 25mpg.

But it is lovely to drive, fast for what it is and big enough for the family and the kitchen sink required when we ever go away in it.

J.

 

[MarriedBlonde]

I have had my 350 for 15 months now. If, as you say, consumption is not that important go for the 350 you will only loose 2-3 mpg, so much more powerful and smooth. The 250 is only 4 cylinder and a bit corse you WILL regret it. As for getting a good deal I got a 12% discount on mine including extras didn't think that was to bad for a factory order. You will be enjoying the car long after the extra cost has been forgotten.

I forgot to mention the discount. There are some very good deals to be done on them. I wont say what I managed as a deal but i did very well.

J.

 

[Liquid silver]

My wife has an ML350 sport that I ordered last september. I looked at getting the 250 as before that we had the ml320 so thought modern engine being better etc. On paper there doesn't look like much in it.

There is in reality. It might be a little cheaper on the tax but in the grand scheme of things I dont think that should be a deciding factor.

The bigger engined car is so much nicer to drive, having the extra urge makes all the difference. In the 250 i was caining the pants off it every where. In the 350 I wasn't.

Fuel economy is shocking though. Its worse that our old model. Doing the school/shopping run its low 20's, on a fast run with all the family and luggage etc I managed 25mpg.

But it is lovely to drive, fast for what it is and big enough for the family and the kitchen sink required when we ever go away in it.



J.

Hi MB

Interesting to hear your experience on fuel consumption. I am getting 32/33 on a long run (some say I have a heavy right foot) with 27 o/a. I too was a little disappointed as my previous ML was a V6 320 petrol which returned 26/27 on a run but only 18/20 overall around town. Don't know what discount you achieved but mine was ordered within the first week so not too bad. I am not a diesel person (all my other cars are V8's) but I was very pleasantly surprised with the smoothness and power of the 350 engine.

 

[gIzzE]

Fuel economy is shocking though. Its worse that our old model. Doing the school/shopping run its low 20's, on a fast run with all the family and luggage etc I managed 25mpg.

I was looking at the 350 recently and was pretty shocked at the consumtion, far worse than the W164 I use all the time which sits at around 26mpg round town.
I had the 350 for the day and it was sat at 18mpg for the first part of the day and only managed to creep up to 27 after a long steady 90 mile trip to the coast at 50mph, and that was resetting the OBC again as we got out onto the A road.

Looking at the UK site it says...

Fuel consumption
Urban (mpg)
34.4
Extra-urban (mpg)
42.2
Combined (mpg)
39.2


looking at the US site it says....

City fuel economy 24 mpg
Highway fuel economy 33 mpg


You can see why so many get so annoyed about the official EU figures.
I don't even think they are a decent comparison between models any more, if it was nay other industry they would be done for lying.


Really nice car though. Looks are growing on me too now.

 

[SimonRJ]

Hi ACEJ - I collected my ML350 almost 4 weeks ago and absolutely love the sound and the power. I test drove the 250 and it sounded a little clunky. I wanted to upgrade my C Class to something heavier for towing our caravan and didn't want to spend the next 3 years of ownership wishing I'd gone for the 3 ltr V6 so just went for it. I've done just under 1500 miles already and I'm getting about 32/33 mpg at the mo.

To be fair, the ML250 would have been powerful enough but every time I turn the key and hear that noise......it just makes me smile!

 

[boxbrownie]

I was looking at the 350 recently and was pretty shocked at the consumtion, far worse than the W164 I use all the time which sits at around 26mpg round town.
I had the 350 for the day and it was sat at 18mpg for the first part of the day and only managed to creep up to 27 after a long steady 90 mile trip to the coast at 50mph, and that was resetting the OBC again as we got out onto the A road.

Looking at the UK site it says...

Fuel consumption
Urban (mpg)
34.4
Extra-urban (mpg)
42.2
Combined (mpg)
39.2


looking at the US site it says....

City fuel economy 24 mpg
Highway fuel economy 33 mpg


You can see why so many get so annoyed about the official EU figures.
I don't even think they are a decent comparison between models any more, if it was nay other industry they would be done for lying.


Really nice car though. Looks are growing on me too now.

Don't forget the silly little US gallons though..........

 

[gIzzE]

That is converted back to UK, it was 20 city and 28 highway in US gallons.

 

[Merc Owner 2B]

I have one, and it is plenty fast enough, 400nm of torque is great.

And 170 quid in road tax will put a smile on your face. i am sure that the 350 is even better, but in my opinion you dont need it, whether that is round town or on the motorway.

I have done 12k miles in it so far, and have never regretted the missing power.

Totally agree with the above. I have done 18K in mine now and love it.
It isn't noisy or "clunky". Always funny how those that criticise haven't actually got one. I'm sure the 350's are smoother and the 63's smoother still but do you need it? Unless you are towing a caravan, you don't. Took mine on a 2k mile tour of the south of France last year. Absolutely great. I traded my 2010 E350 coupe for this and don't regret it

 

[RWDpetrol]

I had a 250 as loan car for a few days while my c63 was in the garage. I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't drive fast but it was comfortable and more than adequate. If I had it longer I may have wanted more power but like I said it was adequate and for the general SUV driving style, I felt, didn't require more power.

I got 24mpg for the journeys my c63 returns 15mpg.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I was looking at the 350 recently and was pretty shocked at the consumtion, far worse than the W164 I use all the time which sits at around 26mpg round town.
I had the 350 for the day and it was sat at 18mpg for the first part of the day and only managed to creep up to 27 after a long steady 90 mile trip to the coast at 50mph, and that was resetting the OBC again as we got out onto the A road.

Our previous generation ML63 isn't so far behind that. On a gentle motorway cruise of 60-70mph, 20-21mpg is possible without trying hard. At 50mph I think I could tease it to 23mpg but never have.