GL 420 CDi

[Hereward]

I am thinking of replacing my VW Touareg with a 7-seater equivalent and I am considering the GL.

Does anyone have any experience/opinion of these?

Wife wants a Volvo XC90. I think they're a bit bland but perhaps the XC90's the better car?

I don't want a Disco or Q7.

[r129sl]

I think it was discussed on here relatively recently that these are available on very good terms from MB, especially slightly used, that they are generally pretty good and that they are very, very big.

You might want to consider the R-Class. It has 4-matic and seats six or seven but is (slightly) smaller. I have driven a friend's and was very impressed. Personally I would buy an E-Class estate with the seven seat option.

[Hereward]

Thanks. I will be buying used. I will seach the forum.

Need diff locks/low ratio for lawn-mowing/paddock duties so no E or R-class. I will also be fitting AT tyres.

I think the Volvo may be less than ideal since it has limited offroad tools.

[r129sl]

The GL is a proper off-road vehicle, unlike the Volvo, X5 et al. I can't see any of them (the 4 x 4s) being fazed by a paddock unless it is very rutted or very, very, very muddy. But the GL definitely wouldn't be.

[steve_amv8]

Fully agree ... GLs of any size will cope with some pretty rough conditions! Mine had no trouble getting us out of a waterlogged, churned-up campsite at Fairford in 2008 where most of the field was 6 inches of slippery mud, and this was with the 20" 275s at the minimum legal tread!

Exceptionally capable and well equipped/appointed 4x4 which is also pretty rare on the UK roads. Apparently, Autocar called it "an S-class with waders" Build quality is superb with none of the cheap plastics you see in some of the other 4x4s in the same class, but the a reasonably equipped GL would have cost £65k+ new....

[AR]

A Mercedes Warranty is a must, but all in all a really capable car.