Dependability of GLS Model

[johnk]

About 8 years ago I bought a 2007 GL 450 for $25k with 40k miles on it as a second car. I liked the car so much I switched cars with my wife and have been driving it as my primary car since then. Even though its was the first model year it has been very reliable only having the noted air suspension problems a few times. At 150k miles its still as solid as ever and rides like new. With its surface rust though its time to upgrade.

I've been thinking of a used 2020 to 2022 GLS 450 model when prices get closer to normal, I would only do such if I felt i could get another 150,000 miles of a fairly reliable car. (I keep my cars that long to justify the expense). 

Any thoughts or experiences with the dependability of a GLS at higher mileage?

Thanks
John

[Pinder]

I have leased ones few months ago and it’s a beautiful machine. No problems so far.

[badali]

The 2020 has the new I6.  I think it is a 48 Volt system.  It should have plenty of power and ride as nice or better.  It should also have the air suspension.  My E450 has the air ride also and rides nicer than the ones without.

[Pawel66]

I cannot provide feedback on the new GLS other than it is a fantastic car, but I do not have one :'(...

As for the new engine, the new in line 6 gas one, I have it in GLE 450 that I drive since mid 2019. Drove it for 100k kms - nothing ever happened, it is just absolutely brilliant engine. Even the start/stop function does not annoy me as you almost do not feel it (there is no starter).

[mdsalemi]

...I've been thinking of a used 2020 to 2022 GLS 450 model when prices get closer to normal

By the time this happens, it may be an entirely different discussion.
The massive shortages of everything are getting worse, not better, and its wreaking havoc in the new and used car markets.
My wife waited 7 months for her Bronco Sport. My neighbor waited 8 months for his new Land Rover Discovery. Back in the summer, my other neighbor waited 2 months for his hybrid Jeep Wrangler. Many of the dealers here for all makes have added a "non-negotiable" flat $5K fee onto each new car sale, and NOTHING sells for MSRP. That's a starting point on the low side...

My daughter's two year old Escape Hybrid, whose end of lease price was fixed when we leased it, has a Kelly Blue Book value about $10,000 more than our end of lease buyout. Talk about an arbitrage opportunity...

So...waiting for normalcy in the used car market may take longer than waiting for a new car.

[johnk]

The local MB dealer was asking a $24k premium on a base gls 450. $108 for an MSRP of $84k. However I can order one for MSRP through a friend that works at another dealer which is why I am tempted. I just don’t want to regret the car I chose day 5 years from now

[mdsalemi]

…dealer was asking a $24k premium…

Worse than I thought. Such greed will do little to foster good customer relationships. Good luck with your quest John!

[Jonny B]

Just remember, you will never get the extra cost back. I scratch my head about the extra cost over MSRP. Yes economics dictate that demand will drive cost, but remember that when time comes to sell...

[johnk]

So the local MB dealer is now asking $120k for a $84 MSRP gl450. I can’t believe that people are that stupid.

I am Ordering mine for MSRP from another dealer 30 miles away.

[Pinder]

I just sold my low miles off lease car. the buy out price for me was around 4K under what I sold it for to one of those used car companies that sell them on. very easy transaction.  So before you turn in your lease do a quick check to see if you can easily sell it along. I wish I had known this when i turned my very low miles toyota SUV in last year. it still had the sticker hanging off the glove box.

[mdsalemi]

Ford and GM have set their sights on the 10% of their dealerships that are "bad actors" tarnishing the brands by charging above MSRP. What they will do is penalize them in ways that will hurt: not shipping them desirable vehicles. I don't know much about GM but in the case of Ford, who is on a tear this year, that means trouble for these dealers in getting certain hybrid vehicles; Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang MachE, Ranger. All the hot sellers.

Now, an interesting thing has just happened: my daughter's Escape Hybrid has a book value nearly $10K higher than our lease buy-out value! So instead of just letting this go to waste, Ford came up with a plan...they'll do the buyback, take a large percentage (not 100% but good enough) of that equity built into this situation, use it as a lease buy-down down payment on a 2022 model of the same, thus reducing the monthly lease price. If this sounds a bit complex, it's like this: we'll sell the 2019 Escape SE Hybrid vehicle (we're paying $345/month) back to the dealer. They'll apply the equity against a 2022 Escape SE Hybrid. New payment will be $105...and they do all the &^%$ paperwork...

Of course one can still buy it outright. However when you do that here, you need to pay sales tax. Then you need to get insurance, pay personal property tax, and you cannot insure it without a new tag and title transfer. All of those things dealing with a sloth-like DMV take a lot of time (like 6 weeks) and a bit of money.  ONLY THEN can you turn around and "flip it" as it were...so that spread between book and buy value shrinks a bit with your costs and time.

[johnk]

So the salesman that gave me a little lecture about what market price means and why they could charge $35k extra reaches out to me to see if I was still interested. Like ya.   

I explained politely how their management was price gouging making it hard for the salespeople and how I was ordering a MB for MSRP from their competition. About an hour later I got an e-mail from the sales manager saying the big markup was for the non-local internet buyer not their regular customer. He blamed it on an internet salesman that they fired which was all bull and told me he would order me a car for MSRP.

I think now you could order just about any car for MSRP if you ask for it. Lexus MB Lincoln and Jeep all agreed to do it for me.

[mdsalemi]

…I think now you could order just about any car for MSRP if you ask for it.

Because the manufacturer who owns the brand is very concerned about maintaining an image. The bad actors such as your local MB dealer most likely got a call or a sternly worded letter.

Today these bad actor shyster dealers are being exposed explosively on YouTube and other social media, doing themselves great long term damage.

As you witnessed lots of backpedaling.

And, as JonnyB pointed out, anything above MSRP is money you’ll never get back. It will never be factored into a later book value.

[Pinder]

Ive noticed a few things on the one I have that are irritating.

1. the windshield where it meets the plastic by the wipers is not fitted correctly.
2. the Steering wheel is a bit lumpy and has been since day 1. Id expect it to be perfect but it is not. (Will point it out at my first service.
3. gear shifts are not that smooth considering the price tag.
4. most cars if I put it in reverse will start moving but this just sits there until I hit some gas. its a strange feeling.

But overall its a solid car.