Cars We Drive!

[JayJay]



nobody gets an AMG GL because it makes any sense

...or any AMG for that matter. Test drove an Escalade today. Drove fine but the ride quality was lacking.

 

[CBrown85]

And you looked like an asshole.

 

[CBrown85]

Seriously though- unless you can get a screaming deal on the MB, take the Ford and drink first growths for a few years.

 

[JayJay]



And you looked like an asshole.

nvm

 

[djh]

^Think he was just making a general statement about Escalade drivers. In LA they're mostly commercial car service drivers that don't check their blind spots before merging. ******* assholes.

I would 100% take an Explorer over a GL450 for an extra $1k a month.

 

[CBrown85]



nvm

Chill, brah.

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Jaguar's answer to the 3-series - the XE.






The first is the new 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel that’ll be made in Wolverhampton and is a member of the new Ingenium family of four-cylinder engines. It produces 161bhp and 258lb ft of torque.

The second motor sounds very exciting. It’s the same supercharged 3.0-litre V6 that’s used in the F-Type sports car, which means 335bhp and 332lb ft of torque and a 0-60mph time of 4.9sec.

There’ll be a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox and eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Well damn!

 

[suited]



Seriously though- unless you can get a screaming deal on the MB, take the Ford and drink first growths for a few years.

I'd also look at a Denali or Tahoe (apologies if you've already ruled these out via the thread). I put a new Denali through the paces by driving it around Vail, CO for a week. The ride was excellent and the seating is very comfortable. Cabin noise was very minimal. It had adequate power and the redesigned manner in which the rear seats fold down is a massive improvement over my slightly older Tahoe.

 

[Piobaire]

Hah! This says my prediction about the V6 in the 450 will only be in the 2015 model year is correct: http://www.newcarnewsandreviews.com/2016-mercedes-benz-gl-class/

Summary: in 2016 and entry level model, the GL400, will get the V6 and the 450 gets its V8 back.

Okay, 24 month lease on a 550 is the numbers work. And wow, are a bunch of people that get the 450 at 450 prices in 2015 going to be pissed when that lower priced 400 comes out next year.

 

[UnFacconable]

Won't people be pissed because a refreshed model is coming out just a few months after they bought their car? That would seem to me to be a big differentiator. There is no way I'd get into a car right now that doesn't support Apple CarPlay and guessing the 2016s will get the upgraded comand unit in the C-class that has it now.

Also I wouldn't be surprised if the new GL400 is priced like the current GL450 and they bump the 450 price. Finally, if the EPA rating is near 25 mpg for the 400 and it does 0-60 in 6.7 as advertised I think the sort of people that by GLs (where I live exclusively soccer moms) will be quite happy. I guess some of them may get "walked" over the price increase.

Sounds like you're getting the car you really want at a price you can live with so congrats on that.

 

[Piobaire]

After driving it I think that 6.7 is optimistic. Also, even my SA agrees with me, passing is highly degraded. Again, there's just no replacement for displacement to get real world usable torque. As to the model line up Benz has already done to the SL what the article says is going to happen to the GL. The new SL400, with the V6 in question, is the entry level SL for only 84k. The SL550 starts at 107k. The SL400 also shows it's not a bad engine given the performance numbers (5.1). It's just not a good match for a 5400# SUV.

Btw, that was just me being optimistic myself at the thought of a 24 month lease working for me. Given the limited run of 550s I sincerely doubt we'll get together but I'm going to give it a shot.

 

[GreenFrog]



After driving it I think that 6.7 is optimistic. Also, even my SA agrees with me, passing is highly degraded. Again, there's just no replacement for displacement to get real world usable torque. As to the model line up Benz has already done to the SL what the article says is going to happen to the GL. The new SL400, with the V6 in question, is the entry level SL for only 84k. The SL550 starts at 107k. The SL400 also shows it's not a bad engine given the performance numbers (5.1). It's just not a good match for a 5400# SUV.

Btw, that was just me being optimistic myself at the thought of a 24 month lease working for me. Given the limited run of 550s I sincerely doubt we'll get together but I'm going to give it a shot.

I disagree with this notion. It used to be the case in older turbocharged variants, but turbo technology has come a long way since then. The new M3/4s are an example of really usable torque at the low end. Granted, the engine is highly-engineered, but I wouldn't dismiss turbocharged cars so readily anymore.

 

[Piobaire]



I disagree with this notion. It used to be the case in older turbocharged variants, but turbo technology has come a long way since then. The new M3/4s are an example of really usable torque at the low end. Granted, the engine is highly-engineered, but I wouldn't dismiss turbocharged cars so readily anymore.

I am not saying modern turbocharging has not improved but part of this is basic physics. Here's the definition of torque from wiki:

Torque, moment or moment of force is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist to an object.

So the explosion in the piston chamber forces the piston down, the connecting rod transmits that force to the crankshaft and we get rotational movement. I've probably not said that completely correct but that's the gist. With larger displacement the stroke can produce better leverage. The concept of torque was first developed through medieval folks studying levers so this makes sense. Smaller engines must spin faster, due in part to smaller stroke, and this is why peak torque is higher in the rpms on smaller engine than a large displacement one. Again, I probably have some detail not stated correctly but I'm pretty sure the basic physics has to do with the leverage advantage of a longer stroke in the larger displacement engines.

Found this picture and it helps relate the idea:

Edit: another comparison would be similar displacement motorcycle engines with different configurations. Think four or six cylinder inlines vs. a big V twin. The stroke in a 1 litre V twin is obviously much longer than in an inline 1 litre four. If you've ridden you'll know that V twin will pull your arms out of the sockets at 1k rpm. Where the other engine has the advantage is in peak HP and ultimately speed.

 

[GreenFrog]



I am not saying modern turbocharging has not improved but part of this is basic physics. Here's the definition of torque from wiki:
So the explosion in the piston chamber forces the piston down, the connecting rod transmits that force to the crankshaft and we get rotational movement. I've probably not said that completely correct but that's the gist. With larger displacement the stroke can produce better leverage. The concept of torque was first developed through medieval folks studying levers so this makes sense. Smaller engines must spin faster, due in part to smaller stroke, and this is why peak torque is higher in the rpms on smaller engine than a large displacement one. Again, I probably have some detail not stated correctly but I'm pretty sure the basic physics has to do with the leverage advantage of a longer stroke in the larger displacement engines.

Found this picture and it helps relate the idea:

You're definitely not wrong, but at the same time, a higher displacement engine is not the only way to get higher torque. Turbos are excellent at delivering high torque figures and, again, with modern technology, at usable levels at the low end.

Now, if you're dissatisfied about a lack of linear delivery, then yes, nothing beats a naturally aspirated engine, but I still really disagree that you need to have a V8 engine, for example, to get good torque numbers.

No point in arguing over this -- I think the takeaway is that the turbocharged 6s that MB is making for the GLs just aren't tuned / calibrated to your liking, which is totally valid and fine. It would make sense they'd tune them with fuel efficiency in mind first and raw performance second, or even third, after reliability.

Now, excuse me while I go for a cruise with my v10-powered vehicle and listen to dat exhaust.

 

[JayJay]



I'd also look at a Denali or Tahoe (apologies if you've already ruled these out via the thread). I put a new Denali through the paces by driving it around Vail, CO for a week. The ride was excellent and the seating is very comfortable. Cabin noise was very minimal. It had adequate power and the redesigned manner in which the rear seats fold down is a massive improvement over my slightly older Tahoe.

I found the Tahoe to have better handling and a smoother ride than the Escalade. The Escalade had a constant vibration that made for an uncomfortable ride. The sales guy attributed it to flat spots on the tires, but I've heard that several vehicles have had the differentials replaced to remedy the problem.