Re: MB ML320

[Lee Levitt <wheelman@shore.net>]

At 10:58 AM 2/26/98 -0500, you wrote:
Josh Pinkert wrote:

>At 02:45 AM 2/26/98 -0800, Arun Rao wrote:
>>
>>	Talking about the M-class, it seems all set to eat other
>>	manufacturers' lunch ... but for the fact that Mercedes
>>	doesn't seem to be able to make enough (sold out for the
>>	next 12-14 months!). I saw one up close outside Pixar
>>	a few days ago, and I must say I was quite impressed: the
>>	first vehicle in its class that I would consider owning ..

I sat in one briefly at the recent Boston Auto Show. I was not
impressed...but then again I had just climbed out of a '98 Range Rover 4.6
HSE, which is a *magnificant* beast. Course I'm a bit biased, since my
daily driver is a '95 County LWB :)

I felt that it had been built to a price point...that overall it wasn't
quite up to the fit&finish standards of your typical MB. Course car show
cars do get abused, and this one was missing various bits and pieces. It is
probably nicer at the dealer's showroom...

The MB has gotten good reviews, and will kick the butt of the Grand
Cherokee and the like. It's not an ultimate offroader, but 99% of its
target audience couldn't care less.

>>
>
>I really don't believe this *bit* about cars being sold out for the next X
>months.  I've heard it for both the M-class and the Porsche Boxster.  But
>then I see some sitting on dealer lots and in showrooms.  Usually cars with
>that kind of demand don't even have demos to test drive...yet I see people
>test driving all the time.  These sold out cars are available...but there's
>probably just a waiting list to get one built (ala Audi A4).

Well, that can be handled a couple of different ways...MB *could* have
delivered a small number of *not for sale* vehicles. I don't know that
that's true...but here's a datapoint.

Friend of mine who needs 7 passenger capacity just plunked down her deposit
on a green/tan leather ML 320, loaded (sunroof, yada yada, everything but
the CD player, which she'll add at delivery time, I'm sure). This would be
a typical build for this truck. Delivery is scheduled for March.

Next year.

BTW, one of the local charities is giving away one of these tomorrow. 850
tickets sold at $100 per. Wonder what the delivery time for that one
is...I'll let you know if I win :)

Lee