Trying to decide between QX & GL450

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ChristaJ

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Hi All!
I'm hoping to get a little input from current owners. I'm looking to trade in my 04 H2 (which I love!) soon and have narrowed it down to the QX and the 450. If I go with the QX i'll be wanting the Theater, Touring, Tech & Tire pkg, 4wd, White w/black int. I probably will have to order unless I get lucky and find one. How much are dealers willing to deal when your ordering? I've never pre ordered a vehicle so im not sure how much I can push.
I've not yet driven either , but have seen both. My initial observations is that the QX is as or more luxurious inside than the 450. I actually think that it's more comfortable than the 450, but I've heard that the 450 drives pretty nice. I plan on doing test drives early next week so I guess I'll find out then, but I would love to hear any comparisons you all may have.
I have two big considerations when making my decision. One is that it must handle well in the snow and ice. I live in Washington State so we don't get a huge amount of snow, but we get some and I'm kind of a weenie when in comes to that stuff. The H2 is great in the snow so I'm hoping that the QX can hold its own. Second is that I will be towing a horse trailer and a boat. Salesman has said that it is absolutely excellent in the the snow and can tow anything, but that comes from someone with a commission on the line and I'd much rather hear from people with experience on the issues!
I've been trying to gather lots of info on the two vehicles so I can make an informed decision. Any information or experiences from current owners would be really helpful. I'm trying to do this somewhat on my own with very little guidance from the Husband. I think he secretly wishes I will be overwhelmed, uninformed and confused so that I have to ask for help or just give up and keep what I've got! Little does he know that I'm on a mission! :D
Thanks & Happy New Year!
 
I think if you want all the gizmos a fully loaded qx has with tech, touring and theater then you will spend more on the 450 and even more on the 550.
The QX is definitely better value for the money. Besides it is bigger, can probably tow and seat more than the GL's.
Also the QX is no looker but the GL looks like an elongated minivan and looks much worse IMHO. The QX atleast looks like an SUV.
The only decent looking suv with Mercedes is the outgoing G and the redesigned ML.
 
Christa,

Funny you should ask...I have owned the mercedes product in the past and we recently had it narrowed down to the two vehicles as well.

We settled on a 2012 QX in April of this year and have been extremely pleased with it. This is how I would comment on the two vehicles:

1) Interior room-definitely more in the QX. This may or may not matter to you, but my wife, who drives the truck most of the time, finds this very helpful when she has to transport our 6 and 4 year old. This is a very family friendly SUV.

2) Technology-Although there are some suttle differences, they are very similar. I do not believe either truck has an advantage here.

3)Style-I personally like the appearance of the exterior styling more on the QX. The GL looks like an elongated ML to me. The QX is very unique. This is a personal preference. With the AMG package, the GL does have a sportier look.

4) Service-Locally, when I would have to take our former Mercedes in, I was not impressed with care received and how they treated their customers. This could very well be related to my local dealer, and will vary depending on the dealership. I have been nothing short of impressed with the infiniti dealership handling of all service dealings.

5) Cost-I felt that you got more for your money with the QX. I believe the cost of maintenance is similar, but may be a little cheaper with the QX.

6) Gas Mileage- Very comparable, but not really an issue when you are able to spend this kind of money for an SUV.

7) Third row-The QX third row is much roomier and much more functional. Also, the access to the third row in the QX is easy.

By the way, I loved our QX so much, that I just traded my sedan 2 weeks ago for another QX. Now we have 2! We love both of them. I love the flexibility with the kids and the room they have.

I hope that helps.

2012 QX 56 White/Wheat (wife)
2012 QX 56 Liquid Plantinum/Black (me)
 
Hi christa. I did quite a bit of research on the full size SUV market as well prior to buying our qx. Comparing these two was easy. I read a review online where the author essentially said why pay 20k more for less? Less meaning less features, less horsepower, less fuel economy, less passenger room, less towing capability, etc.
However for 2013 the gl class has been twin turbo charged and now the 550 does have more Hp and more torque than the qx but its substantially more money as well.
The gl class is wider than the qx which is disturbing to me as I drive ours daily and it can be a beast in parking lots if the spots are tightly spaced. The height of the qx could be an issue if you have a low hanging garage door. It barely clears ours although ours is in my opinion lower than average.
If you are comparing 2012 models the qx wins out for your needs because of the significant increase in Hp and towing capability. The qx has a class 4 hitch standard. My 3/4 ton diesel truck only has a class 3. Lol. It will tow anything you can hook to it comfortably. Lots of qx owners tow yachts with theirs which was the reasoning behind the heavier standard hitch.
400 Hp is hard to beat. The trans is very responsive as well which is great in traffic. I can hover over the accelerator as opposed to the brake now in stop and go traffic because the trans gears down so smoothly ( as good or better than my diesel with engine braking).
The qx handles more like a sports car than an 8000 pound SUV. It hankies well. I have no issues parking it and I've come to greatly appreciate the cameras on all four sides as well as the sensors.
Most all of the features are standard on the qx. The gl base models have cloth which I found hard to even believe. To outfit a gl equally to a base model qx it would cost 30k or more. This is our first winter with it. Just returned from a 14 hour road trip in which the last 10 hours were in snow, ice and wintery mix conditions. Never a bobble. We have the awd base model. 20inch wheels. Theater package.
Our driveway had about 10 inches of untouched snow in it when we got home and its about a 20 degree incline. Never spun a tire and plowed right through it.
Hope this helps. There are lots of reviews comparing these vehicles online. Make sure you are comparing the same models as the reviews I saw seemed to bounce back and forth between the 450 and 550 depending on how they wanted to represent the vehicle. Pull the specs for each and do the review.
Lots of good guys on here with much more qx experience than myself also. We came over from a Tahoe and have never regretted it one day. We found the dealer we purchased from to be very aggressive with the initial offer both for the tahoe trade in and the qx purchase. The only negotiating I had to do was on the extra packages I purchased.
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Never have had a Mercedes, but I did buy a BMW once. Parts and maintenance costs were out of reason in my opinion.

The QX was for my wife, so she got what she wanted. One thing she purchased was the maintenance package. I have to admit, it's nice to just go in, have it done and then drive home. It's already prepaid for, and the only things it does not cover are brakes and tires.

One last item that is a deal breaker for me. Timing belts. I refuse to buy a vehicle that requires that the timing belts be replaced somewhere between 60K and 100K miles. Infiniti uses timing chains. No scheduled replacement.

So, my vote is for the QX, but good luck on whichever your choose.
 
Thank you all for the responses! That's exactly the info I was hoping for. I will still go drive the GL, but only for comparison. I liked the looks of the GL 550 by far over the 450, but now that they've changed body styles they both look the same and I don't much like either one now. The AMG package is nice looking, but I just don't think the cost is worth it. My husband has a CLS63 AMG and that is the most comfortable car I have ever driven by far. The 450 doesn't come close to that level of luxury/comfort, but sitting in the QX is the closest I've come to that same feel. I also like the styling of the QX. I think it has a very striking look. Very unique! I like that about it! It definitely will not be confused for a mini van! I agree with all of you who have said that you get much more for your money. The 550 similarly equipped is mid to upper $90s easy the 450 not much less than that. I just don't see the value. Thanks Kcrebel for your experiences towing and especially in the snow. That sets my mind at ease! I'm a big girly-wuss when it comes to snow/ice and I hate having to ask my husband to drive for me. I do fine when I'm out and I always make it back but I have hand cramps, a headache and require a drink when I'm done!
So, unless I absolutely hate it when I drive it, which doesn't seem likely, I'll hopefully be putting in an order. I'm at the beach on vacation with my boys this week so as soon as I get home I'm giving the H2 a bath and heading to my infinity dealer! As much as I love my hummer and hate trading it in, I'm actually excited about the QX!
Thanks again! Your info is much appreciated!
Christa
 
Christa,

We had a 2007 GL 320 (diesel). After 4 years, it still drove well, but it felt like it was falling apart. Didn't hold up a well as we had hoped. We got rid of it and waited almost a year for a replacement. Ended up with the QX. Definitely feels more luxurious. We only have 10K miles on it, with most of the mileage around town. We have taken two long trips, and it is very comfortable and quiet. Hope this helps.
 
Hello Christa,
Another vote for the QX here. I was on the market for a full sized SUV and very quickly narrowed in down to the QX and GL. IN fact I was looking only at the GL becasue we have no infiniti dealer in my immediate vicinity but after reading and testing I went for the QX even thought it means a longer distance to service and possibly short interval services at a Nissan dealer with major (7500 and 15000 mile) services 2 hours out.
The decision for the QX was made easier also by the prices on the remaining 2012's but independent of that I still would make the same decision. The Qx is a better financial value. Decking one maximally with all packages and all possible options at MSRP (which hopefully no one pays..:) ) still rings in under 80K. A pimped up Benz would cost you 90 in a 450 and six figures in the 550. Power in the 450 with the twin turbo V8 is still less than the naturally aspirated engine in the QX, so are the torque and towing capacity as well. The cabin is more commodious in the QX, the leather feels more supple. Both have great rides. Fuel consumption still is better in the QX. Regarding the aesthetics... to each their own. Personally I find the QX more of a truck, bullish and solid looking and that's the way I like it. The GL is somewhat more svelte if one can say that of a full sized SUV. But it is also a little more generic.
Also the GL is in it's first year of production during which all models independent of their manufacturer are more prone to reliability issues. Add to that the lower reliability of Benz to infiniti and you might get a headache or two more. Again these are just statistics based. you might have a great Benz or the infrequent problem QX and statistics become irrelevant. QXes also hold their value quite well.
With regards to quality of service, I can not comment on Benz. You mention your husband drives a CLS AMG so you probably have an idea of their service. As you correctly state, the level of refinement in that car (CLS) is different and not quite comparable to the GL - I did very strongly consider one but opted for a Panamera. I have never owned a Benz and as such can not comment on service, though I expect an average dealership should be good. If the GL's refinement were on par with the CLS and the issue were refinement, the argument might be a little more difficult to make but as it stands, the QX interior is what they claim it is based on... a luxury jet.
Look at both and enjoy the decision making process. As said, the QX has my vote
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I have owned both a MB R63 AMG and currently a 2011 QX56 SUV. The R63 drove great when it wasn't in the shop. Unfortunately, in 4-years and 56K miles of ownership it was in the shop for 75+ days for warranty work repairs. The last time it was towed in (at 56K miles) with a broken connecting rod and massive valvetrain and piston damage MB wanted $65K for a new motor at which point my extended warranty company paid me the value of the vehicle and I sold the rolling chassis for salvage. At this point I started looking for a vehicle large enough for the family with all their stuff, AWD and an excellent reputation for quality. The 2011 QX56 met my needs. After 2 years and 30K miles I have had only one issue (a software update) and I have never looked back. The R63 on the other hand had transmission issues, bent seat rails, rear hatch problems, A/C control problems, rear windows that would loudly "clunk" when they closed, together costing thousands of dollars (thankfully covered under warranty) and spent numerous days in the shop (75+). That being said, I do miss the R63 when it was running right. Now, when someone asks me about Mercedes, I tell them they make excellent lease vehicles during the warranty period but are not good candidates for long term ownership, based upon my personal experience.
 
Neuneleven, the husbands CLS63 is new so we haven't had any maintenance issues with it yet, but we've bought several Porsches from the same dealer ( MB/Audi/Porsche dealerships owned by the same family) and they've treated us very well with our other vehicles and I would expect they'll do he same with the MB. Very confident they would give us a very good deal on a new MB 450/550 and a good trade in value on my Hummer, but I don't think it's the vehicle that the QX is and like you said, financially the QX is a better buy. How do you like your Panamera? The husband wanted me to get one a while back, but I need an SUV. They are cool though!
Achaar, good to hear from someone who had/has both to compare and prefers the QX.
Manwagon, sorry to hear about your issues with the r63. Not fun to have a vehicle constantly in the shop. Hopefully your dealer and warranty absorbed most of the costs. They can't do anything about the frustration though. Glad to know that the QX has been pretty much trouble free for so long. That's what I'm looking for! :D
Christa
 
ChristaJ said:
Neuneleven, the husbands CLS63 is new so we haven't had any maintenance issues with it yet, but we've bought several Porsches from the same dealer ( MB/Audi/Porsche dealerships owned by the same family) and they've treated us very well with our other vehicles and I would expect they'll do he same with the MB. Very confident they would give us a very good deal on a new MB 450/550 and a good trade in value on my Hummer, but I don't think it's the vehicle that the QX is and like you said, financially the QX is a better buy. How do you like your Panamera? The husband wanted me to get one a while back, but I need an SUV. They are cool though!
Christa
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Have a 2010 P4S which together with the new GTS is fast enough - not as hair raising as the turbo but enough oomp to get moving in a hurry and very well balanced - as close as you would get to a four door equivalent of a 911 which I've had previously. With an expresso leather interior and outstanding fit and finish, it rides alike a sedan till you push it. I love it so far.

With the business and good experience you've had with the dealer, you very likely would get a new vehicle from them on good if not great terms. My true caveat is, it remains a first generation build ad those are inherently more trouble prone as a group - which again doesn't guarantee anything because you might get that one which rides and handles well for years. The QX already is well established. It is not perfect - no driver massage option if you care for such (which I don't), no internet connectivity like Audi and one can always find a thing or tow to gripe about. But step back and take a look at the package and drive one. Believe me, it is a great package. I have winter tires on an AWD porsche and it has been sitting in the garage, and that is not because it is winter and I am protecting it from the elements, it was my daily driver before.The QX is a real truck and a fine one at that.
 
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QX 56 all the way!

I have owned a Mercedes Benz in the past. When I brought my QX I looked at the GL also. I drove both of them. Value wise, there was no way I could convince myself to by the GL. The QX interior is roomier and classier than the GL. The seats are wider (good for us big boys). The ride is great. Twenty grand saved brought me a commuter car! Now both the family and I are both happy.:)
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I like the looks of the new 2013 GL that is much more refined looking and less boy than the 1st generation of the GL. If I was going to order a new GL there was a 5 month wait for the 350 bluetec and 4 month wait for the 450/550 with no rebates. Got $9K off of MSRP from my Infiniti dealer for the QX and that sealed the deal. Saved close to $20K compared to getting the GL350 bluetec. That's alot of gas, tune ups and sets of tires I can spend on the QX from saving $20K. I'd be wary about the 1st year of any vehicle, especially a Mercedes. From experience, my cousin hated his 2003 SL500 cuz it was in the shop more than any other of his cars he'd ever had and there was less than 27000KM on it after 3 years when he sold it. Same thing with a 2003 BMW 330Ci my friend had. Tranny blew up on him with less than 60000KM and the BMW mechanic noted alot of SMG tranny problems the E46 BMW M3's were having just out of warranty...a $10K plus repair job usually.

The QX56 has been out a few years now...it's not perfect, but alot better track record than most German or English auto manufacturers. Even though they will be all under warranty, I'd rather be driving my vehicle than have it sit in the shop getting fixed or diagnosed.
 
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