My mom has a 2008 Mercedes C350. Non 4Matic all-wheel drive, as the 350's don't have that as an option in the United States. She loves it. The power, the quality, the brand, yada yada.



Only issue- she now lives in Michigan. And last winter she found out that RWD does not work well in Michigan snow, so she's looking for something to replace her car before the snow starts falling. Any ideas? An SUV is most likely in the cards. She's not getting something new, something slightly used as a 2007+ with <30K miles. She absolutely loves Mercedes-Benz. Everything about the brand.

The list:
1) Mercedes GLK
2) 2009+ Mercedes ML
3) 2007+ BMW X5
4) 2007+ Cadillac Escalade.

Her budget is in the low to mid 40's. Feel free to offer input and suggestions. I'll end up going with her to buy the car and will ultimately influence her decision the most so I want to make sure she gets a good car.

 

Put some snow tires on it then she will be fine.

Otherwise let her get what she wants. Seems like she wants the Benz, i say get the ML over the GLK

If you talk her out of a benz and she hates the new car.. then you will get a beating.

 

with the snow tires. A good set of snow tires on any car and you'll be good to go. You'll be better prepared for the snow with that than an AWD/4WD SUV on all-seasons.

And I really don't mean to be rude, but we have enough city SUVs. I wouldn't recommend adding one to the list.

BUT if she must get a new SUV, I'd go for the GLK. Pretty much a jacked up C-Class.

 

She has thought about snow tires but at the same time she does want and have the need for an SUV. Her and my stepdad own two other houses that they rent out and plan on flipping and this past summer my mom would have giant plants and trees and other miscellaneous items in her trunk and it just wasn't practical. Her house is a lakehouse and they have two boats and two Sea-Doos- she has to either hire someone (as she has been doing) or borrow her dad's Jeep when the jet skis and boats have to be taken out/put in the water. Plus she just got a yellow lab puppy that'll have to be hauled around places.

And by no means do I want to talk her out of the Benzes. I love them both and my dad has a GL450 (that was originally my moms and then my dad got when they divorced in 2008) that has been great. I just want to make sure she sees what else is out there. I suggested a Range Rover Sport and she said they're too boxy. Suggested Acura MDX and she asked if people viewed Acuras as nice cars.

 

In that case, I'd suggest going for an ML or GL, but I think they're due for an update soon.

Q7? Or the new Cayenne?

 

People have forgotten what a good set of snow tires can do. I learned to drive with late 60's, early 70's RWD American cars, throwing a set of snow tires on during the winter made all of the difference.

 

Audi Q7?

 

The Towing limit on the X5 is 6000lbs, ML550 has a 7000lbs limit, GLK is 3500lbs, Escalade is 7700lbs for the AWD model, 8000lbs for base 4 x 2 and the Q7 is 6000 lbs!

This may eliminate the GLK as it's limit is only 3500lbs. If she is happy with benz, I'd suggest you get her an ML550. If you want to look at a different brand, I'd go straight away with either the X5 or Q7 and the escalade last as it's a pretty big and beefy SUV that isn't designed as well as the Benz your mom is used to.

 

I say Q7, because they don't seem to be run-of-the-mill, and are pretty nice for a wagon on steroids.

 

From the list you provided, I'd say ML. My aunt has one and they are pretty nice. Good smooth ride, and in the record snowfall we had here earlier this year, she said she was surprised on how well it handled. I would also suggest an 07-09 Lexus GX470. My mom has one and it has been great for hauling around plants and rugs and other smaller furniture. We also have hitched up some ATV's to it before and it seemed like it had plenty of power and strength. I say the Lexus...

 

I'd say the new MDX.

 

I'll suggest the BMW X5 or Mercedes Benz ML. Both very solid SUVs.

 

What about an RDX?

 

Thank you for all your input so far guys. Right now she's leaning on the GLK. More specifically, this one. http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national

She's already called the sales lady who she bought her past two Benzes from. Hmm.

 

It's crazy to consider a GLK or an Escalade, completely different classes IMO.

If she doesn't need the size, definitely go with the GLK or get snow tires for the C class.

My FWD with snow tires outdoes my mother's AWD MDX any day in any snow.

 

GL since she loves MB

 

I don't see any reason for her not to love the GLK as much as she likes her current C-Class considering their similarities. Best of luck.

Why is the hood not latched down?

 

She's an odd woman. I think half of her actually wants a new car because she needs it and the other half of her just wants a new car. She even asked if they made a GLK550...power hungry much?

She already had a 2007 GL450 that my dad now owns since they divorced. She liked that car.

Yeah the GLK is a lot like the C. I'm not sure why the hood isn't latched. That's just one of the GLKs she is looking at. I'll find out more tonight when she calls me. She was supposed to call her Benz saleslady today.

 

sounds like she already set her mind on glk. kinda pointless to post a thread for inputs..

 

Just because she found a GLK first doesn't mean she's not looking at other cars.

 

 

Well guys...my mom is taking delivery of a 2011 GLK350 4Matic on Thursday. She seriously considered the ML350 (test drove one) and the BMW X5 but both were just much more than she wanted in terms of size and price. She's ecstatic. I'll post pics when I can.