Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:49:51 GMT, Dan
wrote:


Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:


On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:25:50 GMT, Dan
wrote:



I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily
commute and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a
Mercedes but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.

Jumpin' Tree Frogs...

And I'm bitchin about the price of a 2006 F-250 diesel!! :)

There isn't that much of a difference!


I suppose if you consider $20,000 dollar difference minor. :)

What's that GL450 run nowadays.

$55,600. A Ford F-250 base model is nearly $51,000 depending on the
specific model. Factor in depreciation and the MB is probably the same
after a few years.

Eisboch wrote:

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
. ..

On 11/4/2006 7:25 PM, Dan wrote:

I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily commute
and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a Mercedes
but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.

Thanks,
Dan


A 4.8 liter engine for a daily commuter? A fool and his money...


Depends on where and how far your commute is. These modern engines aren't a
Toyota Prius in terms of gas mileage, but they aren't that bad either
considering the performance they deliver.

Eisboch



My '04 X5 4.4 gets 16/22 mpg (city/highway). The 3.0 gets 16/21. I
have the same experience with the five F-150's I own (for my company).
The V-6's are marginally worse than the V-8's. The smaller engines just
have to work harder to move the same vehicle.

I wonder if the same is true with boats? Since running WOT in the ocean
can only happen on a calm day does a bigger engine give you better
economy for trolling, cruising, and running at near-idle in the no-wake
zones like the intracoastal waterway?

Eisboch wrote:

"Capt John" wrote in message
ups.com...

Dan wrote:

I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily
commute and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a
Mercedes but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.

Thanks,
Dan

It's your money, but I wouldn't consider either of these to be an
acceptable towing vehicle. Their cars designed to look like something
else, don't be fooled. I would go with a domestic vehicle equipped with
the towing package. Towing is not easy on any vehicle, but using an
expensive vehicle like your talking about, that really isn't up to the
task, is foolish.
I'd get to know the service manager real well if I were you, your going
to be leaving some cash with him.



Just for kicks I looked up the tow capacities of a 2001 BMW X5 with the 4.4L
V8 and was surprised.
It was the only vehicle out of the 30 or so manufacturers that listed the
tow capacity in terms of transmission type, off road towing limitations and
maximum towing of a trailer without brakes. No other manufacturer breaks it
down like that. The ratings a

4.4L V8 with automatic transmission: 6000lbs
3.0L I6 with automatic transmission: 5000lbs
3.0L I6 with manual transmission: 6000lbs
Max towing weight without trailer brakes: (all) 1,650lbs
Max towing weight off-road with trailer brakes: 3,300lbs

I've seen many X5's on the road with a factory, receiver type hitch but
frankly I don't think I've ever seen one towing anything. It's interesting
though, that BMW rates them in this kind of detail, unlike other
manufacturers.

http://a178.g.akamai.net/7/178/8932/...owingguide.pdf

or: http://tinyurl.com/4wbcl

Eisboch



The '04 X5 4.4i is rated at 6000#. The M-B GL450 is rated at 7500#.
The X-5 tows very well although I have never pulled more than about 4000#.

Duke Nukem wrote:

On Mon, 06 Nov 2006 00:02:45 GMT, Dan
wrote:


$55,600. A Ford F-250 base model is nearly $51,000 depending on the
specific model. Factor in depreciation and the MB is probably the same
after a few years.


Well, no - it's not $51,000 because I just priced one out.

$34,000 and change and that's the XLT option with the Tow Command and
some other goodies.

Well, yes - read "depending on the specific model" and go to ford.com.

Dan wrote:
Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:49:51 GMT, Dan
wrote:


Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:


On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:25:50 GMT, Dan
wrote:



I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily
commute and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a
Mercedes but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.

Jumpin' Tree Frogs...

And I'm bitchin about the price of a 2006 F-250 diesel!! :)

There isn't that much of a difference!


I suppose if you consider $20,000 dollar difference minor. :)

What's that GL450 run nowadays.

$55,600. A Ford F-250 base model is nearly $51,000 depending on the
specific model. Factor in depreciation and the MB is probably the same
after a few years.

I don't know where you got those numbers. My brothers F-250 with four
wheel drive was around $25K out the door (give or take a thousand),
it's a 2005. He did buy it with all kinds of incentives, but it was a
real world price. Now it is a little on the limited side in terms of
options, but it's got a gas V8, automatic transmission, A/C, anti lock
brakes, air bags. For a towing vehicle, it's just fine (get's like 16
MPG overall, not that bad for a heavy work truck). Now if your talking
about a fully loaded truck with a diesel, your price is probably more
realistic. But comparing a truck like that to the vehicles your talking
about is like comparing apples to oranges. A truck like that could tow
loads all day long, your vehicles would be heading for the scrap heap
in a hurry if you did that to them.

Dan wrote:
Eisboch wrote:

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
. ..

On 11/4/2006 7:25 PM, Dan wrote:

I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily commute
and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a Mercedes
but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.

Thanks,
Dan


A 4.8 liter engine for a daily commuter? A fool and his money...


Depends on where and how far your commute is. These modern engines aren't a
Toyota Prius in terms of gas mileage, but they aren't that bad either
considering the performance they deliver.

Eisboch



My '04 X5 4.4 gets 16/22 mpg (city/highway). The 3.0 gets 16/21. I
have the same experience with the five F-150's I own (for my company).
The V-6's are marginally worse than the V-8's. The smaller engines just
have to work harder to move the same vehicle.

I wonder if the same is true with boats? Since running WOT in the ocean
can only happen on a calm day does a bigger engine give you better
economy for trolling, cruising, and running at near-idle in the no-wake
zones like the intracoastal waterway?

A boat engine is running under a heavier load than a car or truck all
the time. It takes a lot more energy to push a boat hull through the
water. No one really run's their boat at WOT for long periods of time
unless their a speed freak or they just don't care. But the engines are
running at higher RPM's (3000 to 3500 RPM) for longer periods of time.
And yes, typically, with inboard gas engines, a V8 will outlast a V6
simply because the V6 is working much harder to put out the same power.

Dan wrote:
Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:49:51 GMT, Dan
wrote:


Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:


On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:25:50 GMT, Dan
wrote:



I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily
commute and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a
Mercedes but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.

Jumpin' Tree Frogs...

And I'm bitchin about the price of a 2006 F-250 diesel!! :)

There isn't that much of a difference!


I suppose if you consider $20,000 dollar difference minor. :)

What's that GL450 run nowadays.
A Ford F-250 base model is nearly $51,000 depending on the
specific model.

Bull****!!!!!

"basskisser" wrote in message
oups.com...

Dan wrote:
Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:49:51 GMT, Dan
wrote:


Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:


On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:25:50 GMT, Dan
wrote:



I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily
commute and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always
change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a
Mercedes but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.

Jumpin' Tree Frogs...

And I'm bitchin about the price of a 2006 F-250 diesel!! :)

There isn't that much of a difference!


I suppose if you consider $20,000 dollar difference minor. :)

What's that GL450 run nowadays.
A Ford F-250 base model is nearly $51,000 depending on the
specific model.

Bull****!!!!!


May be close to that list price. My 2004 Silverado HD LT 4x4 Diesel was
list about $47k.

Capt John wrote:

Dan wrote:

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:


On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:49:51 GMT, Dan
wrote:



Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:



On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:25:50 GMT, Dan
wrote:




I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily
commute and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a
Mercedes but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.

Jumpin' Tree Frogs...

And I'm bitchin about the price of a 2006 F-250 diesel!! :)

There isn't that much of a difference!


I suppose if you consider $20,000 dollar difference minor. :)

What's that GL450 run nowadays.

$55,600. A Ford F-250 base model is nearly $51,000 depending on the
specific model. Factor in depreciation and the MB is probably the same
after a few years.


I don't know where you got those numbers. My brothers F-250 with four
wheel drive was around $25K out the door (give or take a thousand),
it's a 2005. He did buy it with all kinds of incentives, but it was a
real world price. Now it is a little on the limited side in terms of
options, but it's got a gas V8, automatic transmission, A/C, anti lock
brakes, air bags. For a towing vehicle, it's just fine (get's like 16
MPG overall, not that bad for a heavy work truck). Now if your talking
about a fully loaded truck with a diesel, your price is probably more
realistic. But comparing a truck like that to the vehicles your talking
about is like comparing apples to oranges. A truck like that could tow
loads all day long, your vehicles would be heading for the scrap heap
in a hurry if you did that to them.


The discussion was about prices, not towing capability. I have a
customer who paid just under $51K for an F-250 from the dealer's showroom.

basskisser wrote:

Dan wrote:

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:


On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:49:51 GMT, Dan
wrote:



Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:



On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:25:50 GMT, Dan
wrote:




I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily
commute and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a
Mercedes but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.

Jumpin' Tree Frogs...

And I'm bitchin about the price of a 2006 F-250 diesel!! :)

There isn't that much of a difference!


I suppose if you consider $20,000 dollar difference minor. :)

What's that GL450 run nowadays.

A Ford F-250 base model is nearly $51,000 depending on the

specific model.


Bull****!!!!!


Kevin has come to play. Obsessed???

I just "built" a fully loaded F-250 on ford.com and the MSRP came to
$54,065. It was almost $51K before options. To help you with the math,
that is only $1610.00 less than the Mercedes Benz GL450 base model. Now
start spinning my post...