zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
At $10,999, Could This 2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI Have You Feeling Large And In Charge?
At $10,999, Could This 2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI Have You Feeling Large And In Charge?-October 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:09:35

Image for article titled At $10,999, Could This 2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI Have You Feeling Large And In Charge?

If you like Range Rover-level luxury and mystique, but need three-rows in your SUV then maybe today’s Mercedes GL320 will the car to scratch that itch. We’ll just have to see if its price has you itching to buy.

Yesterday’s was offered with just 2,300 miles on the clock, and a price premium driven by that lack of use. Unfortunately for the seller, squirreling away a car for a few years to grab such an almost-new premium doesn’t work all that well on cars that, for one reason or another, suffer extreme depreciation. One thing Alfas do really well is depreciation. That made our candidate’s $48,999 price a bit too hard to swallow, ending up in a 57% No Dice loss.

Interestingly, yesterday’s Alfa had one thing in common with the car we’ll be looking at today. That similarity? They both are painted white. Other than that I can’t imagine two cars as seemingly contradictory as the tiny two-seat 4C with its 2,300 miles, and this seven-seater that rocks a hefty 200K on its clock.

Image for article titled At $10,999, Could This 2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI Have You Feeling Large And In Charge?

The big GL was introduced back in 2006 in the form of an extended wheelbase edition of the smaller, two-row M-class. Both cars were built in the same Tuscaloosa, Alabama manufacturing plant. Mercedes’ goal with the big seven-seater was to have it take over the mantle of top dog in their SUV lineup allowing the company to finally phase out the incredibly long-serving Geländewagen. Buyers disagreed in principle with this plan and the company was forced to sell both models—the G-wagon moving even farther up-market— and raking in money hand over fist on each one. I actually don’t think Daimler will ever be allowed to end G-wagon production.

This CDI edition comes in Arctic White over a cream leather interior. No, that’s not the most exciting color combination one could imagine, but it’s timeless and let’s be honest, you can’t get bored with something that’s already kind of boring out of the box.

The best thing about this first generation of GL is that it still looks contemporary with Mercedes’ current line up. Seriously, if you saw one of these advertised as a 2021 model would you call shenanigans? I think not.

Image for article titled At $10,999, Could This 2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI Have You Feeling Large And In Charge?

That kind of dull paint color is still all kinds of shiny, and matches well with the heavily tinted windows and handsome five-spoke alloy wheels. There’s no yellowing of the headlamp covers, nor any peppering noticeable on the nose so those 200,000 miles must have been fairly kind and not racked up behind gravel trucks.

Image for article titled At $10,999, Could This 2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI Have You Feeling Large And In Charge?

The interior appears just as inviting, with leather seating surfaces on all three rows and a panoramic moon roof up top to let plenty of daylight in. The only issue in here is an elbow-worn armrest cover and an infotainment screen that’s last-decade sized.

Aside from those demerits, the interior exudes German luxury appointments and looks to have held up pretty well. The capacious load area is equally up to the task and features a rare sight—an actual Weathertech mat in the wild!

Image for article titled At $10,999, Could This 2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI Have You Feeling Large And In Charge?

The big GL is a unibody truck but is still pretty heavy despite the lack of a separate frame. These trucks tip the scales at up to 5,400 pounds and that can mean a thirsty driving experience.

Fortunately for all you frugal types, this one sports the OM642 V6 turbo diesel under its hood. That three-litre engine features an all-aluminum build and an odd 72° angle of the dangle between its direct-injected banks. In the GL it’s good for 215 horsepower and a massive 398 lb-ft of torque. That all rolls through Mercedes’ 7-speed automatic and the 4MATIC AWD system that does all the torque distribution so you don’t have to.

Image for article titled At $10,999, Could This 2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI Have You Feeling Large And In Charge?

The ad gives no word on the car’s mechanical condition, nor its past maintenance history. That’s somewhat alarming for a car of this level of complexity and expense when repairs are needed. That being said, the ad does call the car “gorgeous” and notes that it comes with a clear title, both valid advocacies.

The asking price for this diesel behemoth is $10,999, which is a far cry from the original MSRP that would have been somewhere north of $60K. Time and those miles have obviously pared that down, but they haven’t done the same to the big Benz’s style nor—in this car’s case, at least—its appearance.

Image for article titled At $10,999, Could This 2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI Have You Feeling Large And In Charge?

What do you think, does this big Benz seem to still have it? And whatever that “it” is, do you think anyone should pay $10,999 to get it?

You decide!

Los Angeles, CA , or go here if the ad disappears.

H/T to FauxShizzle for the hookup!

Help me out with NPOND. Hit me up at and send me a fixed-price tip. Remember to include your Kinja handle.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
The 2017 Lexus RX 350 F Sport Mails It In 
The 2017 Lexus RX 350 F Sport Mails It In 
crossovers are many. Lexus RX crossovers are legion. You can run, but you can’t hide. Because you will see 12 of them crammed in a 10-spot parking lot, we had to see if the latest one was any good. However, it was weirdly disappointing, and not just because it’s a...
Oct 26, 2026
For $4,800, Would You Be A Goofus Buying This 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR4?
For $4,800, Would You Be A Goofus Buying This 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR4?
Today’s Galant VR4 is #312 out of a production run of 2,000, a number needed toward satisfying the model’s FIA Group A production certification. That’s not the only number associated with the car. As we’ll see, there’s also its price. It’s fun to be scared, right? I mean like roller...
Oct 26, 2026
At $12,995, Could This “Scary Fast” 1986 Buick Regal Scare Up A Deal?
At $12,995, Could This “Scary Fast” 1986 Buick Regal Scare Up A Deal?
It’s Halloween and what better car to have for today’s than one that’s described as being so fast it’s scary. We’ll still have to see whether this trick car’s price proves to be a treat. As Red Green so sagely advised, if they don’t find you handsome they should at...
Oct 26, 2026
At $4,500, Would You Consider Picking Up This Custom 1991 Plymouth Voyager?
At $4,500, Would You Consider Picking Up This Custom 1991 Plymouth Voyager?
Rightly or wrongly, the minivan has long been imputed as the auto enthusiast’s white flag of surrender. Today’s Plymouth is a custom minivan you might get enthusiastic about, that is, if its price proves half the battle. A few years back I went to a local hang that was offering...
Oct 26, 2026
Here's What 'Call For Price' On A Dealer's Website Really Means
Here's What 'Call For Price' On A Dealer's Website Really Means
One of the most can often be boiled down to three words: “call for price.” It seems simple enough; call the dealership and they’ll tell you how much it costs. But the subtext to this command will give you a pretty big clue as to whether or not you even...
Oct 26, 2026
How I Conquered The Greatest Road In The World In Mazda's Diesel Manual Wagon
How I Conquered The Greatest Road In The World In Mazda's Diesel Manual Wagon
This summer I joined my German friends Andreas and Josi on a road trip to a wedding in Romania. I knew little about the country, and even less about the bride and groom, but that didn’t matter. I was about to drive some of the greatest roads on earth in...
Oct 26, 2026
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved