The Cottage

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ML from Deck

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My Street Looking South

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My Street Looking North

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The Fireplace @ Night

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2008 ML320 CDI | Iridium Silver | Black ARTICO Leather | Premium Package (H/K Logic7, Parktronic, Rear Heated Seats, Rear Power Hatch, DVD Nav, 10-way Front Seats w/ Memory) | Backup Camera | Aluminum Running Boards | 4500K MTEC Low-beam HID | 30% Metallic Tint | Boomerang2 Recovery System | Weathertech Front Floorliners | Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 Winter Tires

Ian, say it isn't so....but it's too late!! What the !#&#@ !! Anyway, congrats on the new ML! When did you get it?

Where's your cottage? Beautiful scenery!

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Dinan S1 pkg / 22" Iforged Swift - Toyo 295F*315R / Eisenmann Race - OEM tips / H & R 15mm front
30mm rear spacers / Euro-spec headlights / CF M Competition steering wheel / Full CF interior /
6000K D2S / HID fogs / AiBrights V3 / Interior Xenon / LED sidemarkers / Matte black grille & hood vents

Does anyone else see that very scary face in the fire? Nice pics, but an ML???

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'08 335i Coupe - Barbera Red / Saddle Leather / Light Poplar Wood / 6spd Manual
Options: Sport, Premium, Cold Weather, Comfort Access, Active Steering (awesome!), Power Rear Shade, IPod Adapter, Navigation w/IDrive
Mods: M6 Wheels, Split Armrest, M-Steering Wheel, Euro Light Switch w/Rear Fog Lights, Short Shift Knob w/Matching E-Brake Handle, Clear Reflectors, CDV, Clear Bra

Retired:'04 X5 4.4i

The cottage is at Horseshoe Valley. You know that ski resort just above Barrie?

I got the ML at a Benz dealer in north Toronto, and they took the X5 as trade-in. Funny enough, while all the BMW dealers were offering me $27000 as a trade-in for the X5, Benz gave me mid-30s, a free CD-changer, winter-mats and chrome key rings.

The ML itself was $49000 with just 22000KM on it. Naturally there is a reason why MLs statistically cost less than X5s, but so far I can speak praise of this acquisition. BTW, I tried the ML in "the woods" at Horseshoe, and I can safely tell you without a shade of doubt that THIS is an off-road vehicle which the X5 can't touch.

I'll write-up a feature comparison later in the month with all the pros and cons versus the X5. I need more time to fully analyze what I like about it, and what I don't.

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2008 ML320 CDI | Iridium Silver | Black ARTICO Leather | Premium Package (H/K Logic7, Parktronic, Rear Heated Seats, Rear Power Hatch, DVD Nav, 10-way Front Seats w/ Memory) | Backup Camera | Aluminum Running Boards | 4500K MTEC Low-beam HID | 30% Metallic Tint | Boomerang2 Recovery System | Weathertech Front Floorliners | Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 Winter Tires

Great pics. Beautiful scenery! I'm glad you're happy with your ML, but it's simply not for me. But, hey, as long as you're happy. That's what matters. Congrats on your new ride, and enjoy.

Juan

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Whenever I text "Barack," my phone suggests the word "Capable." I guess my my phone IS pretty smart.

Ian now I know where to crash when I'm up there snowboarding. TIA bro!! And about that ML500....very nice but I'm not feeling the colour. Just not feeling it.

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Dinan S1 pkg / 22" Iforged Swift - Toyo 295F*315R / Eisenmann Race - OEM tips / H & R 15mm front
30mm rear spacers / Euro-spec headlights / CF M Competition steering wheel / Full CF interior /
6000K D2S / HID fogs / AiBrights V3 / Interior Xenon / LED sidemarkers / Matte black grille & hood vents

Since we are throwing stones... I find it hard to believe that ML went from

"It holds the dubious dubious honour of coming rock bottom of the 2004 Top Gear Survey - and compared to the likes of VW's Touareg and Volvo's XC90, the M-Class also seems rather too agricultural to be competitive these days." and

"the M-Class came last in our ownership survey, so we'd advise that you just, er, don't. If you have to, then buy an ML500, because no one wants them, so the dealer will bite your hand off at the elbow," to best of class. Car and Driver doesn't think so...

"It looks like the last M-class has been gutted—seats, dash, and all. The new goods look like they came directly from any glitzy Benz sedan, and the sheetmetal has been sculpted. Don't look for low-range four-wheel drive (or any traditional shifter), though—this one's built for the roads of Beverly Hills. Even at $40,500, I'm sure there will be a lot of takers."

"Here's the good: a brawny V-6 coupled to a transmission that shifts when it should, a new exterior that makes the old one look hopelessly dowdy, and that high-chair seating I think 80 percent of SUV buyers are looking for. That's it. Our test car crashed and clopped over frost heaves, tossed heads like a mid-'80s Jeep Cherokee, and had way too much hard plastic inside for a $40,500 vehicle. Since the M-class has a new chassis, I was expecting E-class slickness and poise. The ML, however, feels harsh, maybe even a little clumsy, and I was disappointed at the lack of practical details inside, such as underfloor storage."

But I have some time this afternoon and will head over to my local Merc dealership for a test drive.

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the REAL Shaka Zulu
My X5 Page: http://www.xoutpost.com/userpage/RealShakaZulu.html

Silver w/ Black Interior
'03 4.4i w/ Sport & Winter Pkg
ClearBra, BimmerSpinners, XM Radio, Pirelli Scorpions, Thule Rack (Snowboard), ADS Amp, MB Quart (front), Focal (rear), JL Subwoofer, GG Bailey Custom Mats, Dension Ice>Link, ACS Pedals

Wrong board, this is an X5 board. Just kidding. Good for you, as long as you are happy, that's what counts. BTW, do you plan on delivering milk to all your neighbors in the woods?

Very nice cottage! Love those pictures...thanks for sharing. Can't wait for you full review/comparison on the X and ML.