Faults:

Just bought it. It drives fine.

Minor cosmetic rust at the far ends... normal for a 29 year old vehicle.

Damp carpets - there is a leak somewhere. Not my problem since the car will be in dry garages for the next 6 years - and will be driven on dry days.

General Comments:

Refined for an army truck.

Smooth automatic gearbox with good pick-up from a standstill and a lack of pace above 60mph.

Drives straight even on big gum-ball tyres (General Grabber AT).

So much nicer than a LR Defender to drive - and it's automatic!

My reason for purchase is as a shopping trolley for 18 year old learner driver with a grandparent supervising in the passenger seat.

Insurance rating is very low. The basic insurance is UKP128 if you have a locked garage and low mileage. Learner driving insurance is affordable.

Faults:

Nothing to date.

General Comments:

No one can believe that this vehicle is 8 years old. Still finding my way around all the features.

This is a one owner car and so far it cannot be faulted. The most surprising experience is the almost silent ride considering that there is a diesel in the front.

The comfort level for the first 2 rows of seats is excellent, we have not used the 3rd row yet so cannot comment on ease of access back there.

Daimler Benz provides instruction books that run almost 700 pages, so it will be a while finding what each of the bell and whistle controls does.

The high seating gives all riders a wonderful all round view and the seats are well contoured and supportive.

For the price well below almost all brand new cars and the ability to fuel up at a little over 80c a litre, the savings keep adding up.

I am aware that this model has some issues with suspension struts, 3 have been replaced so the 4th may need to be fitted sometime. I am prepared for that.

Faults:

I replaced the tie rod ends and ball joints (was already an issue when I purchased the vehicle).

Replaced driver's side door lock actuator.

Replaced original stereo head unit, which turned out to have had coins put into it?!?!

Soon I will be replacing the brakes/rotors/calipers, which I feel are inadequate for a vehicle of this size and performance, especially if you use the vehicle for towing.

Driver's side seat is beginning to show its age, but the seams are holding up nicely.

The sunroof is a bit finicky.

The finish on the wood steering wheel is crazed.

General Comments:

I'm going to get this out of the way from the get go by saying that this is by far the nicest SUV I've ever driven/owned.

Its size (not too huge to park in town), shape (c'mon, you know you LOVE the way they look), interior appointment/durability - for being 11 years old and over 100,000 miles logged, it has held up quite nicely and has features that keep up with most of today's technology.

Lots of head room, and plenty of power to keep my thirst for speed/acceleration quenched.

Horrendous fuel economy (before I lifted the truck, the very best mileage I had pulled from it was 14.9 MPG, but it usually was between 11.5-13.5 MPG With the lift kit & roof rack, bead lock Huchinsons and BFG Mud Terrain T/As it gets 10-13 MPG, so its thirst for premium fuel can put a dent in your wallet over time.

I am 6'4" tall, and I find that the brake pedal is too close to the accelerator, as well as mounted too high and close to the driver to make a clean transition between the two pedals - I find myself using the edge of the brake pedal, not the center of it, and I can see how this would be an issue for persons of shorter stature as well.

After adding lift/mud terrains/rock sliders/roof rack, tent & ladder, this vehicle has become the most capable off road machine I've ever owned! It now is a vehicle that you go to dinner, valet'd, then head for the nearest beach, rutted trail, or spend the next month traveling overland off road in.

Here is a link to a video of me just messing in the mud with friends:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5Ju9xKFw_4