^^ That brings up an interesting point. Why do these not garner the instant derision that Hummers did as enviro-destroyers? Anything to do with the "class" of people that buy them? Or is it just the Euro lineage that gets the MB a free pass?
I have a lot of derision for Hummers, well H2s and H3s anyway, because they were just cashing in on the image of the original, they were all about the show. I have a lot of respect for the H1 and this MB, they are the real deal and there is nothing phony about them. Now the people that buy them to drive to the mall, that's a different story. On the other hand, as people point out you can buy whatever you want, and if I was filthy rich maybe this would be a popular ride in my 12 car garage.
I would maybe dispute how safe these things are. I don't think they were built with a crushable front zone; if they are a steel box like they seem to be - and why wouldn't they be, the original design wasn't to make it safe on the highway - then crashing one would not be very pleasant. No doubt there are a lot of airbags but if the front doesn't crush properly or otherwise absorb the impact of a crash well, ouch.