In a city like Lagos, you know you’ve made it when your car announces your arrival even before you step out. For Pamilerin, a Corporate Communications & Strategy professional, that announcement comes courtesy of a sleek black Mercedes GLE 400 2016 with the plate number ‘Omo Ologi’—an ode to his mother who used to sell pap to make ends meet.
Not really keen on numbers, it’s fair to say that Pamilerin’s top driver for purchasing a car is its associated prestige. And that’s something the GLE 400 has in abundance, especially in comparison to the car he initially set out to buy.
“The GLE 350 is so common these days. While driving through my estate, I can count up to 4, talk less of when I hit the streets. But the 400 is quite rare in Lagos; I’ve only seen it a couple times on the road, so it gives a feeling of exclusiveness. I’ve had someone flag me down on Third Mainland Bridge just to ask about my 400 before,” he brags. But there are a few other features of the 400 Pamilerin just can’t imagine doing without anymore —stay with us.
Welcome back to Owner’s Corner, our series unpacking what it truly means to live with a car in Nigeria.
Why the GLE 400 Beats the GLE 350 Hands Down—According to Pamilerin
One fateful day about four years ago, Pamilerin, accompanied by his uncle, set out to buy a fairly used Mercedes-Benz GLE 350. But upon getting to the dealership, the GLE 400 arrested his attention. Prior to that day, Pamilerin had never seen the 400 in person, but he immediately knew it was meant to be his, especially when he found that it only had a mileage of 13,000. He considered the price the dealer was offering a steal, even though he didn’t have the money to buy it at the time. “I had to ask my uncle to loan me the money there and then, but it was worth it because I’ve had no issues with it in the four years I’ve had it,” he exclaimed.
Spotting a truly executive appearance, the GLE 400 is what Pamilerin describes as ‘the Chairman’s Car’. Additionally, features like its power tailgate, sufficient legroom, panoramic roof, a powerful engine, superior speed, quick response time and a modern infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay, add to its appeal.
He’ll admit he isn’t fluent in the technical language of cars. Instead, he describes the difference between the 350 and the 400 as a “when you know, you know” feeling. But that feeling is indeed backed by stats and figures. While the GLE 350’s 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 engine only offers 302 horsepower, the GLE 400 draws from its 3L V6 bi-turbo engine to produce 329 horsepower. The 400 also boasts of a 9G-tronic 9-speed automatic transmission. On Lagos roads — and especially highways — that difference is impossible to miss.
The Mercedes Benz GLE 400 has a superior engine to the GLE 350
And when, Pamilerin puts on the car’s Sport Mode, it’s simply game over. ‘I’ll get to Ibadan 30 minutes before you get there,’ he boasts.
Maintaining a GLE400 Isn’t So Expensive, But T’s &C’s Apply
Ask many Nigerians about owning a Mercedes-Benz, and the resounding response will be, “mechanics will finish you.” Pamilerin’s experience is quite different though, not because his ownership has been trouble-free, but because he approaches it differently.
“I pay a lot of attention to the alerts and warning lights. Immediately I see an alert, I attend to it, and that’s probably why I’ve not had any issues with it since I’ve had it,” Pamilerin shares. For him, this attentiveness has looked like undertaking airbag maintenance, oil filter changes and so on.
As for his maintenance routine, he believes buying good quality oil, gauging the tyres regularly and servicing the car when he comes back from long inter-state trips are essential. The latter has especially served him well, given his regular cross-country trips; Pamilerin’s GLE has taken him from Lagos to Abuja and back without hassle.
Meanwhile, with his four previous cars, he thought it necessary to let go of them and their associated issues almost every year. His car ownership journey started with a Hyundai Accent in 2013, followed by a Toyota Corolla, a Mercedes-Benz C300 and an E-Class E350— the latter two of which he only drove for 8 months each.
He admits, however, that the parts of the GLE 400 are expensive. “Don’t get into an accident because if you do and you have to buy a new engine, it will be the price of a whole other car so you might as well buy another car.”
Ironically, he once did get into a serious accident involving a trailer, but both he and the car came out unscathed. Still, Pamilerin warns that that might not be the case for you.
The Benz Spirit
There’s a running joke about how driving a Benz changes your personality, from the way you hold your key, to the way ‘car’ gets kicked out of your vocabulary in favour of ‘Benz’. “I no longer say ‘oh I left something in my car’. Instead, I say I left it in my Benz, similar to how people who buy Macbooks only say Mac instead of laptop,” Pamilerin jokes.
And perhaps, this is rightfully so. The Benz, especially models like the GLE 400, commands a lot in social currency and Pamilerin can testify to it. Even run-ins with the police become easier. He recalls how frequently his red Toyota Corolla caught the police’s watchful eye. “Now, when they see my car and my plate number, they hardly stop me because they think I’m someone important. And when they do stop me, it’s just to exchange pleasantries’.’
Why He Hasn’t Replaced It — Yet
Pamilerin has considered moving on. Newer GLEs tempt him. So does the G-Wagon. Ultimately, though, the decision comes down to utility and timing.
He’s now a family man. Responsibilities have shifted and so financial prudence is of utmost importance. The GLE 400 still fits his life — financially, socially, and practically. When the money is right, he says, his next car will likely be a 2022 G-Wagon, specifically the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG, or a newer GLE 400.
Pamilerin’s dream car, the Mercedes Benz G63 AMG
For now, though, Pamilerin isn’t in a rush. The GLE 400 still delivers and until it stops doing that, selling it makes no sense at all. While some cars, like the Range Rover, force you into a crash course in car maintenance, Pamilerin’s GLE 400 experience has been smooth-sailing all through. Catch the full story here.
