Mercedes-Benz G500 | High Mile Club
Driving a G-Wagen has become cool in just the past few years; this one hasn't stopped in 20
The high mileage, V8 Mercedes G-Class is an interesting paradox. On the one hand, there's the legendary build quality, toughness and dependability, plus the torquey, effortless nature of a large capacity V8. A classic Merc with a V8 engine is the very definition of an executive express, as evidenced by the 450SEL 6.9 we featured not so long ago.
But then you have the G-Wagen - never the most brilliant car to drive on the road. Not Defender dreadful, perhaps, though still afflicted by a choppy ride and vague steering. It wouldn't be the first Mercedes you'd choose to travel the best part of 180,000 miles - or a little over 40,000 miles with each owner if split equally.
And yet that's exactly what this G500 has achieved, its 174,000 miles a pretty healthy innings given that, despite the look, it was registered in the 21st century. What the old G-Class excelled at - off-roading and slow speed showing off - are not activities conducive to getting an odometer twirling. Yet this one has been sat on motorways, presumably, for large chunks of its life; an odd thing to do perhaps, though people have done stranger things with their cars.
It's a testament to the G-Wagen's formidable build quality that it wears its use so well, certainly better than you would expect any other Benz from this notoriously patchy era to look. The ad suggests it's an "exceptional example in beautiful condition", a statement the pictureappear to back up. Rusty wheel nuts aside, it could pass for a far newer example. It's said that more than £10,000 was spent by the previous owner in March (not a great month for them, you'd think) to get the '500 into "tip-top condition". Of course it would be worth a serious buyer delving into the history much more deeply than the ad, because expensive, complicated cars never get any less so to maintain - however much you drive them. A "history of invoices and receipts that is just too long to list" is an encouraging sign, at least.
And, if this G500 is as good as it looks, what a vehicle it should be to rumble around in. Much like its Defender kind-of adversary, the G-Class is an experience like no other - for better and for worse. The feeling just from shutting the door should convince you it's good for another 174,000 miles, the view out over those wing-mounted indicators like you're in a four-wheeled fortress. The G-Class won't be perfect, but it will make you feel great before the V8 has even fired.
Which will probably be enough on its own for someone to part with £35,000 for this one. They've an appeal both intangible and very real that most other carmakers would kill to conjure up in an SUV - and that's why the G-Class retains such a loyal following. So, while on the one hand it might look a lot of money - a comparable Defender is £10k less - there really is nothing like a Gelandewagen. At a lot less money than an AMG and without the need to be quite so precious about it, this G500 could serve as the perfect reminder of why the car is so adored. After all, the previous owners have enjoyed driving it - why shouldn't you?
But would look better in my eyes with the period correct Ashtaroth 7.5J x 16 alloys and the sliding rear windows
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff