RE: New Mercedes-AMG G63 launched as a hybrid

[NomduJour]

QED.

[nismo48]

Andy83n said:

The one car that get uglier and less appealing with each iteration

This and VFM

[NGK210]

How would the G63 be perceived if it were a restomod engineered by an independent Singer-type crew?

And if an independent updated the pre-2018 G-class – replaced the solid front axle with wishbones, added a multi-link rear, swapped the ‘ball steering for rack and pinion, transplanted a contemporary V8 and gearbox, etc – what would be the cost?

Judging by resto’d OG Range Rovers that have similar mechanical upgrades – but retain a bodyshell with the strength of a quail egg – the cost would be £200k+?

Makes Merc’s in-house restomod seem reasonably priced, especially when it comes with a warranty. And a 5-star NCAP:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tUei5a_PWvI&pp=y...

Edited by NGK210 on Friday 29th March 16:08

[mrclav]

NomduJour said:

Strange point to latch on to. How about trying to address the others?

Not really. We all know exactly what you are insinuating.

[Water Fairy]

NomduJour said:

mrclav said:

Literally no-one buying one of these in 2024 cares about its original purpose, whether or not the current iteration is related to the original product, whether it has a unibody or a body-on-frame, or indeed even its price (other than "can I afford it?"). As a vehicle it serves its primary function, which is to transport people from place to place on a public road in comfort, perfectly well. If people want to own one of these then Daimler is doing what all good businesses do, generating profit, by selling a product the market continually demands.

Using your logic, there are many, many other cars that could be said are unsuitable to the purpose of transporting people yet somehow people still want to own and enjoy them. There is no cynicism in that

Yes, “perfectly well”. Just not as well as it should, because of some entirely spurious and pointless (as you accept) pretend connection with authenticity. Or are you saying that’s all that matters? Should the S-Class have a separate chassis and a live axle, just because you can make that drive “perfectly well”?

It is nothing to do with unsuitability of purpose, it’s the fact that it has wilfully been designed and engineered in an attempt to channel the honesty and sense of purpose the original had (because that actually was once a basic, rugged, tough army off-roader). That does not and cannot work, and is very definitely cynical.

People are buying them because it’s a Gee Wagon innit, and it makes V8 noises around town.

Jeesus H bd Christ give it a rest will you? Mercedes know their business case better than you know your own I'd imagine. Did someone touch you in the wrong place as a child?

FFS get over your sad self.

[NGK210]

Here’s a slightly more genial version of this thread
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nZoeT7O_IGM&pp=y...

[NomduJour]

Water Fairy said:

moron twaddle

When you aren’t capable of entering the argument…

[NGK210]

Another plus for the 2019-> G-wag is the retention of slim A-pillars and, in turn, decent sight lines.
Of course, we’re told contemporary cars and SUVs need A-pillars with the girth of Anthony Joshua’s thighs because of crash regs.
Umm, observe the G-wazz’s slim A-pillars during NCAP impact tests:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tUei5a_PWvI&t=66...

[Deranged Rover]

I have but one question - does it still sound like the devil gargling rocks when you nail it?

If not, I’m out.

[Jon_S_Rally]

NomduJour said:

When you aren’t capable of entering the argument…

Oh the irony. When you have resorted to insults, you have lost the argument.

If you don't like the G-Class, that's absolutely fine, but dismissing it based on your narrow view of what a car should be, or how it should be designed/engineered, doesn't mean that Mercedes are doing it wrong, it just means that you don't like it. Thousands of people buy them, so those people obviously do like them. As I said ages ago, choice is a good thing.

[NomduJour]

Jon_S_Rally said:

Thousands of people buy them, so those people obviously do like them

Again, thousands of people buy and like all sorts of things which are similarly ill-conceived. That doesn’t change the underlying issue.

[Super Sonic]

Nice colour. (The blue one.)

[Jon_S_Rally]

NomduJour said:

Again, thousands of people buy and like all sorts of things which are similarly ill-conceived. That doesn’t change the underlying issue.

It certainly doesn't. The underlying issue being that you don't understand how the car industry works, or that people have different preferences.

[NomduJour]

Jon_S_Rally said:

The underlying issue being that you don't understand how the car industry works, or that people have different preferences

Genuinely amusing.

You’re a Grenadire apologist which (despite also being woefully ill-conceived) is a more authentic thing than a new G63. How many of those have they sold, and why?

[NGK210]

NomduJour said:

Again, thousands of people buy and like all sorts of things which are similarly ill-conceived. That doesn’t change the underlying issue.

Genuinely interested: if the brief were as follows, what would you suggest?

1. Rapid V8-powered 4x4
2. Functional retro styling (that can be optioned to look low-key)
3. 5-door, 5-seater
4. Footprint isn’t too big for a resident parking bay or car park slot
5. Infotainment & HVAC aren’t all touchscreen / touchpad
6. Hydraulic active suspension
7. Genuine off-road ability
8. 3500kg towing capacity
9. Decent build-quality / quality control / reliability
10. 5-star NCAP + minimum 3-year warranty

Edited by NGK210 on Sunday 31st March 16:44

[Stick Legs]

I like them.

I know the ‘Pistonheads bloke’ argument is that we should all be hypermiling our Skoda Superb estates and 70 means 70 etc etc…

But cars aren’t rational things.

I didn’t marry the girl who my mum liked & was the best compromise of talents. I married the one who did (& still does) make me feel like the sun has come out everytime I see her.

I didn’t buy a HiFi that suited my needs. I bought the one that overstretched my budget & made me smile, and to this day still does.

I don’t buy cars because of What Car thinks.
I buy the cars that make me irrationally happy.

My Range Rover does.

This would.

I think it’s fab.

It will be a sad day when it finally bows out.

[NomduJour]

NGK210 said:

Genuinely interested: if the brief were as follows, what would you suggest?

1. Rapid V8-powered 4x4
2. Functional retro styling (that can be optioned to look low-key)
3. 5-door, 5-seater
4. Footprint isn’t too big for a resident parking bay or car park slot
5. Infotainment & HVAC aren’t all touchscreen / touchpad
6. Hydraulic active suspension
7. Genuine off-road ability
8. 3500kg towing capacity
9. Decent build-quality / quality control / reliability
10. 5-star NCAP + minimum 3-year warranty

Edited by NGK210 on Sunday 31st March 16:44

Those very, very particular criteria demonstrate the problem - zero USP unless you add “Looks a bit like an old G-Wagen that’s been on the pies”, “Heavily compromised dynamics for no benefit whatsoever” and “Dodgy image”.

If that works for you, great - nobody is going to stop Mercedes selling you one. Break out the Dsquared2 baseball caps, everyone’s happy.

[NGK210]

NomduJour said:

NGK210 said:

Genuinely interested: if the brief were as follows, what would you suggest?

1. Rapid V8-powered 4x4
2. Functional retro styling (that can be optioned to look low-key)
3. 5-door, 5-seater
4. Footprint isn’t too big for a resident parking bay or car park slot
5. Infotainment & HVAC aren’t all touchscreen / touchpad
6. Hydraulic active suspension
7. Genuine off-road ability
8. 3500kg towing capacity
9. Decent build-quality / quality control / reliability
10. 5-star NCAP + minimum 3-year warranty

Edited by NGK210 on Sunday 31st March 16:44

Those very, very particular criteria demonstrate the problem - zero USP unless you add “Looks a bit like an old G-Wagen that’s been on the pies”, “Heavily compromised dynamics for no benefit whatsoever” and “Dodgy image”.

If that works for you, great - nobody is going to stop Mercedes selling you one. Break out the Dsquared2 baseball caps, everyone’s happy.

I ask a civil question, you respond with obfuscation, unattributed quotes and a veiled insult.
Disappointing.

[Jon_S_Rally]

NomduJour said:

Genuinely amusing.

You’re a Grenadire apologist which (despite also being woefully ill-conceived) is a more authentic thing than a new G63. How many of those have they sold, and why?

It's got nothing to do with being an apologist. Cars are consumer items and many consumer items are purchased based on want, not on need. Some people want things that are old-fashioned. It's why you can still buy heavy, expensive oak furniture when flat-pack Ikea stuff does the same job, or why companies like Rolex are thriving even though a cheap Casio watch will do the same job for a fraction of the price. You are fruitlessly trying to apply logic to a luxury item that is, by its very essence, illogical.

As has been said numerous times, there are loads of unibody SUVs out there, so people can buy those if they want to. The G-Class and Grenadier fill a different niche and, in the case of the G-Class at least, do so with great success.

What cars have you owned out of interest? I assume only vehicles that have been designed with zero compromise and were bought purely because they fitted your needs?

NomduJour said:

Those very, very particular criteria demonstrate the problem - zero USP unless you add “Looks a bit like an old G-Wagen that’s been on the pies”, “Heavily compromised dynamics for no benefit whatsoever” and “Dodgy image”.

If that works for you, great - nobody is going to stop Mercedes selling you one. Break out the Dsquared2 baseball caps, everyone’s happy.

You might think it has a "dodgy" image, but the people that buy them clearly don't.

Posts like this just continue to expose the reality - that this is not about the car, but about your bitterness towards what it stands for, or about your internal prejudices towards the people that buy them.

[biggbn]

This thread is getting on for peak PH.