RE: Mercedes G Wagen To Return With RHD

[Roger645]

Love them, Want one!

[eurojay]

superlightr said:

The Wookie said:

superlightr said:

Id have a LR defender any day and save 70K. Cant see the point in it tbh.

If you don't see the point then there really is no reason to try and explain it.

Every ounce of my engineer and car enthusiast self tells me it's completely rubbish every time I get in the old man's one, and yet I can't stop myself from loving it.

I couldn't really compare it to a Defender though, my one's a nice one but it's still like a tin shed compared to the G. It's on the same scale of overpriced crudeness, it's just a long way further up it.

I appreciate what a defender can do and the spec of it, likewise with a pork turbo or a caterham 7, just find it hard to fathom a G Wagon for that sort of money? Please enlighten me!!

Agreed, i get the point of the G but comparitive to the Defender it seems exorbitant. Still, i'll take the AMG

[Maxwell Smart]

eurojay said:

superlightr said:

The Wookie said:

superlightr said:

Id have a LR defender any day and save 70K. Cant see the point in it tbh.

If you don't see the point then there really is no reason to try and explain it.

Every ounce of my engineer and car enthusiast self tells me it's completely rubbish every time I get in the old man's one, and yet I can't stop myself from loving it.

I couldn't really compare it to a Defender though, my one's a nice one but it's still like a tin shed compared to the G. It's on the same scale of overpriced crudeness, it's just a long way further up it.

I appreciate what a defender can do and the spec of it, likewise with a pork turbo or a caterham 7, just find it hard to fathom a G Wagon for that sort of money? Please enlighten me!!

Agreed, i get the point of the G but comparitive to the Defender it seems exorbitant. Still, i'll take the AMG

No comparison... stock these things are pretty much untouchable off-road. While they're expensive the cost of ownership is probably a whole lot lower than a defender as they are far more reliable and hold their resale value very well.

[Maxwell Smart]

Modificata said:

My current G has not depreciated in 2 years. In fact price has probably gone up due to the Euro rate change.

Sensible motoring in my book!

Think I sold both my Gs for about 20-30% more than I paid for them which more than covered their cost of ownership...

And Modifacta you're selling me that G270 when you upgrade - assuming you don't trash it on your trip!

[hairyben]

My dad had a LWB '82 300GD in the early/mid 90's. Fantastic car, the difference between it and a LR is it would cruise at good speed in great comfort. If they're still as well built today & they make a base-spec one I can't see that LR make anything that competes with it- a comfortable everyday workhorse vehicle. Defenders are too agricultural, disco's and rangies too school run/luxury orientated with every gizmo going.

[sjn2004]

If they were/are so good as you are all claiming why did MB never sell many and eventually stop selling them in the UK? Looks like overpriced old tat to me.

[wtdoom]

fantastic news !

[mgrays]

If you want a comparison for quality the propshaft on a 460 (1988) G is about 70-75mm diameter. A 2003 Diso II prop is about 45-50mm at best. That is about 4 times as strong torsionally. Same quality comparison repeats in most places on these cars. They are wallet depleting expensive but as a second hand depreciation proof transport they take some beating plus full proper diff locks and sump guards from factory. Spring are stiffer than LR so you need the diff locks sooner which might be marginally worse off road but the road manners from the stiff springs make them far more road friendly. They are still pretty much hand built to military standards which costs. I know of the last generation LRs still leaking from factory at the bulkhead in the rain.. the G just floats as it is too water tight (again some might say a fault!)

[RV8]

For an overpriced and slightly crude but robust 4x4 what would be even more interesting to me would be a new Lamborghini LM002 aka rambo lambo
http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2007/05/28-la...
Sadly it is only a concept.

[torchy6]

gumsie said:

torchy6 said:

For that wedge the Rangie is infinitely better. It does look like an up market Defender and that is no recommendation, unless you farm in Welsh Wales that is!

Infinitely better where? I'll bet you this thing is pretty tough to beat in the terrain it was intended for. Even by todays latest releases.

In all departments I would say including price. The G Wagen is old narrow and high, it's powerful all right, which means more juice and higher running costs, but too tall to handle like a Range Rover, and vintage axle locks (prone to sticking I read) are hardly the most efficient modern off road device. In a comparison test it came last when pitted against the Toureg, X5 and Cayenne and yet was the most expensive. If you want an old fashioned icon, then yes, and if the resale values are to believed then they cost nothing to run but I seriously doubt second hand 2010 models will be selling for 130k in 2012.

[tclynes]

Used to own a 1987 230GE SWB when i was 18, wish I had never sold it, owned a Range Rover soft dash and driven new range rovers since but there is just something about the g.

The RHD g55's were going for well over 100k back in 05, but the older ones still hold their value, which is why i cannot afford one again yet, though keep scouring for one.

as for off road, mine did great, and i know of a guy that imported a 2006 G400CDI and that things been places you would not believe while still like an s-class inside!

Tom

[k-ink]

An AMG G Wagen and a Zonda would suit me as the perfect combo . Stunning tool!

[VPower]

A friend of mine had a 300 one of these, we drove it to LE MANS back on 2001.

Under powered straight 6 and had to rev the knackers off it (I was driving it) to meet the ferry on way home!

So me, I got a Rang Rover 3.9 Classic shape and boy was that SOOOO Much better! Kept it 5 years!!
We took that RR in 2002 and he was impressed when he drove it back to ferry!!
Especially as he'd been driving it for about forty minutes when I woke up and told him to put into D!
Ah that's better he said! tt!

Another friend also drove it out there and was so impressed said he was going to get one.
Then got all girly and went for a Land Cruiser! 3 engine rebuilds later!!!!

Anyway, the other friend now has a Left hooker G500 and it goes a bit better, got it for euro 16,000 from Berlin direct 3 years old!

Don't buy one here if your OK with LHD!
Get onto that German web site, they are dirt cheap over there! Apparently!

[anonymous-user]

superlightr said:

The Wookie said:

superlightr said:

Id have a LR defender any day and save 70K. Cant see the point in it tbh.

If you don't see the point then there really is no reason to try and explain it.

Every ounce of my engineer and car enthusiast self tells me it's completely rubbish every time I get in the old man's one, and yet I can't stop myself from loving it.

I couldn't really compare it to a Defender though, my one's a nice one but it's still like a tin shed compared to the G. It's on the same scale of overpriced crudeness, it's just a long way further up it.

I appreciate what a defender can do and the spec of it, likewise with a pork turbo or a caterham 7, just find it hard to fathom a G Wagon for that sort of money? Please enlighten me!!

likewise. absolutely baffled by these. must be about 80% profit in them

[TDutchy]

TIGA84 said:

I'd imagine this will be reduced significantly then!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1430271.htm

4 years old and still 85k?!!

That's been up for a good while.

[sjn2004]

TDutchy said:

TIGA84 said:

I'd imagine this will be reduced significantly then!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1430271.htm

4 years old and still 85k?!!

That's been up for a good while.

For a better picture of their true value look at mobile.de (German Autotrader type site). Still only a few G55's there and a lot cheaper.

http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/search.html?isSe...

[Vintageseekers]

For me, It's as unique and as iconic as the Defender - In a world full of euroblobs and plastic it's wonderfully refreshing.

Just need to work out how I can justify £80'000 - I can't! still, I like it!

Between you and me, I'm really worried the way Landrover is going, It's all getting a bit Bling, Bling. with there 23" rims and stick on shiny bits. Not Landrover is it!

[Schermerhorn]

sjn2004 said:

If they were/are so good as you are all claiming why did MB never sell many and eventually stop selling them in the UK? Looks like overpriced old tat to me.

Mercedes never sold many in the UK because 99% of all G-wagens have been LHD and becuase they cost 50% more than a Range Rover Vogue.

They sold thousands out in the Middle East, to Eastern European, French, Austrian and German armies.

Edited by Schermerhorn on Monday 18th January 21:05

[Maxwell Smart]

Schermerhorn said:

sjn2004 said:

If they were/are so good as you are all claiming why did MB never sell many and eventually stop selling them in the UK? Looks like overpriced old tat to me.

Mercedes never sold many in the UK because 99% of all G-wagens have been LHD and becuase they cost 50% more than a Range Rover Vogue.

They sold thousands out in the Middle East, to Eastern European, French, Austrian and German armies.

Edited by Schermerhorn on Monday 18th January 21:05

That and the british press is highly biased (well except hamster) towards the land rover products.

torchy6 said:

gumsie said:

torchy6 said:

For that wedge the Rangie is infinitely better. It does look like an up market Defender and that is no recommendation, unless you farm in Welsh Wales that is!

Infinitely better where? I'll bet you this thing is pretty tough to beat in the terrain it was intended for. Even by todays latest releases.

In all departments I would say including price. The G Wagen is old narrow and high, it's powerful all right, which means more juice and higher running costs, but too tall to handle like a Range Rover, and vintage axle locks (prone to sticking I read) are hardly the most efficient modern off road device. In a comparison test it came last when pitted against the Toureg, X5 and Cayenne and yet was the most expensive. If you want an old fashioned icon, then yes, and if the resale values are to believed then they cost nothing to run but I seriously doubt second hand 2010 models will be selling for 130k in 2012.

The G is a pure off-roader tarted up for the streets. It will never ride as smooth on pavement as Tourage, X5, Cayenne or whatever but it's not made for pavement.
The locking axles may be old technology but off-roading hasn't changed and certainly if it was terrible off-road it wouldn't be the choice of so many militaries around the world - particularly special forces units.

No 2010 models will not sell for 130k but they certainly will not plummet nearly as much as any other 4wd... an early 1990s G will still fetch more than a 6 year old Range Rover or Cayenne...

[The Wookie]

eurojay said:

superlightr said:

The Wookie said:

superlightr said:

Id have a LR defender any day and save 70K. Cant see the point in it tbh.

If you don't see the point then there really is no reason to try and explain it.

Every ounce of my engineer and car enthusiast self tells me it's completely rubbish every time I get in the old man's one, and yet I can't stop myself from loving it.

I couldn't really compare it to a Defender though, my one's a nice one but it's still like a tin shed compared to the G. It's on the same scale of overpriced crudeness, it's just a long way further up it.

I appreciate what a defender can do and the spec of it, likewise with a pork turbo or a caterham 7, just find it hard to fathom a G Wagon for that sort of money? Please enlighten me!!

Agreed, i get the point of the G but comparitive to the Defender it seems exorbitant. Still, i'll take the AMG

They are pretty exorbitant, but if you want a comparison then try to imagine a Defender that's built like a Porsche 993 with all of the gubbins you'd find in a Range Rover.