Monday 18th January 2010

Mercedes G Wagen To Return With RHD

Factory right-hookers bound for the UK from October

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The iconic Mercedes G class off-roader will return to the UK later in 2010, this time with proper 'factory' right-hand drive.

The G was last available here in 2004, when you could buy a G55 model for around the £100k mark. Back then the car featured a right hand drive conversion by AMG, whereas the new right hand drive cars arriving in the UK from October will be built that way on the G class production line at the Magna-Steyr factory in Graz, Austria.

The first new G class to arrive will be the G500 petrol V8, which is likely to cost between £70-80k in UK showrooms according to our source at M-B. In 2011 the G500 should be joined by the latest G350 diesel, and also the G55 Kompressor which our informant says is likely to have a list price 'starting with a nine'.

At those prices, it's not surprising M-B expects the market for the new Gs to be limited, which is why there'll initially be only a single sales outlet in the UK - namely Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands in Surrey.

In spite of their 40 year old design heritage, the new Gs naturally come with all the latest telematics packages Merc has to offer, and tend to be indulgently trimmed. For those who can afford it, they make interesting daily transport as I found on a quick ride in a very highly-specced G500 in Detroit last week.

Merc had laid on a couple as airport 'limos' for journalists at the motor show, and all the most discerning hacks passed over various other choice bits of M-B metal and picked the G for their ride out of town. Well I did, anyway!

[soad]

Superb news - will make a good second hand buy eventually.

[isetta 300]

spotted a silver AMG one in bristol last week, they still look the business

[RV8]

There's a late 80's LPG converted RHD on ebay at the mo. I quite like them and they look rugged but £70K+ is a hefty price tag.

[Nick_Johnson]

I'm a huge fan of the G-Wagon we had a 280GE Short Wheelbase in the family for about 15 Years and I just loved it. What amazes me the most about the G is that it has done the full circle and is now a fashionable design again but has stayed in production.

I really aspire to own my own one day a G350 CDI or the G55 AMG??????

Nick

Edited by Nick_Johnson on Monday 18th January 14:15

[0to60]

I have always loved these...look great in black

as people say though...a very hefty price

[TIGA84]

I'd imagine this will be reduced significantly then!

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

4 years old and still 85k?!!

[Cock Womble]

RV8 said:

There's a late 80's LPG converted RHD on ebay at the mo. I quite like them and they look rugged but £70K+ is a hefty price tag.

It's a fair wedge - I reckon only your high-class drug dealers and Premiership bladder-kickers will be queuing up at MBHQ.

Gotta love 'em though; it's one of those "exactly what it says on the tin" type cars.

Also suitable for Hamsters

[KenBlocksPants]

TIGA84 said:

I'd imagine this will be reduced significantly then!

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

4 years old and still 85k?!!

Love that its congestion charge free... have that eco lentalists

[soad]

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 a full fat model. Rare one at that. Holds its value well...

Must have been pushing a £100k plus price tag when new (factory options etc).

[AndySA]

One of these with a 220 CDI engine with basic spec but all the off road gubbins would be perfect for me. While massive power in one of these would be loads of fun it is not required for off road driving

[young_bairn]

Thats the stuff right there. Crazy car and crazy price. Love it.

[10JH]

One of the coolest cars ever. How many other £100k new cars would have only lost 15k in 4 year!

[RobFerrari]

Love G-Wagens! If only I could afford one....!

[Motorrad]

A friend of a friend gave me a drunken ride home in his G55 AMG and while I appreciated the old school MB build quality compared to their current tat I couldn't believe it when he told me he'd paid $80K for his 2008 model.

Compared to the RHD car on this thread at 85K sterling I suppose it's actually a bit of a bargain.

Why do these cars cost so much though?

[ian_touring]

Tonka-tastic Post-apocalyptic transport.
With style.
Want!

[xspencex]

excellent news, means all those lefties in the UK will finally reduce in price!

[bob1179]

How do these get around all these pedestrian safety regs?

I thought the Land Rover Defender, which is pretty much the same shape, was going out of production due to not meeting these pedestrian regulations?

I love the G-Wagen, awesome piece of kit. They make a lovely noise too.

[superlightr]

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

[Modificata]

Motorrad said:

Why do these cars cost so much though?

I one a 2004 LWB model and love it! I've had this car 2 years now, and previously owned a 1991 model for 7 years and regretted selling it. I will probably only sell this for a new G55 as nothing else compares.

To answer your Q its because these are hand made in a special factory, and the spec level on these cars are fantastic. Mine had every extra for its time except the rear boot seats, and its better spec'ed than my E Class I had before. We use it everday, and now even my wife is hooked.

Im actually considering buying a new G55 when its launched in September, so lets see.

[LukeBird]

Lovely bit of kit...