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Mercedes-Benz G-class (Geländewagen)

megasuvownermegasuvowner Member Posts: 64
edited July 2014 in Mercedes-Benz
I was wondering what people thought of the mercedes gelaendewagen. i brought this up because the mercedes gwagen has been around for more than 30 years but it is still rare in the us and was only sold by a company in Sante Fe, New Mexico, www.gwagen.com, up until now. At the 2001 New York International Auto Show, merecedes introduced the Gelaendewagen as the G-Class and said that they would now be available at all Mercedes-Benz dealers. I myself own a 1996 gwagen and i paid more than $100k for it, but the one at the mercedes dealerships will only be $72k and that will open it up for plenty of competition, with Range Rover being its most-fit competitor. Once again, i was just wondering what people think of this large luxury suv. all opinions accepted.
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Comments

  • thor8thor8 Member Posts: 303
    I would say that the Gwagen is superior to a Land Rover, I owned a Land Rover in the late sixties, early sixties vintage, asides of having the rigth transmission it was not that great, a buddy of mine bougth at that time a Nissan Patrol and it was much more superior in all aspects, we did torture this vehicles while working in the oil fields in south america. The Rover did have an aluminum body and I have mixed feelings about, it was ligther but developed a lot of stress cracks and galvanic corrosion at key points.

    Rigth now I own a couple of 406 Unimogs and a ML430, I am in the process of sinking a good bit of money into restoring the 406's into like new condition althoug mechanically they are in excellent shape, but the short wheel base of the 406, 1 inch shorter than my Porsche and total length not much more, makes it too apealing for me.

    I like the idea of MB selling the Gwagen in volume, like you said the price will be down and who knows, I maybe hanging around the MB dealer.
  • rexconde1rexconde1 Member Posts: 278
    More people join this board. . . Love the G-wagen. . .

    Robert
  • thor8thor8 Member Posts: 303
    I am willing to bet there are ten to one more Rolls than Gwagens.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    It would help if us North Americans knew how to pronounce it....

    Steve
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  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    That's why MB called it the G500, or G-class ;-)

    It's pronounced Ge-lan-de-vagen, BTW, or G-wagen for short.


    Drew
    Host
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  • dt77dt77 Member Posts: 232
    I like the G a lot !

    My neighbor in HKG had the 2 door one, but he moved away leaving me no chance to take pics ! =)


    Yup, if money was no object, the G would be in my lot.


    dt77

    http://fullspeed.to/ml

  • kjookjoo Member Posts: 27
    I went to my dealer to see the pic of the new mb ml500 and walked away with the G500 pic in my pocket and now im consitting a G500 for my driveway.
  • rexconde1rexconde1 Member Posts: 278
    Do they have brochures there yet?

    Robert
  • tariktarik Member Posts: 344
    MB's http://www.mercedes-benz.com/d/cars/g-class/default.htm site has a wealth of information, but all in German :-<


    Anyways, if you are willing to play, check out the flash animations. Click on any of the icons to the right, you will see in introductory screen, which tells you about the navigation. In the upper right corner of the gray screen, click on the word "WEITER" to go on. Depending which icon you chose, you will now see either (1) a few faint pix with a scroll bar above them, or (2) the plant layout of the Graz factory. If (2), hover your mouse over the picture, and choose an area of the plant you like to see. Now you should also see the scroll bar. Drag it left or right to position the item you are interested in dead center, and click on it, the movie will load. Now, click on play, and you're in business...


    Have fun playing,


    Geländewagen Tarik

  • mkwandramkwandra Member Posts: 4
    Has anyone heard when the G-Class will be available in the US, if ever? If you haven't seen it, it looks a lot like an old Land Rover. It's all over MB's corporate website, and it's included as part of the 2002 line up.

    For that matter, is there any word on whether the A-class coming to America?

    If they aren't coming to America, can they be purchased in Canada?

    Thanks!
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    The G-wagen will be available in North America fall of this year. Pricing has been discussed in previous messages...it will be about US$73K, or over CDN$101K.

    Regarding the A-class, no the current version will not make it over to North America since it was designed for the European and Asian markets only. However, there is a possibility that the next generation A-class will make it to the US and Canada.

    Hope this helps!

    Drew
    Host
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  • cticctic Member Posts: 291
    If you really want to see what a G-wagen looks like in 3-D, go to your local Toys R US. Matchbox has been selling one since 2000. And it's $0.99 only, what a deal.
  • rexconde1rexconde1 Member Posts: 278
    Now you have to go to the G-Wagon owners club and introduce yourself

    :)

    Robert
  • randyrhodesrandyrhodes Member Posts: 54
    How many snobs or POWER WOMEN can fit in this new thing? Love the flags,guess everyone has to be special.
  • eman5eman5 Member Posts: 110
    Any rumors about MB updating their styling?
  • nanuqnanuq Member Posts: 765
    The flatter the sheetmetal, the more it was designed for offroading. If you see a curvy SUV, it's designed for looks and eye candy. If it's got little attention to looks, chances are it's got plenty of attention to capability.

    Mercedes makes the M-class for those who want curves and could care less about offroad ability. The "G" is for going offroad first, looking good second.

    -Bob
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    Curvy is good for aerodynamics. The M-class has one of the lowest drag co-efficiencies among SUVs...it can go off-road, just not through the heavy stuff, but definitely a lot more than an RX or an MDX. Don't forget that the ML placed 1st, 3rd, and 10th in the 2000 Dakar rally across Africa, beating out many supposedly more off-roadable SUVs in the T1 unmodified stock vehicle class.

    I don't think many people drive their new G-wagens off-road nowadays ;-)


    Drew
    Host
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  • dt77dt77 Member Posts: 232
    the Gs that are coming to the US, where will they be made ?

    dt77
  • megasuvownermegasuvowner Member Posts: 64
    They will be at most Mercedes dealerships but they will not make many, so the most your dealership may get is 3 . i could be wrong. And the G will continue to be made in Germany.
  • bwhbwh Member Posts: 76
    A G-wagen topic I didn't start. The G will not nor was it ever built in Germany. The exclusive plant where they have been hand built for 20 years is in Graz, Austria. They are currently anticipated to arrive in Dec 2001. The volume is claimed to be 1000-2000 units per year. That would double the current US G population in the first year, currently about 1100. Drew, you need to qualify your off-roading comment. Few of the celebrities that bought new Gs ever take them off road. You would be surprized to find how many do go off road. In fact the importer sets up guided trips for G owners and the G500 contingent is well represented. I am on my second G, a 1995 G320, I bought it for using off road. I have gone as far as to build an obstacle course for my G. That way I can have fun in between my trips to the mountains. As far as snobs and power women owning the G, sure there are some just like any expensive vehicle. The vast majority of G owners are pretty regular folks that simply desire the best practical reliable off road vehicle availible. I certainly hope they never change the styling, its perfect!

    Thor8, I have also caught the Unimog bug. I should have a Swiss 404 within the next couple of months. Looks like the obstacle course will need some updating, he,he.
  • rexconde1rexconde1 Member Posts: 278
    Why dont we add the Unimog to the Title?

    Robert
  • megasuvownermegasuvowner Member Posts: 64
    sorry i should have known where my own vehicle was made, im not really a european person, but i just assumed they were made in Germany.
  • thor8thor8 Member Posts: 303
    Congratulations! I hope you have a positive experience.

    You must have come in contact or got too close to one, carefull they are addictive.

    A fellow in New York told me that and he endep up owning about a dozen, I already have two.
  • thor3thor3 Member Posts: 120
    I was looking at a 1999-2000 G-Class Owner's manual and it explains about the Parktronic feature with rear sensors in rear bumper and a rear pillar mounted Warning Display. I wonder if this will be available in the 1st US versions to be release late this year or early next?

    Also, the manual shows the MB grill guard as being a fold down unit to access the lights and grill for maintenance... pretty neat... wonder how much this option will cost?
  • bwhbwh Member Posts: 76
    You can see the standard features on MBusa's web site. I am pretty sure parktronic is standard. The grille gaurd used to go for $1100 from the importer in Santa Fe, no clue if MB dealers will have them or at what cost. I had one on my 300GE, not only does it fold down but easily comes right off minus a couple little bumper brackets using just the supplied tool. It is a pretty beefy unit too, much better than any I have seen.
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    image


    Don't miss the weekly MB Tuesdays chat at 6-7pm Pacific/9-10pm Eastern! All MB fans/enthusists/owners/potential owners are welcome to participate. Hope to see you there!


    Click on the link below to enter the chat at the times above. Note that the link to the chat is always near the top of this page, just under the discussion topic title:


    http://www.edmunds.com/chat/mercedeschat.html

  • agh15agh15 Member Posts: 90
    I wonder if G-500 will be reliable when it comes out
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    First Look: 2002 Mercedes-Benz G500

    Steve
    Host
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  • bwhbwh Member Posts: 76
    The Edmunds review stinks! Typical of a tester that has NO knowledge of the vehicle whatsoever. Of course I know Edmunds is catering to the masses. What is wrong is that the G does not. There was a stupid comment under one of the pictures stating how the G was as good as a Jeep off road. Fact is Jeeps cannot touch the Gs off road prowess. I had to write a letter to C and D a while back when they wrote a dumb review like Edmunds. I have to agree that if you intend to use it as a car there are many better ways to spend your money. But if you want the ultimate practical off roader, hand built to last a lifetime, look no further than the G wagen.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Got another link for you :-)

    Send a letter to the editors

    Steve
    Host
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  • thor8thor8 Member Posts: 303
    I can help but simpatize with you, that is a joke in BAD TASTE, the Gwagen is as good as a jeep.

    Just to highlite the difference between Mercedes and Jeep or any other manufacturer as a matter of fact, I decided to buy a new cab for my Unimog since I have corrosion (because of several years of use as a salt spreader and snow removal) and after 25 years is got wear on it, the restoration is going to the bare bones, a new cab will make it look like new, it started as an idea, I had to cut the metal in the floor and shape new ones and weld them onto existing metal, to aline the mounts with the point of support in the chassis would requiere hard work, more than what I want to chew, if I was on my twenties or thirties or even in my forties it would have been done by now, anyway I thought about buying a new cab, and do you now what, they make them, 4,500$ brand new from the factory, needless to say it's on it's way from Germany, who else but Mercedes will pull that one.
  • ees1996ees1996 Member Posts: 31
    Lots of gadets are in the G5. That is the high point. As far as looks it will evolve just as range rover has become more stylish.
  • bwhbwh Member Posts: 76
    Wake up dude, it has looked exactly the same for over twenty years! It will not change until it is replaced by an almost certainly inferior successor.
  • rexconde1rexconde1 Member Posts: 278
    I hope it doesnt change. I like the look of the current G. Then they added the S-Class interior.
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    http://mbspy.bacosys.be/g55l.htm


    Drew
    Host
    Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
  • nanuqnanuq Member Posts: 765
    "The flatter the sheetmetal, the more it's meant for offroad".

    Is there anything else as flat as a Gwagen?? Maybe CJ Jeeps, Rovers and Hummers. All pretty hardcore trucks.
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    Ah ha, how about a bus? :-)
  • rexconde1rexconde1 Member Posts: 278
    There were three on the AMG lot.

    Another thing that I never knew is that the headlamp adjustment for the G is manual. On all of the other cars I saw and drove they are electronic headlamp controls.

    R
  • nanuqnanuq Member Posts: 765
    What, you've never seen a Greyhound offroading? You can lift one of those things 5 or 6 feet. And talk about tall tires!

    Getting around switchbacks is a bit of a chore with all that backing, but the oversize steering wheel makes it a breeze. And the approach angles are unbelievable!
  • diploiddiploid Member Posts: 2,286
    in that Subaru commercial where the yellow school bus was transformed into an SUV?
  • nanuqnanuq Member Posts: 765
    There ya go! I could remember the ad but not the source. Mmmmm-mmmmmm-mmmmmmmmm, now there's a rig any G-wagen owner will envy.
  • bwhbwh Member Posts: 76
    Seeing as how my G is about the same size externally as a Disco, yet far more accomodating inside. Actually the Unimog caught my eye as the next step in extreme vehicles. I just picked up a '71 416. Not as big as a bus but maybe as tall.
  • nanuqnanuq Member Posts: 765
    I park next to a G-wagen fairly often and I've been able to crawl around and under it. It's maybe a foot shorter and narrower than the Disco, and not as tall. Ground clearance (breakover) is much less, though mine is lifted a little. Approach and departure angles are about the same, but everything inside looks like the same grade packaging as a late 60s/early 70s BMW... rough, square, unfinished. Definitely not as refined as the Disco. From inside the wheelwells and from the rear everything has a tacked-on look. Things just don't look like they "fit" together, as if much of it was afterthought.

    Underneath, I don't see anything as stout as my Disco, and its packaging is nowhere near as efficient. Take away the locking diffs, and the G I've seen isn't as impressive as a breathed-on CJ.

    But a 'Mog... NOW you're talking! I have some pictures of my Disco next to one from a couple summers ago. It was driven from Norway and had the most gorgeous stainless steel camper on back. The doors were like walk-in freezers, they had a huge snorkle up the side of the cab, and 4 wheels/tires above the cab. What a beast! From 100' away it made my Disco look like a Tonka toy.

    Regards, -Bob
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    Have you had a chance to take a look at the newer G-wagens? The interior is much improved from the utilitarian 1980's versions. Here's a link :-)


    http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?/models/future/future/main.jsp&modelCode=G500

    MotorVision had a comparison between the old G-wagens and the current ones. The differences are very significant!


    Drew
    Host
    Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
  • nanuqnanuq Member Posts: 765
    Yeah, I know... I'm just blowing his skirt up. psst: don't tell him! The new Rovers are as much improved over the Series Rovers as the new Gs are over the old ones.

    But what I still don't get is everyone's Brand Loyalty... a 4WD with low range, locking diffs, long travel coil suspension, short overhangs, sufficient breakover clearance and solid axles is going to go places that 99.9% of owners don't even want to attempt. Once you fit the right parts, it doesn't matter if it's a CJ or a G500.
  • drew_drew_ Member Posts: 3,382
    Hi, I'm Drew, not Steve ;-)
  • nanuqnanuq Member Posts: 765
    If you're Drew then you'll know the Number of the Secret Decoder Ring.

    :) Sorry.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    No biggie - I'm starting to answer to Drew half the time anyway as it is. Let's blame your lapse on that "dreary" weather today, shall we :-) (judging by the web cam, you guys did have an interesting morning).

    Steve (the other Drew)
    Host
    Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards

  • nanuqnanuq Member Posts: 765
    We've got a severe weather alert now (snicker) they're calling for an additional 8 to 10" tonight.

    Holy smokes, where'd all these Cheechakos come from? When I was just a little doorslammer I'd walk 10 miles to school, uphill both ways, barefoot in a blizzard. I'd stop to milk the cows along the way, but I'd carry the milk in a teaspoon 'cause we didn't have a bucket, and it took 40 trips but I was GLAD for the work!

    See why I drive an SUV? :)
  • diploiddiploid Member Posts: 2,286
    Sometimes I just assume it's Steve typing because I don't see Drew posting a lot.

    Besides, the word "host" in bold red catches all the attention.
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