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Well it's certain that after invading Rodeo Drive and the Beverly Hills Hilton, there are entire armies of valets who will happily park your Gelandewagen for you. An IFS or locking differentials shouldn't be too big a deal, should it?
Oh yikes and the Canucks are still using it. But it was better than the their little tin cans they were running around in for quite awhile.
I have seen one of the Canadian military vehicles up close. It was pretty amazing. Everything was stripped down with no interior covering on the metals. It seemed more beefy in some places compared to the luxury models at MB.
One of my favorite photography books is called "Journey up the Nile" by Robert Caputo, he takes a G-wagon in the early 80s all through Africa. Pretty awesome. He drove off from the plant if o remember correctly.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; Feb 27, 2016 at 07:11 PM.
I never understood their allure also. These past few years, MB has been pretty good about updating a few things each year but it still doesn't look like a 120K vehicle. Anyways, Id rather have a loaded up S class or some kind of mid sized AMG with money left over.
I never understood their allure also. These past few years, MB has been pretty good about updating a few things each year but it still doesn't look like a 120K vehicle. Anyways, Id rather have a loaded up S class or some kind of mid sized AMG with money left over.
It makes more sense when you take into consideration that the typical G-wagen owner doesn't play the "rather" game. They also have a loaded up S-class or equivalent in the garage. These are expensive toys.
Nobody in this country really knows the history behind the G-wagon because they never sold the workhorse versions here. Benz has done a great job of marketing it as their "Range Rover" and concealing the fact that it really is a German Hummer in drag.
It's definitely got some old-school charm. When you open and close the doors you'll notice the loud "clank" they make, the hinges are pretty neat too. Overall it's like nothing else on the road.
Personally though I've never drooled over their styling and I think the interior is very unimpressive. To add to that it's just an antiquated vehicle overall. You'll notice that aside from a center stack refresh the entire interior design is over 10-15 years old. For that coin the Range Rover is far ahead in styling, interior design and quality, etc.
It makes more sense when you take into consideration that the typical G-wagen owner doesn't play the "rather" game. They also have a loaded up S-class or equivalent in the garage. These are expensive toys.
If you've never driven one, they handle like a drunk elephant. Very slow steering, lots of body roll. That being said, it is a very fun vehicle to drive. Love the seating position, its very upright, you have a commanding view of the road in all directions, no blind spots. Face flattening acceleration, very quiet and comfortable at cruise, great brakes, great off road with the right tires.
Personally I like the boxy styling, even if our American version is a bit too blinged out for my tastes. Here's a more utliitarian but still slickly trimmed out version more to my liking. Notice the real off road tires, no running boards, basic off road bumper
