Mercedes G-Wagon: Anyone ever drive one?

First things first: No, I am not in the market for a G-Wagon. I have no use for an SUV, and I am afraid that my girlfriend would suffer permanent eye roll damage if I ever bought one.

However, they really intrigue me. For one, they are everywhere in west LA and some aspirational areas of the NY tri-state. Of everything on the market to buy (let's be real, lease), why the G class? Having sat inside at a car show, they have one of the most out of date and most poorly packaged interiors that I have seen. They generally review pretty poorly by consumer-grade auto rags, and they are grossly expensive. Their styling is ridiculous. Just look at the turn signals on the hood!

They do have one of the highest IDGAF quotients of any non-sports cars on the market, though, and the have the really distinctive Mercedes exhaust note. Anyone ever get behind the wheel? Take one off of the pavement?

I want to know if they literally use the same frame rails they did in 1978.

My first G-Wagen experience was also the first time that I was on the Autobahn. It was entertaining, but probably not the best choice.

while I have never been in one, the G-wagon is right up with the Land Rover Series/Defender and jeeps for distinctive Function defines the form driving.

Newer versions of all of them have diluted the solution to ultimate off roading, but they are still very utilitarian. What you consider ridiculous styling was probably done for a reason. Those turnsignals can be seen from the side and front of the truck and their height keeps them from getting covered in gunk and filth so they stayed cleaner longer.

There is a reason for everything on the G-wagon and a reason while it is where it is.. and styling is not one of them

I saw a 70-something one on eBay a while ago. Orange with a green plaid interior! It was amazing.

I've driven a current AMG one. First, the door slam alone is almost worth the price of admission. Bank vault solid. They drive and ride like older Benzes, with a bit more truckishness, but are absurdly quick.

The resale value on these are just ridiculous.

yupididit wrote: The resale value on these are just ridiculous.

Amazing considering the abysmal resale of all other benzes. Unimogs hold pretty strong too unfortunately.

bigev007 wrote: First, the door slam alone is almost worth the price of admission. Bank vault solid.

That's what I remember when I sat in one as well. Such a satisfying door thunk and latch click.

yupididit wrote: The resale value on these are just ridiculous.

same with LR defenders.. through the roof

Never driven one, but friday I was on my way to my softball game moving at a decent clip in the corvette, and a newer one came flying up next to me and then slows down and matches my pace. You know the move.

I dont think anything of it, im not gonna waste my time on this stupid suv.

He guns it to bait me, and that thing freaking MOVES from a 70 or 80 roll. It sounded awesome. I know they put the amg motors in them and by the way it moved out im guessing it was of the turbo variety. Im quite sure i would have got drug by that thing.

Living near a local area of both new and old money, I see them on a regular basis. I file them under "Things Rich People Don't Really Want But Buy So Everybody Knows They're Rich."

I'd like to have an older turbo diesel version to beat around in. There are some great build threads on expedition portal. I'd also like to have a newer AMG G65 because it's absolutely insane.

yupididit wrote: The resale value on these are just ridiculous.

Probably because you can't tell a new one from a 10 year old one.

Run_Away wrote:

yupididit wrote: The resale value on these are just ridiculous.

Probably because you can't tell a new one from a 10 year old one.

This is so true!

Yes. It was uparmored and I couldn't go over 30 around the base in it.

I've always associated it with either people that have too much money or a military vehicle. So I've never really had the desire to own one.

Duke wrote: Living near a local area of both new and old money, I see them on a regular basis. I file them under "Things Rich People Don't Really Want But Buy So Everybody Knows They're Rich."

Yep, just like the LR Defender in the States, the cost of importing them turned them into a Veblen good. The difference is that Mercedes realized and took full advantage of this while Land Rover didn't care that their trucks had become a country club fashion accessory.

Years ago when these things had a lower profile they weren't all that expensive. Then Tom Cruise (or the like) was seen in one and they suddenly had fashion accessory appeal and got ridiculously expensive and MB started blinging them out.

Lately I've been struck by how similar the tin top Suzuki Samurai looks, although 3/4 the size. I've been fantasizing about buying a Samurai, festooning it with Mercedes emblems, and driving it around Aspen with a Tom Cruise mask on. Might give a big boost to the SS market!

I just had to pick one up. It needs floors so I had to travel to get it and drive it a few miles back to the shop. It is an '80 so I don't know how it compares to the later ones.

First impression was "this is so cool!" after a few miles it became "What a POS!" It is a very stripped down rig, it comes across like a 70's base model economy car, not like a rugged workhorse, although I am sure it is. That multi-function turn signal switch is a nightmare and makes the 80's GM unit seem well thought out.

Loud, ringing tin box with a lift kit. It seemed to have plenty of power and a manual transmission which was nice. I can see the lineage back to the series one land rovers.

If I liked SUV's at all I am sure I would have loved the simplicity. I just don't like the feeling of sitting so high above the suspension.

Basil Exposition wrote: Years ago when these things had a lower profile they weren't all that expensive. Then Tom Cruise (or the like) was seen in one and they suddenly had fashion accessory appeal and got ridiculously expensive and MB started blinging them out. Lately I've been struck by how similar the tin top Suzuki Samurai looks, although 3/4 the size. I've been fantasizing about buying a Samurai, festooning it with Mercedes emblems, and driving it around Aspen with a Tom Cruise mask on. Might give a big boost to the SS market!

I think the PO of my Samurai was trying to turn it into a mini G-Wagen.

Run_Away wrote:

yupididit wrote: The resale value on these are just ridiculous.

Probably because you can't tell a new one from a 10 year old one.

its funny you mention that. I think it was a few years ago some people/import company were importing newer LR defenders and putting old VIN's on them to comply with the 25+ year rule since they basically looked the exact same. They eventually got caught and i think most of them got crushed.

I got to drive a bran new AMG G wagon about 5 miles. It rode like a truck but when you put your foot down that thing would move. It is like all of the civilian Hummers out there, a bad choice for going to work and the mall but if you need to get someplace remote it will do the trick.

yupididit wrote:

Run_Away wrote:

yupididit wrote: The resale value on these are just ridiculous.

Probably because you can't tell a new one from a 10 year old one.

This is so true!

This is huge. One of my neighbors leases a different color each time, just so everybody knows she got another one.