Operator

It's German. It's 74 grand. It's rough and tough. Holy crap, I just saw a commercial for the Mercedes G-Class. The G500 specifically. Never thought Mercedes would sell this wrecking-ball-in-a-box in the USA but they are, cool.

It really is expensive, but it looks and sounds like it is an actual true high performance, sport utility, luxury, vehicle thing. So.. if you had 75 grand to blow, and you had to choose between the new Porsche SUV or this, which would you go for?

If anyone is interested in lookin' at the specs and stuff go here: <a href="http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?/models/main.jsp&modelCode=G500" target="_blank">G500</a>

PorscheG96

There's also an AMG G55...go figure.

*Rothmans*

I've seen them up close. A real oddity, kinda Range Rover like.
To go fast the Cayenne tt will be tough to beat.
Ultimately for off roading prowess I would go Rover or new Hummer.
Either way we need something to tow the race car, don't we? <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

Dave

The Benz is closer to what I want in a SUV, I've always liked it.

TomH

I'll tell you one thing, if Porsche's Cayenne isn't reliable it's going to fail. I was looking through the latest Consumer Reports on SUVs and the BMW M5 comes out a big winner on everything but reliability, and for that reason alone Consumer Reports says it cannot/will not recommend it. They repeat those comments through out the issue. Ouch.

txhedg

I spent some time in a G-wagen last week. MB had a big display at the Amelia Island Concourse show, and they let you climb around in all the cars (G, new SL, Scoupe, etc). As a previous Range Rover (older style) owner, the G seemed pretty familiar. Very Boxy, solid construction, NICE leather and wood, but very utilitarian. Yes, I'm sure its great offroad, but I think for $75k I would take a $25k used RangeRover Classic (just as good offroad as the G) and a new Boxster S.

The funny thing to me was that last year, prior to MB importing the G-wagen, you could buy the same car in the US thru one specific MB-approved importer in AZ or NM. Same car, but it was $110-$130k from them. The people that paid that last year have got to be choking on the new "low" $75k price.

Matt O.

Mercedes has been building SUV's like that for quite some time now. They have one in particular, I forget the name, but it's a really ugly name that can, supposidly, do more then the Hum-v.

From what I hear, the Marine Corps has some. They are expensive as heck.

-M

deni durrell

To me, the G-wagen is the ultimate "utility" vehicle, imo it has nothing to do with "sport"- just look at the shape. it doesn't look like that truck would take kindly to a slalom course - it looks and probably could kick *** going over a couple of rocks on an off-road course. The X5 (which i have driven) isn't even desinged to go offroad; same with that lexus "car"; while the Hummer is made for offroading - it's the worst of the lot for reliabilty (regardless of what Consumer Reports says). I even knew an EX-owner who got rid of his for that reason. Matt are you talking about the UNIMOG?



<a href="http://www.unimogwherehaus.com" target="_blank">http://www.unimogwherehaus.com</a>
<a href="http://www.unimogmagazine.com/journey/moab98.html" target="_blank">http://www.unimogmagazine.com/journey/moab98.html</a>

Operator

i think hes talking about the Glandenwagen, which is the new G class.. i think, right?

doyle

MB did import the G-wagen for one year, 1987. However, you will find very few real imports. Most of the 87's running around are grey market. It is a cool truck, but way too expensive now for what you get.

Now the Unimog, that is one I could drive all the time.

_________________________
doyle

Dave@Work

They aren't that rare, I saw 2 this morning before 10:00 (1 black & 1 silver). Of course I was right around the corner from M-B USA's HQ