According to NYTimes, the G is popular with the Russian mafia.

"Their successors in the Russian mafia did, however, recognize the virtues of the G-Wagen, and adopted it -- in black, with blacked-out windows and a big 5-liter V-8 -- as the conveyance for bodyguards who trailed them through Russian streets."

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...51C1A9649C8B63

 

Absolutely. Or, as they would pronounce it, "ma-FEE-ah."

 

Extrelemy popular. Called "a cube" it is an absolutely essential accessory there along with giant gold chains shaved heads and raspberry color club jackets.

Leaving in Ukraine for a while I was considering buying one just so I wouldn't get stopped every day by the local cops "checking documents" and looking for small bribes. An old 5-series with foreign plates did nto have teh same panache somehow.

 

Uh oh, I just found the rare green one for sale... I think they only made them this one year or so. Wish I could come up with a good reason to sell my 7 series and get this beast instead! I don't ski, I don't drive much in the winter when it snows, it rarely snows here in Maryland, it's got less interior room then my 7, it gets awful gas mileage on the highway, but I still want this truck, mainly, because it looks so neat and rare in green!

2002 Mercedes-Benz G-Class G500 - $23,999









Cool cupholder










Ahhh, rear headrest video. Gotta love that


Pretty small back seat compared to the 7


This is a cool truck

 

I think that green one was in Houston last year. If it's got a DVD entertainment it may be. I didn't look at it but I wanted to!

 

Hey Steve,

Did you read the NY Times article that nota_troll posted a link to?

More specifically the part about the illuminated door sills............

Mercedes drives home this point by planting a giant three-pointed star in the grille. And if that passes unnoticed, you can astound your friends -- or better yet, your enemies -- by opening the door and giving them a glimpse of the gleaming stainless-steel sill, in which soft blue lights spell out MERCEDES-BENZ.

Here is a shot of mine in case you needed a little nudge to sell the 7 series and move up to the man box!

 

Suuuweeeet!

Scott

 

What are spare parts like on this thing? Say if the trans needs rebuilding or just stuff that wears out?

Thanks

 

Holy heck! That's really cool. It really drives it home that it's not a Jeep but a MB with all those stars. Man, I wish my wife loved this truck as much as I do. Everytime I see one I point it out to her and she smirks "That's ugly".

Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. It's gorgeous to me.


Mileage is kind of high on this one though... the only green one for sale in the US (from what I could find)

 

herman maire:

I asked a lot of these same types of questions on some MB G500 forums before buying. The thing is built like a tank-literally. Hand built in Austria since the 1970's in a partnership with Steyr-Daimler-Puch building one G-500 averages 44 hours.

The GM plant here in KC builds 40 Malibu's an HOUR.

Similar to our 993's I truly believe these are built to last forever.

But with that said, also similar to a 993, they are by no means without their faults and can be expensive to maintain.

After my 2-3 months of research and talking to many private sellers, I determined that paying extra for a well maintained vehicle would be money ahead in the long run.

I was fortunate that the small MB Dealership I ended up getting my G from was willing to print out and provide me with the service records since they delivered the vehicle new.

So, to finally answer your question. While under warranty a new power steering gear box (part only) was $2,180.26. Parts and labor to replace a faulty power window regulator was $453.20.

Buying mine as a CPO w) a true MB 2 year extended warranty for a total of 3 years...priceless. (Actually $3,200 for the extra 2 years)

 

Hubba Hubba Hubba...love the "G"...now you are a "G"!!

Yasin

 

Very nice. Snow season should be fun.

 

The G55 has been titled "The coolest car in the world".

If only... I could have one too!

Great video for those on the fence of buying one. Could any man really resist after seeing this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4CBhzuDtiE



Hmmm, what can I sell? )

 

I think I need a cigarette now and I don't smoke.

I love those things and it's cool to seem the used offroad, although I'm sure most in the States would never do such a thing. Some day I'd love to have one...

 

for those wondering, DIY on those cars is easy. Window regulators are a notorious MB soft spot, but you can get the parts for about $120, and I banged one out on my old E430 in about 1 hour and 10 minutes, still wearing my suit.

I've always liked them, but some parts of the interior are a bit of let down(hvac and navigation). Either way, they are great trucks.