Maybe but they are ICE cool.
They will still be here when all our cars have rusted away.
I agree the price is crazy but then whats a RR TDv8 with a few options?
The G Class is ACE
I have always loved the G-Wagen and was lucky enough to be able to borrow an 11-plate G350 Bluetec last year when it was re-launched in the UK. It is a pretty menacing looking thing, especially as I had it in Obsidian Black with the Chrome Styling Package.
It is a funny place to sit, it was like sitting in a melting pot of Mercedes-Benz from over the years. Most of the switchgear, the dials, and the steering wheel is from a W203 C-Class, the Memory Seat controls are from the W124 E-Class, with the most up-to-date COMAND and Rear-Entertainment from the outgoing ML. The Heated and Ventilated seats, iPod Integration, Reversing Camera, all features that you would expect from a £90k car but just didn't quite fit with the surroundings.
It's a hell of a climb into the car, and there isn't as much space as you'd expect. The chunky bonnet with the indicators perched on top, viewed out of a perfectly flat windscreen gives a bit of a 'comedy car' feel to it. As I set off, I was trying to think of a way to describe the bizarre way in which it drives. After going over a couple of bumps I realised that its, probably, a bit like riding a horse (I've never actually ridden a horse, but you get the idea).
After a 75 mile drive from Oxford to Guildford, I'd started to get used to it. The sit up and beg driving position is actually very comfortable, the 3.0 V6 diesel engine is very refined, there was surprisingly little wind noise considering that it wasn't exactly designed with aerodynamics in mind. At a steady 80mph cruise along the M40 it averaged 25mpg which I don't suppose is too bad for that sort of car (would have probably got 33 from an ML350CDI or similar). In fact, it was such a good motorway cruiser that I forgot that I wasn't driving a C or and E Class. However, I was soon reminded when I encountered a tight spiral slip road off the M25.
After a week with the car, I was absolutely smitten. Despite the sheer bulk of it, it is actually quite good fun on a country road (albeit very bouncy). It feels very willing, almost as if it knows that it is entirely out of its depth trundling along a winding stretch of tarmac draped over the countryside, but you get the impression that its really trying to be good at it. From what I understand the off-road ability is far beyond the Discovery, RR, or pretty much anything else this side of a Unimog, and it feels very solidly built. In fairness, I didn't have the guts to take it off road, not wanting to upset MB by handing it back broken.
So a surprisingly good car to drive, with an incredible amount of character. I would love to own a G-Wagen, I would love to own a G55 AMG, and I would love to not have to think about buying it. However If I was like most people who have £90k to spend on a luxury off roader I WOULD have to think about it, and I'd buy a Range Rover.
. What would that be worth now as a percentage of its purchase price ???? "Not alot"
