Russia Diary 2 - First ever sighting of a GLK!

[grober]

The GLK has not come to Britain because once again engineers were surprised to discover that a RHD model would be needed. Doh! So they had the take-off point for the front drive shafts intruding from the gearbox tunnel into the footwell for a RHD driver. Dumb. Now they want 80 million euros to completely re-engineer it. Still may happen or we might get the GLK in two-wheel drive mode (which many competitors in the smaller 4x4 market offer).

The 4 matic system was extensively modified to reduce the transmission "LUMP" by a major redesign of the transfer box. If you look at the picture of the GLK interior there is nothing obvious to prevent a RHD implementation particularly with an automatic transmission. However I believe the snag comes with the position of the steering rack/column which would probably co-incide with the front differential housing/sump in RHD models. I feel 80 million euros to re-engineer it is "gilding the lily" a bit since most of the engineering development has been done. All they need to do to produce a "mirror image" of what they have already

 

[bpsorrel]

Just stopping by..

wow, and what are you doing in russia?
govorish po russki?

Just popped into an internet cafe in Samara (Volga region) to check on my fav forum!

To answer your question, my wife is Russian (as was my mother) and we have a house in Vladimir which we spend about 2/3 months a year in. She gets to visit all her family spread out across Russia (from St Petersburg to Kamchatka in the far east!) and I get to chill out in the forrests and rivers etc! Life here (away from Moscow!) is surprisingly relaxed and spending time in our house in the forrest is very good for the soul! Great car spotting (like the GLK!) and as long as you avoid the yamma, very pleasant driving to be had. Had a look at a few cars before we left for Samara, to possibly replace my Nissan Sylphy which to be honest is a little too low and soft sprung for Russian roads! I think the Nissan X-Trail is coiming top of the list so far, but an older MB, such as W124 or W202 could be worth a look too. And, no, I'm not progressing too well with my Russian speaking! I can understand a lot now, but actually talking is another thing!! LOL! My wife despairs of me as she's been "teaching" me for 7 years now!!!

Off to enjoy some of the many shopping malls while my wife visits some relatives!

 

[Mactech]

Just popped into an internet cafe in Samara (Volga region) to check on my fav forum!

Off to enjoy some of the many shopping malls while my wife visits some relatives!

ARRGH! I find that anywhere in the world once you've seen one shopping centre, you've seen e'mall....

 

[Ted]

Ah Samara.
Like the Lada Samara!

Oh, and for your new car, to visit your country house, perhaps the Volswagen Dasher.

Dasher - dacha...... geddit?

gets his coat
Da cvidanye tovarisch

 

[bpsorrel]

Funny!!! LOL!! The Lada Samara! What a car! Looking out of the internet cafe window right now and I see 2 in the car park, nestling between 2 Mazda CX7s (very popular here) 2 W211s, a BMW 545, Toyota Land Cruiser and the gem of the lot, a little 2009 Lada Kalina! Now there's a car for you! LOL! Would have been a good car if they'd released it in 1998 instead...!

OK, that's it, my wfie has gone now and I'm left to pay for this internet use with the 1000 ruble note she left me! Bye!