Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

They are adored and coveted in the Middle East.

Owning one is kind of a right of passage - they're popular because all the important Sheikhs own them.

It's like a primitive German Landy to me, I think they're lovely cars... Aren't they a bit top heavy/likely to topple on a bend? They look so tall!

they do suffer rust yes but what car doesn't? and motorway miles aren't an issue on the OM606 - it's such an overbuilt engine you can punish it like this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIuZyliL8ts

mine has had all the electronics cut out and is running a dieselmaken manual fuel pump which is great but owning a 29 year old car does require maintenance of course... i learn something new about it every time i open the bonnet

^ did you buy it converted or did you do it yourself? spendy?

yeah my shocks need stiffening up, they are a bit floaty around tight corners and roundabouts but what 2-ton 4x4 isn't? they aren't dissimilar to the defender in size externally but inside they have so much more room, being 6'1" i can't really fit into a defender but mine is ideal + the extra power matched to an auto gearbox makes it a comfortable everyday driver

Wait, you have a G Wagen??

Amaze.

Forum trip out off roading?

i bought mine done direct from DPUK - these guys specialise in putting OM606 into any car you want, mine has a modest 280bhp but he builds stuff up to 600bhp
check out the video of this one...

https://www.facebook.com/DieselPumpUK/

and yes can be spendy but depends on how far you want to take it!

Did I say we I went off roading in a Series 1 Landy in Belfast? I'll pop some GoPro footage up soon. My mate accidentally got air and I smashed my face into the very solid dash

yeah - this is mine...

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it's going to be like this in time for summer i hope...

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wheel tints, 33" tyres, roof rack, ladder, roof tent and side awning, black mercedes badge, window tints, tow bar bike rack. done.

maybe a flag :D

Beautiful! There was a banged up, rusty G Wagen at aforementioned off road event, remarkably capable.

I'm pondering a roof tent on our w124... I should prob consider the flag as well

Fingers crossed someone'll drive the Brawn F1 car like it was designed to be driven and we'll see a new hill record

I thought they weren't allowed to compete?

They aren't. F1 cars and Bikes don't get officially timed runs up the hill, sadly.

Essex, too!

http://metro.co.uk/2016/05/03/someone-wrapped-200000-mclaren-spider-round-a-tree-minutes-after-it-was-delivered-5855882/

Shame, is there anything more pointless and less interesting than an F1 car not being driven hard

Cheers Bunnin!?...not sure it's that sad. Safety first! 😀

I think they improved the front end on that Disney car too.

Definitely safety first, and for the bikes rightly so! But it would be incredible to see one driven in anger up the hill.

It would also mean my old man could stop feeling so smug about being by the track when the record was set and harping on about "Nothing like it since".

Personally I don't mind it as a rule though, it's nice to see a big mix of cars in Sundays shootout, and Anthony Reid in a Group C car that is about as wide as the track is really something to behold!

They are all made in the same factory in Wein germany and have been since the start of the production run. They are the longest running production vehicle.

I know the chair of the Australian G Wagon club, just happens he's related to a good friend of my partners. In Australia they are super expensive because of the limited imports but they start out around £120k for the new model. In the UK the RHD has to have the dashboard custom made by AMG, they have to cut apart the original LHD dash and remake it. They do a professional version based on the 463 for around £80k which has a stainless steel interior.

Technically they were a Fast Attack Vehicle for army use and there are a wide variation being bought by the Australian army now, they had the 6 wheeler before Mercedes started making it for public consumption.

They inspire a lot of affection when you own one, the whole experience of driving one is brilliant. However mine inspired a lot of relief when I finally sold it. Financially it just didn't add up for me but even then it wasn't best suited to what I wanted from a vehicle so I don't miss it. Great cars though, amazing feeling that you could go anywhere in comfort. Massive interior space, you could be 6'3" wearing a helmet and solid build like Mercedes used to be.

Rear quarters rust from the inside out, early petrol versions and the early diesel are not powerful enough for the weight. Electrical problems in the newer ones. Fuel economy is terrible by modern standards, people estimating it would cost them £60k to run their 5l for 3 years. In the emirates fuel is pennies a litre so perhaps that helps.

A litre of petrol is cheaper than a litre of water in Dubai and the Saudis/Qataris think that's expensive.

Still after a shooting break, @Dammit?

I'd prefer Leopard skin seat covers if I'm being honest, studded red leather is very 2015.

Good point.
Throw it in the bin.