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

Certainly not if you keep fixing everything that breaks!

That was pretty quick - they had one over the summer didn't they. I wasn't expecting another till Christmas.

Yeah, was quite surprised too, but didn't they talk about having enough Patreons now to do it full time?

I run an '03 Mini and an '08 Isuzu truck. Both are perfect for their jobs (respectively ferrying around me and 2 kids, and ferrying dogs, kids, horse crap and towing a horse trailer). I would strongly resent paying through the nose every month for a new car's depreciation, and also all the ridiculous toys like auto wipers, satnav, adaptive cruise that I have absolutely no need for. I would also cry every time I had to scrape my new paintwork down a country lane hedge, or my son put his muddy football boots all over the shiny trim etc etc.

I'm in the same boat. Every time I think about getting a new car I look at the state of the ones I have. A new motor would be fucked in short order.

Yes most are 5 cylinder but some aren't, and there are loads of versions. Biggest weekness on all of them is the lump of metal the auxiliary belt tensioner attached to, if the auxiliary belt snaps or becomes hammed it ripps off the lump and either.... Simply just not possible to mount a new tensioner because the lump is gone or worse (but actual the same outcome) it jams in cam belt and kills it. Either way new engine. There aren't many other big killers though unlike most engines.
Like a lot of common rail diesel around town itcan really drink, but as soon as your doing normal constant speeds (55-75mph) the economy is fantastic especially for a car that size.

Older VP/pd diesels are economic in and out of town, just bad pollution

Not having a dig at Mondeo, many times I've gone looking for one for friends and folks and not been able to find a worthy one. Just not many about, I guess they never sold many of the newer ones, especially not estates with any spec on then. Folk buying poverty spec small Audi instead of mondeo these days. And those that are buying them new are keeping them till they're done

One on my street, black with some subtle mods. So much does want . Last time I asked I think he wanted £16k for it, which I thought was mental but then saw others online

Finally picking up the Discovery 3 (with engine number 3) next week so I'll start having a look at getting it sold and then start the search for a V70 R-Design I think...

Does anyone know if any of the R-Designs were sold with a plain colour interior or is that a key feature of R-Design? I'm not a big fan of the black and white leather...

Buy yourself a spec b legacy and do something nice with the money you've saved.

Anyone know about G Wagons?

Not for you, expensive enough even for a sane owner.

They are very nice to drive though. I think it's £120k+ for the newer ones. There's so much win about them it's probably worth it but the modern ones are bristling with computer technology and consequently not as bomb proof as the older ones.

Rusting bodywork was very common on early models. I had one for 7 years and had to work on pretty much every item on it.

Are you thinking 2nd hand?

If you're looking for a car that could ruin you financially, G Wagen might be the right one.

I know I can't afford one...

The mid eighties ones are 7-8k and look pretty simple. Then there’s something of a jump and the modern ones are 80k, and look like Liberace was responsible for the facelift. Was wondering what happened, really.

Get an old one with tartan seats. Alternatively a really nice classic Range Rover?

That cheap?!? I've had a look out here in the past and only found the newer ones so £€¥$... Would love one but still not as nice as an FJ/HJ Land Cruiser... Very different beasts but...

It's an out and out military vehicle. There's no comfort or luxury, but by God are they capable.

so buy a defender?

To be clear: I'm not looking at buying one, I was just wondering whether they were any good (old ones look capable, new ones look like the old ones post all-over vajazzle).

What drew my eye was the price difference between "bit rusty/tartan seats/would see in field" to "impossible to see Trevor McDonald in this vehicle".

The 80's was a long time ago, that's why they're cheap.

I was spending so much time at Mercedes parts I'm still on first name terms with the parts manager. If it's under £8k it's probably got rust everywhere, plus there's a list of jobs on them that mechanics hate, consequently they cost a fortune to get repaired.

They are military focused but still very comfortable, you could wear a helmet inside even if you're six foot. They still make a G Wagen professional which is based on a 461, last time I looked they have a stainless steel interior and one of the options is a gun rack. That's the modern version of the rusty 80's ones for around £70k when they were released. I would probably favour one of those if I ever needed a 4x4.

The 463 (now known as G63) is incredibly popular in Dubai hence the lovely leather interiors and massive fuel guzzling engines.

I had a 2.3 petrol auto and it was giving about 11mpg with a max of 80mph. On the G Wagen forum owners of the 463 (5 litre AMG) were reporting spending £60k on fuel in the first 3 years.

The Kool aid is very strong with these cars.

This looks like a car (if I lived in rural parts) I would consider:

https://www.g-wagen.co.uk/used-cars/mercedes-benz-g-class-2-7-ge280-ge-3dr-201805256856056

I'm guessing that this car will cost £50,000/year to keep on the road, based on your experience?

I don't understand.

They're horrendously expensive to run, massively over the top for the trip down the lanes of Banbury et al to the local Waitrose and they don't even have rear doors.

There must be a hundred other vehicles that can meet the needs to someone living outside the M25... hypothetical or otherwise.

They've got quite an appealing Tonka-Toy element to the design, and in a way the Khanification of the 463 - making it instant dignicide to even stand next too - makes the simple ones more interesting.

I think the early 90's jeep cherokees look better - still the tonka aesthetic but the added possibility of fake wood on the sides!
If you squint at an old jeep cherokee you can see a volvo 240 with a lift and big wheels.