An observation about the G-Class

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg) 01/20/2016 at 16:14 • Filed to: None

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The Mercedes G-Class is an oddity for many reasons, one of which is that here in the US, it was at least rumored for a time to be the only car whose high-performance version (the G63 AMG) outsold the standard version (the G550). Yet here in Nebraska, I see the G550 and older G500 every day, yet almost never the G55 or G63. Omaha has always been a very “stealth wealth” market, and it seems only recently that you’ve started to see Bentleys, Porsches, and the G with the frequency you’d expect from such an economically prosperous city. But that still doesn’t explain why here, unlike everywhere else, the G sells in a way that makes sense.

Also, anyone who naysays this car will get an internet raspberry. I love these things, and am determined to own one some day. My biggest problem is deciding between the classic clean looks of the G550 and the power and noise of the G63.

djmt1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/20/2016 at 16:18

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To quote Matt Farah: 80% of G Wagons are sold in LA and 80% of those are AMGs.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/20/2016 at 16:19

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I’ve seen a G65 AMG around town but that might be a rebadge.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 01/20/2016 at 16:21

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It would all but have to be; the G65 is not sold here.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/20/2016 at 16:26

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You know that a car/truck is exclusive when MB doesn’t have a configurator for that product.

Noah - Now with more boost. > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/20/2016 at 16:29

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Range Rovers are more poplar than G Wagens in the Greater Boston Area, but that principle applies to both. I see just as many G63s and supercharged rangies (ugh so much want) as I do standard models. Not so much with Merc MLs and BMW X5s though. But I did see an ML63 and an X5M yesterday!

GE90man > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/20/2016 at 16:31

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now they are

pjhusa > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/20/2016 at 16:31

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Here in New York, AMGs are sooooo commonplace. Regular models are rare.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/20/2016 at 16:31

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I like the ‘G’ for what it is - a relic of the past that somehow still manages to keep on living and rocking on. It’s like the Keith Richards of vehicles.

If I had lottery money, the six-wheel G would be one of the first vehicles I’d order, because nobody else and nothing else matters, and you'd be able to point and laugh at proles who drive regular G-wagens.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/20/2016 at 16:35

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Its definitely all G63s here in Austin, can’t remember ever seeing a 550. My wife has this as her one day car, and I can’t disagree

Klaus Schmoll > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/20/2016 at 16:44

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The W 463 is the wrong one to lust over!

Little known fact: They made the W 461 with the tucked-in fender until 2013. The last ones were called the “Professional”.

320 Diesel engine and a no-nonsense interiour. This is the “OG”!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 01/20/2016 at 17:02

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Where are you?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > GE90man 01/20/2016 at 17:02

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HOLY SHIT HOW WAS I NOT AWARE OF THIS?!?! THIS IS THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE BLAAAAAARH!!!!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Klaus Schmoll 01/20/2016 at 17:04

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I like those too, and would own one, but for a DD it’s gotta be leather seats and a big V8.

kanadanmajava1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/20/2016 at 17:13

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In Finland you can still buy G series in “work spec”. That model is called G 300 CDI Professional and it registered as a truck. So you cannot drive with a normal driver’s as you need the “heavy vehicle licence” for it. The maximum allowed speed has also dropped to 80 km/h and it actually has a speed limiter for 90 km/h.

The cheapest normal G series’ is starting from 177,000 (G 350 d) and the most expensive model (AMG G 65) is starting from is 595,000 USD. The Professional has lower taxes (as it is a truck) so its price is a lot lower at around 85,000 USD but I couldn’t find the exact price for it.

They look like this. And yes, the cargo barrier is mandatory for a truck.

Land_Yacht_225 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/20/2016 at 17:25

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I’ve got the same problem with these that I have with Land Cruisers, depreciation doesn’t happen like it’s supposed to.

I have to manage the replacement of my family’s beloved 2003 Trailblazer EXT V8 when it hits 250,000 miles sometime next year and I would love, LOVE, to see a 7-8 year old Land Cruiser or G-Wagon end up in our garage. But that won’t happen because these things hit a damn wall in value for no good reason. A 2002 G500 will run you $25,000 with 150,000 miles on the clock! My S600 cost more than a G-Wagon of the same vintage and dipped below $10,000 with less than 120k miles. And even then, when we’re talking about the early models, compared to say a Platinum Escalade of the same vintage? A C-Class’s gauge cluster, an E-Class’s wood and leather steering wheel, The head units out of a CLK-Class, etc. etc. Ultimately, they didn’t offer the most comprehensive options package of any SUV.

I set a precedent I have to keep, which is 70k miles ringing up as far below $25,000 as possible. I’ve got the GL550 on the list right now. That, the Armada clone QX56 (-2010 models) and the XC90 V8. At least those depreciate like normal cars.

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/20/2016 at 17:28

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They are sold in Houston, LA, and Miami, and they are fucking garbage to drive.

Vicente Esteve > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/20/2016 at 18:10

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TIL the extra 80K of the 65 buys you .1 of a second quicker time to 60.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > kanadanmajava1 01/20/2016 at 19:03

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On the one hand, that’s pretty cool. But on the other hand there ain’t no way in hell I’m paying $85,000 USD for a vehicle with a top speed of 50mph. That would be flat out unsafe here.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > McChiken116 - Patrick H. 01/20/2016 at 19:04

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I’ve heard that if you’re expecting the driving experience of a Range Rover, you should look elsewhere (like a Range Rover).

However with how cool they are I think I could put up with it.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Vicente Esteve 01/20/2016 at 19:06

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Yup. Makes the extra .5 seconds of the G63 over the G550 seem like a bargain.

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/20/2016 at 19:33

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I don't want to tell you what to think, but they are just not good at being cars. The steering is terrible, the interior is gross, and the usability isn't there

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > McChiken116 - Patrick H. 01/20/2016 at 20:29

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I have sat inside one and like the interior. I’ll have to see what I think when I drive one.

tsar > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/20/2016 at 20:48

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It's not really fair to do a 1:1 comparison of prices since the US tends to be disproportionately inexpensive but indeed, it'd be suicidal to drive it there. Sounds cool as a commercial vehicle though.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/21/2016 at 00:22

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Germany. Maybe they’ve changed it by now but I doubt it. The local dealer doesn’t even have a demo G Class. But three AMG GTs instead.