Automotive Observation

Kinja'd!!! "Carbon Fiber Sasquatch" (turbopumpkin)
07/15/2016 at 22:50 • Filed to: None

Kinja'd!!!1 Kinja'd!!! 27

If you’re going to buy a used luxury car to convince everyone that you’re wealthier than you are, I don’t think you can do better than the G-wagen.

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Can you tell the difference between the $35k-$40k 2007 models and the $100k+ 2015 models? Because I barely can and I found the damn pictures myself lol.

Can you think of a better example?


DISCUSSION (27)


Kinja'd!!! My citroen won't start > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
07/15/2016 at 22:55

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The G Wagen holds value quite well actually.

Classic “going to buy a used luxury car to convince everyone that you’re wealthier than you are” cars include L322 Range Rovers, the 7 series bangle and older C Classes.


Kinja'd!!! Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > My citroen won't start
07/15/2016 at 22:57

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True but they change a lot between generations, making them easy to distinguish. The G wagon not so much.


Kinja'd!!! My citroen won't start > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
07/15/2016 at 23:04

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I guess so, but all G wagens are cool so I’m ok with that.


Kinja'd!!! sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
07/15/2016 at 23:07

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God I love these things.


Kinja'd!!! MrDakka > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
07/15/2016 at 23:16

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I’ve always thought the G-63 would make an awesome light gun truck

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Armor it up and slap an automated m45 quad .50 cal mount in the back and you have a pretty capable urban pacification vehicle.

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Or go for broke and replace the M2's with GAU-19's for more dakka

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Kinja'd!!! JGrabowMSt > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
07/15/2016 at 23:21

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The Benz SL Class.

Older generations can be had for just about a half-finished song, and in complete honesty, if you play your cards right, the maintenance is no worse than anything else. Sure, actual costs may be higher, but a well maintained car wont be any less reliable than a similar age Honda or Toyota.

My R129 allows me to enter social circles I never thought I would, and the price of entry did not make me think twice.


Kinja'd!!! Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > My citroen won't start
07/15/2016 at 23:29

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I agree actually, I was just surprised how little it’s changed over the decades. I saw a G55 AMG today and thought it was brand new. I really like it for that reason.


Kinja'd!!! Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > JGrabowMSt
07/15/2016 at 23:31

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Yes, the SL class has been aging remarkably well. It helps that it's next closest competition is an Aston Martin too lol


Kinja'd!!! E92M3 > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
07/15/2016 at 23:33

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See I think the opposite. Non-car people think it’s an old Mercedes jeep thingy from the early 80's. If you told half the population they cost over $100k, they would shit themselves. Strangely, the same people see a 2009 E-Class, and think there’s a rich person driving it.


Kinja'd!!! hike > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
07/15/2016 at 23:47

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Fun fact: if the AMG badge is in the driver side, it’s a MY 16 or newer.

Mercedes switched sides when they rebranded to Mercedes-AMG.


Kinja'd!!! Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > JGrabowMSt
07/16/2016 at 00:09

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Did you really buy a 15+ year old MB just to hang with the “Haves” or was that just an unseen coincidence?


Kinja'd!!! Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
07/16/2016 at 00:51

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LEDs are what separates them for me. I always told my dad. There’s rich people, there’s super rich people, then there’s a separate class for S-Class owners and then one for G-Class owners.

It’s a special type of rich.


Kinja'd!!! Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
07/16/2016 at 01:53

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What if I want a G-Wagen that will just confuse the fcuk out of people? I don’t want something that makes it look like I’m rich, but I do want a G, albeit without the MB badging:

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Two doors, steelies and manual transmission FTW.


Kinja'd!!! Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > hike
07/16/2016 at 08:26

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Ooooooh, good eye!


Kinja'd!!! Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
07/16/2016 at 08:30

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Are G class owners the same kind who buy a Bentley Mulsanne over an S class?

I personally can't imagine any more car than a loaded E-class but I also currently drive a Hyundai so what do I know lol


Kinja'd!!! JGrabowMSt > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
07/16/2016 at 14:12

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Ouch. Not at all.

The car used to belong to a previous employer of mine, and I had the opportunity to drive it a couple of times when my personal car was in the shop.

The first time I drove it, I was absolutely terrified of it.

Once I became more familiar with the car, it was quite enjoyable, as in the beginning, I had never expected to fall into ownership of it.

About 3 years ago we struck a deal on the price, we agreed on how to handle the situation, and last year, on my birthday, I went to the DMV to make it officially mine.

I bought it to enjoy it, to share it, and to use it for its intended purpose. The fact that it ended up being an SL class, and I began to be introduced to other owners of newer and older SL cars was simply a coincidence that I certainly don’t mind in the least bit. I’ve met some wonderful people because of the experiences.

It’s no different when you own any other car and meet someone who ones one like it, equally excited about their ownership. For some silly reason people let badges get in the way, but many Porsche owners are easy to befriend when you also own a Porsche. It’s no different. I absolutely love the experience, and wouldn’t trade it for the world.


Kinja'd!!! JGrabowMSt > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
07/16/2016 at 14:15

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Even the R230s have fallen in price enough to justify for a weekend toy. It also helps that the markets for the R107, R129 and R230 are somewhat soft currently.


Kinja'd!!! Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > JGrabowMSt
07/17/2016 at 15:01

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Cool. How has the car been maintenace-wise?


Kinja'd!!! JGrabowMSt > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
07/17/2016 at 16:04

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Had a high pressure hose for the hydraulic suspension rupture, but luckily that’s an easy fix. Car is back on the road, and will be going out to more shows next weekend.

Just had the brake flex line replaced, so it’s all bueno. Ready for the next 116k.


Kinja'd!!! Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > JGrabowMSt
07/18/2016 at 11:38

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No other fixes besides those two? Just PM stuff then?


Kinja'd!!! JGrabowMSt > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
07/18/2016 at 12:07

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The only parts that have broken are the tensioner pulley, which broke clean off the mount, and this hose. The valve cover gaskets were done because they were just starting to show signs of a leak, and the hydraulic accumulators were replaced because they reached the end of their service life and were intermittently throwing suspension failure lights.

The car has 116k miles on it, and has been my most reliable vehicle to date. Only on a tow truck once, because of the broken pulley. When the pulley was replaced, the idler pulley and serpentine belt were done at the same time.

All other work has been purely preventative. I just swapped the brake flex lines with braided steel ones, and had the fluid flushed. Ive already had the radiator hoses, thermostat, coolant and hydraulic fluid changed to be safe, and had the radiator flow tested to ensure theres no unseen problems heading my way that I can tackle early. Tires are coming due next year, and once the hydraulic suspension is 100% (just need to top off the fluid and test drive), Im going to be saving up to have the wheels refinished and paintwork touched up. There is some previous bodywork that needs addressing because of poor workmanship, but my priority is to enjoy and drive the car. Its almost 20 years old, so plastic trim pieces are broken, missing or need lots of attention. Its a work in progress, but Im not ashamed of its condition, I inherited the problems when I bought it, but seeing as Ive driven the car a lot over the past 5 years, I am well aware of what I am up against, and consider it a pleasure to have the opportunity to work on.


Kinja'd!!! Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
07/18/2016 at 12:12

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I always imagined G-Class owners to be similar to Lexus LX owners. They’re driven by the wives of husbands who daily an SL or a 911. Like you can tell they can afford even more but to them it’s sufficient.

Why not a supercar you ask? Cause I imagine their wives driving Range Rovers. I feel rude imagining these stereotypes.


Kinja'd!!! Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > JGrabowMSt
07/18/2016 at 12:24

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Apologies if my opening statement came off a bit harsh; nuance is lost in forums too often. I'm kind of surprised the hyd suspension has been fairly problem-free; I've read that can be a major issue with aging SLs. Has the car been easy to work on (everything being relative, of course) or have you had someone do the work for you?


Kinja'd!!! JGrabowMSt > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
07/18/2016 at 14:57

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It really depends on the problem. Ive been working with my friends shop to do the suspension work. I know how it functions and how to troubleshoot it down, but he has a lift and good mechanics and allows me to work with them. I will take care of most things myself, Ive torn apart the cowl and cleaned it, the trim and interior work will be me, and some future work will be me as well. I dont own a huge tool box, and I know when Im in over my head, but Im not afraid of the car, so I will wrench on it myself without thinking twice. There isnt much info on these cars, but Ive amassed a lot of it and share it when necessary.

In the future, I do intend in getting a second one as a project car, but need more space before that happens.


Kinja'd!!! RyanFrew > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
08/04/2016 at 00:47

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you can tell they can afford even more but to them it’s sufficient.

Da fuq is objectively “more” than an LX?! It doesn’t get any bigger or more comfortable.....


Kinja'd!!! Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > RyanFrew
08/04/2016 at 01:40

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Oh no, the “afford even more but to them it’s sufficient” is more for the SL or 911 part. Like they could definitely drive a 458 or a Aventador but instead they get an SL or a 911.


Kinja'd!!! RyanFrew > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
08/04/2016 at 04:36

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Gotcha. Porsche actually did a famous marketing research study once, which broke their buyers down into 6 groups. The study verifies what you’re saying. They call the group “Elitists”. People who buy Porsche for the same reason other people buy Corollas - they aren’t sensitive to the cost, it’s “just what they buy”. Typically old money.