Here's the place to chat about all things classic. Also includes a feedback forum where you can communicate directly with the editorial team - don't hold back, they'd love to know what they're doing right (or wrong of course!)
JPB wrote:Another classic 4x4 that's still available new, albeit at around £80,000, is the Mercedes G-Wagen.
Older ones, although German-built, can rot nearly as much as those late '90s-early 2000s South African-built MB saloons but, if you could find a solid one, then there's really not much else to touch them.
Yes, the Niva is still available, just as every Lada model from the beginning is still being built back in Mother Russia. As they're LHD only, there's hardly a disadvantage in ordering a PSA Diesel version from a French dealer. Or maybe from Greece, their dealers would probably be glad of the cash.
Austrian actually, but close
I was also not aware of a RSA assembly line of the G-Wagen, but you learn something new...
JPB wrote:Another classic 4x4 that's still available new, albeit at around £80,000, is the Mercedes G-Wagen.
Older ones, although German-built, can rot nearly as much as those late '90s-early 2000s South African-built MB saloons but, if you could find a solid one, then there's really not much else to touch them.
Yes, the Niva is still available, just as every Lada model from the beginning is still being built back in Mother Russia. As they're LHD only, there's hardly a disadvantage in ordering a PSA Diesel version from a French dealer. Or maybe from Greece, their dealers would probably be glad of the cash.
Austrian actually, but close
Yeah, but in my defence, there's a slightly odd-looking moustache-wearing historical link between that two countries.
karlsgazelle wrote:I was also not aware of a RSA assembly line of the G-Wagen, but you learn something new...
See the bit of my earlier post that I highlighted in orange above. AFAIK, only the really rust-prone, late '90s (C-class?) Benz saloons and estates were built out there, the ones that usually had welding carried out to their front damper turrets and other bits under warranty and often around the time of their first ever MOT.
J "Home is where you park it", so the saying goes. That may yet come true..
JPB wrote:Yeah, but in my defence, there's a slightly odd-looking moustache-wearing historical link between that two countries.
I had hoped that Austria had managed to avoid another Anschluss since my absence there.
JPB wrote:
karlsgazelle wrote:I was also not aware of a RSA assembly line of the G-Wagen, but you learn something new...
See the bit of my earlier post that I highlighted in orange above. AFAIK, only the really rust-prone, late '90s (C-class?) Benz saloons and estates were built out there, the ones that usually had welding carried out to their front damper turrets and other bits under warranty and often around the time of their first ever MOT.
I most humbly apologise for not reading your post accurately.
I had a couple of Mercs, W210 and W211 E-class, built in Stuttgart or Sindelfingen or wherever they built them at the time, needing welding and rust repair, so even German built cars don't fare much better.
But trying to stay on topic, the 460 G-wagen certainly ticks a lot of boxes. Bodies can get tatty, but the chassis are usually indestructible and they are a lot of fun off road with the right tyres (they are all equipped with diff locks).
