[soccerg201]

I know this is a G-wagon forum so most people are bias but I was wondering what the + and - would be for a G55 or the E55 wagon. Where I live we get 300+ inches of snow a year so that is a + for the G wagon but I am just kind of impressed with the speed of the E55. Also what are the off road performace differences between the G55 and the G500? Is the engine upgrade worth 20+ grand? Thanks for your help as I am new to the forum.

 

[MarcO]

Though I do not mean to be snide I will point out the obvious first - E55 is a car while the G55 is a solid axeled, ladder frame truck from the late '70's. If you like the agility of the E the G will be frustrating in any form. It is big and lumbering when driven over normal highways. The G is a mountain goat in the poorly/un paved world. The G also sucks fuel at a rate that is ungodly. My 500 gets 11 to 15 mpg while my 55 gets 8.5 to 12. Now as to the difference between them in cost I do not think the 55 is worth the $20K unless you love the sound and feel of a jet attached to a shoebox. That said I have purchased a total of 4 of these vehicles and would buy another tomorrow because I smile every time I see these trucks and sometimes laugh out loud while I am driving them. I think that they are a bargain as they obviate my need for psychotherapy.

JMHO

 

[soccerg201]

Kind of on the same note as you were talking...My wife will be driving whatever benz we get and probuably won't be off-roading too much but really likes the appearence of the G. How does the G drive (not economically) as a daily driver? Ride? Comfort?

 

[DUTCH]

soccerg201 - 3/16/2006 9:06 AM

Kind of on the same note as you were talking...My wife will be driving whatever benz we get and probuably won't be off-roading too much but really likes the appearence of the G. How does the G drive (not economically) as a daily driver? Ride? Comfort?

Then she needs to test drive it for a couple of days before purchasing so she can feel how it drives in comaprison to how it "appears". As MarcO said, it is a truck. It is not soccer mom's grocery getter.

She'd probably be happier with the ML, R or GL.

 

[MarcO]

Sight lines are difficult (big blind spots), STRONGLY suggest she drive one. My wife loves the swb but does not like the lwb. It is an acquired taste.

 

[MarcO]

Oh, I forgot to ad that this taste once acquired is an expensive taste.

 

[MarcO]

Comfort is excellent. Very much like the s class of 2 generations ago. I would not compare it to the more modern (E and S class) Mercedes. It does not have electronic, automatic nose wipers. In fact it may be the only MB that has manually retractable outside mirrors. I think that the best way to describe the G is robust. It gives a little up in civility for this robustness. But if you want something the your wife can just get in and drivein any weather with little need for off road or really severe weather with your kids aboard I think the GL is a better bet. These machines are labor intensive. An example is the exposed hinges that need driver/owner lubrication once a month in normal use. I like this but my wife has never done this herself even though she drives a G.

 

[femo36]

hi soccerg,

i cannot entirely agree to my forespeakers, eventhough they are right in loads of points.

i have a w210 e55 4-matic and 2 G500's so i think i do qualify to give an honest opinion.

first of all, which e55 are u talking about the new model ? if so pls do not forget - no four wheel drive ! be carefull this car is very nice, but a beast in snow. with 300+ inches of snow i would not consider this car at all even though it is very nice.

as to the ML the new ML is a very nice car and def one of the best SUV around at this very moment. but it is an SUV. but be carefull the overvue is not as good as in a G and can be at times in narrow traffic or parking a pain. (like loads of the SUV's)

Now to the G the G is a Legend full of emotions and there are only 2 sides either you fall in love or you dont. it is most probably the most sturdy and robust truck private people can get. my wife loves the G and actually wouldnt drive anything else....

i would start a big test drive week and try all your options but.....keep them for at least a day in order to get properly aquainted.....

and i think there is no logical reason to buy a G only emotional ones......but they are big !

good luck with your decision

femo

 

[femo36]

ahhh sorry

G55 vs G500

if u have the spare cash take a 55 it is a great feeling moving a brick around like that, but seriousely i think the 500 is enough....see if u can drive both !

 

[mb230s]

soccerg201 - 3/16/2006 7:51 AM

I know this is a G-wagon forum so most people are bias but I was wondering what the + and - would be for a G55 or the E55 wagon. Where I live we get 300+ inches of snow a year so that is a + for the G wagon but I am just kind of impressed with the speed of the E55. Also what are the off road performace differences between the G55 and the G500? Is the engine upgrade worth 20+ grand? Thanks for your help as I am new to the forum.

Get an e500 wagon w/ 4-Matic or ML/GL. The G is an aquired taste. To put it bluntly - if you need to ask you won't like it.

The reason the resale is so terrible is that 80% of the buyers don't realize this is a heavy rough riding truck. It was never meant to be a luxury automobile. No amount of leather and wood can change that. After the uniqueness/newness wears off they get dumped on the used market - often with numerous warranty complaints about squeeks and the ride.

It isn't toddle friendly either. The rear doors and back seat make the car seat difficult to get in/out and even for a tall 6 year old the climb into the G is an adventure.

For me - there is no better car. Few, if any, of my friends/family would agree.

One more thing - the stock G tires are worthless in snow. If you go w/ a G you'll need new tires immedietly. Search the forum when that time comes.

 

[Kerr]

Id say sale all your current toys and get one of each. I have more problems out of my G500 than all my cars combined for a life time. That being said i two would buy a G55K today if i had the moeny. I love the E55 wagon, and E55 car. As for speed, you probably will not be able to tell much of a difference until after 70 mph. I think the G does 0-60 in 4.7 seconds and the wagon is 4.1 which is crazy. Bottom line i dont think you can go wrong no matter which one you choose.

a few on here have both! I will tell you the E55 will be useless in the snow.

 

[femo36]

Kerr - 3/16/2006 4:43 PM
I think the G does 0-60 in 4.7 seconds and the wagon is 4.1 which is crazy. Bottom line i dont think you can go wrong no matter which one you choose.

that sounds too optimistic to me....its more like:

Model BHP NM Cyl. cm³ 0-100 km/h Vmax L/100km

E 55 AMG 476 700 V8 5439 4,8s 250 13,6l
G 55 AMG 476 700 V8 5439 5,6s 210 -,-l

G 500 297 456 V8 4966 10,2s 190 16,7l

but still good enough ;-)

 

[MarcO]

0-60 is not 0-62. 100km/h = 62 mph + gearshift on G.

Both correct!

 

[TH]

soccerg201 - 3/16/2006 2:51 PM
Also what are the off road performace differences between the G55 and the G500? Is the engine upgrade worth 20+ grand? Thanks for your help as I am new to the forum.

The G55 without Kompressor and the G500 are comparable off road, but you can't use the extra power from the G55. Even the G500 is in low range completely overpowered.
The G55 engine is not worth the extra price, a good running 500 engine is very close to it.

G55 Kompressor and G500
Here the G500 is off road in general MUCH better, based on the bigger Kompressor Brake you can't use 16" rims. No one in the world does off road with 18"rims, except some playing beside the paved road.

But here the engine is worth the extra money. A real killer engine. In my opinion it is much better in the G than the new one (6.3) will be.

 

[inkblotz]

To take the model lines back a few years. My wife has an 98 E320 wagon and I (of course) have the 83 300GD.

My wife loves the comfort, handling and safe feeling she gets from her wagon, not to mention its cavernous load space.

She likes my G for short trips only. She feels the ride is to harsh. She does like the look/design of it just not the ride.

I agree with the previous responses that you wife needs to drive it to understand what the G is all about.

It's like in the 80's when people used to lust over and buy Jaguars purely because they were good looking sexy cars. But once they owned one and had to live with it they realized the honeymoon was over and their beauty was now destined to visit the shop on a regular because of the then inferior Lucas electronics.

Not to say the G is troublesome just that the fun factor to one may not be to another.

Mark []

 

[soccerg201]

How would I have her test drive it for a day? The people at the Benz dealer neam me won't even let you test drive the car without them in it. Is this normal?

 

[ewalberg]

femo36, you gotta qualify their bigness. The feel big in so far as they are definitely heavy gas, brake and steering, but there are people (diehardG's wife for example) who preferes the g-wagen to the older body style ML, because in reality it is narrower and no longer so you can actually get into tight spaces nicely comparively speaking and they have really narrow roads japan so they are more likely to notice real width as opposed to perceived.

Tall they are definitely. it's a foot shorter in length than the previous body syle 4-runner and about the same length as the older pathfinders... likely shorter than an e55 wagon, and likely narrower too. it's actually easier to get in an out of the vehicle in tight parking spaces than most cars because the door have no curvature.

As you said, foward visibility is fantastic, it's directly behind you that's pretty limited... i'm tempted to get a bumper sticker lick a Mac truck... if you can't see my mirrors i can't see you!

 

[soccerg201]

What kind of speeds can you hit in the G55 safely on the freeway?

 

[MarcO]

Double nickle x 2 easily and effortlessly. Might mention that on road the new bigger brakes are a big improvement in feel and distance. Pay careful attention to what ewalberg said above. My wife really prefers the G to the ML as the width is much less noticeable because the G body is a flat uncurved surface. It feels smaller and more manageable. My wife came from a'95 C36 which was a great ride. We have not put 10 miles on the C36 in over 8 months because she so refers the G. Very telling. Also the kids prefer the G's backseat though it is tough for my five year old to climb in and out of.

 

[femo36]

ewalberg - 3/17/2006 6:33 PM

femo36, you gotta qualify their bigness. The feel big in so far as they are definitely heavy gas, brake and steering, but there are people (diehardG's wife for example) who preferes the g-wagen to the older body style ML, because in reality it is narrower and no longer so you can actually get into tight spaces nicely comparively speaking and they have really narrow roads japan so they are more likely to notice real width as opposed to perceived.

Tall they are definitely. it's a foot shorter in length than the previous body syle 4-runner and about the same length as the older pathfinders... likely shorter than an e55 wagon, and likely narrower too. it's actually easier to get in an out of the vehicle in tight parking spaces than most cars because the door have no curvature.

As you said, foward visibility is fantastic, it's directly behind you that's pretty limited... i'm tempted to get a bumper sticker lick a Mac truck... if you can't see my mirrors i can't see you!

u couldnt have described it better !!! well explained