G-Class Quality, Lettuce Count the Ways

[Drew Dowdell]

By now, we've all heard from our resident Mercedes lover how simply FABULOUS the G-Class is and how it is so much better than anything Cadillac could ever do.  So armed with my trusty camera and a press pass to one of the large auto shows in the past few months, I took documentation of the super duper high kwality of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

 

Class... let's begin.

 

Back in the late 70's, Ford dared to compare their Ford Monarch sedan to a Mercedes sedan..  I'm pretty sure Mercedes got revenge by stealing their door lock buttons.

 

Those door lock buttons go really well with these exposed screw heads.

 

And they're found

 

Nearly everywhere

 

on the vehicle

 

If you ever need a replacement ash tray, you can conveniently pick them up in the HELP car parts section of any chain auto parts store and select Walmarts.

 

Cup holder or basketball net?  We report, you decide

 

Door latch "A" (with two different types of exposed screw head)

 

Fits into door catch "B"

[Drew Dowdell]

Check out the fine car fit and finish...

 

See how they just cut out that door sill plate with a hacksaw? But it says "Mercedes-Benz" on it, so it must be the best.

 

Check out the rubber mounting gaskets on these babies!

[Drew Dowdell]

Imagine if Cadillac cobbled together a vehicle in this fashion and dared to charge $115k for it. A certain member of this board would go ape$h!.

[Robert Hall]

It's kind of unintentionally retro.  The Land Rover Defender is the same way..unabashedly old..

[Drew Dowdell]

It's kind of unintentionally retro.  The Land Rover Defender is the same way..unabashedly old..

 

No... it's lazily retro.... Mercedes has left it to age like an old gym sock tossed on the side of the street

[G. David Felt]

This is what one would have expected from Kia 10 years ago. MB should be ashamed to have this out there and the Badge Snobs need to wake up to the junky quality of this ride.

[balthazar]

Correct DD - the G has been allowed to wither to a dried husk, still featuring 1960s body hardware & construction techniques, tho not at all at the quality level of a 1960s Chevy II, for example. The vehicle has been a long-running joke. Nope; I don't care that a handful of people spend (whatever they do) on it, doesn't change what it is; out of character with MBUSA's catalog, out of step with modern vehicle construction and the oldest continually-unchanged vehicle on the market.

[G. David Felt]

WOW, So the red marker light gets star head screws and the turn signal get philips screws and the door latch has two different phillip screws.

 

What Freakin Idiots buy crap like this.

 

The G is built like crapy  cheap grey market computers using all the left overs so no two systems are truly alike except in numbers. This is built just like that left over screws, parts, etc to use them up. Very sad.

[smk4565]

The G-wagon is mostly hand made Since the current assembly lines are tooled to make it. It is most a 1970s blueprint after all. They were going to drop the G-wagon 10 years ago but the fans wanted them to keep making it. The fan base likes the vehicle as it is, I think that is why it hasn't changed. Being mostly hand built and low volume jacks the price up, but the G-wafon faithful keep buying it.

[balthazar]

Every single OEM "hand built" car I've seen is still better constructed than the G- it's an anachronistic embarrassment. 1960s VW-level construction is NOT a luxury hallmark, and everything else MB builds, including the rolling chicken coupe the sprinter is, is better built. Hell, my 1940 Ford shows better body/hardware construction than the G.

If Cadillac built something on this level, it would be from the 1930s.

[Drew Dowdell]

The G-wagon is mostly hand made Since the current assembly lines are tooled to make it. It is most a 1970s blueprint after all. They were going to drop the G-wagon 10 years ago but the fans wanted them to keep making it. The fan base likes the vehicle as it is, I think that is why it hasn't changed. Being mostly hand built and low volume jacks the price up, but the G-wafon faithful keep buying it.

 

I think I've seen ads for those handbuilt cars at the back of car magazines.... they send it do you in packages over time and you built it yourself.  Much cheaper than ordering all the parts of JC Whitney individually. 

[G. David Felt]

WOW Who knew that the G- Wagon was the German version of a ricer auto but without the quality.

 

G Wagon Kits.

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/g-class-body-kit

 

http://www.bodykits.com/Mercedes/G-Class/Body-Kits-Conversions/Body-Kits/

 

Boy can you make this brick on wheels any uglier.

[ccap41]

 

It's kind of unintentionally retro.  The Land Rover Defender is the same way..unabashedly old..

 

No... it's lazily retro.... Mercedes has left it to age like an old gym sock tossed on the side of the street

 

yet... they're sales have been on the rise the past 10 years..

 

Remember, it is built based on militaty vehicles(it's original intent). They're very badass vehicles off road and there are very few vehlicles that could touch it off road, let alone with heated and cooled seats. Throw in the AMG version and you'll also be able to out run some pretty tough cars at the drag strip as well. 

Edited June 5, 2015 by ccap41

[balthazar]

It's not a military vehicle now, and they never go off road, so those claims are immaterial.

And anyone can stick a big HP motor under the hood of a -say- AMC Pacer and outrun cars at the strip- BFD.

 

MB could finally do a new generation and fix all these glaring quality & build issues, retain the HP & 4WD capabilities, and have a vehicle they could actually be proud of, that fits with the rest of their catalog (well, CLA aside :snark:) and it would finally be remotely comparable to… anything else built this century. 4WD capability (immaterial) in no way, shape or form dictates such sloppy build quality. 

 

The issue is this is positioned as a 'co-flagship', or the 'truck flagship' of MB. It's like if a Ford Maverick was fast and cost $100K. <--- Impressed? I didn't think so. 

[smk4565]

The G-class as it is, is what the fan base wants.  There is no reason to change it.  The Jeep Wrangler has looked the same for 35 years and it is the iconic Jeep and still has a loyal fan base.    If you want a modern unibody luxury crossover, Mercedes has the GL.

 

G-class production is also sub-contracted out to Austria, it doesn't come from Stuttgart.   What I didn't know until I did some research is the company that assembles it also makes the Mini Countryman and Pacemen.  In the past they made Aston Martin Rapide, BMW X3, Jeep Grand Cherokee/Commander, Saab 9-3 convertible, and the early 4matic Benzes.

 

I think the G63 6x6 is built by Brabus.

[aaaantoine]

I had no idea these were still being built -- wasn't the GL supposed to replace this?  I guess as long as people demand it, they will continue to build it.

[Robert Hall]

I see a few every week..the best sighting was one night a few years ago in the Dairy Queen drive thru--one in front of me, an SL AMG behind me, with another G-wagen behind it...

Edited June 6, 2015 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[balthazar]

Just think how many MORE MB could move if they used building techniques and standards newer than 1965.

[G. David Felt]

 

 

It's kind of unintentionally retro.  The Land Rover Defender is the same way..unabashedly old..

 

No... it's lazily retro.... Mercedes has left it to age like an old gym sock tossed on the side of the street

 

yet... they're sales have been on the rise the past 10 years..

 

Remember, it is built based on militaty vehicles(it's original intent). They're very badass vehicles off road and there are very few vehlicles that could touch it off road, let alone with heated and cooled seats. Throw in the AMG version and you'll also be able to out run some pretty tough cars at the drag strip as well. 

 

I get a superior ride in the Escalade which has the heated and cooled seats before MB ever did them plus it goes off road just fine and you want performance, then just add the GM Supercharger performance kit and you have a V edition of the escalade. Yet even without it, I have not seen sales slow down for the escalade.

[smk4565]

All these countries shaded in blue use the G-class in their military.

 

[Drew Dowdell]

None of the military spec stuff or off road stuff matters when you're building a luxury car.  To claim to have the highest quality and then have mismatched exposed screw heads and visible rubber gaskets around the door handles and door lock buttons made of plastic that an '83 Ford Escort would blush at... is a farce.

 

SMK say's they're hand made.... again so what? If everything I touch in the car is built from parts they found at the clearance bin in PepBoys it doesn't matter at all if it is hand made.  It's a really really really expensive Jeep Wrangler... except the Wrangler does build quality and material quality much better.

[balthazar]

Correct; the build 'quality' is FINE for a military vehicle, but there's no military vehicle sold at MB dealers.

And by "U.S. military", it's like 50 modified vehicles mostly mothballed from overseas operations. 

 

MB slapped some leather & chrome on the equivalent of a Pinto and SOMEHOW convinced a few folk to buy it.

Product-wise however, it's embarrassing.

[El Kabong]

I'll just put this out there: if Jeep decided to chase The Cadillac Escalade with a really pimped-out Wrangler with a Hellcat engine, it would be entertaining. But that's about it.

The G-Wagen is what it is: rugged, old, and a trap for brand trolls to impale themselves on to the delight of those of us who enjoy sharpening the stakes.

[G. David Felt]

So MB needs to replace the current garbage SUV with their concept. Much better than the current model.

 

 

Course you could say we had our G Wagon day also. 1965 Ford Squire!

 

[ccap41]

It's not a military vehicle now, and they never go off road, so those claims are immaterial.

And anyone can stick a big HP motor under the hood of a -say- AMC Pacer and outrun cars at the strip- BFD.

 

MB could finally do a new generation and fix all these glaring quality & build issues, retain the HP & 4WD capabilities, and have a vehicle they could actually be proud of, that fits with the rest of their catalog (well, CLA aside :snark:) and it would finally be remotely comparable to… anything else built this century. 4WD capability (immaterial) in no way, shape or form dictates such sloppy build quality. 

 

The issue is this is positioned as a 'co-flagship', or the 'truck flagship' of MB. It's like if a Ford Maverick was fast and cost $100K. <--- Impressed? I didn't think so. 

But that doesn't mean they don't have the ability to go off road better than anything else, let alone lux -  minus the Rovers. Duh, anybody CAN stick a big motor under the hood of anything and out run  cars at the strip, but they don't. MB did it. 

 

If off road capabilities on this are considered immaterial then so are off road capabilities on 99% of vehicles, including Wranglers. Yet people still want it and still love the abilities. Just because it doesn't get used doesn't make it less impressive. Do you use your red line in every gear just because it is there? Probably not. But when you want to accelerate hard..you use it. Because you can. That is what the G is all about. Because you can.

[smk4565]

Plus, the G-wagen is the only car that can fly.

 

[ccap41]

 

 

 

It's kind of unintentionally retro.  The Land Rover Defender is the same way..unabashedly old..

 

No... it's lazily retro.... Mercedes has left it to age like an old gym sock tossed on the side of the street

 

yet... they're sales have been on the rise the past 10 years..

 

Remember, it is built based on militaty vehicles(it's original intent). They're very badass vehicles off road and there are very few vehlicles that could touch it off road, let alone with heated and cooled seats. Throw in the AMG version and you'll also be able to out run some pretty tough cars at the drag strip as well. 

 

I get a superior ride in the Escalade which has the heated and cooled seats before MB ever did them plus it goes off road just fine and you want performance, then just add the GM Supercharger performance kit and you have a V edition of the escalade. Yet even without it, I have not seen sales slow down for the escalade.

 

You're comparing two completely different vehicles. The GL and Escalade compete.  Escalade off road? That's a joke right? The front diffuser is like 6 inches off the ground. Yes you could take things off and lift things and add lockers and all sorts of jazz if you're going to go that route. The G has that all already. You don't need to "add a supercharger" or "take off the front diffuser". That is what makes the G what it is. It doesn't really make sense.

[Drew Dowdell]

I don't buy the off-road thing on the Escalade as it wasn't meant for that... but at the same some none of the G buyers are doing off-roading either unless the valet jumps the curb at Bergdor Goodman.

 

What doesn't work for me is the poor poor material quality and level of build of the G.. if they were charging Wrangler level prices, that would be one thing... even double the price of a Wrangler just to get the badge.. I might not raise an eyebrow.......  but they aren't.. they are charging 5 times the price of a Wrangler.

[G. David Felt]

 

 

 

 

It's kind of unintentionally retro.  The Land Rover Defender is the same way..unabashedly old..

 

No... it's lazily retro.... Mercedes has left it to age like an old gym sock tossed on the side of the street

 

yet... they're sales have been on the rise the past 10 years..

 

Remember, it is built based on militaty vehicles(it's original intent). They're very badass vehicles off road and there are very few vehlicles that could touch it off road, let alone with heated and cooled seats. Throw in the AMG version and you'll also be able to out run some pretty tough cars at the drag strip as well. 

 

I get a superior ride in the Escalade which has the heated and cooled seats before MB ever did them plus it goes off road just fine and you want performance, then just add the GM Supercharger performance kit and you have a V edition of the escalade. Yet even without it, I have not seen sales slow down for the escalade.

 

You're comparing two completely different vehicles. The GL and Escalade compete.  Escalade off road? That's a joke right? The front diffuser is like 6 inches off the ground. Yes you could take things off and lift things and add lockers and all sorts of jazz if you're going to go that route. The G has that all already. You don't need to "add a supercharger" or "take off the front diffuser". That is what makes the G what it is. It doesn't really make sense.

 

Escalade has far more than 6 inches of ground clearance and you do not get an AMG G wagon by default. So as an owner of a Platinum Escalade ESV that does go off-road and handles just fine if I want to compete with the G Wagon AMG version I could add the Supercharge Performance package GM has and have what in essence would be a V edition and kick the AMG butt.

[ccap41]

All these countries shaded in blue use the G-class in their military.

 

Yup, they are still producing them for militaries. The US Marine Corps recently purchased some. I think around 2010..

[ccap41]

Sorry. Technically, it has 7.9inches according to their website.. The G has 10 inches at it's lowest points(the Differentials) and 14 along the axels which are solid front and rear so it doesn't lose ground clearance while articulating off road, unlike the Cadillac.

Digging into the aftermarket for performance completely blows any argument out of the water. The fact MB offers an AMG and Cadillac doesn't is my point in that. And adding a supercharger isn't the equivalent of a V Series. Cadillac does much more than just give their V cars more power.

 

 

Oh, I agree that nobody will take them off road but that it is the same with a Ferrari 488, nobody will be driving them 200mph, but it can do it. The G is the Ferrari of the off road world(or Rover - they're impressive off the beaten path as well).

 

I agree that some of the built quality isn't 100% where it should be for a 100+k vehicle but I think the exterior bits look cool. They look like they can get hit, broken, and easily replaced with another one(exposed screws). That stuff doesn't bother me at all. It looks the part to me. The miss matching stuff, not so much. I'll have to check the gf's to see if there are miss matching screws, but the dangly cup holder is the stupidest thing ever. Looks stupid and works like dog &#036;h&#33;. They sure could have come up with a better idea than that.

17911973 1093086

[balthazar]

Plus, the G-wagen is the only car that can fly.

 

Everything and anything can fly.

 

[Drew Dowdell]

 

Plus, the G-wagen is the only car that can fly.

 

Everything and anything can fly.

 

 

 

Chevy actually had to put an airborne mode in track mode of the ZL-1.  They had the problem where when the car went airborne, the traction control would kick in and slow the wheels down... which you don't want when you're on the track. 

I agree that some of the built quality isn't 100% where it should be for a 100+k vehicle but I think the exterior bits look cool. They look like they can get hit, broken, and easily replaced with another one(exposed screws). That stuff doesn't bother me at all. It looks the part to me. The miss matching stuff, not so much. I'll have to check the gf's to see if there are miss matching screws, but the dangly cup holder is the stupidest thing ever. Looks stupid and works like dog &#036;h&#33;. They sure could have come up with a better idea than that.

 

That's great for a military operation.  I don't see doing such repairs in the Saks Fifth Ave parking lot. 

[ccap41]

 

 

 

I agree that some of the built quality isn't 100% where it should be for a 100+k vehicle but I think the exterior bits look cool. They look like they can get hit, broken, and easily replaced with another one(exposed screws). That stuff doesn't bother me at all. It looks the part to me. The miss matching stuff, not so much. I'll have to check the gf's to see if there are miss matching screws, but the dangly cup holder is the stupidest thing ever. Looks stupid and works like dog $h!. They sure could have come up with a better idea than that.

 

That's great for a military operation.  I don't see doing such repairs in the Saks Fifth Ave parking lot. 

 

Oh I agree, but it is still part of that look. Just like fake hood scoops and rear tire vents. Luckily most are going away from the fake crap but at least they are still functional.

[smk4565]

Jeremy Clarkson once did an off road test of an Escalade, Range Rover and a Hummer H2 for one of his DVDs.  It was to see which could climb some mountain out in the desert.  The Escalade was obviously the first one out, it didn't get that far.  The Ranger Rover got to the top.  The G-wagen has 3 locking differentials, it is made for off road.

 

Important to remember that Mercedes was going to kill the G-wagen off in 2006, the fans wanted them to keep making it.  Mercedes is just giving the people what they want.

[Drew Dowdell]

Jeremy Clarkson once did an off road test of an Escalade, Range Rover and a Hummer H2 for one of his DVDs.  It was to see which could climb some mountain out in the desert.  The Escalade was obviously the first one out, it didn't get that far.  The Ranger Rover got to the top.  The G-wagen has 3 locking differentials, it is made for off road.

 

Important to remember that Mercedes was going to kill the G-wagen off in 2006, the fans wanted them to keep making it.  Mercedes is just giving the people what they want.

 

I've seen the test and it wasn't really valid because they didn't follow the same paths..they each took different routes to get up the mountain.   It is one of the reasons I hate Clarkson and Top Gear in general.... he sets up the "tests" to have the desired outcome. 

[Cory Wolfe]

I don't really care about any of this... I like the G-wagen.

[oldshurst442]

I like the G Wagon too.

But...had I had a bank account reflecting millionaire/billionanire status...especially billionaire status...I wouldnt buy a M-B G-Wagon so I could flaunt my money around in...I would buy a G-Wagon so I could actually do what it was meant to do...and I spend the money making it even more capable...

 

Oh...Id also collect me one of these too and do the same thing to it...

 

 

Id throw in a pick-up truck or two to the mix to complete the trilogy...

 

 

Just to say...that none of these vehicles scream white collar richness to me...

 

Redneck fun on the other hand...

That is the thing though...I dont get how military grade vehicles and mud slinging Big Foot style rigs represent the 1%ers...

Since the mid 1990s...society has just flipped their minds...

Edited June 10, 2015 by oldshurst442

[G. David Felt]

When was the last time any of you actually test drow a G Wagon? I did this year and the SUV sucks. Noisy, rattles, poor fit and finish. MB should have ignored the people saying to keep it and killed it off and then came back with a quality job 1 SUV.

[ccap41]

When was the last time any of you actually test drow a G Wagon? I did this year and the SUV sucks. Noisy, rattles, poor fit and finish. MB should have ignored the people saying to keep it and killed it off and then came back with a quality job 1 SUV.

I drive one fairly regularly(or at least am in one) as the gf has one. It's an older g500(2005, measly 290hp - underpowered imo). The only rattle is an exhaust shield, which happens when a vehicle is 10 years old with 150k miles on it. Other than that it is built like a tank. From what I've seen it doesn't have poor fit and finish. Maybe they started slacking later in its life.

 

Personally, I love the thing(if you couldn't tell prior to this post lol). The newer ones with a more modern driveline would be fantastic. I think one of the things I like most about it is its size. It really isn't a large SUV. It isn't tiny(obviously) but it isn't overly large and to me, I like that. I never felt overwhelmed by its size like other vehicles. You can very easily see out of it and know where the vehicle is at all times.

[Cory Wolfe]

When was the last time any of you actually test drow a G Wagon? I did this year and the SUV sucks. Noisy, rattles, poor fit and finish. MB should have ignored the people saying to keep it and killed it off and then came back with a quality job 1 SUV.

 

I still don't care. 

[balthazar]

Seemed like the place to put this:

 

[oldshurst442]

That is a fine Chevy.

I remember this from back in the day...well...the "back in the day" that is of my timeline...