Is the Mercedees G an alternative to the Grenadier?

[klarie]

We have had many Landys, Series III, 90s, 110tdi, TD5, a 101, we have loved them and suffered with them. And as we got older, we looked for alternatives. And drove Jeep JK, much more comfortable than a Landy, but needed many improvements to make it drive straight. And then came the Grenadier! But I am 64 and would like to travel a few more years with a reliable car, gladly also offroad as before (Albania, Iceland, Namibia, South Africa...). And if the Grenadier should have many quirks, such a Landy 2.0, then a plan B must come. A Mercedes G 400 Diesel year 2022 in sandy yellow is close by. So the idea came to this question.

Even if the 400D is one hell of an engine. What a torque. had it in an E class vehicle for testing once.
But - I agree with @chrsbe - Not to be considered as an off roader anymore. Most certainly not for what you want (Namibia etc. )

 

[Joey]

They are very similar in professional grade:

For more operational flexibility off-road.

ggb.mercedes-benz.com

 

[klarie]

They are very similar in professional grade:

For more operational flexibility off-road.

ggb.mercedes-benz.com

Yeah EURO 3 Emission.. no way to get it road approved here. (No ad blue none of this crap installed...)
But indeed - there are lots of similarities. Obviously the G and the Grenadier are more similar.. same roots.

 

[klarie]

They are very similar in professional grade:

For more operational flexibility off-road.

ggb.mercedes-benz.com

GGB means G Class Governmental Business. - These vehicles are sold to authorities only. - In the future they will never be authorised to be sold to civilian or need severe exhaust modification. So this type of G will remain a dream only. Or.. some are more equal..

 

[chrsbe]

GGB means G Class Governmental Business. - These vehicles are sold to authorities only. - In the future they will never be authorised to be sold to civilian or need severe exhaust modification. So this type of G will remain a dream only. Or.. some are more equal..

You can get them as used cars if you are patient.

 

[chrsbe]

I would also consider Toyotas as a fair option. The new Landcruiser looks promising and the 70s is for sure one of the best overlanders for african turf.

 

[klarie]

You can get them as used cars if you are patient.

The problem is - even as used cars - a current new G for government is EURO III and only vehicles that were approved on road before EURO IV was minimum could be converted to civil. If a vehicle is now EURO III 2023 and then converted in to civil use in a couple of years when fuel burning vehicles to civilians will be prohibited in EU - that will be a challenge. May be there will be some magic or wisdom to our famous EU people.

 

[nickelnoff]

I considered the 2009 PUR edition and the subsequent w461 2010 - 2015 models. I believe these has solid front axels. The newer ones I don't believe do.
Problem is that the w461 layer models are fairly rare with any reasonable amount of mileage and the 12+ year models are still going for the price of a new IG unless your you start looking at very high mileage vehicles.
Not a fan of the new ones at all since the interior is over done and I'd feel like I would need to take my shoes off when getting in in case it gets muddy.

 

[Solmanic]

I've got another thread where I'm weighing up the pros & cons of the Grenadier vs W463 G-Wagen. I have a G350 Bluetec which is theroetically being replaced by the Grenadier. I have just returned from a 3000km shakedown trip in the Grenadier and will post my comparison thoughts when I get a chance.

My Looming Dilemma

Assuming there are no further delays, we should be taking delivery of our Grenadier in a few days. We are off driving to the snow at the end of next week so hopefully the new vehicle will be right to go, although we are cutting it a bit fine. I told the dealer if we can't take delivery by the...

www.theineosforum.com

 

[offender110]

I owned a W463 G500 for 12 years as my daily driver and I can say 100% it’s a comparable car to the Grenadier (when comparing to the W463/pre 2018 body). I ended up selling my G given the image that I just couldn’t stand. I outfitted mine in the Pur/Professional style.

Lots of similarities:

- Reciprocal ball steering
- Solid front/rear axles
- Triple lock diffs
- Body bumpers/side cladding
- Swing out rear doors (Pur editions had barn doors)
- Magna as an engineering partner
- Both made in Mercedes factories outside Germany (Austria vs France)
- Both created by wealthy men needing an off-roader (Sir Jim vs King of Iran)

With all the downsides of the image of the W463, I do think it goes down as the ‘air cooled 911’ of the SUV world. You really can’t beat the build quality and door thud!

GTank

 

[Reducs]

Car And Driver has a review up of the G550 Professional. I've never driven one, but on paper? I'd rather have a Grenadier and a nice used 911 or Cayman!

Tested: 2023 Mercedes-Benz G550 Professional Is the G as It Should Be

The G Professional package takes the G550 back to its off-road roots. Price? Don't ask.

www.caranddriver.com

 

[klarie]

Car And Driver has a review up of the G550 Professional. I've never driven one, but on paper? I'd rather have a Grenadier and a nice used 911 or Cayman!

Tested: 2023 Mercedes-Benz G550 Professional Is the G as It Should Be

The G Professional package takes the G550 back to its off-road roots. Price? Don't ask.

www.caranddriver.com

Perhaps. - If you would be allowed to purchase one.
The professional series of MB G will only be sold for government use only. (Military, Police, Firefighters .. )
Used perhaps and if any regulatory issues in sense of emissions are met.

 

[Reducs]

Perhaps. - If you would be allowed to purchase one.
The professional series of MB G will only be sold for government use only. (Military, Police, Firefighters .. )
Used perhaps and if any regulatory issues in sense of emissions are met.

It's a package in the States. Looks like they leave of the flashy bits and charge (a lot) for common sense black bits. I don't think a USA G550 Professional is anything like an EU G550 Professional.

 

[klarie]

It seems so. The article refers to „where available„ This means in the US okay perhaps in Africa okay but in EU a NoGo. Over here the professional version is diesel no Ad Blue Emissions Class Euro 3 etc. Beam axles and very few amenities
But the government servants are more equal than their masters (we the people) Perhaps it’s time to show the servants the whip..
Back to topic a proper old school G is a very mature and capable offroad vehicle:
Seen Saturday a white G, From it’s appearance estimate 1985 built but no rust, except some on the steel rims, classic textile seats and trim.
no add ons, no modification.. factory. smelt a bit of wet dog however.
Likely Petrol/Gas powered when looking at exhaust pipe but . no signs at rear. Was parked close to me.. so I had a look at it.
So quite a lasting make.
Purchase a G is quite an investment.. even in this age.

 

[Gaston the Grenadier]

Witham Military Vehicle sales (UK) had a fleet of mint B6 armoured G500’s (left hand drive) with stupidly low mileage. Some of them had less than 10k km’s on them.
They were used for ferrying top brass around where they might feel threatened (Salisbury Plain, parts of European NATO).
Same price as a Grenadier. Probably £300k when new.
Might well be in Ukraine by now as all the G’s disappeared from Witham’s site in one go. Shame. Was tempted for a while, but didn’t have the balls to pull the trigger on one.

 

[Fidei Defensor]

Our delivery date is getting further and further behind, plus the teething problems and poor service from Ineos, I am now looking at alternatives.

Apart from the big price difference, can anyone compare the two? Maybe someone has already driven both? Pros and cons?

I have owned and driven a 2005 G500 (W463) and there are a lot of similarities. But the Ineos does everything that vehicle does, but better. As for the current G Wagen: it has gone the route of the Range Rover and is being sold as a "Fashion Sttement", not as a serious off-road vehicle....

 

[rovie]

I have owned and driven a 2005 G500 (W463) and there are a lot of similarities. But the Ineos does everything that vehicle does, but better. As for the current G Wagen: it has gone the route of the Range Rover and is being sold as a "Fashion Sttement", not as a serious off-road vehicle....

Hi @Fidei Defensor, I'm interested in a G-Wagon at the same time as my Grenadier. However, I feel the same way as you do. I don't want a fashion car for the city. My dealer told me that G-Wagons are no longer available to order in Germany. I would have to buy them in Austria, for example.
Now I've been offered a G500 short version (this is rare, not many were built), with a genuine 5 litre capacity, 1st hand, built in 2008 with only approx. 40Tkm.
I can't imagine that, as you write, the Ineos can do better than the G-wagon.

 

[Solmanic]

Hi @Fidei Defensor, I'm interested in a G-Wagon at the same time as my Grenadier. However, I feel the same way as you do. I don't want a fashion car for the city. My dealer told me that G-Wagons are no longer available to order in Germany. I would have to buy them in Austria, for example.
Now I've been offered a G500 short version (this is rare, not many were built), with a genuine 5 litre capacity, 1st hand, built in 2008 with only approx. 40Tkm.
I can't imagine that, as you write, the Ineos can do better than the G-wagon.

@rovie sorry to see that you are in Germany as my G350 W463 is for sale - probably the last of the fully analogue G's without going full Prof. I sadly cannot justify keeping both a G-Wagen AND Grenadier.

 

[klarie]

Hi @Fidei Defensor, I'm interested in a G-Wagon at the same time as my Grenadier. However, I feel the same way as you do. I don't want a fashion car for the city. My dealer told me that G-Wagons are no longer available to order in Germany. I would have to buy them in Austria, for example.
Now I've been offered a G500 short version (this is rare, not many were built), with a genuine 5 litre capacity, 1st hand, built in 2008 with only approx. 40Tkm.
I can't imagine that, as you write, the Ineos can do better than the G-wagon.

Hm, I am indeed with @Fidei Defensor .. the Grenadier seems at least in its capability off-road similar or advanced to old G.. Okay, build quality of. Mercedes is something we can dispute. Some may think a G has better built quality but last weekend I had a chat with a G owner who was with us as a guest hunter. He complained about rusting at the G. He owns a G 500 from 2000s. Of course the Grenadier is just a bit more than one year available. It’s long term durability need to be proven. Too many just trust in brand names .. „Its a Mercedes Benz“ forgetting the fact Mercedes also made a few bollocks in the past. The Moose Test is just one of it. The W210 was very prone to rusting. micro van like the A class based Vaneo.. massive quality issues. I owned one for a short while.. it was just a defect. From power windows, mirrors, automatic transmission.. injector.. I owned a couple of Mercedes Benz from A class, E class, to GLK. The last was probably the best in built quality with exception of massive snarl near rear inside view mirror at high speed and seat covers that were dissolving after 2 years of use.. What Benz can do is create reliable and lasting engines..
Got the chance to test drive a G a couple of years ago. Did not impress me much.

 

[rovie]

@rovie sorry to see that you are in Germany as my G350 W463 is for sale - probably the last of the fully analogue G's without going full Prof. I sadly cannot justify keeping both a G-Wagen AND Grenadier.

Thank you Solmanic, I am still weighing up whether I will buy a G-Wagon, but if a new one or as good as new.
I had already said here in the forum that the Mercedes brand is no prestige for me. More than 20 years ago I had 3 different models (no G-Wagons) and didn’t want any more, but now we ordered a Sprinter 4x4. Let’s see if we get disappointed, the G-Wagon would be meant as a replacement for the Disco 4 when it reaches retirement age.