Should i trade my Range Rover for a G 400
Hi, new member here. (from Sweden)
I drive a 2005 Ranger Rover Vogue. Great condition w 84000km.
I have been offered a trade for a 2003 G 400 w 160000km.
A trade with no money between us.
What do you guys thing about this?
I have no experience with the G-wagen.
What to look for on a used G-wagen with high milage?
thanks Peter
Here is a link to the actual car -
http://www.blocket.se/stockholm/Mercedes_G400_CDi___Gelandewagen_3735761...
Hello Peter,
I am sorry, I cannot offer much, but faced with the same predicament as yours, I would research the local motoring papers to see what the local market value, the prices of both vehicles; based on that, you can adjust for your self, the price variations.
My personal preference would be the G-Wagen, I do not know of the Swedish spec. but the UK spec would have front and rear locking diffs. The chassis protection on the G-Wagen is much superior compared to the Range rover. Going back some Ten years ago, I was working on a three year model of Range Rover and had noticed that, at all the welding points where any bracket or mounting was welded onto the chassis, all the welding was beginning to rust. Comparing that weld quality to a Ten year older G-Wagen at that time; the welding on the G-Wagen chassis was still preserved.
I do not know the short falls of the 400CDI engine but insist that you make sure you have the full service history of the vehicle and that it does have the service conducted by reputable garages. Do not rush into any deal or be pressured into one, study both vehicles carefully and then make up your mind.
I am sure our club member will come up with more practical advise for you and it will be, I expect by those who have the 400, so keep an eye out for them to contribute.
Cheers for now,
No !
What engine is in your Range Rover?
You will find the RR more comfortable than a G and probably faster. However it is more fragile offroad and will not last as long, if that matters.
Hello Peter,
I had a 5-door G400cdi 2001 with all the bells and whistles.
Frankly I had a few electrical issues first (And reading from other forums these are common problem on all G400's between 2001 to 2004)
ie:
1.Command rear fan would not switch off and would kill the battery over night!
2. Front Driver and passenger electric seats pack up - Relay issue due to cheaper wires short in Damp weather.
3. Rear cluster unit bulbs always shorted after a rainy night.
4. New EIS swicth and New coded Electronic Keys - Another Mercedes cheap design fault! -Mega money
Mechanical:
1. The CDI functional have been known to leak from the top ends due to high power going through them on a TWIN TURBO basis, I had all the Common rail diesel parts removed and new parts put back on - Yes Mega money!
2. Rear springs gave up on a 60,000 mile car! New rear springs were fitted.
Basically try and not touch the Early 400's as they have thier issues, The drive is Powerfull with 250 horses and the twin turbo works spot on!
But if I were you....... I would get a G320(petrol) or G500(p) between 98-2001 with the older interior! Proably the least problamatic G's in the World.
I had a Vogue 4.4 Nice drive, truly lovely but too many Fault codes come up on the Dash- New or old. TBH the chassis on the rangers aren't the best when you have them up on a Ramp - you'll see more rust in places you've never seen before.
G-wagon might not have the ''comfy Air Suspension'' But it certainly is a feel of Exclusivity wherever you go. And as long as you keep your 'G' in tip-Top condition these too have a nice ride..........Except a G55 AMG-Horrible Front springs.
If the G400 you have seen dosen't have any of the issues I had then Buy it.....But expect a bill at some stage in it's life.
Regards
G
Coming to this site you'd expect most to jump and say -'get the G, you won't be sorry'
But I think you are just checking that this is a fair commercial deal and my gut reaction was that a 9year old G400 must be a more expensive motor than a 7 year old RR? Assuming the spec and condition is comparable (i.e. both excellent and similar fuel/engine). Its definitely more EXCLUSIVE and a better piece of engineering all round. I like RRs too though. The G wont make the same noise as the RR if you have a V8 petrol, but compared to a RR diesel, should be solid.
The higher km has an effect on the value of the G, and your ability to re-sell in the future. No way around that really. It wont be long before you've done 200k (km not miles) but that's still OK with road miles and MB history. At least it means its probably not seen any off-road to wear it out?
The pics of the G400 look great. Looks pretty loaded and high spec.
Hi Starman,
What a question and decision to make! As has been pointed out one would expect a simple 'Get the G!' , but some of the members have posed some very good points to consider. I would take very special note of Goochie's post as he has actually owned both and is very knowledgeable.
Jdring and Pistonhead has beaten me to the post, however I would seriously look at the residual values after say 10 years and see which holds its price better, and then factor into the equations the points Goochi has detailed.
Do please let us know what you do decide and what made you make the decisions, as it will come in helpful for future members stuck with the same dilemma.
Spider1V
'very knowledgeable' - Nicely put! Yo make me crack up....
You only liked the 98-2001 G500 bit - go on admit it !
I don't get it. A 2003 G400 would generally be worth 40 to 75% more then a 2005 RR, perhaps even twice as much, pretty much throughout Europe, in fact the UK is the place where that increased margin will be the lowest.
Why are they offering what looks on the surface to be such a good deal.
Out of all the G's the 400 has the worsed reputation, and they cost a fortune when something goes wrong. But they do drive very nicely though.
Never heard of a 2003 G400 Limited Edition either, (25 anniversary perhaps?)
Yo Mark hope all is well,
If it is a ''classic 25'' they only made them in June 2004. It's in yours and mine book of 'THE LEGEND KEEPS ON DRIVING''
They have a Plaque in the centre console where the Ashtray lies with for example 025/250 examples.
Also I know this might shock people but looking at mobile.de the prices of Range rovers are quite High than here in the U.k.
TBH I would go for a G300 td, G320 or G500, He'd be better off I think
Regards
G.
I don't think you liked your G400 very much did you Gooch ?
You know me too well!
Spider1V
pp is right 'NO'
gooch knows what hes saying because he has lived the dream...
mark is right too, despite being wrong most of the time !
spider eats, lives, dreams and wacks his bumpers all the time about G500's . he has no knowledge about other model G's even existing.
piggy would have been interested to reply this question being a traitor and going disco !!
my opinion ? well, i would definatley trade the rr for a G , but not a G400. the G500 is too thirsty, although spider would happily pay 50% of your fuel bills.
the G320 is brilliant choice . like gooch said, it has the older dash but no headache electronics, it depreciate too bad either providing you look after it better than mark !!!the G320 offers over 200 bhp, a sweet engine and respectable economy compared to my G3OO which is 177bhp.
if you want invest the money wisely though, go for a G300TD in lwb version. its the best alla rounder G mercedes produced. full stop!
.
Yes when it worked, and No when it didn't.
I have mixed feelings about that car, Tbh every car could give you headache - it's the way it's serviced/maintained that counts.
Then again a car with no History, no services could last you a lifetime, some just want to survive themselves - but that's the gamble you take on any make/model car, as they all have thier Pro's and Cons end of the day.
Cheers
G
with the cat removed the 103 will give as standard 188bhp, a k&n and a cut back exhaust will bring it closer to 200 without the fragile loom and the twin cam complexities and electronics of the 104 3.2 engine
interesting points prwales ! my G300 had the cat removed, exhaust cut back AND a K&N filter fitted a few years back.
one thing that is worth looking into is adding megasquirt efi system to the mechanical system.
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