Picking between two G's
I have the once in a lifetime opportunity to choose between a 1994 w461 290GD(non-turbo) LWB and a 1990 w463 300GD SWB.
As the G are mostely going to be used as a dialy driver I was thinking the w463 will be the best bet. But packing space are limited in the w463 swb.
One of these days we will also be starting with a family. Jesus I know you are driving a w463 SWB. What are your experiences when going on holiday regarding packing space?
Thanks
Johann
ampngst my collection of cars my two main vehicles i have a w460 swb soft top and a clk cabrio.the cabrio has taken me wife two monsters plus all stuff including two pushchairs to eurodisney for a week, no problem.
the swb g with a very small roofrack(coz its a softtop)took me 5 mates and all our food and camping gear to the french gp for four days!!!!
if you take what you need and dont ridiculously overpack...no worries.
however the lwb does take you into the luxury end of the spectrum for space
good luck!!!!
Never regretted buying a swb, 3 weeks camping every year 2 adults 2 children tents etc on roof rack and usually 2 bikes on the back.
Mark is probably very happy with his swb but you haven,t seen his secret weapon.....
Steve
Secret weapon? I hope we are not talking out of the bedroom :lol:
I think there is some packing space difference between the w463 and the w460 models?
Johann
One of these days we will also be starting with a family. Jesus I know you are driving a w463 SWB. What are your experiences when going on holiday regarding packing space?
My advice can be summarized in just one word: VASECTOMY . That is what I did and I thoroughly recommend it.
Now more seriously: the boot space of the W463 SWB is ridiculously small and much smaller than that of the W460. This is because in the newer model they decided to increase the rear legroom.
If the decision is down to just the room, get yourself a LWB. Despite the weight being 200 kilos more, only the acceleration values suffer: top speed and consumption are very much the same if fitted with the same engine.
However, I love my 463 and I don't think that I would choose a 460/461. Although the 290 engine is very good (even in N/A form), the 6 cylinder is much better (smoother and more powerful, if only a little). And the rest of the car is so much better (permanent 4-wheel drive and no vibrations whatsoever).
Tough decision then.
Best regards,
Well I would recommend the LWB. I have been camping (in Australia and Africa) and I know the sort of gear you need to take. Water and fuel if you are going to isolated places will eat up space and it you put in on a roof rack you start to cause cracks in the roof(on a landrover anyway) when you drive on the corrugated roads. Also when the kids arrive it is a real PITA getting them in and out of a SWB when they are babies compared to a LWB. You just have so much more room .
For the daily driver the SWB would be good but you wouldn't find the LWB that much more of a hassle. But it would be slower no doubt there.
Which one has air cond. Get that one :D
Looks like the G I will be needig is a w463 300GD LWB or something like w461 G270 CDI.
I spoke to an G friend of mine and he suggests we must try and import the G's we want from the UK next year.
Thus I think I'll skip these two G's :(
Save up some more money to push my budget to 18000 GBP and come G hunting in the UK :D
Will it be possible to find secondhand RHD G's in Germany?
Would love to meet some of the forum members.
Johann
RHD Gs are pretty thin on the ground post 91 in diesel. The occasional 463 lwb diesel does come along the petrols are alot more common. Germany or any other country really they would be very rare indeed so UK's the place to look.
cdis only made in lhd.
Of course the 460s are more plentiful and there are plenty of people who are pleased with them. There are some late 1980s around in top condition.
I have just seen a 1993 w463 RHD LWB 300GD for 17950 GBP at G-Wagen.co.uk.
http://www.autobaseuk.com/bin/findcar.dll?site=autobaseuk&idno=CAVR01000035
I have heard they are very expensive! But that is close to what I'm looking for. The price inside my budget as well.
But a 1989 LWB will also be nice and most probably much cheaper :D
Johann,
Compare to 1989 LWB 300GD that I have up for sale @ £5750.00
Vehicle is 100% with a full file of maintenence documentation.
BUT- BUT- BUT- the reason it is for sale is that I am trying to trade up to a 463 for reasons as posted above.
Marcus
Well that's a nice G (same as mine) I couldn't recommend it enough but the price is too high. But how do you value something when it's the only one for sale.?
How much is the 461 in S.A. Could you buy it and still have £5K for a turbo conversion?
Howmuch tax would you have to pay. Shipping would be £2K +
Just more thoughts
The 461 290gd will be about 16500 GBP 1994 model. But I have no history on the car :?
I think it would be beter to spend the same money on a 463.
Roly is 17950 GBP expensive for a 1993 w463 300GD?
Here is a picture of the 463.
I would say its way over the top but g-wagen.co.uk do seem to add a lot of price to their stuff
There is a 300gd on www.autotrader.co.uk 91 90,000miles for £7995 - less than half the price
The G on auto trader is a swb so it's not a totally fair comparison as there are more of those about. But the asking price is ,in my opinion, too high. But since it's the only one available it is difficult to compare. Someone will probably buy it eventually.
The trouble with RHD LWB is they are rare in the later models. Compare a late 1980s 460 for £5k (in UK) you have £12k to spend on modifications. You would have a superb G for that money with a turbo diesel. It wouldn't be a late model but it would serve your needs for many years to come.
I can't comment on the 461 in SA you are looking at, no service history could be a problem as diesels need regular oil changes to give max. life. You a in the dark there. But there is more than £1500 difference as you would have to get the G into SA and that would push it up way past the 461. What options has the 461 got that you seriously want. Air cond. is a big plus on the 463.
,Don't think that the 461 is inferior to the 463. Many would say it is a better vehicle for camping because it has basic easily cleanable trim. It is just the same vehicle behind the carpet and leather. Slightly less powerful engine is the biggest difference. Electric diff locks doesn't make any difference really permanent 4wd maybe better in certain conditions.
If both Gs were in UK then the 463 would be worth a premium but not the difference it would cost you because of your location. How many 461s have you seen for sale in SA recently. You may wait a while before you see another one, then you'll be stuck with a Landcruiser Turbodiesel GLX
I have learned my lesson the hard way. A G with no history is bad news. There most probably will be wheel bearings, CV joints etc. to fix. And it all counts up.
For cleanable in South Africa we do have companies that tailer make seat covers. Like http://www.melvillandmoon.com/web/seatcover.html
w461's in South Africa do come up for sale maybe 2 a year. But a 2000 290GDT sells for about 30 000 GBP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And then you could be sure it has been to hell and back.
I also assume that a w463 is more likely to had an easier life. ( To church and back)
The few people in South Africa who do have w463' rarely get their feet wet. :lol:
Johann, here are my thoughts...
Me in your position would get a 460/461 lwb. Simpler, less electronics to play up and cheaper on fuel over long distances because of 2wd option. Also, lwb handles way, way better on the gravel roads with those long sweeping bends.
You can also make the exhaust run outside the frame rails to a side exit. Gives you the assurance that nothing gets sucked in through not-so-tight rear door seals. :idea: And then you can fit long-range fuel tanks either side between prop and chassis rail, doing away with carrying jerry cans...
Plus, then you can dual-layer the back with gear on the floor, false floor over it and sleep comfortably in the vehicle if you get somewhere where you'd rather not be in a tent... :shock:
Good luck!!
The 461 290gd will be about 16500 GBP 1994 model. But I have no history on the car :?
I think it would be beter to spend the same money on a 463.
Roly is 17950 GBP expensive for a 1993 w463 300GD?
Here is a picture of the 463.
Johann,
If this car were sold privately in the UK it would probably be at least £ 6,000 cheaper.
But like Roly said, there are very, very few 463 300 GD LWBs in RHD so something is worth whatever somebody will be willing to pay.
I recall seeing a wonderful 300 GD LWB Auto with Jersey plates for sale by that very same dealer... for £20,000! But at least this one had only 60,000 miles, which makes much more sense.....
Regards,
I've got a 1996 461- chassis'd 290 GD LWB. Bought it about a year ago for £10k after too many let downs from the "best 4x4xfar". Love it to bits. Feels totally indestructible. Plenty fast enough for a 4x4: will cruise at 80mph (but not much more), tows a two horse trailer (with two 16hh plus horses) up steep hills quite happily (albeit slowly). You can even hose the interior out, which we need! Ours has 9 seats, leather and aircon, which are nice, but not essential.
I wouldn't get so fussed about the 290GD not being fast enough, comfy enough, X enough, if I were you.
MC
did you buy that from a chap in cambridge???
Have found my G! Busy closing a deal on a 1999 290GTD. Have high milage and the price is crazy but what price can you place on a dream.
Will post pics soon.
Is that from SA or are you importing? looking forward to pics and story
From SA. Will post pics and story soon.
Johann
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Can't agree more. My wife and I go hiking in the mountains for 5 days carrying all food, clothes and tent in two backpacks.
But I want to use the G for expeditions into Africa where you have to take water and extra fuel with.
On the other hand it doesn't make sense to drive a LWB 85% of the time to work and back and don't use the space at all during that time.
In short did anybody ever regret buying a SWB and wished they have gone for a LWB?
Markvulture sounds very happy with his SWB :D