G-class utes for Aus?

Nothing is going to work with MB Aus in getting a civilian W461. There might be a small chance with a fleet order (e.g. RFS, big mine companies, tour operators) but that is not likely given the limited support here.
We were hoping that the commercial arm would bring them in, same as the Sprinters, Actros trucks etc, but that has not eventuated. The market is too small and the price would be too high, especially as the trend seems to be for cheaper, more disposable equipment like Chinese utes. And the W461 is likely to stop rolling off the production line next year, although they have said that before and then re-released them. Mercedes cant be bothered selling and supporting a hard-core offroad vehicle when the trend is more to luxury.

What a shame, this is as-delivered from the factory including all accessories, in Europe of course. Only our army are "allowed" them here:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...013/11/899.jpg

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Originally Posted by MBZ460

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...013/11/895.jpg
http://www.g4rce.net/bilder/pic-290gd-pickup-big.jpg
http://bbs.cheping.com.cn/bbs/attach...f0577d66ec.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...013/11/896.jpg
http://www.db-forum.de/galery/data/5...-WeJd6-Mqp.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...013/11/897.jpg

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Dual cab looks fantastic . :BigThumb::BigThumb:Even the style side ute looks good.:D:D

Gary

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Originally Posted by solmanic

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Even though the standard front bumper is massively thick steel (thicker than a std Defender one), a bolted connection is hardly ideal when skippy jumps out to say hello.

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I wouldn't be concerned about a bolted connection. Especially if you also have those side bars fitted.

Hello folks

About ten years ago I drove a G Wagen across the Sahara -1200km pushing through country which hadn't previously been opened up to motor vehicles. For much of the distance (four days) we saw no other wheel tracks and had to be completely self reliant. We drove regular heavy-duty Wagens, I guess the equivalent of the current Pro or military versions.

Coming to the diesel G Wagen from the V8 110, I found them incredibly torquey. You could point a G up a dune, slam it in low and it would just walk slowly to the top. First time I tried the anti-stall in my Puma I was reminded of the G. But the Gs are very heavy. Despite excellent torque delivery, there were times when we bogged every few hundred metres. And because of the weight, they were a bitch to recover when they did.

I'd have to say that in that sand country I'd choose a Land Rover over a G if lightly loaded, although up at GVM the advantage of the Rover is lost and you'd be better off with the G Wagen. But that was before the new Rover diesel engines. I'd probably rate my Puma over the G Wagen of ten years ago, but thats perhaps not a fair comparison ;)

Great vehicle -would have considered a Pro ute if they were sold in Aussie
Cheers

Alan

Tom. Shepard drives one so must be good

Can anyone tell me if those Aust Defence Force Mercs have an ADR plate? as if not they can not be sold on post military use for road registration to private buyers, without an ADR plate no vehicle built post 1972 can be registered in Australia, UNLESS it is a private import and has the relative compliance plate fitted here in Australia.

The Australian Design Rules (ADR) plate is/was designed soley to protect the Australian Motor Vehicle Building Industry, from those vehicles built overseas whether they were up to or exceded those Australian specs,it costs a motor manufacture many hundreds of thousands of $ to get a vehicle approved and that does not include those used in destruction tests,that is the reason why many model of vehicles built by world manufacturers are not on the Australian market,too few sales and to to costly to get approval :(

I can remember a Landrover product being delayed it's ADR plate as the exhaust tailpipe exited on the wrong side (right and not left) :eek:

That is why there are so few exotics on Australian roads,but you can still import one and get a personal import plate(at your own costs) and modifications to suit ADR's if you want one,modifications include headlights(left dip,tailight brightness and reflectivity,must have Aust ADR seatbelts,etc,sweep of windscreen wipers and spray of washers) just ask any hotrodder as to what hoops he has to jump through.

There are probably a lot of those grey imports ex Japan=ex NZ that if they had to go over the pits would fail ,all at the discression of the testing officer, and his interepitation of the ADR's.


cheers

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Originally Posted by UncleHo

without an ADR plate no vehicle built post 1972 can be registered in Australia, UNLESS it is a private import and has the relative compliance plate fitted here in Australia.

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Not quite the case - Aust Army 101s do not have compliance plates and are on the roads in Aust without any compliance plates or mod certificates.

Garry

I am pretty sure part of the contract was that at end of service life the ADF G's go back to Mercedes and would not be made available to the public.
There are plenty of ex-army G's on the road around the world but they are almost all LHD, many from Canada, Holland, Denmark and Germany. Even the British army have some for sale.

The UK MOD will be getting rid of all theres soon, with the gradually pull out of Germany..

Speaking of MOD G's in Germany, here is one which had an interesting mission, with an attached article.


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-P...no/BRIXMIS.jpg