There's absolutely no point in trying to compare apples with oranges, nor is there any value in attempting to explain the significant differences between the two brands.
While they may be externally aesthetically similar in appearance, they are completely different underneath in detail.
the only common theme is both vehicles are a cab on a ladder chassis, have live axles and 4 wheels.
It would be like comparing an RFSV perentie with a D90. The only thing they share is the brand, maybe a front guard panel.
Originally Posted by
solmanic
Lack of parts is frustrating. Only one tow bar & one bullbar to choose from. Have to import them directly as well since MB charge a kidney to install anything. On the upside, one of the best G-Wagen specialist service centres is on the north side of Brisbane. Essentially the MR Automotive of G-Wagens it seems.
Have a look at my review in the non-Land Rover, European brands section. I can't follow up that post anymore as I'm no longer a subscriber. I also see this thread has been flagged to be moved so I won't be able to follow this one up in future either (
).
Originally Posted by
stewie110
How have you found the G350?
One of the big issues that my mate has had (with his G300 Professional) is a total lack of after market parts.. My mate had problems getting things like a bullbar fitted..
Insofar as parts are concerned, You rarely break anything in a G, unless it's been subject to neglect / abuse. If you do break it, you pay "The Price" (noted in my rant at the bottom)
Mercedes are no different to Land Rover when it comes to genuine parts. Go to either dealer and you should expect to willingly submit and accept the sodomy that comes free with the invoice.
That's just the basic "stealership" mentality. But for the G-wagen it goes a few steps further, as I explain in my rant at the end.
Buy through OE manufacturer suppliers, known online g specialists and local 3rd party parts suppliers, - similar to how LR owners use paddock / terra firma etc and the availability, quick shipping and price of parts is very favourable.
It's really a case of familiarity - and I experienced the same "outsider" treatment with Land Rover suppliers not long after I purchased the RRC - so there's clearly a degree of "inside information" within each brand.
So, like everything car related, until you become intimately familiar with how to get parts, and where, and what prices are like, you're out on your own.
One thing to note: there are also less than 200 current registered G-wagens in australia. So there really is no 'aftermarket', except anything that is imported by a foreign company brand - e.g. hannibal, hutchinson etc.
Westfalia DO manufacture the tow hitches here locally. Or you can purchase factory options from a stealership from the purchase date.
I'm no fan of the MB pricing structure, but understanding the G is a largely hand-assembled, - extremely low production volume vehicle, so it's not going to be in the same pricing streucture as a relatively unchanged design longterm mass-produced icon.
The cost of the G's voith VG150 transfer case is more than the defender's engine, gearbox and transfer case combined. That should give you an idea of the disparity. Mercedes source this from voith, it's not like the rest of MB's powertrains, which are manufactured in-house. Similar to how LR source transmissions from ZF.
The G is standard fitment with 3 difflocks. Cost of the axles is quite scary, but again, they don't break. Even with 35's.
Gwagen-1.jpgGwagen.jpg
I've only ever seen one nasty axle shaft spline failure - on a 1980 w460 300GD which had no oil in the diff housing or CV swivel. The drivers side axle sleeve bearing (inside the tube at the swivel mating face) got chewed out and the axle spline on the CV stripped out, made some grey paste and eventually caused the CV and hub bearings to fail - and the dipstick owner drove it this way daily for about 3 months, before he took it to the workshop.
I have issues with this kind of owner - because they are also the one who complain about cost of parts and servicing. They deserve every bit of grief and pain they get and their whinge to others has no value whatsoever.
I have seen more LR owners with this type of attitude in recent times, and figure it must just be a lack of understanding about what constitutes maintenance of a 4 wheel drive vehicle.
We've done 5.6L v8 swaps onto the standard drivetrain (no mods) and not had any failures or need to upgrade parts.
OM606 swaps with 400+bhp and the only mod is an uprated clutch and pressure plate...
So that brings into stark contrast the level of reliability that is built-in to every G since the 70's.
If a defender were to be built as reliable and to the same quality standards of the G, the price would be about identical. Absolutely no doubt about it.
As an example, price an ashcroft upgrade to the front housing... cv's, drive flanges, axles, diff centre, CW&P, pegging.... The Gwagen doesn't need any of that, it comes standard since the w460.
That is a straight up honest assessment and as LR owners we should understand this is the way things are, because the defender essentially hasn't changed it's production tolerances all that much, or the quality of it's drivetrain.
I also don't think there is any merit in sledging, or being one-eyed about it. The w461 is available for retail consumer purchase, and isn't cheap by any stretch of the imagination. But the package is sound. People will not spend that kind of money on a basic looking vehicle.... Look at the 200 series and how much extra junk is stuffed inside them now - just to keep family owners happy about the 100K+ it costs.
I would buy a w461 or a w463, but I'm not flush with cash, and I'm very happy with my RRC. It has more comfort than a defender also, which is why it is in my driveway, and not a defender.
The last thing to remember about G's, is the pricing policy globally is geared to governments and NGO's, and the Military. Therefore the price is 'fixed' and there are no real 'discounts' available on anything.
If there is one area where they deserve to be attacked on the retail side, it is the pricing structure of common cheap plastic interior parts.
If you drove one back to back with a defender, you wouldn't have much to complain about other than your own personal preferences. (expecting one-eyed Land Rover Ownership prejudice)
Just like the toyota owners. Nissan owners, mitsubishi owners, isuzu owners, vw owners, mercedes owners...
Roads?.. Where we're going, we don't need roads...
MY92 RRC 3.9 Ardennes Green
MY93 RRC LSE 300tdi/R380/LT230 British Racing Green
MY99 D2 V8 Kinversand
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