G500 vs G55

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Alan Holford-Walker
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Circa 2005 to 2007

Pros & cons?  

Apart from the hard suspension that is often posted.

Spider1V
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Re: G500 vs G55

G55 can be found in RHD, last 500's were 2001

If you off road, can be expensive in a G55 as the exhaust location beings down the clearing height

More electrical malarkey to go wrong in both.

G55 - they added a 'K' in late 2006 which is German for Kwick!

​You thinking of getting either?

 

Spider1V

Alan Holford-Walker
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Re: G500 vs G55

Spider1V wrote:

G55 can be found in RHD, last 500's were 2001

If you off road, can be expensive in a G55 as the exhaust location beings down the clearing height

More electrical malarkey to go wrong in both.

G55 - they added a 'K' in late 2006 which is German for Kwick!

​You thinking of getting either?

 

Spider1V

 Either.  I wonder whether 500s stopped in the in 2001 but continued being sold in LHR in Europe.  Offroad- yes but tracks not extreme puddle jumping.  Mileage will be very small so MPG matters not.  Basically I have a 2004 CLK55 and love it and a '91 300GDL which I love less.

Alan Holford-Walker
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Re: G500 vs G55

Alan Holford-Walker wrote:

Spider1V wrote:

G55 can be found in RHD, last 500's were 2001

If you off road, can be expensive in a G55 as the exhaust location beings down the clearing height

More electrical malarkey to go wrong in both.

G55 - they added a 'K' in late 2006 which is German for Kwick!

​You thinking of getting either?

 

Spider1V

 Either.  I wonder whether 500s stopped in the in 2001 but continued being sold in LHR in Europe.  Offroad- yes but tracks not extreme puddle jumping.  Mileage will be very small so MPG matters not.  Basically I have a 2004 CLK55 and love it and a '91 300GDL which I love less.

For example 1994 G500 with 150000km at £3000ish

neilmarton
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Re: G500 vs G55

3k ? is that the purchase price ? are you sure ?

markhowes
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Re: G500 vs G55

I know there are several very suitable Latin phrases that cover just this sort of situation (storming vehicle at ridiculous price).

neilmarton
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Re: G500 vs G55

markhowes wrote:

I know there are several very suitable Latin phrases that cover just this sort of situation (storming vehicle at ridiculous price).

There's an English one n' all "Bullshit !"

Spider1V
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Re: G500 vs G55

Alan Holford-Walker wrote:

 Either.  I wonder whether 500s stopped in the in 2001 but continued being sold in LHR in Europe.  Offroad- yes but tracks not extreme puddle jumping.  Mileage will be very small so MPG matters not.  Basically I have a 2004 CLK55 and love it and a '91 300GDL which I love less.

[/quote]

The G500 is in production still in LHD. Post 2004 (I think ) they benefited in an upping of power from 300BHP to around 374BHP. If he were still on, Eddieneedamerc could have helped you source a good one, he has a number of contacts in Europe who know and specialist in G's.

HTH

Spider1V

neilmarton
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Re: G500 vs G55

Yeah and the ones in question here are circa 20k !!! (upwards)

http://am.ru/all/mercedes_benz/g_class/g_500/?p=6

 

bigblock
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Re: G500 vs G55

Alan Holford-Walker wrote:

For example 1994 G500 with 150000km at £3000ish

 No such animal as a 1994 G500, the G500 with the M113 engine did not appear until 1998.  

There was a limited edition V8 called the 500GE with the old M117 engine which was made in 1993 and 1994. It  can be easily identified because it  only has two switches for the diff locks, no front lock as standard like the other 463 G's.

I have read through a great many of the adverts on the Russian car sale sites and while many of them appear to be genuine there are a high proportion where the description of the vehicle bears no relationship to the photograph in the advert.

I think that if you are serious about buying from Russia you really need someone who knows about G wagons to check them out and verify that they are what they claim to be and actually exist.

The other problem with buying in Russia is the huge distances you would need to cover to check out the best priced G's. I eventually decided to only look at G Wagons in the St Petersburg area and  exporting into Finland with the aid of a local and then on to the UK.

It is quite a convoluted and potentially a financially risky business unless you want to go and do it all yourself which caries a different kind of risk.

markhowes
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Re: G500 vs G55

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C579525

Would save a trip to Russia.

bigblock
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Re: G500 vs G55

markhowes wrote:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C579525

Would save a trip to Russia.

 

Or go to Russia and buy this newer one for nearly half the price !! 

http://auto.ru/cars/used/sale/1016114945-809a/?from=new_card

 

 

 

neilmarton
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Re: G500 vs G55

bigblock wrote:

markhowes wrote:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C579525

Would save a trip to Russia.

 

Or go to Russia and buy this newer one for nearly half the price !! 

http://auto.ru/cars/used/sale/1016114945-809a/?from=new_card

 

YEAH ! that actually is a bargain at 20k (costs of import will bring it back upto UK costs)

BUT they've got them out there for 3k ain't they ?

 

Alan Holford-Walker
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Re: G500 vs G55

neilmarton wrote:

bigblock wrote:

markhowes wrote:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C579525

Would save a trip to Russia.

 

Or go to Russia and buy this newer one for nearly half the price !! 

http://auto.ru/cars/used/sale/1016114945-809a/?from=new_card

 

YEAH ! that actually is a bargain at 20k (costs of import will bring it back upto UK costs)

BUT they've got them out there for 3k ain't they ?

 

 There is one at £3K and it looks like new (on the outside!).  They must have VERY cheap bodyshops and interior fitters out there.  And men in big greatcoats, best avoided.

Alan Holford-Walker
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Re: G500 vs G55

neilmarton wrote:

bigblock wrote:

markhowes wrote:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C579525

Would save a trip to Russia.

 

Or go to Russia and buy this newer one for nearly half the price !! 

http://auto.ru/cars/used/sale/1016114945-809a/?from=new_card  WHERE HAS IT BEEN FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS - I know a man who can ask :)

 

YEAH ! that actually is a bargain at 20k (costs of import will bring it back upto UK costs)

BUT they've got them out there for 3k ain't they ?

 

 There is one at £3K and it looks like new (on the outside!).  They must have VERY cheap bodyshops and interior fitters out there.  And men in big greatcoats, best avoided.

neilmarton
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Re: G500 vs G55

Hello Alan,

Mine looks like new mate ! (it is eating thousands in remedial repairs which you would never of dreamed of)

The problem is that the 3k one does not exist as a model as was rightly pointed out. The G500 was released 1998

what might be on offer is a ruined W460 with chines plastic poorly stuck upon it or a complete hoax and attempt to steal your money !

but the 20k one is lovely !!! (after all the hassle probably closer to 30k once it arrives and is driveable within blighty)

Cheers biggy ears,

Neil.

Alan Holford-Walker
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Re: G500 vs G55

neilmarton wrote:

Hello Alan,

Mine looks like new mate ! (it is eating thousands in remedial repairs which you would never of dreamed of)

The problem is that the 3k one does not exist as a model as was rightly pointed out. The G500 was released 1998

what might be on offer is a ruined W460 with chines plastic poorly stuck upon it or a complete hoax and attempt to steal your money !

but the 20k one is lovely !!! (after all the hassle probably closer to 30k once it arrives and is driveable within blighty)

Cheers biggy ears,

Neil.

 You are no doubt right - it is in Siberia anyway.  Nobody in their right mind would buy such a thing.

gav.helme
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Re: G500 vs G55

 

[/quote]  You are no doubt right - it is in Siberia anyway.  Nobody in their right mind would buy such a thing.

[/quote]

Have you bought it then? cheeky

Alan Holford-Walker
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Re: G500 vs G55

gav.helme wrote:

 

 You are no doubt right - it is in Siberia anyway.  Nobody in their right mind would buy such a thing.

[/quote]

Have you bought it then? cheeky

[/quote]  Ho Ho!  Are you suggesting ... nah you wouldn't do that would you!  I have a friend in Ulaanbaatar at the moment - now there's a thought!

bigblock
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Re: G500 vs G55

neilmarton wrote:

YEAH ! that actually is a bargain at 20k (costs of import will bring it back upto UK costs)

 

Not quite sure how you work that out ?

2005 G55 in Russia £20,000 + 20% VAT (£4000) + Transport etc (£3000) = £27,000

2005 G55 in UK  £38,000+ if you can find one.

In fairness I have had a look on the German Mobile.de site and you can buy a 2005 G55 for around £32,000 which would be a lot less hassle than going to Russia.

The biggest savings when buying in Russia, at the current exchange rate, are on the newer models like the G63 where you can save over 30% by the time you have brought it back to the UK.

 

neilmarton
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Re: G500 vs G55

Big Block,

To be honest i didn't work it out. I just guessed.

Basically 20k for a G55 is an absolute bargain. (we all know and agree on that) 3k is theft (we all know and agree on that)

Import is debateable as I am guessing you'd need fly out there in person and see it before commiting to anything. I'm assumingyou will need meet the shipment upon its arrival at the dock or drive it back ? or whatever is associated and necessary. so maybe add 3or4k to your 27k and we're getting there ain't we ?

Now germany is a different matter and indeed a very very simple option. plane out drive home no fees and they speak english (and believe it or not they have a very very good sense of humour to which is always a pleasure !)

Yep Germany is the place to bag your G (ah but they are left hookers)

You pay ya money you take your choice huh ?

 

 

Alan Holford-Walker
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Re: G500 vs G55

Russia aside ... mission creep happening here...

What are the pros & cons of 500 vs 55?

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Re: G500 vs G55
Theo
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Re: G500 vs G55

I have not read through the links above (therefore probably only duplicating was is mentioned there); the G55 is the 'here I come car', the G500 continues the tradition of 'all Gs are equal'; in direct comparison the G55 feels rough (which depending on your preferences can be a good thing);  in 2006 the G500 got the 7 speed gearbox (which improved performance, both fuel and acceleration [answering the 0-100 time confusion in another thread] and in 2008 the M273 engine with 388hp;  personally I prefer the 2008 G500 to the G55, judging by the commercial success of the G63, I'm not the only one.  Quick comment re Russian cars:  due to the cold winters the Russian use special chemicals to clear their roads, not clear what these do to the bodywork.

Alan Holford-Walker
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Re: G500 vs G55

Arnie/Theo - Gentlemen

I thank you; that is the advice i was after. 

EG This is nice - http://auto.ru/cars/used/sale/1016114945-809a/?from=new_card

But this it better - http://auto.ru/cars/used/sale/1012465287-166e9d/ albeit that it is black & black & black

Nowt happening for the next two weeks as my man in St. Pete is on holiday and no doubt they will be sold, but there are more fish in the ocean.  What's the hurry?  The Russian economy is only going to get worse and ours better.

As for chemical rot, I will find out.