hello from bedfordshire
Hi there im steve iv lusted after a G wagen for a few years but never found one in my budget until recently.
I cycle alot and was out with a friend when we came across a remote farm and got chatting to the owner. We tried to work out where we were and which way to head the chap was very friendly and we spoke about our passion for 4x4's which the farmer had also. He offered to show us his buggy that he had recently finished and i saw the bonnet and A pillar of a distinct shape car that iv always wanted to own.
Initially he didnt want to sell it so i popped back in the car a month later and tried again he is slowly coming round to the idea so im hoping to get back up there when the weather breaks.
Iv owned Discovery's 200 and 300 TDi's aswell as a 90 and Range Rover bobtail pick up and a Suzuki SJ413(horrid)
Im also into bikes and fast fords and have had too many of both. Iv limited myself to an Armstrong MT500(ex army) so i can atleast use the greenlanes and save my licence.
Fingers crossed that I manage to break his resolve down and buy it off him soon im going to be asking some questions firstly how to operate the diff locks etc and points to look out for rust.
All the Best
Steve
Hello and welcome Steve,
Many thanks for your intro and best of luck with your search! Do you have a budget in mind and you never know the Farmer maybe a member here so he can see your plea!
Spider1V
I know for sure that he doesnt use the web for forums only work. As my friend has built a buggy too and thought there maybe some land to drive on!
The price i would be buying this one at as its very cheap, so im gonna stay tight lipped on its location for now. A project vehicle depending on what it would need should be around £1000upwards well half that if its very very rotten. I weld full time so im not fussed about the chassis or body as long as its all there im not too bothered really.
I dont suppose you know of any going at all do you?
THere has been a rash of them about - suddenly the G has become very popular. Though I can't say right now that I know of any - will keep one's ear to the ground. However as I am sure other members will warn you - even for a real rust bucket expect to spend over your budget......
Spider1V
I know its wish full thinking at that price but you dont ask you dont get!
I think due to the G being used in alot of music videos its upped its presence from what they used to be, obviously the weather is againt me at the moment as there will be a 4x4 premium ontop of the normal purchase price.
I have been looking online before i joined here at the german equivelant of autotrader and have seen some for the conversion price of £2200upwards (from Euros to real money) iv just gotta check on the cost of import fees as id be seriously tempted if it works out cheaper than the ones on autotrader at the moment
You need to be wary, that, any 4X4 never-the-less a G-Wagen IS expensive to maintain and run, provided you are in that running and can comfortably put aside a budget for its up keep especially after a purchase of an old G-Wagen there are examples out there to which are in need of just that care.
I have any example potentially for sale as such a project. I'll PM you my contact details, should you be interested.
Welcome on board :-)
There are quite a few mid-late 80s Gs available, though even for something quite rusted out (and you are in the right line of work for this!) I think you'll spend at least 2.5x your budget and I would still expect a lot else to be wrong with it.
To echo Pistonhead's comments too.. parts for a G can be hidheously expensive with no off-the-shelf or OEM alternatives available for many parts.
Most of the time people are looking out for rust as their main concern on older vehicles, but any number of other things could be a significant problem (i.e. expensive) to fix.
I am sure you realise this, but if you are buying a real rust bucket beware that previous owners may have exhibited the same level of attention to preventative maintenance generally - something as simple as a failure to grease the props for example - a new rear propshaft alone can run to north of £900!
Anyway, you have come to the right place for opinions ;-)
I'm sure if anyone here can help you find a reasonable vehicle they will.
I know from experience a prop was only £250 custom made for a morris minor hot road i worked on. A good job iv got a few friends that make bits i need when i cant.
I will wait for the weather to break and try my luck on the one at the farm.
Thank you for the advice guys, i knew they would be pricey to run as a mate who works down in stevenage way is a body shop manager and had given me the run down on common parts they require.
I knew LR's were expensive to maintain but this will be a road vehicle only as im not into getting stuck in the mud anymore, well for now atleast!!
I don't know much about Morris Minors, but I'd guess its propshaft is somewhat less substantial than the G's :D
Still all depends on what you want to do with it/ what your aspirations are.
It seems to me that there are as many 'it's criminal to modify/ update/ change any classic G' opinions here as there are others who -for reasons of performance, aesthetic or budget have decided to do just that.
I'm on the fence really. I have a substantially modified G, though with the exception of Orc suspension (made for the G) and powersteering plumbing pretty much everything else is from MB (often later variants of the G) because its of a known quality and in-keeping with the vehicle.
Modified vehicles are a specialist re-sale market too - most of the time they will never repay the investment; again I figure it just depends on what you want.
My guess though is that as time goes on, the mid/ late 80s Gs that are restored to factory condition will start to appreciate (there is some evidence of this at the moment as others have said) - I don't think its the bling hip-hop crowd that will drive this though, but the 'restored SL in the garage' brigade who will only be buying such a vehicle because it is original and therefore stands a chance of being serviced/ maitained by the MB specialist who looks after their other classics.
So as usual, pay your money and take you choice :-) Sounds like you want a project, aren't too fussed about making practical compromises and want something for fun driving that isn't going to be a garage queen.. I think you'll pick something up, though as I say I think you will struggle at £1K!
The little moggy had a 5.7 chevy in it a bit more oomph than a G!! i tyed hot rod but popped an A in the rod part!
£1k is wishful thinking i fully admit Im looking to keep the vehicle for a long time,
Iv noticed with LR's that any mods you do put the price up which is odd really
So long as it covers my purchase price im not going to worry about how many hours it costs me to do the vehicle up.
Is there anyone in or near bedfordshire that will let me have a look around there vehicle?
Agreed a well modified L R can be worth more than an original one - lots of LR offroaders out there and lots of people wanting them. Parts costs are a fraction of that of a G. A 200tdi Disco propshaft is buttons to buy a G prop will / could cost more than the disco.
However the G appears to be heading for classic status where originality will count for everthing for a top value.
As for values it seems a dead G is worth £1500 and anything with a MOT is £3000++ and the day of the £20k 20+ year old 460 seems to have arrived.
In 1998 I looked at a very very good 1970 Padgoda SL at £18k and thought how expensive it was. Would probably take £80k to buy that car today. Wish I had thought how cheap it was and bought it!
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I forgot to say, if this sale doesnt go through. If any one knows of a G wagen needing alot of work please pm me.
Thanks again,
Steve