Another G Wagen Tuning house
If I am honest Joe, I would have to say such an engine would be great fun :P but not alas in a g-wagen, which we all know doesn't corner too well. :cry: As for the body kit perhaps the designer has a well developed sense of humour where he mocks his clientel.........without them realising it. :lol:
Väth well known in Germany. They built for example a few W124s with a V12 or 230GEs with engine from a 190E 2.6.
Can't argue with a top end of 165mph!
Can't argue with a top end of 165mph!
no you can't but would it pass the Elk test, and would you want to be in it if it tried :?:
They built for example a few W124s with a V12 or 230GEs with engine from a 190E 2.6.
Like this? W124 7.2 V12, €50k, only 18.5k kms:
http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/showDetails.html?lang=en&id=119262040&...
With ESP at least it won't hit the poor Elk, but I hope at the top speed the elk might be scooped up by the very low bumper and pass over the streamlined body (not) :lol:
M2dxb wrote:Can't argue with a top end of 165mph!
no you can't but would it pass the Elk test, and would you want to be in it if it tried :?:
There is no Elk test for a G Wagen.
Hello Elk - Splat - Goodbye Elk.
Hello Deer - Splat - Goodbye Deer.
Hello Nissan Micra - Crunch - Goodbye Nissan Micra.
Mercedes G Wagen, no swerving required.
I think you are being a little how can I put it err overconfidant about the g-wagens abilities to survive impacts. It has never been subject to NCAP tests or has it. :?: Moreover its instinctive to try and avoid an object. The fact is a g-wagen would probably fail the elk test which if recall was at 50 mph not 165. Such power in a square box with no aerodynamics, antiquated steering and very soft suspension makes no sense at all. If I wanted to go 165 in a large 4x4 it would be in a Cayenne not a g-wagen. :roll:
The instinct to swerve is very dangerous. You should be prepared to run over anything up to a certain size without flinching, this should be part of the driving test. :wink:
I think you are being a little how can I put it err overconfidant about the g-wagens abilities to survive impacts. It has never been subject to NCAP tests or has it. :?: Moreover its instinctive to try and avoid an object. The fact is a g-wagen would probably fail the elk test which if recall was at 50 mph not 165. Such power in a square box with no aerodynamics, antiquated steering and very soft suspension makes no sense at all. If I wanted to go 165 in a large 4x4 it would be in a Cayenne not a g-wagen. :roll:
I found the following information on an American Mercedes dealers website. Well I use the word "information" rather loosely since the G Wagens crash performance appears to be N/A :!:
2009 Mercedes-Benz G-Class 4-DR w/SAB Safety Ratings
Frontal Impact Side Impact
Drivers Side N/A
Front Occupant N/A
Passengers Side N/A
Rear Occupant N/A
Frontal Head Injury Criterion Chest Deceleration (g's) Femur Load (lbs)
Drivers Side N/A N/A N/A | N/A
Passenger Side N/A N/A N/A | N/A
Side Thoratic Trauma Index (TTI) Pelvis Deceleration (g's)
Front Occupant N/A N/A
Rear Occupant N/A N/A
Rollover Resistance Rating Static Stability Factor Dynamic Test
N/A N/A N/A
Very useful I don't think.
G-wagens pre-date the NCAP tests by decades. I have little doubt that in terms of a frontal impact with anything other than a truck or an Amazon or Patrol a G-wagen would come off well and I suppose for that reason alone we need to take extra care around other road users. But aside from that are issues of stability, cornering ability, centre of gravity, steering, and suspension. The G-wagen is not as its best in these areas, in anything other than a head on accident there is a great danger of a G-wagen rolling, perhaps many times. It may be that an esp system can be adapted to fit new models but that will not help anyone with an older car; retro fitting would be prohibitively expensive. :?:
You keep referring to the G's inability to corner. Have tried driving one of these modern 1.6 or 1.8 or even 2.0 cars? Most of them can easily reach 130, and quite a few will do 140. They all have a massive tendency for understeering, and are so light, the smallest bump will cause wheel spin. A few years ago I chased some poachers in a Ford Mondeo on a wet bendy hedge road. Within 2 miles I caught up with them, and probably because of the sight of a big G wagon with bull bar winch and spots right on his tail the pressure became to much and they ended on their roof in a field. If he had anything between his ears he would have gotten onto the motorway and I wouldn't even have tried to catch them. I was in a little 230.
I don't care how many airbags, side impact bars and crumbling zones the build into them, if you are in an accident at anything over 90 in one of them, knock knock the angels are coming!
Another factor to consider is who will buy it. Surely a G in the hands of the guy who can afford these prices are going to be more sensible than the kid who goes to an auction with £500 and comes out with a 140mil/h car.
If I could afford it I would still be driving a G55, and an upgraded one too, because you can take my word for it, mine was a hell of a lot safer on the road that the 2.0l VW Polo I rented the other week.
Can't corner, Hmmfff!!!
Very surprised at your comments and that you caught a Mondeo on the twisty stuff as these are probably the best handling rep mobile around. Not sure that VW have ever made a 2 litre Polo not even with a diesel engine but the small engined ones are certainly light and bouncey. Yes most modern cars have built in understeer even the 911 these days. I stand by my comments but I would say to you that a G-wagen excells in areas that an ordinary car does not. You wouldn't take a Polo or a Mondeo up a muddy rutted track would you. :roll: :wink: I think some of us are far to precious about the g-wagen, its very good at what it does best but less good at some of the bread and butter stuff. :cry:
I have never said a G is a sports car, I have had 2 real sportscars in the last 5 years, so I should know.
I am saying that I would rather get into a 170mil/h G with Spider than into a 130mil/h super mini sedan with one of the lads working at my local car wash.
I think you will be safer on the road, and safer in case of an accident.
Lastly I also say that for a 2 1/2 ton car a G corners quite ok, especially in 4wd.
just don't do anything suddenly!
I have never said a G is a sports car,
correct :!: so why do these tuners try to turn it into one, its like polishing a turd :lol:
You are spot prwales with most of your comments. I would, however, disagree with your assertion that you are safe in a frontal impact. The G may well survive but your internal organs simply won’t cope with the rapid deceleration due to the complete lack of crumple zones.
Give me a 5* NCAP rep mobile any day if it comes to survivability. Basic physics which just about all 4x4 drivers can’t figure. Plus of course you’re far more likely to avoid the accident in the 1st place. Assuming you exclude the fact that you’ll probably be travelling faster for a greater proportion of the time in said euro box.
Having said all that the G (for a 30yr old truck) actually handles remarkably well, but if it does get away from you there will be tears :lol:
Having said all that the G (for a 30yr old truck) actually handles remarkably well, but if it does get away from you there will be tears :lol:
I know! First person experience... :'(
Up to 30mph the G will undoubtedly be one of the safest things to be in, anything over that there is no way it will compete with the latest designs.
A friend recently had serious rear end shunt in a new Insignia (3hrs old less than 60 miles on the clock)
The police investigation concluded that the Audi A6 that ran in to the back of him hit him at 60mph+.
He walked away without even any whiplash (active head restraints), the cretin in the Audi walked away with minor injuries.
My friend saw it coming and took his foot off the brakes which helped some. It actually took the assessors week or so to decide the Insignia was indeed a right off!
Christo, re your comments about the majority of front wheel drive cars. You are correct that they are setup to under steer. Most (even the shopping trolley ones) have passive rear steer though which if you are confident can be used to produce over steer. So they can be driven on the throttle. This is ignoring any with the pretension of being “sporty†which will have some electronics (esp) to tighten/control under steer. All this motoring press bs about rear wheel drive being the only true drivers car is generated by egotistic kids who perpetuate complete nonsense making out they are expert/professional drivers whilst the rest of us can only aspire to such greatness.
A non electronically enhanced G (463 constant 4wd) can only do one thing, neutral, going to slight under steer ending up in a 4 wheel drift. You may be able to correct that with a quick dab on the brakes but unlikely. The Elk test is something else and not something I would be keen on trying to replicate. Electronically enhanced ones will be safer but never truly fast. A 460 locked in 4wd is a nightmare on the road apart from the odd slippery occasion and at low speeds.
PS Anyone followed the latest US vs Toyota conspiracy/farce? Who would ever have thought a top heavy SUV wouldn’t fare well in an Elk test/lane change manoeuvre
Wonder when they are going to publish the results for the Ford Explorer or Chevy Redneck 50 cal avenger/lets invade Alaska (that is somewhere in Russia isn’t it?) piles of junk :roll:
Russ
LOL some great points made there Russ, and a lot that I would agree with, but I can tell you that a G with the right front bumper can withstand more that an impact at 30MPH. (Some of the clients I work with love the G because compared with most off the shelf 4x4's all they need to do is add a stronger Bull Bar and the correct fixings and they can go breaching through Drugs dens/ terrorist houses and the like!
Bearing in mind the G is now past 30 years old and quite possibly soon to change from its iconic shape according to that ugly photo shop someone posted a few months back) I can say I did not get into G's because of performance and that fact that it's 'nimble' around corners! :lol:
And to be honest if I was buying a car to have a crash in it would be i) a Volvo or ii) something made out of recycled Black boxes from aircraft!
I think it great that we have tuning houses like Vath, AMG, Hertger etc and from an engineering point of view one does have to be amazed at what they can do with a G. I mean think about it....... 2.5 tonnes doing 165MPH with the aerodynamics of a brick? the power to take you from 0-62 in under 4.5 second..... this is 2.5 tonnes people! (I mean AMG can take you from 62-0 in less than 3.2 seconds.......that is spleen morphing physics people!
However,
can one take it off road - no, can one start 'rapping' and speaking about 'yo ho's n' beaches?' Yes. (Please see add posted by Russ a few week ago).
In the Automotive world we all live in, its all about personal choice, as I have mentioned in many posts before the fact that we all drive G's DOES separate us from the heard somewhat. (Though with the new additions of the RHD expect some Darwin cases....). I think it is difficult to not climb into a G and think one becomes 'indestructible' mainly because of the sheer presents it has, especially in the car parks of Waitrose or down that green lane they call The Kings Road or the desert they call Chelsea :wink: (Or the equivalent they may have opppp North).
But be honest with oneself - if you suddenly came into money, win the lottery, picked up that lucrative contract or your horse came in, could you honestly say you would not consider a brand new G , even for a few seconds?
Despite the fact that one can get faster 4x4's, maybe even safer 4x4/ other cars for me I think the G is perfect the way it is. One can be out ploughing the green lanes in Salisbury plain, crashing through the forests of Wales and still turn up at the Palace or at a function in London (or Northern equivelent) and still look the 'part'!
Spider1V
Guys the G has been tested by Euro Ncap. The N/A are due to the unusual results.....
Guys the G has been tested by Euro Ncap. The N/A are due to the unusual results.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnM58kHvLxc
Damn, that was going to be my next post.
http://www.clubgwagen.com/pictures.php?sid=item&pageTitle=Pictures%20:%2...
not that bad is it?
100% re the swerving.
My father taught us to ALWAYS think before taking evasive action to avoid running over that wee puppy cat, badger etc etc.
But do not needlessley run over them.
re running over a child....Hmmmm... as opposed to running head on into another vehicle containing several children.......Hmmmm, causing a multiple vehicle crash, with multiple causalties.....hmmmm
So ALWAYS think first, otherwise you should NOT be driving.
It has worked for me
cheers
M
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hmmmm interesting.
All valid points re safety - but one thing I can say, being shunted at 30MPH while I was stationary, glad I was in my G. Not too sure many other cars would have fared as well...
G Wagen 1....Disco 0 !
Not done the AMG yet but I can say at over 125MPH the G will be affected by the slightest puff of wind and at 128MPH the boys in blue WILL pull you over! :wink:
Spider1V