Wants "Low-Buck" G-Wagen Buildup
Now that prices of Mercedes G500s have dropped to the mid $20Ks, I'd love to see a buildup with a mild lift and 35-inch tires. There are a few people building them on the M-B forums, but not much support. Considering a Jeep JK only gets 15 mpg, I am contemplating a G500 instead.
Kent
Seattle, WA
Dude, tell us where we can find a G-Wagen (current base price: $112,000) for only $20 grand that's in good running condition and free from rust, and we'll be all over that project like a cheap suit. Or maybe you've got a line on some Euro military-surplus rigs? If so, by all means, let us know.
It's not surprising the G-Class doesn't enjoy much aftermarket support in the States. Mercedes only manufactures a few hundred units for sale in the U.S. each year, so most aftermarket activity is going to be found overseas. As far as suspension goes, we know of one company, Extrem Motorsport GmbH, that manufactures a 3-inch suspension lift for it (which will supposedly allow fitting 33-inch tires), but as they are located in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, your ability to conduct business with them will likely be proportional to your fluency in German (www.extrem-motorsport.de). Then again, with solid axles and coil springs at both ends, three selectable diff-locks and 4.38:1 gears, the G-Class is mighty capable right out of the box.
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