What in the hell is this thing supposed to be?! A Front Wheel Drive SUV?! WTF?! Thats just sick as hell!

and the point of posting this in the mercedes board is??? ( the point of posting it at all??)

<font face="comic Sans MS">I assume because he didn't want to get in a flame war with the Toyota guys and felt this forum is pointless (as I think it is, look at the vehicle it talks about and ponder it)... But anyhow it probably doesn't belong here. Now I'd *Really* take offense if he posted it on the Unimog board since those truly are capable machines...</font>

Sandman - the M class goes ok...but no one in N.America off-roads them in Germany, where they're more affordable, you see quite a few that have been modifed as toys.

re: this forum: gotta agree with you that not much goes on. I post anywhere else about using MB parts, the guys love it...post here with a tech Q , and the silence is deafening!! I guess the yuppies just drive em - dont know a thing about how they work. ( also a contributing factor as to why you dont see them off road here!!)

come on M class owners - prove me wrong, and answer some tech stuff 8^D

c.

<font face="Comic Sans MS">Someday I *have* to get a Unimog...

I think that's the only MB vehicle I think I'd like.. Maybe the M-Class if they were cheap and I could find a way to get a doubled t-case and some solid axles under it. Could do some major off roading in pretty good comfort then... [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] </font>

dont forget the G-wagen...now THATS a nice mix of ability, and comfort.
c

<font face="Comic Sans MS">I don't think I've seen one of those... [img]images/icons/crazy.gif[/img]</font>

the G500 was 're' introduced to the US market for 2001/2002. they look sort of liek teh last generation Land Cruiser, or maybe an oversize dodge raider. the new ones now available in the US have the '500' series Mercedes 5 liter OHC V8 in tehm...elsewhere, ( and int eh US through private importers) they were available with the 24valve 6 cylinder 300 Diesel and turbodiesel. Mechanically, they're full time 4x4, dual live axles, w 3 diff locks ( front,center, rear) 4 wheel coils, 4 wheel disk brakes, 5 speed auto or 5 speed stick. Not sure about gears - I 'think' the axles were between 4.08, and 5.24, and the t-case is a BW piece w/ around a 2.5:1 low. fun toys, but a hefty price tag in the US (I seem to recall MB saying they were 'starting at' $70,000 US for the new G500 models)

if you've got any magazines with articles on the transylvania trophy, or other european runs, they usually make up about 1/2 the field.

Chris

sandman - try this site for a good look at the G-wagon ( rather than the top-end-only model that the US is going to be getting)

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.g-center.nl/foto.html>http://www.g-center.nl/foto.html</a>

I got to drive a german army one afew years back - VERY fun trucks.

c.

<font face="Comic Sans MS">Now why the heck do they not import those like *that*? I hate the high end crap. Worthless IMO, just plain too expensive to actually utilize it the way it was intended.

I think someday I will end up with a pair of 'mog axles under my suburban. After reading about the benefits of those I'm impressed. Especially the ground clearance under them. Will be a *long* term project. Like possible start date of 3-5 years from now... Plenty of time to plan it in that case... [img]images/icons/crazy.gif[/img]

What sort of suspension flex can you get out of the G-wagon? Decent? Looks like the suspension on those are fairly stiff... Not sure though since pictures are often deceiving. [img]images/icons/crazy.gif[/img]</font>