G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

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Jdring
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I passed a G in Oxford this morning, at low speed and enough to raise a hand in greeting and see a startled response!

It was a foreign G, maybe Netherlands?, and I wondered if it was not so normal to flash, wave, hail a fellow G on the continent?

I see more Ferrari's than G-Wagens in the UK.  That is still true even in Knightsbridge were there is a G on every corner.  So it is normal in the UK to thumbs up another on the open road 

Any views?

 

 

OldEnglish68
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

There is definitely something positive about acknowledging the existence of a kindred-spirit out on the road.

A small wave at a fellow owner is surely polite, friendly and harmless.

(We should probably all smile at eachother a lot more anyway, with or without the same car, but that's another story...)

Similar to your experience, I have passed other Gs since buying mine, given a small wave or smile and got a puzzled look in return.

In each case, the Gs were much newer and smarter (and longer!) than mine. Maybe it's a size thing (joke)

Driving a G is very much like driving a classic car - which I wasn't expecting. I have been approached for a G-chat by several folk already (normally in petrol stations and when parking). There is much more love and enthusiasm for these cars than I imagined. 

I will continue to (discretely) wave at fellow G drivers, at least for the time-being.

OE68

markhowes
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

Well, I hope you'll wave to me should our paths cross.

I've had my G for over three years now and still waiting for the opportunity to wave to another owner coming the other way - that's how rare we are (maybe this doesn't apply in central London).wink

gooch
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

I always give a wave, Coming from the Aircooled VW scene I've got used to giving a smile/wave at Beetle/Camper owners for many years and do the same with G-wagons. 

Coz they are unique, and when I see another oncoming it only excites me in that moment - It's like being part of a Secret G-community......My wife wont agree as she thinks I dont know the person so why do it? Maybe for the Love of them.

Yea its mad.

consur
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

I always wave and if one is overtaking me ( very rare) and I've seen it coming up I stick a hand out and give them a thumbs up.  I am sure they are completely baffled as these are invariably bigger engined more modern Gs without red owners badges at front and rear.

OldEnglish68
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

Well, I was getting all-ready to wave at a G yesterday but decided not to when I saw how terribly it was being driven!

A nearly-new 65 or 63 amg, chasing up to, then hanging about an inch off the rear bumper of a Prius as if to overtake but in crawling traffic. Just to intimidate (maybe there was an earlier 'moment'?)

Unlikely to be a member here, but if you are...

...you have very cool graphics on your car!

(And I bet you get 6mpg driving like that!)

Jdring
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

Its always good to see any G coming the other way because you think " Hey, that's what I look like in mine!"  Invariably the other one is newer and nicer, which helps.

Of course you also do a little double check when you see a Defender, because the imprint is similar.

OldEnglish68
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

Out-and-about in my old E30 BMW yesterday, saw and gave a small wave to two others. One responded and one didn't.

So a 50% hit-rate.

In the G today and will see how I get on...

:-)

:-)

markhowes
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

My bet is that you'll end up feeling lonely with no other Gs to wave at. yes

On the hand, you can feel happy you're in your G rather than all those other, much more common, varieties of vehicles. laugh

OldEnglish68
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

Exactly right! Hardly any.

I have been using the G-Wagen regularly but only seem to spot others when I'm not in it...

White '18 plate last week and black G350 today, both on M40 nr High Wycombe and a blue one this morning at Mercedes Benz World (but that's cheating, I know :-) )

Gathering G-wave statistics is proving to be a tricky exercise! smiley

 

Jdring
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

Perhaps we need 'wave' stickers to mark the kills.  Or Hit and Miss ones depending on if you get a reply.  I might get some made up!

OldEnglish68
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

You won't get much discount on such a short print-run though...laugh

Jdring
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

With so few 'hits', cost not an issue :)  Something like the attached.  Keep in the glove box.  Just to remind you all how few there are.

I went to Glasgow and back, 6-7 hours in the car (not G) each way and didn't see one.

 

OldEnglish68
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

They're perfect!

I would consider making those up as full-size bull-barslaugh

OldEnglish68
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

So finally, after beginning to think there was some kind of "one-at-a-time-only" rule re G Wagen, I found myself momentarily sharing the road with another (newer, nicer) one - and got a little wave from the driver!

That means 100% success for G wagen on the JDRing-Knights of the Road scalesmiley

Or does it?

Moments later there was another one, but too fleeting to coax-out a thumbs upsad

Ascot is the new G-Centralyes

All just for fun and harmless enough...

OldEnglish68
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

No driver to give a thumbs-up to, but there was a very smart 2000-ish Cabrio parked in Primrose Hill earlier today.

Stood-out well from the rest of the crowd...

(No mean feat in that area!)

Jdring
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

A series I Landrover waved me just now!  Surely a black G is not like a Landrover!  Maybe he thought a black defender 110.

I was thinking that the offical 'G' wave should be a right-handed casual lift and hold.  Slightly loose wave, and then to the observer it mirrors a capital 'G'.   Thata also the musical hand gesture for C, and it comes natuarally when you have a split second to acknowledge a passing knight... 

Or, for a purist stand, a kind of rapper gesture pointing a finger (with the hammer down!)  This happens to be the international sign-language for the letter G.

Whatever you do, it has to be simple, like a nod that bikers give to one another.

 

 

Nick123
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...
Being a simple, cheery soul I like to wave at anyone.
JASONGDS
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

Driving my 2018 Land Cruiser, virtually no LC driver returns a wave, maybe the odd FJbut not exactly a common sight.

In the G , new Gs virtually ignored me, older ones returned a wave tho around here a rare sight!

Jdring
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

There is a different auora with a 'new G'.  People don't seem to mind a 'classic' older one (because it is rarely overtaking them?) but the newer one gets more envy I think.

I like the bare bones 460, and stroking it to keep it rolling, but for a daily I love the 463 that can more than blow away most motorway traffic and comes with regular mod cons (whilst still being more than enough 4x4 for me).

On the wave topic, I am getting a LOT of younger kids recognising the G first.  Presumably from the rap culture fame.  That's fine.  I have a special wave for that!

G's really are rare outside of west London.

 

carnutoxon
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

Just to pick up a few of the thoughts above, my daughter is a big fan of the G.  When it first arrived she loved it without knowing what it was and when she found out she practically back-flipped.  They are very famous on line. One time I was telling my daughter just how rare they are but suddenly there was a silver one coming towards us, down a lane near home, making a liar of me so we stopped and chatted.  A few nonG people who know me tell me they always wave when they see me because they recognise the car, 'nobody else round here drives a rap-mobile' and I'm easy to see through the upright screen, but apparently I've not waived back.  I will look harder in future.  Meanwhile if to see a filthy black 350d, please waive, it could be me!

G-Barry
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

Of course it is is the right thing to do.  I wave madly at other G Wagon drivers when I see them.  Although this is very rare in Scotland.

 

Stew-Em
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

As a driver  of an older G I also wave enthustiastically at similar models. Brand new (or McBlinGy) not so. I'm sure that possibly makes me some sort of "-ist" in these PC days! Please don't be to harsh on me :)

carnutoxon
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

Someone kindly waived to me from their G just outside Kingsbridge earlier today.  I was surprised because when the front was hidden from view I thought it was a Land Rover 110 coming so I almost didn't waive back in time!  It is rare to see another G over here but on my last trip to Devon I also saw one at the Heron Valley factory/shop and later one on the M4 outside Bristol. 

Somerset Jim
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

If you are still around tomorrow then I shall keep a look out. We are in Salcombe for a night while passing through to Dartmouth.

carnutoxon
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

I'll keep an eye out.  I've been working instead of holidaying today, so went nowhere!

carnutoxon
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

I'll keep an eye out.  I've been working instead of holidaying today, so went nowhere!

Somerset Jim
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

Didn't see you but it was not for lack of trying.

carnutoxon
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Re: G-Wagen Knights of the Road...

Thanks for keeping an eye out.   I didn't see you (or any other G) either.  I've now left the area - left late yesterday with the idea of avoiding traffic.   Didn't work, with M5 especially busy!