New Member

Hi Paul and welcome!

If you'd like to know about the different models, etc, the best website that I can recommend is probably this one:

http://www.g4rce.net/engl/index.html

Just a few notes thereon:

Don't be too put down by comments about the lack of performance of the diesel Gs. The only two which were ever offered in the UK are the W460 300 GD (OM617) and the W463 300 GD (OM 603). The OM 617 is a 5-cylinder and the OM603 is a 6-cylinder but both have roughly 3 litre capacity, are raturally aspirated and not extremely powerful (88 and 113 BHP respectively).

This being said even the OM617 would probably be quicker than all bar the TDI-engined Defenders (which is not at all that quick, anyway).

Something that improves matters is if you choose a basic manual short-wheel-base without aircon as opposed to a fully loaded automatic LWB. Even with the same engine the difference in performance can be substantial.

The differences in performance between the W460 and W463 (I am talking diesel all the time) are not as great as their power might suggest. I have had both in SWB and manuals and in term of sheer performance (except top speed, perhaps) they are quite similar. The BIG, BIG difference is the driving pleasure: the OM603 is much torquier and you can pot along in fifth at all but the lowest of speeds and it will happily pull out without a problem. With my older G I had to resort to lower gears more frequently even as it had a lovely free-revving rebuilt engine. BTW, my older G is now living in Dublin....

The real beauty of the W463 is it total lack of vibrations and its sweetness. I was quite pleased with my older G in this respect but after driving my 463 I reckon that it felt like driving a tractor!

You sound pretty upbeat about "visiting dealers, etc". I am sorry to have to say that for what I've been told there are no GWagen dealers in Ireland and most of the Gs which turn up for sale are in pretty sorry condition. Apparently the culture of treating the car better than the wife it's not something that has crossed the Irish Sea in your direction (no offence intended), so if you want a RHD GWagen, you'll have to come to the UK. My advice is that you buy privately, unless you are completely hopeless when buying second-hand cars.

If you don't mind the car being LHD then your options grow exponentially, and you can buy two older Gs (W460s) with diesel engine under 3 litres, the 240 GD and the 250 GD. In the case of the 240 GD I would not recommend it: the saving in cost is not at all worth for the loss in performance. With regard to the 250 GD, it's got similar performance to that fo the OM617-powered 300 GD but it's got a more modern engine -OM602- which is similar to that fitted to the W463 less one cylinder. It should command similar prices to the equivalent 300GD. You can also find a W463 250 GD but I don't think that the loss in performance compared to the 300 GD is worth the saving, unless you can get it dead cheap.

Lastly, why not join the GWOA and get to live your G to the full?

Cheers,