G 270, G300 and G500
Does anyone know anything about the performance and reliability of the 270 engine? I assume it is the same one as used in the M. How does it compare to the old 300 which I understand it replaced?
Also, what kind of problems, if any, do G500 owners experience? I am contemplating importing one of the above. I would prefer the G500 but think the diesels represent the sensible option as I plan on keeping he vehicle for about 10 years plus. I am looking at something around 100,000km and doing about 4k miles pa thereafter. I presently own a 280GE and wondered how the fuel consumption of a carefully driven G500 would compare to it.
With regard to importing, I have been through the stuff on the DVLA website but have heard from other sources that I will need to have the speedo changed into miles, is this true? I know I will have to have the lights changed.
As to tax, if I buy from a garage I will pay sales tax there and, providing it is more than six months old, will not have to pay VAT when importing into the UK. Is this correct?
Thanks in advance.
The 270 replaced the 290 (Sprinter) and is a vast improvement, being a whole generation ahead of it (common rail, etc etc.. It is essentially the same as the M Class unit. The G270 is a 461 model , but has permanent four wheel drive as opposed to the selectable system fitted in 460 and earlier 461s. It is also more of a "workhorse" vehicle, in contrast to the rather luxurious, over-specified, limo-like qualities of the G500 and its ilk.
I'm not sure of the tax situation, but I understand that as we are all in the EU and as long as tax is paid somewhere, it shouldn't be a problem. Find out where the VAT is least. There are plenty of people far better versed in these matters than I who, undoubtedly, will add their tuppence worth sooner or later
There is no denying the G500 is costly to run.
For what it's worth, the G270 has got to be the weapon of choice....and somebody at MBUK should be hung, drawn and quartered for not importing the model and marketing it alongside the Unimog.
Q
The 270 replaced the 290 (Sprinter) and is a vast improvement, being a whole generation ahead of it (common rail, etc etc.. It is essentially the same as the M Class unit. The G270 is a 461 model , but has permanent four wheel drive as opposed to the selectable system fitted in 460 and earlier 461s. It is also more of a "workhorse" vehicle, in contrast to the rather luxurious, over-specified, limo-like qualities of the G500 and its ilk.
Q
Thats the G270 "worker" model that seems to be impossible to buy, unless your army or police etc.
The normal G270 is a 463 model, and is available with all the luxury trimmings of the G500, although some would be on the "options" list, rather then standard, but still the standard G270 doesn't want for much, unless of course you want a computer to turn your headlights and wipers on and off. Evan those may be standard on the G270?
If you intend doing 4k miles pa, it's hard to argue against the big V8, the G270 will save you around 340- 380 quid a year. I'd go for the 270 :lol:
If you want pre 2001model then the G270 isn't an option, they didn't exist with the old style dash, neither did the 400.
Pre 2001 463 models are the G300DT, G320 & G500.
I've never heard anyone moan about their G500, apart from fuel consumption. You'd be hard pushed to find an engine with a better reputation, petrol or diesel.
Buying from another EU-member state:
If you buy a car for which VAT has been paid and not been deducted, as input VAT (i.e. it has been used privately), you will not be charged VAT at all. you will then have to prove to the UK VAT man that the car originally paid VAT in Germany and you will be exempted to pay VAT over here.
If you buy from a business/company and the VAT has never been paid (i.e. it has been paid and deducted as input VAT) and you can prove the vendor that you are an individual resident for VAT purposes to that of the vendor (i.e. the UK), then he will not add VAT to the invoice of sale. You will then have to pay VAT in the UK prior to registration.
In addition to the VAT (if applicable), you only need to pay the road tax and a £ 25 registration fee to the DVLA.
But there is another problem: if the car has never been officially imported to the UK (none of the three mentioned were), you need to obtain type approval prior to registration.
Cheers
Am I being particularly "dreeagh",
As I am still trying to grasp the difference between a 461with perm 4WD & a 463 -- with respect to the comments about the 270 as above, does the chassis & bodywork and/or their mountings differ or is it just the level of trim -- and the fact that DC will simply not supply a utilitarian spec 463 ( with whatever engine ) to the Civvy market -- nervous of damaging their "Prestige" image perhaps. :?
Marcus
The first thing you need to do is test drive either one. Our membership secretary Tony Baskill has just had on loan the 270CDI that is for sale at Nick wheelhouse in Nottingham. Tony is a v8 man trough and through but was more than impressed with the 270CDI 463. The only thing he could not put up with is driving a left hooker otherwise it would have been a sale so he eventually found a SWB G500 for the same money . I have also been in the same car and know the previous owner. Touring europe with a caravan he was returing 30MPG.
Test drive both models before you buy. If you want a big smile and small bank balance its the G500. If you want to be practical its the G270CDI. If your daft then its the G400. If your mad then you must already own a G.
:wink:
Our Midlands rep purchased a 290GTD from Germany and he did not pay any VAT because it was over 6 months old but the German owner had it for 2 years so I guess the 16% German tax had already been paid.
The left hooker bit worries me slightly. I keep hearing that it is not a problem unless you are in car parks etc. In any event it seems to me that if you want a newish G you have no alternative. There are a few right hookers about but people are asking silly money.
well you just missed the 92 300 gel for a little over £5k on ebay. Not such a mad price. Like I said test drive first and if its a left hooker then look at www.autoscout24.de on a regular basis and bring one back. There are only about 10 290 461 TD RHD in the uk so the likely hood of coming across one of them is the same as finding a chocolate fire guard, very slim. What is your budget?????. My betting left hookers are cheaper over here for the reasons you state. Car parks, no problem get a litter picker for about £10.00 you can push butons and pick out the ticket :wink: If you need directions its easier in a lefty.
There is NO problem in driving a Left Hooker at all - i've had more problems with the height than anything else - ticket machine? yeah either buy a "picker" or you could just lean over and grab it......
My G was the 1st (and only) LHD i have driven and by the time i got her home i'd gotten used to driving it with no probs at all - IMO i think if we were talking about LHD 2 seater sports cars then i think it would be a bit more of an issue but because you can see everything in the G because you are so high up it's no probs.
Dan don't let the LHD thing bog you down too much everyone i spoke to took a shap intake of breath shook their head and all that but most of these people had never driven a left hooker before, have a go see what you think, you'll be surprised....
That's what I thought. I never go to car parks anyway. I have been looking on Scout24 and mobile.de which is very good.
Thanks for the advice. I have posted on the GEL that went for 5,200. I think that was really cheap for what it is.
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I am looking at 463 models it is just the choice of engine. Depending on longevity I am still tempted by the 500. I was in Germany a couple of weeks ago and watched, rather heard, one drive off a car park. It sounded amazing. Anther factor is that it will be difficult to get a 463 270 with the pre 2001 AMG interior and no computer, which I also understand it a source of problems.
My first choice was a 400 but I understand that they have problems. I am inclined towards the 500 unless a 500 owner tells me that it is a mistake and they are having problems.
My 280GES is 150 bhp and the 300 is 177, not much more and if I get a lwb it will be heavier and probably about the same speed. So, whilst overpowered and expensive to run, the 500 will give me what I want. I am also intending on keeping the 280 as it represents a considerable investment in my time ‘tinkering’ with it.
Thanks for the imput. More would be greatly appreciated.