94 G Wagon vs 94 FZJ80
- Thread starter rtarh2o
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Not really. There is a video of that one that was flopped on the side. The little berm in the background was what he was driving over. Got a little too high on the left side and .... flop! it went over.
Let me know if you want to see the Youtube version.
-B-
I love the Gwagens.. next to Cruisers they are my favorite rigs... Diesel ofcourse....
Mercedes has come out with some firsts..... now the Gwagen was not a first.... and if i remember it was made for an arab oil tycoon... or something like that.....
Everyone knows about the Mogs..... But everyone does not know that Mercedes is the first to come out with a production vehicle that was the first 4x4 with a transfercase in 1906, Mercedes came out with the very first 4x4 with all wheel steering in 1907. Mercedes saw the potential in Dr Diesels invention and used it.... which i thought was cool because when Dr Diesel was trying to sale his invention... not even the german government wanted anything to do with it.
Mercedes has come out with some firsts..... now the Gwagen was not a first.... and if i remember it was made for an arab oil tycoon... or something like that.....
Everyone knows about the Mogs..... But everyone does not know that Mercedes is the first to come out with a production vehicle that was the first 4x4 with a transfercase in 1906, Mercedes came out with the very first 4x4 with all wheel steering in 1907. Mercedes saw the potential in Dr Diesels invention and used it.... which i thought was cool because when Dr Diesel was trying to sale his invention... not even the german government wanted anything to do with it.
Yes, the engine is hand-built by a single AMG tech, and there are a number of other minor driveline, body, and interior changes. AMG used to be an independent Mercedes tuner, but was brought in-house in the `90s, and is now the racing and high performance division of Daimler Benz, sort of like the Motorsports ("M") division at BMW.
interesting you say that. how much body damage did it get?
I'm working on a theory that the "boxy look" may actually be a safety feature in that IF you lay it over, the whole side absorbs the fall. Irregularity's, naturally, would receive the total weight and cause a concentration at the spot and cause more damage.
just a thought....
Having actually wheeled both trucks, I would say that the 80 is no harder to lay over than a G (though I haven't rolled either one, even on trails like Rubicon, Fordyce, etc.). IMHO, Youtube is not empirical evidence of anything...
The Shah of Iran in the 1970s. He was a major stockholder in Daimler-Benz AG. But then he got deposed and the revolutionary government canceled the order, so DBAG turned around and sold it to NATO countries and others, as well as civilians. Currently operated by the military forces of more than 60 countries, including the U.S. You see them all over Iraq driven by USMC and the Canadians (our northern cousins have roof turrets and M240 machine guns mounted <drool>).
Possible, but I think it's more for ease of manufacture and repair, sort of like older Land Rovers (Defenders and Series trucks). With straight panels, you don't even necessarily need to get a replacement panel, just cut and weld with new/scrap sheet metal. Plus, much easier to bolt stuff to the body with straight panels. Remember, these things are designed to be totally field-maintainable (at least the 460/461 trucks with diesel engines). On the worker and military trucks, they even put big drain plugs in the cab so that you can drain the water when you ford a river or just need to hose out the mud in the interior!
Here is another little FYI.
The axle housing may be smaller externally, but the axle designs are extremely similar (at least on the fronts) and I can't tell any difference in the size of the axle shafts and birfs, after rebuilding the front axles on my 80 and both (W460) Gs.
I did not see the vehicle in person. The guy that was there said the right side mirror was busted and the right rear quarter panel. Someone else guessed $5000 in damages. I have no idea.
Derek,
Don't get me wrong, I really like the G and would love to have one. They are exceptionally cool. My post was in response to the guy that said they are hard to flop. This one went over pretty easy. Maybe they have a higher COG than an 80?
-B-
I don't know, he looked pretty high up on that berm, maybe as much as three feet, and there was a dip on the passenger side that he came down into at the same time. Looks like just poor line selection to me, and probably too much speed. Can't tell, but he may have even hit the brakes at the last minute, which would have made the problem worse.
80s do have a bit flexier suspension, though, which may have helped in that situation. Who knows?
edit: I should have said "a bit flexier out of the box". Once you get to the aftermarket, believe me, all bets are off.
80s do have a bit flexier suspension, though, which may have helped in that situation. Who knows?
edit: I should have said "a bit flexier out of the box". Once you get to the aftermarket, believe me, all bets are off.
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Yes, both poor line and too much speed. The driver was inexperienced and it was a manual tranny. I think he could have had a better spot but the driver has the final responsibility and if he didn't like the line then he has to stop and assess the situation. Things happened pretty fast in that video though.
-B-
I would get one when I pay off my mortgage and getting my wife a M5. I will stay put with my 80 now. Go for it, you only live once!!!!
It's so rare I don't see how you can lose. Good pickup-way cool!
You might find a MUD member willing to drive it home for you.
- Thread starter
- #56
Finally here!
Got the G350DT today, finally came in after a couple months of going back and forth and negotiating it is finally here.
Compared to the Land Cruiser the G seems a little more utilitarian, not in a bad way, but you can tell it was made for a specific purpose then adapted to civilian use. The Toyota on the other hand feels more car like, it is even softer and smoother in stock form. The ride of the G is about the same as my 6.2 diesel FZJ80 after I installed the OME springs. The G has better rear seat room, the visibility in all directions is better than probably any vehicle I have ever driven. The G feels smaller but is actually feels roomier inside due to the extremely high roof, tons of headroom. Drivers position is more upright, and it seems like you are really looking down on the road in front of you.
As far as on the road, the 3.5 liter turbo diesel (with intercooler) is very comparable to the stock 1FZE of my old 94. I think this engine with the intercooler is supposed to be around 165 hp, not bad for a 3.5 diesel. There has been talk on the diesel forum about the mercedes diesels not being adequate for an 80, I tend to believe it would work after driving this one. (I am going to post more about it there)
Not sure which I like better yet, the verdict is still out since I only have about 15 minutes driving time on the G right now. After I get it licensed Monday I will get serious about driving it.
In a couple weeks I will have my 97 FZJ80 running and will able to give a better impression, I will even post some side by side pictures.
Rusty
Rusty
Got the G350DT today, finally came in after a couple months of going back and forth and negotiating it is finally here.
Compared to the Land Cruiser the G seems a little more utilitarian, not in a bad way, but you can tell it was made for a specific purpose then adapted to civilian use. The Toyota on the other hand feels more car like, it is even softer and smoother in stock form. The ride of the G is about the same as my 6.2 diesel FZJ80 after I installed the OME springs. The G has better rear seat room, the visibility in all directions is better than probably any vehicle I have ever driven. The G feels smaller but is actually feels roomier inside due to the extremely high roof, tons of headroom. Drivers position is more upright, and it seems like you are really looking down on the road in front of you.
As far as on the road, the 3.5 liter turbo diesel (with intercooler) is very comparable to the stock 1FZE of my old 94. I think this engine with the intercooler is supposed to be around 165 hp, not bad for a 3.5 diesel. There has been talk on the diesel forum about the mercedes diesels not being adequate for an 80, I tend to believe it would work after driving this one. (I am going to post more about it there)
Not sure which I like better yet, the verdict is still out since I only have about 15 minutes driving time on the G right now. After I get it licensed Monday I will get serious about driving it.
In a couple weeks I will have my 97 FZJ80 running and will able to give a better impression, I will even post some side by side pictures.
Rusty
Rusty
pics pics pics!
does it have the super cool plaid interior?
does it have the super cool plaid interior?
give us some feedback after a few months!
Congrats on a cool truck.
Congrats on a cool truck.
- Thread starter
- #60
It has a cloth interior, the later models (463) came with a slightly better cloth, not the ugly plaid (I had a link to some good pictures earlier in this thread) It is not great but I can live with it until I decide what to do. I am considering a color change somewhere down the road and with it will come an interior change as well. I plan to drive it stock for about 6 months to get all the bugs worked out then decide if I like it twice as much as the Land Cruiser (it cost me twice as much) Right now I would say it is about even as far as which one I like. I definitely like the comfort of my 97 FJJ80 better but the Mercedes is as nice as my 94 FZJ80 was. If I could find a 97 80 with the a diesel I would probably prefer it but that is about as hard to find as the G diesel is in this country. I told myself a couple years ago that if I could find a Land Cruiser or G Wagon diesel for under $20.000 I would buy it. I gave up on that about a year ago and converted my 94 to the 6.2 diesel then along came this G! The engines are night and day different. The 6.2 feels like a big V-8, loud, tons or torque, transforms the Land Cruiser into a real beast. The Mercedes diesel on the other hand is very refined, feels like a gas engine, likes to rev and is quiet. I like both in their own way but as a daily driver I think I will like the Mercedes much better (I won't have to turn the engine off at drive thru windows). The main reason for the Mercedes is the fact I am running WVO, the Mercedes engine is the ultimate engine for that (the 1HD-T isn't as good) For just plain fun though the Land Cruiser with the 6.2 would win. Be nice to have both!
Soon though I will have my 97 running again in stock form and will be able to make a much better comparison.
Will post pics and more information later.
Rusty
Soon though I will have my 97 running again in stock form and will be able to make a much better comparison.
Will post pics and more information later.
Rusty