G with Diesel and Airbags?

[BearHammerMountain]

Hi guys, I'm sneaking in here all stealth-like from Defender land... don't tell.

Quick question. For daily driving with school car pool (with other people's kids) I need Airbags (bye bye Defender) but the mpg of the newer Gs scare me. Is it possible to get an older (1990s?) with both airbags and diesel (300TD)?

Sorry if it's a stupid question, I'm new to the benz world.

 

[merctaf]

I don't know. I drive a 2003 G500 and it only has driver and passenger airbags. My wife's 2011 G550 has airbags all over. I don't know when Mercedes started making changes to the g wagon's airbags.

Btw, are you selling your Defender?

 

[ILIAN]

You won't find an older diesel G with airbags all over. They only have 2 for the front passagers.

 

[BearHammerMountain]

Thanks, I'll keep researching. I'm gonna hold on to the rovers that I have for now. But at some point I have to to let them lose. I somehow have four of them. Not healthy.

 

[BearHammerMountain]

Oh, just saw your reply Ilian. Thanks, that makes the decision a bit easier. New RR Diesel or a 2012 G550 petrol. We shall see.

 

[ILIAN]

If you can afford those cars gas shouldn't be a problem. Just don't forget they need 91 octane. Gas is cheap now.

 

[BearHammerMountain]

I hear what you're saying about the gas but when the RR Diesel (according to LR) get 24 mpg combined you start to ponder. I wish I could get the G 300 CDI Diesel...no, not in the US? Starting to sounds like the Defender world...

 

[comptiger5000]

They sell so few Gs in the US already, it's not worth the cost for them to get another drivetrain certified for emissions, etc.

 

[Jwestpro]

I hear what you're saying about the gas but when the RR Diesel (according to LR) get 24 mpg combined you start to ponder. I wish I could get the G 300 CDI Diesel...no, not in the US? Starting to sounds like the Defender world...

I watched a driving review where they got 30 on the hwy no problem. My guess is that if you "try", it will do quite well. Remember, it's a lot lighter now too which will help with in town mpg.

I love the G, but if it's purely about safety inside regarding airbags, I don't think there's really any comparison between any of the current RR, LR4, Toyota Land Cruiser, LX 570 vs a new G because the G still does not have side torso airbags in the 2nd row or any front knee airbags. The G has 6 air bags (front dash both sides, curtain covering 1st and 2nd row windows, and front side torso. It's also a bit snug for 3 people across the 2nd row where the others I listed all have more width for 3 people. The Land Cruiser/LX has so-so 3rd row space with the LR4 having 3rd row for even tall adults.

The LC/LX, LR4 all have side curtain into the 3rd row area. The LC/LX both have 2nd row side torso for a total of 10.

If I were looking to get something for hauling kids/people, it would be the LR4 unless never more than 4 people. For overall safety including body structure design in rollover or any type of civilian world impacts, it would be either the modern designs. The Mercedes GL has a huge amount of space for all 3 rows but I didn't list it because I don't consider it up to par on the off road capability assuming that mattered for you

I like to remind people, including myself, that a large factor in the "safety" equation is also avoidance and my experience in solid axle vehicles vs the ones I listed, the modern vehicles are much quicker to maneuver in an emergency.

 

[DUTCH]

They sell so few Gs in the US already, it's not worth the cost for them to get another drivetrain certified for emissions, etc.

They sell every high margin luxury equipped V8 and turbo they import. They feel that they don't need to bother with a lower margin less than luxury equipped diesel.

 

[BearHammerMountain]

The LR4 is the sensible choice no doubt. I've had a Disco1, II and LR4 before. A great daily driver AND overland/camping platform.

BUT, as someone said; don't cloud the dream with logic and reason. The LR4 is the grown-up choice, but the G is awesome. Or dare I say: a Defender with airbags…

 

[Jwestpro]

BUT, as someone said; don't cloud the dream with logic and reason.

Nobody said that, not in this thread anyway. Maybe emotion is clouding your vision to the true happy place?

I think it comes down to being more about how many people and junk you want to haul at one time. Even if it doesn't for you, this comes to mind: If you are in the market for a $115,000 G550, then you could also consider custom D110 work to turn it into the real "dream" and not just a half baked compromise which I think the G could actually end up being regardless of how nice it is.

I think some people get hung up on airbags though too. I have a race car driver instructor friend who asked me once if I thought I'd enjoy being hit in the face by a sack of potatoes at 100mph ...? Kind of a way to look at airbags. Too many people think it will save the day but think about the short person who looks like they're about to "eat" the steering wheel while driving. They aren't going to fair too well in an airbag explosion.

Proper use of the restraint system is one area many people seem slack about with it set way up too high, too loose, etc.

Disclaimer: comfort for travel with passengers is important to me so my BMW 535 wagon has rear seat side airbags as well as head curtain and really comfortable seats with great map lights, thorough seat heaters, and lots of leg room

 

[BearHammerMountain]

Except for my first Disco I (which came from a no-touch/no-try auction) I've had a solid experience buying my Rovers CPO. In SWFL especially, there are plenty of low-milage snowbird ex-leases to choose from. Although I'm incredibly attracted to the RR diesel for the MPG, I don't like the look of the new ones. I like em boxy and utilitarian. Hence my love affair with Defenders.

I've seen 2012 CPO Gs in the low $70s range. I would like it even lower. We'll see. I saw a separate thread about buying a used G. I'll chime in over there and see how the hunt is going.

Why do you think a G is a "half-baked compromise" btw?

 

[Jwestpro]

I've seen 2012 CPO Gs in the low $70s range. I would like it even lower. We'll see. I saw a separate thread about buying a used G. I'll chime in over there and see how the hunt is going.

Why do you think a G is a "half-baked compromise" btw?

It just sounded to me like you ideally wanted more space inside. Otherwise I prefer the recent G's over the older Defenders we're able to have here.

2012 G550 in $70+ range is the norm on autotrader right now

EDIT:

Why 2012? You may not care but 2009-2012 NAS G did NOT come with a factory welded towing receiver. It's on every G up to 2008 then again from 2013+. There IS an aftermarket kit made of factory parts but it's in the $900 range or more plus it has to be welded on.

2013 is also the first year of the current dash and interior trim layout with window controls in different arrangement and very different dash. 2009-2012 is the same dash and beginning of the ventilated seats.

 

[BearHammerMountain]

No reason at all. I did notice the new dash/screen on the 2013 and with the towing receiver (need that) it sounds like another reason to wait for a 2013 lease release. Or look for an 2008 and older.