G55 Daily Driver/How does it fare in the city?

[ivanj]

Originally Posted by LETO The point being? My friends, being Managing Directors of UK Companies, get their choice of vehicle for free as part of their compensation package, as you no doubt know. They no longer choose to use top of the line or any kind of Range Rover because they are so unreliable on the road or the field. Any other questions? BTW there are some 26" rims for your latest RR so you can put 20 series tires on them and really ride in luxurious style.

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[LETO]

Originally Posted by ivanj

My friends, being Managing Directors of UK Companies, get their choice of vehicle for free as part of their compensation package, as you no doubt know.

They no longer choose to use top of the line or any kind of Range Rover because they are so unreliable on the road or the field.

Any other questions?

BTW there are some 26" rims for your latest RR so you can put 20 series tires on them and really ride in luxurious style.

Well it is nice to know that you are so influenced by your friends

But what I fail to understand is where you think putting 26" rims on anything is a valid thought.

Unless you were attempting to be rude/sarcastic in which case the point is not really taken.

I wasn't trying to sell him a RR but just suggesting it as an option. As you can see my profile dosen't show any land rovers in my garage.

I do not have the time to off road much any more. Hence I no longer have a G. The S550 4-matic tackles whatever snow we get quite well.

I personally do not see the point in purchasing a G if one does not have any off road needs.

[ivanj]

Originally Posted by LETO

Well it is nice to know that you are so influenced by your friends

But what I fail to understand is where you think putting 26" rims on anything is a valid thought.

Unless you were attempting to be rude/sarcastic in which case the point is not really taken. NNeither - a feeble attempt at humor - the people who live around here who have Cayennes and RRs are alway putting huge diameter ridiculous chrome wheels on these trucks.

I wasn't trying to sell him a RR but just suggesting it as an option. As you can see my profile dosen't show any land rovers in my garage.

I do not have the time to off road much any more. Hence I no longer have a G. The S550 4-matic tackles whatever snow we get quite well.

I personally do not see the point in purchasing a G if one does not have any off road needs.

Obviously you make some good points in your last note. Even though there is a RR dealer in my town given feedback and personal experience from the other side of the pond and here I decided against one and bought a used G500. I bought the G because of its winter, off road capability and narrow track for back roads. I prefer not to drive my CL55 in heavy snow because of the salt and sand and the lack of other driver's skills or judgement.

I am looking forward to drive a G55.

Other friends who live probably not far from you have a recent S550 4-matic and feel its winter capability with proper tires fits their needs also.

It's great we still have choices.

[LETO]

it really is nice to have a lot of choice.

In the 90's at least in the US if one wanted a high end winter capable vehicle, the RR was the only choice. The audi A8 was the only euro luxury sedan that was available for a while. With the advent of MB's 4-matic and BMW's X-drive (though not that great in snow) the choices have increased for the better.

The G55's accelleration is stupid fun. There something so wrong about the existance & behaviour of the thing that it is ridicultous childish fun. As for off road use, the extra power is kinda useless compared to a already capable 550.

The ride is also very harsh and there has been a lot of talk about suspension mods on forums to better that situation.

Going back to the question in the post, the G is not exactly something that qualifies as a family hauler. Neither is it best suited to constantly ram up against broken pavements in cities like NYC. Sure it is possible to use the G for the aforementioned tasks, but it is better to know what to expect.

[AGR]

Originally Posted by LETO

but it is better to know what to expect.

Please explain.

[LETO]

Originally Posted by AGR

Please explain.

I am referring to the shortcomings of the G that I discuss in my previous posts on this thread.
Owning a G55, I am sure you would acknowledge that:

1. For a 100k+ car the back seat bench could be more comfortable. They could use an armrest for sure.

2. The car is deceptively narrow and the cargo volume is greater vertically

3. The shudder thru the steering wheel is a bit painful when you hit potholes

4. It does require a heavy pedal to maintain highway speeds just due to aerodynamics

5. The outward swinging trunk door is heavy and not the easiest to handle with a hand full of stuff

These are all quite unexpected and only noticed upon ownership.

[TheDogsCar]

Originally Posted by LETO

5. The outward swinging trunk door is heavy and not the easiest to handle with a hand full of stuff

Personally, I think the G55 is the best all around vehicle ... you can haul lumber, and haul ass ... but you are right, the storage does seem taller than long

... and your door observation is spot on. Almost every person who got in my G would pull the door shut, but being heavy and with a mechanical latch, would never shut all the way ... I would have to tell them to "slam the door" ... which is something you no longer have to do with any other car ... and especially a $120K luxury car

[jimmyg]

I would agree with you if it weren't for the fact that the G-Class was designed to be a world-class off-roader which could also be comfortably driven on-road. Anyone who buys one should keep that in mind. It may cost $120k, but it's still a 30-year old design of a military vehicle.

I don't think the compromises one makes when buying the G55 are that dissimilar to most other exotic cars...and the joy of owning one ranks right up there! I could come up with a similar list of complaints about my Aston, and the same can be true for anyone owning specialist vehicles. The G55 is not a mass produced luxury vehicle like the Range Rover, or S-Class, etc. It's a largely hand-built, low volume specialized vehicle with unique capabilities and a certain number of limitations as a result. It shouldn't be mistaken for your typical SUV...that would be like complaining about the luggage carrying capacity of a Ferrari.

[ivanj]

I think jimmyg sums the G class up eloquently in the context of the above posts.

[LETO]

It shouldn't be mistaken for your typical SUV...that would be like complaining about the luggage carrying capacity of a Ferrari.[/quote]


Unfortunately, here in the US it is often mistaken by people for a typical SUV at the time of purchase.

[princemarko]

Buy the G55 if you:

1. Want an exotic car that turns heads
2. Love the rumble of the supercharged V8 with factory straight pipes
3. Like the fact that the G55 defies physics
4. Unquestioned reliability/safety
5. Secure in the fact that no road/scenerio would prevent you from driving thru it.
6. Understands the difference between overall character and just styling

Do NOT buy the G55 if you:

1. Think that its a comfortable ride
2. Think that its the most luxurious SUV(Get the R63 for that)
3. Anything to do with fuel economy

[RBYCC]

Originally Posted by princemarko

Buy the G55 if you:

1. Want an exotic car that turns heads
2. Love the rumble of the supercharged V8 with factory straight pipes
3. Like the fact that the G55 defies physics
4. Unquestioned reliability/safety
5. Secure in the fact that no road/scenerio would prevent you from driving thru it.
6. Understands the difference between overall character and just styling

Do NOT buy the G55 if you:

1. Think that its a comfortable ride
2. Think that its the most luxurious SUV(Get the R63 for that)
3. Anything to do with fuel economy

[hovyamg]

I don't get people saying the G is jumpy like a truck. Put your ass in a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, that's jumpy.

The G55 is extremely comfortable to me. Damps like a sport car and accelerates faster than 90% of the car on the road.

The G is the ONLY SUV I will own. No other SUV comes close to it, none.