Speaking of G wagons
This is the one I’d like to have. No frills, Mercedes’ excellent 5 cylinder diesel, tough as nails. Good luck getting that titled and licensed in the States!! Outside of a Gwagon, this is the only other Mercedes I’ve ever wanted. I’ve seen one pull a hummer sideways through waist deep mud. I’d have to have the money and the place where it would be useful, though, and at present I do not.
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Got to love the Unimog!
On the ‘titled and licensed’, son told me that in Germany Ford Rangers can get a 3rd gen diesel engine: great power & torque and about 30mpg city. But we can’t get that motor here becuase “It’s a nasty diesel!”
bastards.
I’ve always liked the Volvo Laplander/202/303 family. When the Swiss were selling them off as surplus a few ended up around DFW. Simple to fix (mostly because they don’t break), relatively light, 202 has a 4 cylinder that is capable of 20mpg. What’s not to love?
Sure beats my ’72 VW Westfalia.
Unimogs are a whole ‘nother level of goodness. Not fast, not comfortable to run down the highway, but if I needed to tote something into the swamp…
Pinzgauers are just weird. Some guy I met in Arkansas was bringing milsupr Pinzgauers in and selling them to rice farmers for utility trucks. More versatile than a JD Gator or Polaris for about the same money, but I can’t imagine getting parts for it would be anything but a nightmare.
On the diesel note, I have heard that 4Runner are sold overseas with a 4 banger diesel that lets them get mid 20’s. You can also get the diesel front clip on E-Bay, just for about twice what the vehicle is worth. Not sure it would be worth it to make one, but still is in the like to have area.
All the overseas major mfg have serious diesels that they can’t sell here. There also build a lot of vehicles that we can’t have as well. When I was in Taiwan, I saw a Mitsibushi diesel powered 4×4 van that they sold there. I was told it was the only thing to have if you lived in the mountains there.
It’d sure be nice if the EPA were reined in so we could get efficient little diesels back in this country.
More like the Mazda B2000 with the Perkins diesel, less like the Ford Escort diesel.
Got an Austrian buddy who owns a Unimog. Taking that up the logging roads to the hermit who sells hard apple cider was the bomb. Especially the trip back down!
I’ve actually see a couple of the early ones here, before they got all pimped with leather and stuff – I think it was an ’87-’89 or so.
Sooo, should I buy it, for my 4×4 rig on the ranch?
What I like is the Suzuki Carry 4×4. It’s a Kei truck, so you can’t license it here, but you can use it for off-road purposes. Ever since I saw them in the Philippines, I’ve wanted one.
It occurred to me that you could get a Samurai frame and put the Carry body on it; that would let you license it in the US and then you’d have a really unique vehicle.
yeah, I saw the Carry at Dibneyland, they use them to bring luggage from the airports to the resorts. Way cool, but I’d probably have to wear it.
The one in Zeiram- ever see that? is the neatest one I’ve seen, but I don’t think it was a zuke.
mr Dennis: If you did, if you got a good one and took care of it, it would be the last ranch vehicle you bought, possible for two or three generations.
Loved the Mog… and we converted them to what we called a “Buffel” (Buffalo) and in fact it is the grandaddy of the Buffalo now being used in Iraq/Afganistan.
http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product1080.html
Ugly as sin but saved many a troopie from being blown to kindom come by landmines and IED’s.
I’ve had two Suzuki’s. Love them, but the body parts start getting kind of frail after we try bull dogging the wild turkey’s in it! Really like the looks of this Merc. Wonder if I could get it bought and over here for under 3 grand? Would I have trouble getting it shipped. If I only knew it would be no big deal Id go for it. Never dealt with any of this before.
Mr Dennis, they want a big old wad of cash for them even when they’re wrecks, and I’ve seen beat up ones selling for 20k. Sometime, I think, the prioe will go down, but I doubt it will be soon.
Like the ‘Mog? Buy a milsurp Deuce and “bob” it into a shorty 4X4.
Just Google up “bobbed Deuce”.
Decent Deuce is $5-7K, bob kit less than a thou, work maybe $2K. Not easy on fuel with that LDT 465 Hercules in it, and the tranny is straight-cut crashbox style, but YES, you can go anywhere you damn well please.
Love the deuces. Never drove one but rode in one.
Road Raced deuces in a North Carolina forest. Some exercise I can’t remember the name of. All dust and Rat Patrol with the glass down and kerchiefs on. Was passing a guy when we both came to a one lane bridge.
Guy behind said he was amazed when we both crammed together with our outside tires hanging off the edge. That brought us to our senses for a while.