Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Mercedes used to have very long model life cycles but modern constraints forced them to shorten them, a decade or two was the norm for awhile. They didn't feel the need to change a good design all of the time.
The only vehicle they still make that sticks a big middle finger up at everything modern is the G wagon. It has not changed since the 70's.
I love it, the windshield is too vertical, the doors thunk like a safe, the door locks sound like a rifle bolt, and it burns fuel like its free. Its a hand made chunk of the 1970's that's built to last forever and be repaired, a big middle finger to disposable vehicles.
The reason why MB faltered in the late 90s and on is because they caved to marketing folks in the company, when they should have listened to what their loyal customers wanted, which were the tank like vehicles which gave them their success to begin with. Vehicles built like tanks, with excellent durability, reliability and made to be serviced and repaired fairly easily.
The G Wagen is a remnant of that era which included the W123 as well.
I personally do NOT like the tarted up version of the G Wagen peddled to mainstream consumer today, I believe you can order
a version that leaves off the more recent undesirable extras it is called the NATO version, which is also used by the Bundeswher as well.
Mercedes used to have very long model life cycles but modern constraints forced them to shorten them, a decade or two was the norm for awhile. They didn't feel the need to change a good design all of the time.
The only vehicle they still make that sticks a big middle finger up at everything modern is the G wagon. It has not changed since the 70's.
I love it, the windshield is too vertical, the doors thunk like a safe, the door locks sound like a rifle bolt, and it burns fuel like its free. Its a hand made chunk of the 1970's that's built to last forever and be repaired, a big middle finger to disposable vehicles.
The reason why MB faltered in the late 90s and on is because they caved to marketing folks in the company, when they should have listened to what their loyal customers wanted, which were the tank like vehicles which gave them their success to begin with. Vehicles built like tanks, with excellent durability, reliability and made to be serviced and repaired fairly easily.
The G Wagen is a remnant of that era which included the W123 as well.
I personally do NOT like the tarted up version of the G Wagen peddled to mainstream consumer today, I believe you can order
a version that leaves off the more recent undesirable extras it is called the NATO version, which is also used by the Bundeswher as well.