clubgwagen.com

Well if you have been tuning in, you may have caught previous thread about the no-go tow abilities of the new Gwagens.
To confirm, I was offered the chance to inspect a new G up close and take some photos from beneath.

Special thanks to Bruce at Eldorado Hills MBUSA dealer for allowing me access to photo the car like this.
He also gave me the book that MBUSA just sent to dealers which gives all the spec info for the G, ML, R, and GL

1. The fuel tank is now a different shape, still ABS composite, and is slightly bigger in capacity. The new tanks are 25.4 gal + 5.3 reserve

2. There is a HUGE skidplate behind and slightly below the trailing edge of the fuel tank in the back of the car....it hangs down VERY LOW
Surely this is not good for offroading!

3. The chassis has been changed in the rear of the car, with some different mountings for the tank, but most importantly, there is no place for hooking up a trailer hitch. So it is confirmed, the hitch plate is NOT HIDING BENEATH THE SKIDPLATE....IT IS GONE!

4. So can you tow at all?? No!

In the book for the dealers from MBUSA, it states all the towing information for the GL, R, and ML but in the same area, there is no towing for the G. In the model specific spec sections, each has a section for tow capacities, the G has this content removed.

So there you have it, there is no towing possible for new 2009- Gwagens in the USA.

See photos.....

5. Wheels.....The wheels on the G550 are still 18" not 19" The brakes are still smaller.....only the G55 gets the big brakes and big wheels.
G550 brakes are 12.3 front dia, 10.7 rear while the G55 has the big 13.8" front and 13.2" rear rotors

6. Transmissions: Only the G550 gets the 7 speed automatic, while the G55 retains the old 5 speed we all know well.

Ok see pictures!

Here is the rear of my G500 for comparison, you can see easily how much more of the diff you can see, meaning, everything is tucked in a lot better on these pre-2009s

All I can say is "Idiots!"

Jonathan

x2, what has happened to the G? I say it's a sell out for a mall cruiser vehicle... not like we already have enough of those.

Well you can give MBUSA some credit, they could have just used it as a reason to discontinue the car. Graz wants the volume, so they were willing to make a special chassis configuration just for the USA cars......


and what's more is that remember the SIPS discussion 2 weeks ago? Well that is dealt with too, there are now airbags in the driver and passenger doors.

Window Curtain Airbags (new): In a side impact exceeding a preset deployment threshold, a multichamber air bag deploys along the front and the rear side door windows, only on the affected side of the vehicle....

I did not figure out how that turns off in the back, or if it does, for child safety.

"new G class has 6 way protection with a 4 air bag system" - MBUSA tech docs

That's cool but I already have two airbags in my old 460.

They're names are Jack and Niko.

Deployment is spontaneous and only from the back seat. Sometimes kind of loud and stinky.

So Steve if they fart seconds before an accident and you open your window and hang your head out, does that significantly reduce the likelihood of injury?
As a testament to their reaction time mine has vomited on my lap so fast I haven't had time to pull over!

Oh wait...are Jack and Niko your kids? I thought you were talking about dogs....sorry. Mine is always in the back seat causing trouble, or worse in the front.

Wow! Less than one-half (maybe one-third??) of a wheel height of ground clearance. And no hitch. The end of the NA G is near!!!

To me the tank itself didn't seem much different but the guard certainly uses a lot of space.

I closely checked out all of this too on the one we had overnight - the reason for overnight to the dealer "so she can get a feel for it" but honestly, it was to measure everything and test fit my arb fridge and some other things as well as ride in it long enough to determine long trip seat comfort and ergonomics.

Why does your spare not match the tires on the ground?

Looks like the G55 is the best selection to have. I like the new large fuel tank for my diesel G. Not sure it will fit
earlier G tho.

Why the rear carpet chrome thing has AMG badging? I thought G550 is not an AMG model.