Diesel G 463 for the US
 

Hi All:

Well it seems that the survey we presented to Mercedes in Graz at the 30th anniversary and the one to MBUSA has done some good. I received a phone call from MBUSA. They said that there is a good possibility that we will get a diesel G for the US market. We need your input to help MBUSA understand what we want. They have said they are working on a 463 Diesel. So most likely it will be a Bluetec. Forget the 461 it's not in the cards. To keep the price point down they are considering selling a base 463 diesel G that you customize yourself.

Please fill out the survey, that Drew put together so that we can pass along our diesel desires.

http://web.mac.com/drewplatt/Gelandewagen/Survey_2.0.html

Thanks Drew and Mark

My girlfriend really wants one in the next two years or so, so we both filled it out. Hopefully less equippement and lower price will come as part of the deal. $50-$60k is the budget when the lease on the A4 is up.

I just filled out the survey.


I really do hope that they bring over at least a nicely equipped LWB G350 CDI (Have nice interiors with some luxury's to keep the price lower but ensure that you can still outfit it to the G550 standard.)

Thanks!
 

Thank y'all very much!

Air/Con , Cruise , S'Roof .'Needs nothing else!

Keep your fingers crossed. I continue to receive calls from them and I told them that I was putting together a "what I want on my diesel G" survey. The last survey yielded 259 people. That was partially why MBUSA got interested.

Thanks
Mark

I think we should all pitch in to ensure that this survey yields even more submissions. (Whether or not we feel that a diesel G is good OR bad idea)

CD player, manual windows, manual seats?

B100/Diesel fuel engine.Manual Trans,manual locking hubs true 4 wheel drive,AM/FM/Surius,Manual windows,full size spare,winch,AC/Heat,ladder and cargo carrier.Sunroof and snorkel.

Ain't gonna be no "manual trans." Count on it.

The V6 diesel is not fitted to a manual trans in ANY Mercedes model.

How do you feel the performance is in your GL320CDI? The model of G that Mercedes is proposing to bring in will have basically the same engine and the two trucks weigh about the same.

The performance is way more than adequate.

The price of any G350CDI is NOT going to "reasonable," however.

In March, 2010, MBUSA sold 62 G-class and 1881 GL-class.
http://www.emercedesbenz.com/autos/mercedes-benz/corporate-news/mbusa-sales-up-28-3-in-march-2010/

One of the major reasons the price of the G-class is high is to recover the cost of EPA certification required to be legal to sell in the USA. I'd be pretty sure a new certification would be required, as the drivetrains have to be identical for a certification to be good for more than one vehicle. In the UK, for example, what we call the GL "offroad package" is standard equipment on all models, while in the USA it's only been available in one model, i.e. the GL450. This simply because of the cost of EPA certification.

As for recovering cost of EPA certification, note that MBUSA has shown more willingness to import an AMG E-class station wagon than a diesel-powered E-class station wagon and it's obvious the reason is the price can cover it.

The price of any USA-spec G350CDI will without doubt cover the cost of EPA certification, and at < 100 units per month that cost will be pretty high.

I wouldn't hold my breath.