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Any experience with MB G500?

halik

halik

Lifer
Thinking about selling the 911 and getting something bigger with towing capacity (fingers crossed for a boat next season). Does anyone have any experience with the Gelaendewagen here?

From what I gather the newer generation doesn't have the same rusting issues as the previous (galvanized body) and the drivetrain is the standard 5L V8 / 5 speed auto that mercedes put into just about everything.
 
How big is the boat? How far are you towing it? How many times per year are you realistically going to be taking it out?


Generally you are much MUCH better off buying a multi-purpose beater pickup or renting a van to tow it.

I wouldn't want to get off a lake, fishing, swimming, with kids and drunk friends, and have everyone pile into a G500.

Most people who buy boats use them a lot the first year, not so much the second year, and rarely from then on out. I really wouldn't sell a 911 just to tow a boat.
 
NutBucket said:
How big is the boat? Unless you need off road ability I'd rather have a Cayenne, X5 or Q7.
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Shooting for like 25ft. I live like mile off downtown Chicago, so having a beater SUV really isn't an option space-wise, we're lucky enough to have a 2 car garage. Plus we've been doing mad Home Depot runs lately trying to get the townhouse sorted up, so carry capacity is a plus. Like 2 weeks back I had a freaking prehung door in the back of our A4 Cabrio....

The thing with the G wagen is I won't lose my ass to depreciation - they bottom out at $20K for 150+K mile ones. The 80s gray market imports are backstopping the market in the teens to 20s (but again rust issues). I can pick up a clean example with like 50-60K for mid to low $30s.

With a Cayenne/Q5 or similar I would be looking at like 40% residual if even. Cayennes especially depreciate like crazy.
 
SpatiallyAware said:
Chicago?


And a boat?


Dude. Find a good boat rental place. I have buddies who are involved in basically timeshare things.
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I have several coworkers that do the time share, it's not worth it. All the good times get booked up immediately and the cost is far higher than buying a cheap bowrider outright.
 
As the caretaker of a speed boat I would suggest the following:

1) Look into renting dock space or a mooring pin. It sucks to have to launch and recover every time you want to go boating.

2) Consider renting/borrowing a truck for the few times you'll need to tow it. Some U-Haul trucks are rated to tow quite a bit.

3) Be realistic about how often you'll actually use the boat and compare the cost of buy vs renting.

I grew up at a house with river front and my family used the speed boat several times a week in the summer. Now I live ~1 mile from a lake, but don't have a dock/pin anymore, and it gets used maybe 1-2 times a month because towing/launching/parking/recovering is such a PITA it adds 1-2 hours to every trip.

Boat rentals seem pricey, but consider the price of the boat+trailer, insurance, maintenance, fuel (if included in rental), buying a tow vehicle, setting it up to tow, shitty mileage from said tow vehicle... and renting might make sense.

Bringing stuff home from HD is another task entirely. Typically that's large-volme, but low-weight, stuff. A good roof rack system or a decent hatchback might do what you need to. You really don't need a truck for that unless you're hauling big stacks of 2x4s and drywall all the time. FWIW I've been doing work on my house for a bit over a year now and have only needed to borrow a truck for a few things, like my pellet stove and 10 bails of insulation. My next haul is likely going to be 40 sheets of drywall, and I'll either be paying the $20 for a 75 minute truck rental, or paying the $30-60 for having it delivered.

Good luck, whatever you wind up doing.
 
I have two boats and store them near the lake but on a trailer. Its not that much of a hassle to hook up, take to the ramp, put in the water, and go boating. I don't believe HD lets you use the hitch on their trucks, but I might be wrong. I think you are doing the right thing. Get a vehicle for your needs which is towing and having more room to haul the things you need. Personally, I wouldn't get a MB, especially an older one that is going to cost you 20k or more, but to each his/her own.

Edit.. my boats are also only 18 footers, not a 25 footer or more like what you are looking at.
 
slag said:
I have two boats and store them near the lake but on a trailer. Its not that much of a hassle to hook up, take to the ramp, put in the water, and go boating. I don't believe HD lets you use the hitch on their trucks, but I might be wrong. I think you are doing the right thing. Get a vehicle for your needs which is towing and having more room to haul the things you need. Personally, I wouldn't get a MB, especially an older one that is going to cost you 20k or more, but to each his/her own.

Edit.. my boats are also only 18 footers, not a 25 footer or more like what you are looking at.
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No, it's not the end of the world to trailer and launch a boat. But it's considerably more effort than just walking down to a dock or a mooring pin, untying the boat, and taking it out. Especially if there is a line at the boat launch. I, personally, noticed a big drop in how much I use my boat for just that little bit on inconvenience.

Also, not all launches are created equal, some royally suck to use.

I did not say, or imply, that HD trucks are available for towing. Uhaul ones are.
 
JCH13 said:
No, it's not the end of the world to trailer and launch a boat. But it's considerably more effort than just walking down to a dock or a mooring pin, untying the boat, and taking it out. Especially if there is a line at the boat launch. I, personally, noticed a big drop in how much I use my boat for just that little bit on inconvenience.

Also, not all launches are created equal, some royally suck to use.

I did not say, or imply, that HD trucks are available for towing. Uhaul ones are.
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I didn't quote you and was not responding directly to your post. I was posting my observations and real world experiences. Also, I'm a firm believer in the idea that if you have to do it more than once, its worth having your own. Expand that out to multiple times, 2-3 times a year, whatever..
 
Ok.... hd is not the best place to rent anything other than a small truck anyway.

Either way... Op, if you like your 911 you should keep it. There aren't many fun vehicles that will tow a 25ft boat. I'm actually surprised a g would do it.
 
Edit: OP, a 25' boat is going to weigh a lot. If you had a specific boat in mind that'd help. FWIW my roommate had a 22' falmouth cutter (sail boat) that weighed around 7,000 dry and about 10k loaded with trailer. Some 25-26' power boats I just looked up are around 5,000-5,500lbs dry, loaded they are up around 7500lbs, plus a trailer you're easily into the 9k range. Again, a pretty serious truck required to tow, solidly into the 3/4 ton truck range. A MB G500 tops out around 7,000lb towing capacity, might be marginal with a totally dry, unloaded boat.

slag said:
I didn't quote you and was not responding directly to your post. I was posting my observations and real world experiences. Also, I'm a firm believer in the idea that if you have to do it more than once, its worth having your own. Expand that out to multiple times, 2-3 times a year, whatever..
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Have you ever done the math for things like that to see if it's a financially sound decision?
 
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JCH13 said:
Edit: OP, a 25' boat is going to weigh a lot. If you had a specific boat in mind that'd help. FWIW my roommate had a 22' falmouth cutter (sail boat) that weighed around 7,000 dry and about 10k loaded with trailer. Some 25-26' power boats I just looked up are around 5,000-5,500lbs dry, loaded they are up around 7500lbs, plus a trailer you're easily into the 9k range. Again, a pretty serious truck required to tow, solidly into the 3/4 ton truck range. A MB G500 tops out around 7,000lb towing capacity, might be marginal with a totally dry, unloaded boat.



Have you ever done the math for things like that to see if it's a financially sound decision?
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Yes, because I rarely purchase things new. I go to a lot of auctions and buy many things second hand. I'm also pretty damn good at fixing broken things so I acquire things cheaply and fix them.

I'm also that neighbor people come to when they need a special tool or want to borrow something. I like being that guy who can help people out. My family is also pretty active in the community and will think nothing to go help someone roof their house, help mow their yard if their mower is broken, etc.
 
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slag said:
Yes, because I rarely purchase things new. I go to a lot of auctions and buy many things second hand. I'm also pretty damn good at fixing broken things so I acquire things cheaply and fix them.

I'm also that neighbor people come to when they need a special tool or want to borrow something. I like being that guy who can help people out. My family is also pretty active in the community and will think nothing to go help someone roof their house, help mow their yard if their mower is broken, etc.
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So you're suggesting that OP buy a crappy G500 and fix it up? 😛 (teasing/sarcasm)

I understand where you're coming from, and you don't need to get high and mighty about it. You're not the only one around here with the serious DIY attitude who helps their neighbors. But you must also consider the audience you're pointing your advice towards. It won't be OPs extra vehicle, it will be his main vehicle, and there are serious cost hikes that go along with having an SUV be your main vehicle instead of a car.
 
NutBucket said:
How big is the boat? Unless you need off road ability I'd rather have a Cayenne, X5 or Q7.
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Those are suburban mom cars. Feminine. The G wagon is a real man's SUV.

Your sarcasm meter is not broken. I am not joking.
 
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Those g500's are sexy trucks, no doubt about it. Part of why I wouldn't want to take it to the lake.... But it is what they're designed for. Personally I think the best boat truck is an avalanche.


G500 will tow 7000lb, but 09+ g550 is only 3500.
 
SpatiallyAware said:
Those g500's are sexy trucks, no doubt about it. Part of why I wouldn't want to take it to the lake.... But it is what they're designed for. Personally I think the best boat truck is an avalanche.


G500 will tow 7000lb, but 09+ g550 is only 3500.
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7 speed transmission can't handle the torque, apparently. Same reason why they couldn't put them into the twin turbo v12s
 
25' boat is going to need a 3/4 ton or better to be pulled much of anywhere. If you have no parking where are you putting the boat?
 
JCH13 said:
...there are serious cost hikes that go along with having an SUV be your main vehicle instead of a car.
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Well, yes, of course, but he is not talking about getting a bottom of the barrel kia or Ford Explorer. He wants a luxury SUV, so cost probably isn't that big of a deal.

Just saying, the guy has money to buy a 25 foot boat, and a luxury SUV to pull it. Small things like gas consumption and tire prices probably aren't an issue.

😛😉😛
 
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