Could this be the new G?

[R33 GT-R]

the 110 Safari grade.

[BMWDave]

Do you want to get a 110 or 90?

[Raghavan]

Do you want to get a 110 or 90?

I'd get a 90.

[GMPenguin]

The body looks like something from Infiniti, and the front looks like a SportVan.

[TBR]

Now I want a Defender . Dave, what kind of power did they have?

[BMWDave]

Now I want a Defender . Dave, what kind of power did they have?

Defenders are very cool vehicles!

It had an OHV 4 liter V8 (the revised one in the 97 refreshening) that made 182 horsepower, and about 240 lb ft of torque.

[TBR]

I didn't know you could get 3 rows in one, I should have convinced my parents to get one when we bought the Durango. That would have been awesome! And, too bad about the engine, wish it had the 4.6.

[BMWDave]

I didn't know you could get 3 rows in one, I should have convinced my parents to get one when we bought the Durango. That would have been awesome! And, too bad about the engine, wish it had the 4.6.

It would have been about 4 times as expensive (at least) as the Durango.

[TBR]

Really? The Durango was $27,000, surely a new one didn't cost over 100k.  

[BMWDave]

Really? The Durango was $27,000, surely a new one didn't cost over 100k.

You'd be suprised.   When I was checking back in 2000, a relatively new 110 was up at 93K.  They cost a lot less in Britain, starting at about 17K pounds.  I dont know why they are so much in the US.

[TBR]

That is ridiculous, why buy a Defender when the G was the same price yet offered the same capability and much more luxury?  

[BMWDave]

That is ridiculous, why buy a Defender when the G was the same price yet offered the same capability and much more luxury?

That was back then...I remember when G Wagons werent being imported to the US, and it cost about 150K to buy one here.

Now it will cost you about 40K to buy one the mid 90s.  Defeders are iconic vehicles, and never seem to get old, so it really doesnt matter when you buy them from.

[TBR]

I recall the prices being more like 115k for a two door, but it has been a while.  

[Raghavan]

Really? The Durango was $27,000, surely a new one didn't cost over 100k.

You'd be suprised.   When I was checking back in 2000, a relatively new 110 was up at 93K.  They cost a lot less in Britain, starting at about 17K pounds.  I dont know why they are so much in the US.

import and emissions maybe?

[TBR]

A 2003 G500 costs about the same as a '97 110, maybe a tad more.  

[BMWDave]

Really? The Durango was $27,000, surely a new one didn't cost over 100k.

You'd be suprised.   When I was checking back in 2000, a relatively new 110 was up at 93K.  They cost a lot less in Britain, starting at about 17K pounds.  I dont know why they are so much in the US.

import and emissions maybe?

Very possible.  They are still rare in the US.  

Here is one from Ebay going for about 24K at the moment:

[BMWDave]

A 2003 G500 costs about the same as a '97 110, maybe a tad more.

You cant compare a car that isnt imported to a car that is imported.  Land Rover Defenders sell from 18K pounds in Great Britain, which is a lot less than what a G Class costs there.

[TBR]

Yes you can, if you're looking at a car you don't decide that you will look only at ones imported through 3rd party companies.  

[BMWDave]

Yes you can, if you're looking at a car you don't decide that you will look only at ones imported through 3rd party companies.

You cannot look at an extremely rare car that isnt even imported to the US and say that it is very expensive, when compared to a car that IS sold in the US.  You just cannot compare them based on price.  A Land Rover Defender's cost represents many added costs that the g Wagon doesnt have.

[R33 GT-R]

the problem with non standard imports is the investor has to have the vehicle crash tested himself.  Then if there are problems with the crash test they have to reinforce things themselves and crash test again.  Where are the vehicles coming from they are crash testing?  They have to buy them then crash them, arrrrrgh.  Then you go to emissions, I'm not 100% but I thinks it's around 4k-8k to get the emissions test done at the lab.  There is also usually a 3 month waiting list to get to the emissions lab.  Then if it fails you have to repeat the process and pay again.  You don't have to crash them each time a new one comes in but you have to emissions test every new one.

[TBR]

Yes, because Land Rover chose not to import them, but MB made a smart business decision and did bring the G over. If I am looking at a car I don't care what added costs were involved, I just care about the final price.

[BMWDave]

the problem with non standard imports is the investor has to have the vehicle crash tested himself.  Then if there are problems with the crash test they have to reinforce things themselves and crash test again.  Where are the vehicles coming from they are crash testing?  They have to buy them then crash them, arrrrrgh.  Then you go to emissions, I'm not 100% but I thinks it's around 4k-8k to get the emissions test done at the lab.  There is also usually a 3 month waiting list to get to the emissions lab.  Then if it fails you have to repeat the process and pay again.  You don't have to crash them each time a new one comes in but you have to emissions test every new one.

Exactly what I am saying...those are just some of the added fees that the Defender price represents.

[BMWDave]

Yes, because Land Rover chose not to import them, but MB made a smart business decision and did bring the G over. If I am looking at a car I don't care what added costs were involved, I just care about the final price.

Lets say I wanted a Ford Mondeo, and I compared it to a Honda Accord.  The Mondeo would have to be crash tested, emissions certified, and could end up being a lot more than the Accord.  According to you, I have just made a fair comparison.

The fact is that most people who buy a G Class in the US would never even look at a Defender first, and wouldnt even compare them at all.

And you cannot go using price against a vehicle just because its maker decided not to import them.  

[Raghavan]

Yes, because Land Rover chose not to import them, but MB made a smart business decision and did bring the G over. If I am looking at a car I don't care what added costs were involved, I just care about the final price.

Lets say I wanted a Ford Mondeo, and I compared it to a Honda Accord.  The Mondeo would have to be crash tested, emissions certified, and could end up being a lot more than the Accord.  According to you, I have just made a fair comparison.

The fact is that most people who buy a G Class in the US would never even look at a Defender first, and wouldnt even compare them at all.

And you cannot go using price against a vehicle just because its maker decided not to import them.

what he said^

[BMWDave]

Thats one snazzy ute B)

[ifcar]

Of course you can. You compare the prices that you would be paying, and see which one is more.  

[TBR]

If I am looking at a tough offroader that can still carry the family I have 3 options:
Hummer
Glendewagon
Defender

The Hummer is too big, while the Defender and Glendewagen are just the right size, why wouldn't I compare the two? And, this is a imported Glendewagen that looks like it will go for under $45000: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/5-8-Brabus-...1QQcmdZViewItem

[R33 GT-R]

Of course you can. You compare the prices that you would be paying, and see which one is more.

Iffys joined our party,  yaaaay iffy.

[BMWDave]

Of course you can. You compare the prices that you would be paying, and see which one is more.

Of course "you" can, thats your very own perogative, but it is silly to fault a vehicle for its price relative to another imported vehicle when it isnt even imported to the country.

[TBR]

I think both if and I understand that this isn't a level playing field, but why would it matter to the consumer?