Another failed mission :-)

[Melbo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Melbo]

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...805-1ie5s.html

German outback cars :-)
McCarthy says the corrugations on the road today were the worst the expedition had seen so far. "I'm not displeased with how it's gone so far, but what I am pleased with is how we've resolved it."

The car maker has arranged for the replacement shock absorbers to land in Perth today, before transferring to a light plane destined for a remote Aboriginal settlement close to Well 33, about 1000km from Wiluna, and at a cost of about $5000.

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Will one of you WA Prado boys go save their sorry asses.

Just pack 20 or so in=ferior shocks. Your vehicle will cope as standard.

Thanks.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

benz's toughest off-roaders.... haha.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

wow! did you see the pics!? shes buggered... ...it looks like it ate itself.

[Bazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bazza]

"Dont mention the war. I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it!" ( Basil Fawlty )

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

What a croc! By far the worst of the corrugations are well 23 to about 33-35. If they were going to break this was where it would happen. A14 day crossing rather than the more common 20 ish perhaps indicates that they were pushing the envelope a bit. It makes the fade on my OME shocks on this section seem minor[ and they always came back when allowed to cool]. The 6 other cars on my trip last year all had fade here but the only failure was 1 incorrect rear shock on 130 landrover. Didn't anyone tell them to take spare shocks,a standard spare on this trip? They have now done the worst of the corrugations but plenty of dunes to go! Neil

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Amusing story, thanks

[Guest Close Guest]

Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy says the broken shock absorbers - and three snapped spare wheel mounts - were expected.

What?! If it was expected, they would have carried spares!

"We knew it would be tough, but it is important to have the right (technical) people and the right infrastructure, and I think that's proven us right."

Part of that "infrastructure" is carrying spares.

"I'm not displeased with how it's gone so far, but what I am pleased with is how we've resolved it.
"The hardest decision for me was that I had to pay for a charter plane to get the replacement parts here quicker," McCarthy says.

So the average 4WDriving Joe public should be prepared to forkout $5000 in transport costs should they be left stranded in the outback.

Wonder what tyre pressures they were running and how fast they were going?

[stevensr34 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stevensr34]

The MB spokesman David McCarthy is a bit of a spin-doctor... I guess he has to try and put a positive light on what is basically a big publicity stuff-up in car setup.

He implies that the "right infrastructure" for a MB G-wagon owner is having access to a charter flight for spares!

Reading between the lines, I think he expected something to break, but was unsure what would go first. They found out!

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

They are minor failures in the scheme of things. Sure they could have been better prepared, but don't diss the G-Wagon. I recon the only wheeled vehicle with more offroad prowess is the UNIMOG.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

the unimog is one of the greatest 4wd vehicles of all time... the mercedes g-wagon was once not a bad bus... but the new ones are far from fantastic. they're limo's.

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

thats classic.

sounds to me there "offroad experts" would be a little red faced about now. if they were expert, or trained enough in what to do they would not be in that predicament right now.

wonder if they read a few trip reports before tackling it, or just looked at a map and said. "ZER IS ZA ROAD, WE VILL DRIVE ZIS FAST. VE VILL SEE YOU IN VIERZEHN DAYS"... Dumm Kopfs

[Guest Close Guest]

"ZER IS ZA ROAD, WE VILL DRIVE ZIS FAST. VE VILL SEE YOU IN VIERZEHN DAYS"...

amts likes this

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

We pulled a bloke out of there a few weeks ago. He was driving...............wait for it................................................ .....a Falcon!!!!
Anyway, $5000 for charter flight to deliver spares is heaps cheaper than trying to convince the local flat top recovery truck contractor, who is based in Kalgoorlie.

[stevensr34 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stevensr34]

They are minor failures in the scheme of things. Sure they could have been better prepared, but don't diss the G-Wagon. I recon the only wheeled vehicle with more offroad prowess is the UNIMOG.

Please have a look at the Mercedes Benz website for a laugh:

G-wagen:

"Keeps going...when others stop"

Specifications as follows, for the Diesel.

Engine and performance
Cylinder arrangement/number V6
Displacement (cc) 2987
Rated output (kW [hp] at rpm) 155/3400
Rated torque (Nm at rpm) 540/1600–2400
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s) 9.1
Top speed (km/h) 175
Power transmission
Drive system Permanent all-wheel drive
Transmissions 7G-TRONIC
Fuel and consumption
Tank capacity incl. reserve 96/20
Fuel consumption combined (l/100km) 11.2
CO2 emissions combined (g/km) 295
Cd value 0.54
Chassis (standard) and wheels
Front tyres 265/60 R18
Rear tyres 265/60 R18
Front brakes Discs, internally ventilated
Rear brakes Discs, solid
Dimensions and weights
Kerb weight/payload capacity (kg) 2500/700
Perm. GVM (kg) 3200
Maximum roof load (kg) 150
Boot capacity (VDA) (I) 480–2250
Turning circle (m) 13.60

Price: - wait for it --- $161,000


I believe the above characteristics allow me to "diss" it as much as I want! I could have a new Prado and a spare for this money.

Update: for more laughs, check the specs on the "AMG" version of the G-wagen: $217,000
Wow...