Tag: off-road

2010 Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia

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Cay1

The Porsche Cayenne is always a sore subject when brought up. Often the primary transportation of upper-middle class housewives such as Carmela Soprano and alike, the Porsche purist cringes when one drives by. But in 2010, Porsche decided to add a little flair to it’s normally mundane and mall cruising SUV to honor their victories in the Transsyberian Rallies. What we got was a truly off-road capable vehicle. This 2010 Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia located in Central Illinois can have you ready to tackle the woods in your Porsche — if you don’t mind the color orange.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2010 Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia for sale on duPont Registry

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Ur-Ur-Quattro: 1979 Volkswagen Iltis

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Conventional enthusiast wisdom would say that if you want an older, sturdy German off-roader, you want a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. However, that stance completely ignores a very important vehicle in Audi and Volkswagen’s history – the Iltis. The story is multi-faceted, but it boils down to two different stories; Volkswagen’s need for a replacement for both the Type 181 (“Thing”) and DKM Munga, and the birth of the legendary Audi Quattro. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Volkswagen consolidated the various Auto Union brands into a revised Audi lineup – the result of which was an opportunity to replace Mercedes-Benz as the German military vehicle supplier, a lucrative contract. To do so, Volkswagen built a new Type 183 vehicle using spare parts from the lineup of vehicles it now oversaw – the chassis was in large part based upon the earlier Munga, and the mechanical components based upon the Audi 100. The second story goes that in winter testing of some Audi and Volkswagen products, snow covered roads seemed to be the undoing of all but one of the lineup of cars brought along; the new Iltis simply left the other cars behind and impressed engineers Jorg Bensinger and Walter Treser (yes, that Treser), who theorized that the drive system could see road use. The result was the blueprint for the Audi Quattro that would debut in 1980, but not before Audi and Volkswagen won the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1980 with an Iltis. While the Quattro legend would take Audi to a whole new level in the 1980s, not much appreciation is given to the father of the Quattro – they’re rare to find for sale but offer a neat alternative to the normal off-roader:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1979 Volkswagen Iltis on eBay

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1980 Mercedes-Benz 280GE

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$_57 (3)
I love finding anti-G55/G63 G-wagens, and here’s one that’s been used hard but is ready to go for more. It’s an Idaho off-roader, ready to take on trails and backcountry in a way that fully exploits its original intentions. Racks, lights, and big tires all create a great look in addition to being very useful, and the short wheelbase looks like a blast in the hills. It has low mileage but quite a bit of lurking rust, which should keep the price low.

Click for details: 1980 Mercedes-Benz 280GE for sale on eBay

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1972 Pinzgauer 712M

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On a recent bike trip, my girlfriend and I had some long climbs up the foothills of the Bay Area on tree-lined, one-lane switchbacks. On one particularly gorgeous but hidden stretch, she yelled “look at the cool Unimog down there!” Thankful as I am that my partner knows what a Mog is, it was actually a fascinating Pinzgauer 4×4 that looked like it was prepared to be an RV for the zombie apocalypse. While that particular model looked prepared to keep people out, today’s 6×6 model looks like it wants to let anyone and anything crawl in while it dominates terrain. With heated seats, a huge truck bed, and one of the most stout external rollcages I’ve seen, I’m not sure what it’s for other than what the dudes are doing in the photo – but just riding in it looks pretty fun.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1972 Pinzgauer 712M on eBay

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Theme Week: 2011 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG Designo

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No 1% household is complete without the obligatory SUV. Most opt for the Range Rover; actually I think they are mandatory in certain neighborhoods. In a sea of generic luxury SUVs, how does one stand out with the valet at the yacht club? Enter the solution: the G55 AMG.

Normally I’d be tempted to discuss the 504 bhp supercharged AMG V8, or the G55’s off-road prowess, but these things are inconsequential to the 1%. Rather I feel the need to point out the “look at me” AMG styling that will turn heads all over town, the plush Nappa leather, and the navigation system that offers Zagat ratings for restaurants…you know the important things.

This arctic white G-Wagen for sale in Chicago, IL, is a god among men in the SUV market.

 

2011 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG Designo on eBay

The G-Class is powered by a 382-horsepower, 5.5L V8, while the high-performance G55 AMG gets a supercharged version good for 500 hp. The G55 can dash to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds, according to Mercedes-Benz. Fuel economy isn’t stellar, but it’s reasonable considering what the G-Class was built for: 12 mpg city and 15 highway. The AMG version achieves 11 city and 13 highway. Thanks to a serious mechanical 4-wheel-drive system, complemented by modern electronics, the G-Class has the goods for serious off-roading as well as simply taking on slippery road conditions. The system comes with three differential locks to distribute power in whatever way is best for the conditions. On- or off-road, traction is aided by the electronic stability control system, which also helps distribute power left to right. The G-Class is an old-style, truck-like SUV in look and feel, yet its interior is appointed with top-notch luxury materials, including premium leather, burl walnut trim and wood and leather trim elsewhere. The G55 AMG adds a Nappa leather interior and natural maple trim, plus 5-spoke wheels, special chrome trim, and illuminated doorsills on the outside. Inside, the G-Class provides a very upright driving position that’s quite different than in any other vehicle from the brand’s lineup; back seats have enough room for adults, but they’re not as easily reconfigurable for cargo compared to most modern SUVs. Also, the back door is hinged on the side rather than the top. Cruise control, a dual-zone automatic climate control system, rear heated seats and a parking assistant are included with the G550, as well as a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated multi-contour front seats. The latest version of Mercedes-Benz COMAND screen-based interface is included on the G55 AMG, plus voice controls, a Bluetooth hands-free calling interface. There’s also a premium, 610-watt harman/kardon audio system that also features an SD memory card slot, iPod connectivity and Sirius satellite radio and HD radio tuners. The navigation system includes a 40-GB hard drive as well as live traffic info and Zagat restaurant ratings.

These are growing on me, and have become one of my favorite SUVs out there. The blend of luxury, off-road capability, and AMG muscle is untouchable on today’s market. The Arctic White over black leather is my favorite combo for this mainly because it’s not a common combo on these; you usually see black or silver. With an MSRP of over $130K, this barely used G-Wagen is priced reasonably; vs. a new one…I sure hope the dealer takes cash.

-Brian

 

1984 Mercedes-Benz 280GE

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I know, I know, this isn’t German SUVs For Sale Blog, but this was too cool to not post. Short for Geländewagen (German for cross-country vehicle), the G-class was developed as a military vehicle, and served as the vehicle of choice for dozens of governments, and even Pope John Paul II. The G-wagen is recognizable by its boxy styling, which has remained essentially unchanged in its 30 year tenure. Featuring full frame construction, a torque monster 2.8L I6, low range gearbox, and three fully locking differentials, it makes for one of the most capable off road vehicles ever.

The G-wagen was eventually offered to the civilian market in 1979 and was offered in three models, the four cylinder 230G, the six cylinder 280GE, the four cylinder diesel 240GD, and the five cylinder diesel 300GD.  All of the power plants were based on the offerings from the W123 line. They were available in three different body styles; a two door open model, five door, and three door like this 280GE for sale in Bloomfield Hills, MI.

1984 Mercedes-Benz 280GE on eBay

1981 Mercedes-Benz 280 GE

New Brakes
New Shocks
New Muffler
New Fuel Lines
New Brake Lines
New Battery
New Tires
New Mirrors

Reconditioned Original BBS Wheels
Aftermarket CD Player and Speakers
Refinished Exterior
Original Interior 4 Speed Manual Transmission No A/C

This is my personal 280 GE that I bought in February 2007. All of the paint work was done professionally at my shop Autobahn Collision. My wife wants to remodel our house so my truck has to go. Speedometer is not currently working. Feel free to message me with any additional questions you may have.

VIN: WDB46023217008913

While admittedly most of us here are not SUV fans, there are certain trucks we bend the rules for; classic Land Rover Defenders, G-Wagens and the Lamborghini LM002 just to name a few. This G-wagen is exactly as it should be, not a status symbol like the newer trucks, but an off roader like it was intended to be. The condition of this truck is cleaner than you’d expect from a 27 year old truck, with newer paint, and many other new parts, this SUV has been well cared for.

Average retail on these at about $12,000, with high retail around $17,000. Taking into account the maintenance work, new paint, and the rarity of these trucks, I could see this G-wagen going in the $14,500 range. No matter how you feel about SUVs, this truck is cool and is definitely a great alternative to a modern SUV. Besides, if it’s good enough for the Pope, it’s good enough for me.

-Brian