Test drive Mercedes Benz G-Class 2000-2007 SUV

Classics of the genre

Legends are composed of his reliability. He has no barriers on the road or off -road. Because he is from the G-class, the elites of SUVs. Now, in addition, he also has the most powerful engine among European diesel engines.

A car released in twenty years with a total circulation of more than 145,000 pieces to this day remains a coveted dream of many, many. The highest comfort, remarkable power, phenomenal cross -country ability would seem that it can still be changed or improved in this car! But no, Mercedes-Benz Gelandewagen 2001 of the model year continues to amaze with its power, dynamics and equipment.

Outside, the car has changed little. Chrome crosseships of the radiator grilles, non-relief glasses on the headlights, white disperfielders of turns indicators, two-tone rear lights, decorative stripes on protective lateral moldings, bumper painted in the color of the body, and 18-inch alloy wheels perhaps all external differences from previous models.

But as for the salon, there is almost complete restyling. In the middle of the updated instrument panel, there is an information display, which displays almost everything that may interest the driver on the way: the outcome temperature, the number of kilometers left before the next service, the state of the transmission and much more. Know for yourself click on the multifunctional steering wheel.

Further, the gaze of the willy-nilly clings to a huge liquid crystal display on the central console. The keys framed on all sides, it is the TV and the screen of the navigation system, displays the operation of the compact disk player, Am/FM tuner and the built-in phone. Moreover, the phone and audio system are controlled from the voice. It is enough to say the phone number aloud (and the microprocessor is able to remember up to thirty pieces), and you are already in touch. By the way, the audio system is not limited to the tuner and player of the CDs. A CD changer is also installed in the luggage compartment.

The seats have become even more comfortable, a driver’s driver is generally multi -contrary. You can change the strength of lateral support and the profile of the lumbar region in two places.

In general, the equipment of a car of various kinds of electronic and electrical devices is amazing. How do you like, for example, a climatic installation with a sensor that determines the dew point (humidity)? Or a system that automatically turns on the outer light of the car and adapting it to light? And here is an electrically adjustable steering wheel with intelligence. It is worth the driver to remove the key from the ignition lock, as the steering wheel automatically occupies the extreme upper position, ensuring the convenience of the exit.

Naturally, an electrician needs to be nourished with something. For these purposes, a powerful generator is installed on the car, the rotation frequency of which is 18 thousand revolutions per minute, and it itself has water cooling.

All this, of course, is impressive. However, the main reason for our next meeting with Gelik was a new four -liter diesel with two turbines. The eight -cylinder power unit gives out at four thousand revolutions as much as 250 hp. Not a motor, but a mountain of muscles!

The operation of the engine at idle in the sound resembles the operation of the diesel diesel, so you can characterize this bewitching rumbling. It even becomes clear on it that the car is capable of much. However, as they say, trust, but check.

In motion, the gas pedal immediately unusual in its behavior immediately attracts attention. Its move is specially divided into two sectors. The first for a calm and measured ride, the second for a lightning rush. Yes, if necessary, Gelandewagen is quite capable of him. So that the speedometer hand is near the mark of 100 km/h, our diesel equipped with two turbines with variable geometry of the shoulder blades, it will take only 10.3 seconds. Exactly the same Gelandewagen, but with a 5-liter gasoline engine, will be faster for only one tenth second.

By the way, about the variable geometry of turbine blades. It is this capacity of their ability to provide the maximum torque at 560 N. M. Already at 1700 min-1. In general, the engine efficiency is quite high. This is evidenced by the low average fuel consumption (13 liters), and the fact that the motor is practically not warming. The engineers even had to go to some tricks to ensure the normal operation of the climatic installation. So, if behind the side is below +8C, special heating elements that warm up the liquid in the cooling system to operating temperature enter the work.

For the entire time of communication with the machine, we only managed to hear how the engine cooling fan turned on. This happened when we decided to deliberately bury our experimental in the sand with all wheels at the same time. For what? Yes, to somehow make him work! It does not strain in ordinary modes either in sand or in the mud. It goes, as if on asphalt, and that’s it!

In general, by truth and by crook, we still managed to bury it on the very hubs. He clearly could not go out without the help of a lowering and blocking differentials. (Now, by the way, there is no need to wield an additional lever to include a lowering gear. Its functions were taken by a two -position electric key.)

We tried to get out of the captive captivity. The car jerked a little, but did not go. However, it was worth turning on all three differential locks moved as if nothing had happened. Note that even with such traffic modes in the car’s cabin, a high noise insulation class is quite quietly affecting

Statistics claim that 80% of all previously produced cars of this brand are still on the go. The remaining 20% \u200b\u200beither suffered greatly in accidents or died on the battlefields. Although what the situation should be so that Gelik gets into the accident, frankly, not to imagine. We have not met a more stable and predictable in behavior on any highway for a long time. At the cost, we believe that it is also unlikely that anyone will surpass it: a price tag with a figure of $ 98,000 must still be earned.

Text: Oleg Kalaushin
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [10/2001]