By david b. on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 05:18 pm: Edit

Here is a list that I have constructed of the 10 best stock off-roaders out there:
10. Mitsubishi Monetero(older ones)
9. Nissan Super Safari(not available in US)
8. Chevrolet 2500HD 4x4(new 2001 with the 8.1L)
7. Ford Bronco(early 70's model)
6. J**p Wrangler(all the YJ-TJ stuff you like)
5. Land Rover Discovery(series 1)
4. Toyota Land Cruiser(early 90's and FJ's)
3. Land Rover Defender 90
2. AM General HUMMER(all except the 2000-2001)
1. Mercedes-Benz G-wagon(1990-2000)

By DiscoFever on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 05:34 pm: Edit

Hey db....
what about the Rangie...Classic SWB....thats not fair....
I do AGREE with your #1 choice...I am really thinking about selling the 95Disco and the 98 740iL to get my hands on one., anybody out there know where I can order one here in the Washington DC(Metro Area).They are starting to appear in more TV ads thanks to the growing SUV craze. I spot two of the wheeling through Georgetown about every other weekend.....I guess thats what they are officially for....tooling through Embassay Row on weekends......I don't understand why #10 isn't modified enough to rank it around the 5-6-7 spot.

By Gil Stevens (Gil) on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 05:56 pm: Edit

What happened to the Kaiser, the mid-70s Chevy/GMC, the Power Wagon, the Scout, and of course the Classic Range, it appears that list may have some holes.....

By Gil Stevens (Gil) on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 07:01 pm: Edit

oh yeah, how bout the Series I, IIA, and III.

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Saturday, May 26, 2001 - 10:47 am: Edit

Best? Best at what? I like to think of the Disco as a "Jack of all trades , master of none" allot of the others you list there are real good at specific things but real bad at others...

Kyle

By david b. on Saturday, May 26, 2001 - 11:42 am: Edit

The G-wagon is good at absolutely everything, that is why it is first. Especially now because Mercedes-Benz is going to market the G500 to the US through their dealers(not Europa) for $72,000(use to be $155,000, and it will be much more refined). It has 3-fully locking diffs, super-low range gearing, traction control, a lot of skidplates, a 5.0L 300hp engine, 39 degree approach angle, 32 degree departure angle, at lease 11 in. of ground clearance, solid axles, and all the comfy stuff you would find in a Benz.

By Milan on Saturday, May 26, 2001 - 04:04 pm: Edit

And still less travel and durability than a Disco. For the price of one G-wagen, I'd rather have 2 Disco I's.

By MA on Saturday, May 26, 2001 - 04:37 pm: Edit

uh no...it has 9" of front and 10" of rear suspension traval(with swaybars, it has 18" wheels to make up for its crappy handling). About the same as a Disco 1. A Disco 1 is a great car(I drive one), but if I had the $$$ I would buy a G500. So would you guys. You can buy a good 1980's model for under $30,000. A early 90's would cost like $40,000-$60,000. In my current financial status, I would prefer the older ones(1980's) with a diesel engine and almost no electronics.

By Milan on Saturday, May 26, 2001 - 11:30 pm: Edit

I never saw the older ones with diesels. The late 80's version was tested against a Disco or RR (I can't remember where I saw that) and it did not fare so well. Not that I put much in magazine tests, but the main complaint was lack of travel and traction. Traction can be fixed with better tires but the travel stuck to my memory. I do like the G-wagens but have never seen one modified and for the price I'd rather have the Disco or the D90 or even my Jeep TJ. How about some specs and details on the frame and suspension?

By Ron on Tuesday, May 29, 2001 - 09:10 am: Edit

G wagons have like no suspension flex (which is why they need 3 lockers) Diesel was available into the 1990s. I guess the 3 door and cabrio were good offroaders stock but it really was a small bus. Without lockers or against a rover with them the G wagon would suck.

Ron

By welder on Tuesday, May 29, 2001 - 01:36 pm: Edit

MA,
You are telling me that the Disco you have is a compromise? And that you are not really happy with the Disco you have there now? And that you would be happier with a piece of shit G?

By MA on Tuesday, May 29, 2001 - 02:03 pm: Edit

No, I am saying that if I had the money, I would buy a new G500. But I would keep my Disco over any 80's model G-class. I might consider a early 90's, but again it is out of my price range. I bought my 94 Discovery 5-speed for $9000(it's my first car, I'm 16). It is one hell of a car for a first car. It gets all the Jeep guys pissed when I see them(recover them!) on the trail. My dad wants to get a 2002 M-B G500, so I guess I will have the best of both worlds.
"shit G"...I don't think so, buddy!

By Gil Stevens (Gil) on Tuesday, May 29, 2001 - 03:54 pm: Edit

$75,000 for an "OFF-ROAD" Benz? How often will those 3 diffs be locked? Id venture to say never...

By ass wupp on Tuesday, May 29, 2001 - 04:23 pm: Edit

Oh but you can lock them up when going in a straight line!

By MA on Tuesday, May 29, 2001 - 05:23 pm: Edit

If money wasn't an issue, i'd get the $75000 off-roader. It's a better deal then the glue-and-let dry $100000 HUMMER isn't it. Or the $80,000 Freightliner-I-mean...Mercedes Unimog. We can get a Lexus(Toyota) LX470 pretty high up there too as well as the new X5 4.6 which is the worlds most powerful SUV. You can get a customized Suburban with 12" on the back and 20" rubber for about $100,000. You can get a Range Rover 4.6HSE for about $70,000 too. So, out of all those I would pick the G500(maybe the Range Rover too, a lot of people have had bad experiences with the electronics). Gil, those diffs will be locked when I use it(if he lets me, if he gets one(which he probably won't, he's not into those sort of vehicles)!!! and probably for snowy and/or icy conditions if it gets that bad. Do you think that those soccer-moms have any idea what a diff lock does or how to use it. When I bought my Disco, the owner(soccer/basketball/tennis mom) had no idea what I was talking about when I asked about the locking differential. Most people don't give a damn for that "complicated" stuff, but us(on discoweb) praise it. ass wupp...yes you can, but that would be completely stupid!

By david b. on Tuesday, May 29, 2001 - 05:28 pm: Edit

I like the G500, it is a great car, but a little too much $$$ for my (cheap)budget. MA, you are right, for that sort of money I would definitely buy the G500 over all of those. It has luxury and off-road worthiness. Because of my (cheap) budget, I would buy an older one for its simpleness and cheapness.

By Gil Stevens (Gil) on Tuesday, May 29, 2001 - 06:40 pm: Edit

if I were spending 75 large, id probably get one to. the question being, why spend that kind of money for a truck to drive thru the woods? i also think hummers are the biggest piece of crap out there. try to take one off-road here in new england, good luck. youd make it to the trailhead before getting it stuck between 2 trees. the Mog is different though, that is a machine, although not sure how freightliner will fuck it up. i see alot of G-wagons were i live, and all the folks driving them are also smoking cigars and wearing berets, and have no idea what the difference between a locking diff and a locking door are.

By Jeff Bieler (Mrbieler) on Tuesday, May 29, 2001 - 06:51 pm: Edit

Get a 1998/1999 D1, add ARB's front and rear along with all necessary drive-train upgrades, and throw in a TDI conversion.

You'll have luxury, three locking diffs, the efficiency and off-road advantages of a diesel, AND the suspension articulation you won't find in the G-Wagon. All for for about 1/2 the cost.

By MTB on Tuesday, May 29, 2001 - 09:58 pm: Edit

David
First I think this is the wrong place to post the top 10 list. My book the Disco is the best all around. A couple years ago a offroad mag. had a article with a D-90,hummer & new jeep. The D-90 was the winner it kept up with the hummer with no problem. The cheep enough said. The hummer is a great 4x4 in many ways but being 8' wide you have alot of drawbacks. I can take a stock Disco through the woods where a Hummer can't go and vise versa the approach angle is great on the hummer. I know that it is your opinion on the top ten. I personally would not consider a Hummer stock. The G-wagon ??? I have seen them on the road that's it. I'm sure there are some modified Disco owners on this board that can keep up with a Hummer and still have $ left over to buy some good beer to drink. Looking at that list you may want too change it to the top 10 costly 4x4. That just my $.02 I have not found anyone willing to give me $.02 for my opinion yet. Have a good one.

Michael B
96 Disco

By welder on Wednesday, May 30, 2001 - 12:52 am: Edit

The list that our David created is an interesting one. It's his list and there's nothing wrong with that.

In my list, Disco is number one. But of course, it is biased. I have one and whatever I have IS the best.


Far better than any piece of shit Gummer.

By Discosaurus on Wednesday, May 30, 2001 - 01:29 pm: Edit

...just go get a S-D-P Pinzgauer or, better yet, a
surplus Unimog. Then you can kick everybodies
ass and flatten the G-wagen at the same time.

Portal axle Mog's with 20" wheels rule and I want
one when I grow up...

hehe hehe hehe

keith
discosaurus

By E Snyder on Friday, June 01, 2001 - 01:05 am: Edit

mmmmmm.... Pinzgauers....

check out
www.eurotruck-importers.com

By Jon E. Yermo (Jon) on Friday, June 01, 2001 - 02:35 am: Edit

I've owned the SWB and LWB Montero 86 and 91 respectively, and they hold up alright off pavement, but come no where close to my 95 V8i AT Disco (NAS). Naturally they are leaf-sprung in the back, and rely on a selectable 4wd. They would benefit from an ARB locker (just like a LR), but I never found myself in extreme situations anyway. My 1991 Mitsubishi LWB V6 3.0 out-accelerates the Disco V8i no question (and weighs about 1/2 as much I'd wager!)

I like the list you put together, but can't see spending 75G on anything German. You wouldn't ever take it out of the city anyway. I've never seen one in the out of doors, but perhaps they look too much like D90 or 110's and I've confused them with LR stock.

I prefer driving Allied vehicles anyway - give me British any day - er Ford, uh BMW... Mitsubishi, doh! Oh to hell with it, drive what makes you happy.

Cheers,

Erik

By MA on Friday, June 01, 2001 - 02:59 pm: Edit

Somebody across my street had a Pinzgauer 712M 6x6(yes it had 6 wheels and 6 wheel drive), he sold it and bought a Defender 90.

By Ron on Friday, June 01, 2001 - 03:08 pm: Edit

MA,

was it a hideous blue green medical color?

Ron

By MA on Friday, June 01, 2001 - 03:17 pm: Edit

yep, more on the puke green side. He went off-roading with me a couple of times. It did ok,he had a lot of ground clearance(18"), about 7" of wheel travel and a 75hp diesel. So he kept up with the Disco, he went everywhere I did(with a bit more trouble and wheel spin). He sold it because the tranny broke down. Now he has a D-90. I kinda' talked him into buying the D-90. He plans to modify it heavily for trail use.

By ROn on Friday, June 01, 2001 - 03:18 pm: Edit

Hehehe

I know that truck. I wonder why the tranny s**t the bed.

ROn

By Ron on Friday, June 01, 2001 - 03:19 pm: Edit

PS did he not use the lockers? Wheelspin should be limited with 4 lockers

By MA on Saturday, June 02, 2001 - 05:36 pm: Edit

His didn't have lockers, but he had 3 LSD's. I had dual True Tracs on my Disco