Inside, its perceived material quality gives it an air of luxury on a par with rivals. As with many Mercedes of this era, the visual drama of the interior is lacking, but the controls have a chunky, hard-wearing feel and lots of period features, like buttons. Remember those?
Sometimes, however, there are glaring chinks in its armour. The way it drives doesn’t quite match the standards of its powertrain, with ride quality and handling not up to the standards you might expect from a Mercedes.
Its steering is heavy and not the most accurate, while body lean through the bends makes you feel like you’re in a cot. If you want an AMG, super unleaded is recommended so be sure that you can afford to buy it all over again in 99 RON. It’s also very expensive to maintain a W463, with servicing and repair costs all being steep.
If you can stomach all those considerable costs, though, you will have yourself a true icon. The W463 is a luxury off-roader with four decades of burgeoning appeal that makes it worthy of your attention. Whether you buy one as a driver’s car, a collector’s item or a status symbol, it will turn heads and wow enthusiasts from Cardiff to Cairo. Just don’t expect it to make any financial sense.
What we said then
6 February 1991: “The G-Wagen hasn’t managed to convince many UK off-road buyers to opt for the three-pointed star, but certainly with a new permanent 4WD drivetrain, new 3.0-litre engines from the W124 saloon and anti-lock brakes, its specification stacks up. The equipment list, too, can now match a Range Rover, and the extra grip, balance and security that permanent 4WD provides makes it a much more convincing tool on the road.”
