Doug DeMuro Picks Up ‘Overpriced Barbie Jeep,’ a 1999 G500 Cabriolet
Not only is it cool, but it’s one of the rarest Benzes in America. So, why does he consider it fit for Barbie?!?
Doug DeMuro has been an outsize presence on the good ol’ Internet for a while now. Every year or so, he gets a new “Doug Car,” and guides his readers and YouTube followers through the ins-and-outs of some of the stranger cars you can daily drive. Through his videos, we’ve seen what it’s like to live with an Aston Martin, Ferrari 360, Hummer H1, Viper GTS, and many, many more. He’s owned a few Benzes (including a G-Wagen), but his latest car is a bit of a head-scratcher. Not because it’s a very cool silver 1999 G500 Cabriolet, but because he opens his introductory video by calling it a “radically-overpriced Barbie Jeep.”
Sure, the G-Wagen got more and more comfortable over the years, but… Barbie Jeep?!?
“What would possess someone seemingly in their right mind to buy one of these?” he asks. Before you get your pitchforks, it turns out that he’s playing devil’s advocate instead of casually dismissing one of the greatest off-road vehicles of all time here. DeMuro has a problem that we’d sure like to have. He has two convertible, V8-powered, two-door SUVs in his stable: a 1997 Land Rover Defender, and the G-Wagen. And the Benz is everything that the Defender is not.
Advantage: Mercedes-Benz
DeMuro loves his Land Rover, but he runs down a list of everything it lacks. There’s no roof, no climate control, no heat, it’s badly built, and it feels downright dangerous at times. “It’s slow, it’s hard to pass people, and safety… is kind of a concern,” he says. “I wanted a vehicle that refined and improved all those issues with the Defender but kept the same general character and idea. Enter the G-Wagen.”
He ticks all the boxes: Power roof, heated seats, great climate control, airbags and ABS, power windows, cruise control, and a 300 horsepower V8 paired with a five-speed automatic. “When I drove this vehicle, I was astonished by all these luxuries,” he says. What’s more, it’s a very rare truck. The G500 Cabrio was never sold in the U.S. Remember, the G-Wagen itself wasn’t even officially imported until 2002.
This particular truck was imported and federalized by the dealer that DeMuro bought it from. Even more impressive, they made it legal in California, which adds a whole other layer of complexity to the process. Only one shop is certified to federalize vehicles in the entire state. And the entire process takes about six months and $10,000-15,000. In all, DeMuro estimates that there are probably five to 10 G500 Cabrios in the entire state. And he ended up paying for the privilege of joining that club.
While four-door examples of the same vintage tend to fetch around $25,000, DeMuro paid somewhere in “the $100,000 -$150,000 range” for his new ride. That’s an eye-watering amount for an old G-Wagen, but we can’t say he didn’t get what he paid for. We’re looking forward to getting to know this truck as he posts more about it. And the more examples of why it’s better than a Defender, the better.
Join the M-B World forums now!
