fastedit

My g500 is due at my dealer around august 19th. I was told by the dealer that i will be getting a 2003 G and that there are 4 options:
1. Adaptive seats
2. Upgraded stereo
3. A parking system, but not parktronic
4.CDs for the navigation.
I know i want the seats and the stereo, but do i need the parking system? Any thoughts?

RAO

Very interested to hear that you will be receiving a 2003 "by 19th August". When would such a car be built?

I have been on a wait list for some considerable time, but have no build date promised yet, however I don't want it before August in any case, so if there was any way I could ensure it was a 2003, I would really be happy.

Apart from the options you mentioned (and do they have a price, by the way?) is there anything else? There was a lot of talk about turn indicators in the mirrors, like exhibited on the G55 at the NY Auto show?

RAO

I already have a 2000, (not in the US) so I can confirm that the Reversing Alert Ultrasoud IS a useful gizmo. You do NOT want full Parktronic in front, for a start you can easily see ahead, and that's not true reversing, and for another, running through tumbleweed or snow drifts would bang up the front sensors.

fastedit

I was as surprised as you are, august seems very early for a new model year. I went to several dealers in my area, most told me it would be more than a year until i would be able to get a g and no firm dates. I then tried another dealer a little further away from where i live and not only could they get it in about 6 months, they even showed me thier wait list and the exact date in which it would arrive.
I wasnt told until this week that it would be a 2003, when my dealer called to ask what i wanted on it, unfortunalty he can not give me any prices.
As far as changes to the G (folding mirrors,etc..) i didnt think to ask, but i will call him today and try to get the info for you.
Thanks for the info on the parking system.

Fuzzo

i picked up my car in aug and it was the 3rd shipment i believe of the 02's that came... so the 03's will be coming early aug


my dealer told me that they usually don't put it out before all the 02's are sold.... (this doesn't apply to the G's because there is a wait list)

RAO

Wow! Did you really get a 2002 last August? I thought nobody collected theirs much before November or so.

jimmyg

Everyone is confused. The first 2002 G500's were delivered around Thanksgiving (late November) in the US, though they were avaialble in other markets in August. Now that the G-class is not a new model, the 2003 models will be brought here at the same time as they are everywhere else in the world (late summer).

Production of the 2003 models begins on July 1st, so any vehicles with production dates after that will be 2003 models.

-Jimmy

RAO

Thanks Jimmyg for the explanation. Agree that there is "worldwide" production, then there "US availability".

But reading Fuzzo's post, he states clearly that he got his 2002 last August, and appears to live in the US?

And Fastedit has been told that his car "will be a 2003" delivered August 19th. Isn't this improbably quick if production only starts July 1, unless he has one of the very first?

What was your source for the July 1 date of 2003 production? (no doubting, just clarification sought!)

Fuzzo

ok i think i may have confused everyone.. i don't have a G class.. just a C.. and that's what i picked up in aug... sorry for the confusion

RAO

Should have the following in the last 8 places

3X134999

3 will be Model Year 03, X will be Graz assembly, and 134999 will be a typical sequential production number.

The highest ones around now are like 132000

Robert ...RAB

There are a large number of MY03 G500's slated for production (B3) the first decade of July which might put them at the east coast VPV middle to late August, assuming MBUSA will release them at that time. Arriving at the VPC doesn't mean arriving at the dealership. Unloading, clearing customs, and processing/inspecting can take 5 to 7+ days.

Personally, I doubt a 9 August delivery date because if would require a very fast boat and the east coasters would have the new G500 before us west coasters. Not a chance as we're much too spoiled to play second fiddle to the Atlantic Ocean. They may well arrive early but the 'Launch Date Release' should be uniform, plus or minus a day or two, throughout the USA.

One final option could be the initial '03 G's will all arrive on the east coast and then be trucked/trained to the west coast. I'll recheck Netstar in early July and keep you posted. ...RAB