Bigange67 wrote:

Got an invite then filled all the details in then it asks for a £5000.00 deposit called the dealer to ask if this is correct and they don’t know I don’t fancy paying for something I’ve not seen or don’t know the actual price

You need to pay the deposit to get the invite or you won’t be buying one - it is refundable if you don’t like what you see/hear at the launch event  Gas, Grass Or Ass - Nobody Rides For Free

"UNDERSTEER" ----is when you hit the fence with the front of the car.
"OVERSTEER" ------is when you hit the fence with the rear of the car.
"HORSEPOWER" ----is how fast you hit the fence.
"TORQUE" -----------is how far you take the fence with you.

Mr Fox wrote:

Serious question, have you owned a G-wagon, driven one or even spent time in one?

I didn't see Chris86 say one was better than the other but I do understand the point he is making: positioning the Octa at the price point is going to bring comparisons to a lot of performance SUV money.

The new Defender is a good vehicle but even in standard trim, it lacks the quality feel Mercedes (Magna Steyr) achieve with the G. Simply opening and closing the doors is a different experience: the Defenders are heavy, the Gs are solid and feel like you are closing a bank vault but without the need to have powerlifters arms.

Setting that to one side, I think I am also getting old because I no longer see the point of a performance SUV and that comes from someone who has owned a handful. Each to their own but give me range, go anywhere ability and comfort and I'm happy. High centre of gravity, constantly fighting physics, weight and rapid performance seems paradoxical to me.

Yes, yes and yes and I found and still do fine them to be an awful thing to drive, own and look at!

All vehicles are going to be compared against something regardless but the G-Class is not the benchmark IMHO and never will be

Having said that I can not agree with your last sentence as surely the things you mention, high centre of gravity, constantly fighting physics, weight etc are all characteristics of a Range (I presume a Range Rover or do you mean a Ford?)? Gas, Grass Or Ass - Nobody Rides For Free

"UNDERSTEER" ----is when you hit the fence with the front of the car.
"OVERSTEER" ------is when you hit the fence with the rear of the car.
"HORSEPOWER" ----is how fast you hit the fence.
"TORQUE" -----------is how far you take the fence with you.

Japseroony wrote:

Yes, yes and yes and I found and still do fine them to be an awful thing to drive, own and look at!

All vehicles are going to be compared against something regardless but the G-Class is not the benchmark IMHO and never will be

Having said that I can not agree with your last sentence as surely the things you mention, high centre of gravity, constantly fighting physics, weight etc are all characteristics of a Range (I presume a Range Rover or do you mean a Ford?)?

Japseroony wrote:

Mr Fox, it was a 21 AMG and every time I drove it I got “look at that prick” looks or felt like someone’s pimp and so much so I hated going out in it.

The storage/space was very poor and the harsh ride was awful, not to mention the pi** poor MPG, not that I bought it for that

All in all, it was a disappointing disaster and one I won’t forget.

As for the benchmark, why is the G-Wagon the benchmark for the best off road vehicle LR have ever made (IMHO) and not the other way around? Suppose if you use it as a Chelsea Tractor then maybe the G-Wagon might have the edge but if you actually venture off road the Defender wins hands down