Mercedes Benz pickup...light tow vehicle with class.

The new Mercedes ute is not for me, but I wouldn't totally dismiss them as c rappy or unreliable. Our car is largely a 3 services I think Mercedes with a Dodge engine and wrapper, from back in he Diamler Chrysler days. 2006 Dodge Charger. It's been a good car so far up to 125kmi currently. And over 10 years later FCA is still using essentially the same LX/Mercedes chassis all the way up to the 700/800hp models. The WA580 5 speed is a Mercedes unit and bulletproof. Newer trans are ZF (German also).
I don't like German cars per se, but def not all junk.

Since Ford NA is headquarters, I doubt they "asked" them to do it. It was probably more along the lines of being told to incorporate a mini-Raptor with the designs they already have for the next Ranger. They did the same with the gen 1 full size Raptor and the already designed F150. Why pay for a whole new design when you can just incorporate it with an already existing design and save money? That way, if it does not sell well then your loses are not as big. That is a smart thing to do when you are coming out with something new to the market and are unsure if it will sell well.

Which is something that would fsil here like the Raptor. I wonder what sort of " Raptor" Ford is designing here. Did Ford NA asked them to do it? If that is the case demand is driven externally and like the Everest they did not get their sums roght.

RobertRyan wrote:

WildTrack, has a payload of 980kg =2100lb. Mercedes XClass 1100kg =2460lb.
Colorado ZR 2 a payload of 1100lb and Gas engine 5000lbs towing.. GM gives 5000lb maximum for the 2.8 Diesel
X Class will be a heavy beast with a 2460lb payload.

I am trying to explain to you that payloads here are limited by a vehicles class in many cases and not by a trucks ability. Payload equals GVWR minus curb weight, and class 1 trucks have a max GVWR of 6,000 lbs. So subtract the weight of your pick up trucks over there from 6,000 lbs and you will have there payload here regardless of what it is anywhere else. So that Wildtrack would be the class regulation of 6,000 lbs GVWR minus the curb weight of 4,960 lb which gives it a payload of 1,040 lbs here.

Also, as I stated, the ZR2 is a purpose built off road pick up truck, not a heavy hauler. We have other trucks for that. When it comes to off road, trucks like the ZR2 and Raptor are considerably more capable than many trucks here and over there.

rjstractor wrote:
Regardless of payload, the way that the truck is configured with the rear axle all the way up at the front of the box you're not going to have much usable capacity in the box. Any weight added back there will unload the front axle and transfer that weight to the rear. You might be able to carry 2000 lbs as long as at least 1200 are in the cab and not in the box.

AWD , so will be interesting. Toyota Landcruisers do carry 2,000lbs in the box . So MB that has done a lot of testing here will be trying to match that

Regardless of payload, the way that the truck is configured with the rear axle all the way up at the front of the box you're not going to have much usable capacity in the box. Any weight added back there will unload the front axle and transfer that weight to the rear. You might be able to carry 2000 lbs as long as at least 1200 are in the cab and not in the box.

ShinerBock wrote:

RobertRyan wrote:

Needs to be heavier and carry a lot more Off Road.New Mercedes is rated at 1100kg =2420lb Ford Ranger Wildtrack 4,960lb about the same kerb weight as the 2.7 F150

The ZR2 is not made to carry a lot and it weighs between 4,700-5,000 lbs depending on the engine. The diesel engine will put it closer to 5,000 lbs just like the Wildtrack. Unlike Australia, we have other bigger pick up trucks for that purpose of carrying heavier loads and this is mainly a niche vehilce. Also, as I said earlier our regulations limit class 1 vehicles to 6,000 GVWR so even if that MB was sold in the US, it would not have nearly that amount of payload rating. Take the Wildtrack you just stated, since it weighs 4,960 lbs like you stated, and it's max allowable GVWR is 6,000 lb, then its payload would be (6,000-4,960) 1,040 lbs.

WildTrack, has a payload of 980kg =2100lb. Mercedes XClass 1100kg =2460lb.
Colorado ZR 2 a payload of 1100lb and Gas engine 5000lbs towing.. GM gives 5000lb towing maximum for the 2.8 Diesel
X Class will be a heavy beast with a 2460lb payload.

RobertRyan wrote:

Needs to be heavier and carry a lot more Off Road.New Mercedes is rated at 1100kg =2420lb Ford Ranger Wildtrack 4,960lb about the same kerb weight as the 2.7 F150

The ZR2 is not made to carry a lot and it weighs between 4,700-5,000 lbs depending on the engine. The diesel engine will put it closer to 5,000 lbs just like the Wildtrack. Unlike Australia, we have other bigger pick up trucks for that purpose of carrying heavier loads and this is mainly a niche vehicle or secondary vehicle. Also, as I said earlier our regulations limit class 1 vehicles to 6,000 GVWR so even if that MB was sold in the US, it would not have nearly that amount of payload rating. Take the Wildtrack you just stated, since it weighs 4,960 lbs like you stated, and it's max allowable GVWR for the class it is in is 6,000 lbs, then its payload would be (6,000-4,960) 1,040 lbs here no matter what it is rated at in Australia.

ktmrfs wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
In the end its a Benz and will cost a fortune to maintain, not to mention the oil leaks that they start around 60k miles.

No thanks!

well, i have 2 MB, one sedan, one roadster, one with 180K miles on it, one with almost 100K. neither leaks a drop of oil, and for maintenance, they both have been the lowest maint and upkeep cost of vehicles i've owned. Bought them pre owned, very trouble free.

way way less cost to maintain and more trouble free than two honda's I had, that's for sure.

But they are 20 year old models now.

Now for the pickup, UGLY and not very useful for my needs that's for sure.

Yah. Same here. We have had two mercedes products and both were trouble free. Both our GM vehicles were junk from new. I think a lot of it depends on the luck of the draw. We have kind of sworn off the domestic brands now although our nissan comes from a factory in Tenessee. No more oil leaks though, both are pure electric. :). Probably the only domestic we would consider in the future is a Tesla but we won't be in the market for aboutv4 years.

Lessmore wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:

Lessmore wrote:



Well Robert you need to bring yourself up to speed on the new Chevy Colorado ZR2 before you dismiss it.

Chevy Colorado ZR2

They don't have the new ZR2 over there and their Holden Colorado is slightly different than ours. Which is sad since the ZR2, with its magnetic adjustable longer travel suspension and front/rear lockers, seems like it would outperform many of their current truck offerings off road.

I think it would.

My son used to have a 2008 Colorado Z71. It had the off road package, skid plates, large wheels/tires, heavy duty suspension, electronic traction control and G80 Eaton Locking axle. Lot of ground clearance. He didn't have 4 WD on it but I was always surprised how well it did in snow. The large tires, traction aids and high ground clearance made a difference, although in his vehicle, 4WD would of made a bigger difference, if he had had it.

The new Colorado ZR2...which is available in the North American market as you say, seems to be getting lots of accolades from off road buffs...very advanced truck.

Needs to be heavier and carry a lot more Off Road.New Mercedes is rated at 1100kg =2420lb Ford Ranger Wildtrack 4,960lb about the same kerb weight as the 2.7 F150