Faults:

Leaking valve cover, adjust and grease doors, replace windshield wipers, replace primer pump and fuel lines, valve adjustment, needs new radiator due to pin hole leak. New BF Goodrich All Terrain KO2. Pray to Jesus we make it to 60mph before the next century :)

In all seriousness this has been a great "classic" vehicle. Maintenance wise it's nothing too bad and you can learn to wrench on it yourself. This doesn't require a computer to fix, which is really relaxing and nice. Parts are not crazy expensive over any other car, and you can find parts stateside through Eurotruck Importers.

General Comments:

This thing is slow. Seriously, go get a 1950s Beetle, that is quick in comparison to this thing. Can it be driven on the highway? Sure! Will everyone and their grandmother loath you, absofreakinlutely.

Ever had a Honda Fit tail you so closely they could tell you what ate for breakfast? Yup it's that slow. It would be nice for it to be a little bit faster.

Hoping to swap an OM617a engine soonish.

Engine and drivetrain is super reliable though. It can hit 70mph if you beg it too, but I don't really like to push it that hard. I drive it by RPM and she prefers 3k RPM. The 5 speed helps albeit marginally at best. The shifter is clunky but light, which is weird. This truck is heavy, like very heavy. Think small tank.

It is very comfortable and the greenhouse is amazing. I miss cars having this much visibility. No A/C. All crank windows. Seats are an awesome brown plaid. Handling can get a little crazy around turns so it's no Miata. She leans. Steering box is vague sometimes. Brakes are good though.

Would I say this is better than a Jeep? Well yeah because it has factory lockers and 4wd. But I think a Jeep might be a more reasonable value. This is a 2 door version so it's cheaper, but a Cherokee might be just as if not more capable. However this comes with a more rock solid yet slow engine.

Our example was imported from the Netherlands.

Will certainly be staying in our family for nice weekends or when the world ends :)

It will be great for that last one.

Faults:

Nothing to date.

General Comments:

No one can believe that this vehicle is 8 years old. Still finding my way around all the features.

This is a one owner car and so far it cannot be faulted. The most surprising experience is the almost silent ride considering that there is a diesel in the front.

The comfort level for the first 2 rows of seats is excellent, we have not used the 3rd row yet so cannot comment on ease of access back there.

Daimler Benz provides instruction books that run almost 700 pages, so it will be a while finding what each of the bell and whistle controls does.

The high seating gives all riders a wonderful all round view and the seats are well contoured and supportive.

For the price well below almost all brand new cars and the ability to fuel up at a little over 80c a litre, the savings keep adding up.

I am aware that this model has some issues with suspension struts, 3 have been replaced so the 4th may need to be fitted sometime. I am prepared for that.

Faults:

I replaced the tie rod ends and ball joints (was already an issue when I purchased the vehicle).

Replaced driver's side door lock actuator.

Replaced original stereo head unit, which turned out to have had coins put into it?!?!

Soon I will be replacing the brakes/rotors/calipers, which I feel are inadequate for a vehicle of this size and performance, especially if you use the vehicle for towing.

Driver's side seat is beginning to show its age, but the seams are holding up nicely.

The sunroof is a bit finicky.

The finish on the wood steering wheel is crazed.

General Comments:

I'm going to get this out of the way from the get go by saying that this is by far the nicest SUV I've ever driven/owned.

Its size (not too huge to park in town), shape (c'mon, you know you LOVE the way they look), interior appointment/durability - for being 11 years old and over 100,000 miles logged, it has held up quite nicely and has features that keep up with most of today's technology.

Lots of head room, and plenty of power to keep my thirst for speed/acceleration quenched.

Horrendous fuel economy (before I lifted the truck, the very best mileage I had pulled from it was 14.9 MPG, but it usually was between 11.5-13.5 MPG With the lift kit & roof rack, bead lock Huchinsons and BFG Mud Terrain T/As it gets 10-13 MPG, so its thirst for premium fuel can put a dent in your wallet over time.

I am 6'4" tall, and I find that the brake pedal is too close to the accelerator, as well as mounted too high and close to the driver to make a clean transition between the two pedals - I find myself using the edge of the brake pedal, not the center of it, and I can see how this would be an issue for persons of shorter stature as well.

After adding lift/mud terrains/rock sliders/roof rack, tent & ladder, this vehicle has become the most capable off road machine I've ever owned! It now is a vehicle that you go to dinner, valet'd, then head for the nearest beach, rutted trail, or spend the next month traveling overland off road in.

Here is a link to a video of me just messing in the mud with friends:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5Ju9xKFw_4