2002 Mercedes-Benz G500

- California Truck
- Custom Built by Antidote Motorsports
- 5.0L V8 with Automatic
- All Wheel Drive
- Custom Finished in Gray Rhino Liner
- Ready for Anything

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 2002 Mercedes-Benz G500 on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the vehicle due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 180 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, and a link to its accident and damage-free Carfax history, please go to our main website: GKM.com)

“In the Austrian factory where workers in blue jumpsuits assemble the Mercedes-Benz G500, there is a sign that reads, "Geländewagen: Robust und Exklusiv." That sign describes the character and appeal of the Mercedes off-roader more accurately than anything the marketing department might have dreamed up. The defining characteristics of this vehicle, previously known as the Geländewagen, are indeed its robust nature and exclusivity.” – Car and Driver, November 2001

Some excerpts from the Car & Driver review:
“Unlike the military version produced on the same assembly line, this newest G-wagen gets the full luxury treatment inside, with power everything, leather everywhere, burled-walnut trim, several dash pieces from the C-class sedan, and a GPS navigation system.”

“…the G500 delivers a level of comfort and ease of operation that Hummer owners, or perhaps Range Rover owners, can only dream of.”

“The boxy, unadorned steel body is traditional off-roading fare, coming from the creased-sheetmetal school of design. In addition to its utilitarian roots, the G-wagen is also from a time when sport-utes looked like what they were—off-road wagons.”

“Despite its heavy, overbuilt suspension, the G-wagen is quite comfortable at speed and over bumps. Miraculously, the cabin remains quiet even as the wind slams up against its flat windshield.”

The full review is available online at: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15137904/2002-mercedes-benz-g500-road-test-review/

Offered here is a low-mileage 2002 Mercedes G500 custom finished in flat gray Rhino Liner over tasteful custom combination of black and gray leather (the latter on the diamond-stitched seating surfaces) accented with natural-grain brown walnut trim. Custom built by Antidote Motorsports and California-owned for most of its life, this G500 has amassed just 67,167 total miles in the hands of its only three owners to date. That's fewer than 3,500 miles per year on average. This is a fun, modified G Wagon that would be hard to replicate at the given asking price. Of particular note is the vehicle's record of Carfax-documented services, the vast majority performed at Mercedes dealers.

The exterior gray Rhino Liner flat finish adds an even more purposeful offroad look. The black, full-length, rooftop cargo carrier (with LED trail-lighting system mounted on it) adds to that. Gray trim on the front grille, window surrounds and front Warn® Zeon 85 winch suit the G500 perfectly, while conveying an unmistakable “Mercedes presence,” no aspect of the styling is overdone or showy. Black matte-finished 5-spoke 20-inch KMC® Rock Star alloy wheels are mounted with premium Toyo Open Country® 33x12.5 tires.

Inside, the tasteful luxury theme continues with two-tone complementary colors and natural walnut trim throughout. Seat upholstery (with Antidote Motorsports logos embroidered in the front headrests) is a custom design in gray-and-black leather. Features abound: optional 4-zone climate control, touchscreen digital information cluster with navigation, ImageDynamics® custom sound system, selectable all-wheel drive, heated seats, ambient lighting, and multifunction steering wheel with wood and leather. Clearly, this is a comprehensively spec'd and tastefully upgraded all-season luxury vehicle.

Under the hood, is a 292-horsepower SOHC 24-valve Mercedes V-8 (with aluminum block and heads and Bosch Motronic ME2.0 engine-control system with port fuel injection). Power delivery is by way of a 5-speed automatic transmission with lockup torque converter. The engine holds center-stage in a very clean engine bay. The condition of the undercarriage is shown in detail in the accompanying photos.

This well cared for G500 example is faithfully presented from every angle in the more than 180 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available at the GarageKeptMotors site. That said, we encourage in-person, up-close inspections of this special vehicle by interested parties—or their representatives—at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. We ask only that advance appointments be made by phone or email so that we can devote our full attention to our visitors and this high-performance automobile. Our showroom is not open to the public.

Automobile magazine echoed Car & Driver's take on the '02 G500: “The combination of luxury and capability makes the G500 the most desirable of the status sport-utes. The Hummer may rival its off-road prowess, but it lacks the sumptuous interior. The Range Rover may equal the G500's luxury but lacks the three locking differentials and the military truck styling. Demand for the G500 is certain to exceed the supply of 2000 allocated for this year. The only question is: What took Mercedes so long?"

The satisfaction of owning a quality Mercedes-Benz G500 can only be topped by the hat trick of finding a well maintained, beautifully optioned, low mileage example with tasteful custom upgrades. Score!