I Have $35,000 To Spend On An Overlanding Rig That’s Not A Jeep Wrangler! What Car Should I Buy?

Expert 4: Andrew Collins — Use Your Budget!

I see that, as usual, my colleagues are so used to being poor that a “$35,000 budget” as exceeded their processing power. An E36? A freakin’ P38?! I mean, I love my Montero, but you could go a lot fancier for the coin you’re working with here.

You should look at G-Wagens, specifically early-’00s G500s. These vehicles are extremely stout, powerful, and highly off-road capable when they’re wearing the correct tires. It’d also be fun to cruise around Kentucky in one, where it’d probably blow people’s minds because these cars are uncommon outside Los Angeles and The Hamptons.

I’d grab one that’s been cared for, fit a set of five great overland tires (Cooper Discoverer AT3s are always a good choice), and send it.

G-Class Mercs hold their value really well, but now that the new-for-’19 model is out, the two-facelifts-ago look G500 is in your striking range. There’s a decent crop for sale asking $29,995. There is a catch: You are going to have to buy it from Los Angeles or The Hamptons because it will be really hard to find one for sale in your area. (As I said, they’re just not common away from image-obsessed urban centers.)

The pandemic will make the logistics of purchasing a little tough, obviously. But if you’re an overlander logistics are part of your hobby. So embrace the challenge.