You can now buy a brand new Mercedes G for just ?5k – but there’s …

DRIVERS are in shock after discovering they can buy a brand-new Mercedes G-Wagen 4x4 for just £5,000 - but there's a catch.

The G-Class is loved by the rich and famous as a status symbol and is often seen being flaunted by owners on social media

Drivers are in shock after realising that they can buy a brand-new Mercedes G-Wagen 4x4 for just £5,000 - but there's a catch.

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Drivers are in shock after realising that they can buy a brand-new Mercedes G-Wagen 4x4 for just £5,000 - but there's a catch.Credit: Alibaba This car was made by a Chinese company called Shanxi Huayu Technology - and it's on sale at Alibaba.com

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This car was made by a Chinese company called Shanxi Huayu Technology - and it's on sale at Alibaba.comCredit: Alibaba

But a G-Class[1] normally starts at around £120,000 and can cost as much as £180,000 for the range-topping AMG version.

So how can this car be advertised for only £5,000 online? There are a few catches.

The most obvious one is that it wasn't manufactured by the German firm Mercedes.

It was actually made by a Chinese company called Shanxi Huayu Technology - and it's on sale at Alibaba.com[2].

This Chinese copy is less than half the size of a genuine Mercedes G[3] and is powered by an electric motor and a small battery.

Secondly, unlike a proper G-Class, the only powered wheels are those at the rear.

According to the advert, it takes eight hours to charge, and once the battery is full, you'll be able to travel around 70 miles.

But, with only around 60hp, you won't manage much more than 25mph.

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Another problem is that you will have to spend around £1,400 to ship the car from China to the UK.

And, of course, when the "fake" Mercedes G-Class is delivered to your house, you won't be able to register it and drive it on public roads.

The cabin is so small that adults can't really sit in the back, but it does have a set of rear TV screens for whoever manages to fit inside.

This comes after Batman fans were shocked to discover[4] the Batmobile was up for sale for £1.2million, but there's a catch.

Plus, James Bond's classic Lotus Espirit from "The Spy Who Loved Me"[5] could be yours for just £20k, but there's a catch.

According to the advert, it takes eight hours to charge it, and once full, you'll be able to travel around 70 miles

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According to the advert, it takes eight hours to charge it, and once full, you'll be able to travel around 70 milesCredit: Alibaba This fake Mercedes G has two TVs in the rear, but adults can't fit on the seats

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This fake Mercedes G has two TVs in the rear, but adults can't fit on the seatsCredit: Alibaba

References

  1. ^ G-Class (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
  2. ^ Alibaba.com (www.alibaba.com)
  3. ^ Mercedes G (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
  4. ^ Batman fans were shocked to discover (www.thesun.ie)
  5. ^ James Bond's classic Lotus Espirit from "The Spy Who Loved Me" (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)

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