MERCEDES-BENZ G500 Cabriolet Review

Mercedes’ G-Class is the kind of car you buy because you love it. When you take such a decision, you accept all its limitations, as many of these have become part of its character. Fetishes don’t even need an explanation.

The G-Class Cabriolet is more than the sum of its parts, it’s got a personality of its own. This car knows how to make you feel like an explorer even if you’ve never went further than 100 miles from your office without panicking.

It’s also a very practical car for a convertible, coming with full-space rear seats and a boot that’s ready to hide all your dark secrets.

The Mercedes G-Class Cabrio somehow manages to feel even tougher than a G63 AMG and this attitude is what makes up the best part of it. Alas, the Mercedes G-Class Cabriolet is like a spice that’s simply too strong - the thing that makes it special is also its worst side and we’re talking about the roof here.

Driving with the top folded is all nice, but when you place it above your head, you won’t be able to go past 60 mph (100 km/h) due to the side sections’ thumping. We also expect the rear side’s thermal protection to allow the winter chills to enter the car.

While the rest of the car’s shortcomings are the usual G-Class caprices, this is something you really can’t live with unless this is an addition to an already rich garage. If you get the opportunity to spend some time with a Mercedes G-Class Cabriolet though, don’t miss it. You’ll have a blast!

Don’t worry though, you can’t even buy a G-Class Cabriolet anymore. The vehicle had been pulled out of the US market a few years ago, but it was still available in other parts of the world. However, Mercedes has recently stopped taking orders for the Final Edition 200.

It was all a well-planned scheme to... filter out the G-Class. When the automaker announced it would replace the G-Class with the GL some years ago, the fans protested at the Magna-Steyr plant in Graz, Austria, convincing the company to keep the model alive.

Nevertheless, when Mercedes introduced the 2013 MY refresh, the short wheelbase hardtop model was disposed of. Now the Cabriolet is gone, so we’re only left with the long wheelbase model.

Mercedes said they’ve extended the production contract in Graz until 2015 and here’s where the speculation begins. If you look at the rate with which the G63 AMG is winning hearts, it’s obvious that the demand is still there. However, future pedestrian protection legislation could mean that 2015 will truly be the end of the Gelandewagen story.

All we know for a fact is that Mercedes has an open mind. Otherwise it wouldn’t have built the G63 AMG 6x6 guilty pleasure.