2019 vs 2025 G550: What Changed (Engine, Tech, and Feel)
February 11, 2026
Every once in a while, a truck shows up that reminds you why the G-Wagon became legendary in the first place. Not the modern luxury side of the story—the original, mechanical, no-nonsense side. This one is a 1989 300GD, built on the W460 chassis, and it’s a perfect example of how simple and rugged these early trucks really are.
It also has one detail that immediately scrambles your senses the moment you climb in:
The steering wheel is on the “wrong” side.
Right-hand drive, on U.S. roads, in a diesel, manual 460 chassis truck is equal parts hilarious, charming, and mildly taxing—at least until your brain catches up.
From the outside, a W460 can look surprisingly close to a W463 if you don’t know what you’re looking for. But there are some quick visual tells. The front end on this 460 is simpler and more utilitarian—less plastic trim, more “purpose-built” design language, and classic finishes like black trim pieces and a metal grille that feel properly old-school.
But the bigger difference isn’t cosmetic. The W460 era is about mechanical simplicity. It’s a truck that does what it does without needing a screen, modules, or layers of electronics to make decisions for you. That’s either a dream…or a headache…depending on the kind of driver you are.
Driving right-hand drive on American roads is the kind of thing that sounds cool until you realize how many tiny habits you’ve built over years of driving. Your turn signal muscle memory is wrong. Your shifting rhythm feels weird. Your spatial awareness takes a minute to recalibrate—especially in tight spots like parking garages where you’re already juggling clearance, traffic, and lane position.
The transcript nails the vibe: you’re basically running a full-time mental multitask routine at low speeds until it starts to feel normal again. After a few laps, you settle in. But the first few minutes can feel like your brain is doing math it didn’t study for.
And yes—if you ever get pulled over, there’s the comical reality that the officer walks up to the “normal” driver side…while you’re sitting on the other side of the cabin trying to reach paperwork without looking suspicious.
This truck is a non-turbo diesel 300GD, which means it is absolutely not in a hurry. It’s the kind of powertrain that encourages scenic routes, patience, and a relaxed relationship with acceleration.
The humor in the transcript is dead-on: 0–60 happens…eventually. The owner claims it’ll do about 68 mph, which honestly feels like a victory lap for a naturally aspirated diesel in a boxy 1980s truck.
But that’s also part of the charm. You’re not driving this for speed. You’re driving it because it feels mechanical, honest, and analog in a way modern vehicles can’t replicate.
If you’ve never been inside a 460/461-style G-Wagon, the layout is refreshingly straightforward. There’s no mystery. Everything is functional, and most of it is designed to be robust rather than convenient.
You’ve got the typical 5-speed manual pattern…just shifted over to your opposite hand, which feels strange at first. Then you notice two additional knobs in the center console—these are your manual differential locks. No fancy logic, no electronic delay: you pull them up to actuate them. It’s archaic, but it works.
One of the more interesting quirks: many W460s are rear-wheel drive until you shift into 4WD. When you engage it, you’re selecting four-wheel drive manually, and then you can step into low range through the transfer case sequence. It’s a very “you’re in charge now” type of system.
This is classic old-truck reality. Storage exists, but the compartments feel like they were designed to hold exactly nothing you actually carry today. Phones don’t sit right. Water bottles roll around. Anything small becomes a projectile. You learn quickly that the truck wasn’t designed for modern clutter.
And then there’s the classic touch: the “usual broken clock” joke—because if you know, you know.
Even on a vintage rig like this, a few subtle upgrades can dramatically improve day-to-day usability without ruining the character.
This particular 300GD has had its exterior lighting converted to LED, including Holley RetroBright LED headlights and LED bulbs around the truck. That’s a huge practical upgrade for visibility and safety while still fitting the old-school aesthetic.
It also has a Continental Bluetooth radio installed—modern functionality in a classic-looking unit—though the transcript makes a funny point: sometimes the best soundtrack is simply the truck doing its thing.
One especially quirky feature mentioned is an idle-up knob. It’s exactly what it sounds like: you can raise idle speed manually—helpful on cold starts or warm-ups. Again, totally mechanical, totally old-school, and pretty cool once you realize what it’s doing.
Because it’s an import—and because it’s right-hand drive—insurance isn’t always plug-and-play. The transcript ties this truck back to the importance of a stated value policy, especially when the vehicle doesn’t fall neatly into a normal insurer’s database or the market value depends heavily on rarity and condition.
A recent comparable sale for a similar short-wheelbase G300 is mentioned around $45,000, and the transcript suggests adding roughly 10–15% premium for a right-hand drive example in similar condition in the U.S. market. That kind of nuance is exactly why stated value coverage can matter: you want coverage aligned with real-world replacement reality, not a generic “old SUV” estimate.
Here’s the bigger point: trucks like this are fun because they’re simple. They’re also excellent candidates for sensible upgrades. The transcript notes that the same general philosophy used on W463 builds—ride quality improvements, suspension refreshes, practical tire choices—translates well to a W460.
Even a “stock plus” style suspension upgrade can noticeably improve control and comfort, and on a lightweight short-wheelbase truck it may even add a little ride height, opening the door for slightly larger tires and better snow clearance.
If you want a fully mechanical, minimal electronics, “bug-out” style rig, a W460 like this makes a lot of sense. You get a platform that’s easy to understand, easier to work on than many modern vehicles, and endlessly customizable without needing to reinvent the entire truck.
A right-hand drive, non-turbo diesel, manual G-Wagon is not the easy choice. It’s not the practical choice. It’s the choice you make because you want the experience—because you want to drive something different, something honest, and something that forces you to pay attention.
If you like puzzles and you want your daily drive to feel like a small adventure (even when you’re just signaling and shifting), this is your ticket.
Get in touch with Joe Gocher and the team at Alliance Auto Care—we’ll get your truck squared away the right way.