The G-wagon is used by more NATO countries than any other Light Utility Vehicle. Whether or not Belinda is going to make money from them to buy her next hockey star boyfriend gifts is not really relevant to their being chosen. These were picked through proper trials run by the DND. (not like, say for example, the LSVW).
Wayne: I was a mechanic on the Iltis when they were adopted, and over the 20 years that I repaired them, I saw the same faults and weaknesses in the last years as I saw in the first. Do a search on this forum with Iltis, and my name as the author....I vented in depth on some of the repeated failures these trucks produced.
Back when we bought the Iltis, they were $24,000 a piece. I remember jokingly trying to trade one with the Americans for a Humvee, but all the American could say was "Hey, you are missing 4 cylinders!".
The Humvee, when new back in 86, was $35,000 a copy. You got a lot more for the money buying American in my opinion. Best part of buying American, is that parts are available through COLOG cheap and plentiful. There were periods when we were grounding Iltis for stupid things like speedometers (manufacturer had quit making them), and even air filters (none for almost 1 year.).
We'll see in 2 or 3 years, once the surplus parts dry up, how many of the Iltis are still driving around. I suspect I will still see more M38s and A1s than I will see Iltis by then (in fact I see more of the old jeeps around now.)
Kudos to the Belgium government, for not trying to flog a dead horse.
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