No Unicat U5000

[dzzz]

Outside the states, the only new unimog I see expedition campers on is the U500. But many mog owners in north america exclaim the superiority of the unreachable U5000.

Why does/did unicat build on the U500 "lawn mower" instead of the U5000? Is american U5000 lust just about the 'girl' we can't have?

 

[charlieaarons]

If you look at the Unicat site under "Individual" there is a U5000 lifting roof camper
http://www.unicat.net/en/info/EX49HD-MANM4x4.html
But the U5000 has the 4 cyl 924 motor: 218hp/597ft-lb and 6.94 gears so 60mph is top speed, 50-55 cruising speed.
The U500 has the more powerful 906: 286hp/826ft-lb and 6.38s (outside NA where it's 5.92) so it goes 5-10 mph faster. Not important in a BMW for instance but very important in a Mog.
Re all these people drooling over the hypothetical idea of a U5000: I wish a few had stepped to the plate and actually purchased the obtainable and still fabulous U500. despite its' "shortcomings".
I imagine we'd see the same phenomenon if Toyota ever brought the VZJ78 4.5L twin turbo V8 diesel Troopcarrier to the US.

Charlie

 

[haven]

Mercedes imported the U500 to USA from 2002 through 2007. They sold about 200 of them through Freightliner dealers. Mercedes decided not to certify the Unimog powerplant to meet the tighter diesel emissions rules that went into effect in 2008. There is some hope that Unimog will return after 2010, when the European emissions rules change to be closer to the rules in USA.

I think the U500 was imported instead of the U5000 because the U500 is designed to accept a wider variety of accessories, for uses like roadside mowing, post hole drilling, snow removal, fire fighting, and so on. The U5000 is not as flexible. Mercedes must have figured that the sales potential for the U500 was greater than the U5000.

 

[dzzz]

I assume the U5000 is less expensive? Maybe not when the U500 options are removed.
I think just selling the U5000 as "the best off highway wheeled vehicle" would be enough to sell a few hundred a year. The H1 owners couldn't stand the humiliation.

 

[Lynn]

Here's the Unicat link I think Charlie meant to include:

U5000 Unicat

Oh, to be rich...

 

[charlieaarons]

I assume the U5000 is less expensive? Maybe not when the U500 options are removed.
I think just selling the U5000 as "the best off highway wheeled vehicle" would be enough to sell a few hundred a year. The H1 owners couldn't stand the humiliation.

From what I see on www.mobile.de they are about equally priced. Both have comprehensive option lists. My options added 31.5% to the base price.
Sorry about the incorrect link.
The question that comes to mind regarding Haven's post re emissions: Mercedes is still selling currently mfg'd Freightliners with the 926 engine, which is engineered to meet EPA 07 specs.
Perhaps in 2010 when the big cave-in to urea/SCR occurs we might (but probably won't) see Bluetec equipped U500s...

Charlie

 

[dzzz]

The bluetec doesn't bother me, but some of the new diesels in the U.S. are suppose to use very expensive oil.
Charlie, what oil are you running in your u500?

 

[charlieaarons]

CJ4 oil isn't particularly expensive and that's what one finds going to "the store" for heavy duty engine oils these days.
Delo 400 LE Multigrade 15W40, Rotella T 15W40, Delvac MX 15W40 etc etc etc etc.
I'm using Delvac 1 SHC 5W40, an ACEA E4/E5 oil - also approximately CH4 - PAO synthetic
http://www.mobil.com/Egypt-English/Lubes/PDS/GLEGENCVLMOMobil_Delvac_1_SHC_5W-40.asp

It's 5W40 (necessary for my climate) and MB228.5 (only oil meeting this spec available in US)
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevol...th=bevolisten&blatt=228.5&content_action=show
I no longer have EGR.

Charlie