harald is right. it comes down to broken parts and spending money.
if you buy a pre 2002, you spend money fixing normal wear and tear items just because the damn thing is old... aka zimms 1996..... $$$$
if you buy a 2002-2004, you end up fixing things that MB **************** from being cheap cocksuckers looking to bilk the US market.... $$$$
but with the latter of the two options you get a newer truck thats worth more money and has lots more balls per gallon. better ROI.
unless your looking at crossing the congo the up front premium for a diesel doesnt add up for newbie buyers in the US like us. we have cheap gas, its readily available even in central america, we have vast distances of improved highways to get from rough spot to rough spot, and a 500 will kick an anemic diesels *** on those roads.
that having been said.... if i could find a low mileage LHD toyota 70 series diesel troopy in the US, i'd burn the G for the insurance money!
(so i do sorta get your desire)
I hear you on spending money...trying to look at an even playfield in the end;
Option 1; keep my cherry '80 (purchased for a pretty penny), add a 606A swap, maybe also swapping from 4spd manual to auto, eventually restore/repaint it in order to preserve for future. Estimated into it; $50k?
Option 2; keep searching for a nice G320 and drive it as is, probably won't need any paint/bodywork as newer and has had less time to rust. Estimated into it; $35k w/ some needed repairs via a PPI
Option 3; throw in the towel on yearning for a preMBUSA W463, suck it up, deal with the personally-less-pleasing MBUSA cluster/buttons/etc and bit worse MPG from the V8, probably won't need any paint/bodywork as newer and has had less time to rust. Estimated into it; $30k+ w/ maybe some small needed repairs via a PPI
Note this doesn't include any overlanding mods.
In the end, I'm seeing the light some of your are shedding...MBUSA W463 is the more comfortable, prevalent, potentially less costly option of all of them, although it does have some problem areas like with any vehicle. Hopefully they'd have been taken care of by the previous owner's diligent maintenance.
You're probably asking what my requirements are;
-German
-4wd (still on the fence about pros/cons regarding part-time and full-time...full-time is ultimately "safer" but also eats more fuel)
-at minimum, factory center and rear locker
-aiming for at least 14/18mpg (I know I'm right on the fence with a W463 G500)
-sufficient cargo room w/ seats down (prefer split fold seats)
Dreaming about;
-turbo diesel
-higher than 14/18mpg
-simpler to work on the better
I've come to the conclusion that here in America we get the short end of the stick one way or another and that no vehicle will have everything I want;
-euro 300GDT; not available here, even if it was, see Zimm's 96 $$$ note above
-G280CDi PUR; ultimate but not available here, many electronics(not KISSable), high initial cost
-Touareg2 3.0L TDi; avail here, great torque and MPG, but rear diff lock rare, higher initial used cost, not as much cargo room a G due to curved hatch, damn thing goes into limp mode if it's low on urea(not KISSable)
I really appreciate everyone's thoughts. I'm still keeping my eyes open.