Ineos Grenadier, do you reckon it'll take off?

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Originally Posted by one_iota

Good chance.

They are now displacing the new Defender as the cooler inner urban vehicle of cool! (as the classic Defender 90 previously was).

Here I was thinking they were built for a purpose![thumbsupbig]

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Yep, I looked at a handful of piccies and some video after posting my message, and I am sure it was a Grenadier.

Yes, it definitely oozed urban cool. I imagine that Kensington and Knightsbridge must be filling up with 'em.

Mind you, I do like what I saw of them in the video posted by Captain Rightfoot on this thread. Coincidentally enough (considering that I have spent very little of my life so far thinking about Grenadiers), on a professional webpage which I have just been perusing, the Grenadier popped up again. It seems that they're going on sale in Tanzania. I used to work there and not long ago there were Defenders all over the shop. Last time I was back there was early this year and it was sad to see many fewer of them than was normal not long ago.

Actually, and this may be going a little off topic, I know that at least some of the large conservation projects in Sub-Saharan Africa which have switched to Toyotas in recent years would not have done so if Defenders (I'm talking Tdi-engined jobbies here) had remained available. I wonder if the Grenadier might sneak in the back door there....

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Originally Posted by Johnno1969

Actually, and this may be going a little off topic, I know that at least some of the large conservation projects in Sub-Saharan Africa which have switched to Toyotas in recent years would not have done so if Defenders (I'm talking Tdi-engined jobbies here) had remained available. I wonder if the Grenadier might sneak in the back door there....

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Anything complicated and with any type of electronics are not wanted over there.That is why they use the Tojo which is still available new with the simple and ultra reliable 1 HZ engines.
TD5 onwards Defenders were never popular.
So I can’t see the Grenadier being a big seller there either.

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Originally Posted by scarry

Anything complicated and with any type of electronics are not wanted over there.That is why they use the Tojo which is still available new with the simple and ultra reliable 1 HZ engines.
TD5 onwards Defenders were never popular.
So I can’t see the Grenadier being a big seller there either.

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All true. I was just speculating on a some Grenadiers being sold based on residual liking for the Defenders. Once the Tdi was dropped, Defenders did indeed begin to depart the landscape.

I've been watching a few youtube videos and the more i see the more impressed i am with them, nothing else on the market covers the niche where it sits not even the 76/79 tojo, more comfort and features than the LC's and i'd say probably more off-road ability for a very similar price. The new 2.8L 76 is about the only thing cheaper but really not in the same league being just one step up from a tractor - if i could afford one i think i would buy one.

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Originally Posted by loanrangie

I've been watching a few youtube videos and the more i see the more impressed i am with them, nothing else on the market covers the niche where it sits not even the 76/79 tojo, more comfort and features than the LC's and i'd say probably more off-road ability for a very similar price. The new 2.8L 76 is about the only thing cheaper but really not in the same league being just one step up from a tractor - if i could afford one i think i would buy one.

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I agree. It joins the niche in terms of cachet/cool that the classic Defender still occupies but with added value. Toyota has its own territory and will continue to do so. As for the L633 Defender....it has created its own territory successfully. I'm still left wondering what the point of the Grenadier is though.

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Originally Posted by one_iota

I agree. It joins the niche in terms of cachet/cool that the classic Defender still occupies but with added value. Toyota has its own territory and will continue to do so. As for the L633 Defender....it has created its own territory successfully. I'm still left wondering what the point of the Grenadier is though.

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That's simple,the ruggedness of the old with just enough tech and comfort to not feel like your driving a tractor
It's what the next gen defender could have been without pushing it too far towards the luxury field.

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Originally Posted by loanrangie

That's simple,the ruggedness of the old with just enough tech and comfort to not feel like your driving a tractor
It's what the next gen defender could have been without pushing it too far towards the luxury field.

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I get the subjective but the objective eludes me. Terms such as "ruggedness" and "just enough" and "luxury" can't be used without definition. Don't get me wrong...I get the appeal of the Grenadier being also a classic Defender owner. My heart says yes...my brain asks why. I'm just not head over heels with the idea of it. The old Defender was what it was...and maybe I can't get over that romantic attachment. I've fallen for my new one because it makes sense.[bigsmile1]

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Originally Posted by loanrangie

That's simple,the ruggedness of the old with just enough tech and comfort to not feel like your driving a tractor
It's what the next gen defender could have been without pushing it too far towards the luxury field.

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I can't help wondering, if the market for the Grenadier exists, why don't Mercedes own it with the Gwagon.

They already have 4 and 6wd variants, army to luxo barge trim. All the development done and paid for, dealer network in place

They are unable or unwilling to price one that will sell.

Tony

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Originally Posted by TonyC

I can't help wondering, if the market for the Grenadier exists, why don't Mercedes own it with the Gwagon.

They already have 4 and 6wd variants, army to luxo barge trim. All the development done and paid for, dealer network in place

They are unable or unwilling to price one that will sell.

Tony

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No one thinks of Mercedes when they want a bush capable vehicle,they are still too upmarket with a matching price tag.
There isn't a perfect vehicle but I definitely see the grenadier as a defender successor more than the L663 is but I do like the defender.

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Originally Posted by loanrangie

No one thinks of Mercedes when they want a bush capable vehicle,they are still too upmarket with a matching price tag.
There isn't a perfect vehicle but I definitely see the grenadier as a defender successor more than the L663 is but I do like the defender.

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I think of both Gwagon and Unimog when bush capable vehicle conversations come up.

Civilian Gwagon is up market because Mercedes put it there, neither the Army or the Forest Fire Management Victoria Gwagons are up market, they are commercial vehicles.

Are the Civilian Gwagons upmarket because Mercedes can't build and sell them for $100K? Or because they don't want to?

The Grenadier is much more Gwagon than Defender. That said I wish them the best of luck with it.

Tony