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

So why would I buy one?

When I already I have a real one!


Arckaringa Hills at dawn | Arckaringa South Australia A Land… | Flickr

Originally Posted by Mules

Booked in for 04 December in NSW... I got the email early in the morning and booked immediately. I figured it would fill up fast.

Happy to look into anything / ask questions if somebody can't make it.

Very seriously interested. Currently running a 300tdi 110 and LC 80 Series (1HZ).. been watching this progress for years, nothing short of impressed with where it is going.

Hi Mules,
did the drive day eventuate?
wondering about your impressions...
Cheers
Hoges

Sadly my drive day has been delayed in account of travel restrictions according to Ineos.

Have to wait until the new year.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Sadly my drive day has been delayed in account of travel restrictions according to Ineos.

Have to wait until the new year.

Might have known you'd be on the list, Mike....

Hey Hoges,

Yep sorry been meaning to put some words down.

No test drive unfortunately this time (read between the lines here!) but a great opportunity to get a look at a prototype. It really is a prototype and while the interior dash and trim are indicative of the end product, they are mostly 3D printed. I am quick to forgive the lack of a test drive as they are pushing the vehicle as intended, and in the open.

The gentlemen who hosted us were very professional, including an Ineos engineer who had previous experience with Land Rover, and who was proud to seemingly fix most things that bug us about Defender ownership (or endear us!). No silly sales pitch; I think they know the vehicle largely speaks for itself.

My principle reservation up front is my perception of cargo space - it's not as deep as in a 110, unsurprisingly as the vehicle is shorter. But, it is also wider so perhaps it's better than on first glimpse. I'd put it in between a 110 and a G-wagon. Access is fantastic with the rear door set-up, and the weight-bearing door has sizeable 'pins' top and bottom that are properly engineered to prevent rear door cracking over corrugations. So, no obvious requirement for a rear wheel carrier.

Roof is load bearing and and has practical tie down 'poles' on the side. Great to tie off to. Very solid and handy rear ladder (optional extra).

Seats very comfortable, front and rear. Ample manual adjustment forward and rear (I mean a LOT). Tall drivers no problem with leg space (or head space for that matter). I'm 182 cm and after 7 years of using seat extenders in the Defender, I took them out as I was sick of ducking slightly to get a clear line of sight. This is not a problem in the Grenadier. It feels like you are sitting in a 'cabin', the view out is excellent, the instrument panel and layout just works really nicely (I was worried it was a little overstated, not so). That roof console is something else! Steering wheel was really nice, perfect size and feel. Amazing amount of elbow room and the feeling of a lot of car between you and outside. A bit tighter in driver leg room than I expected, but evidently some modifications are in play.

Rear seats don't fold completely flat apparently, this is a bummer. View from the rear seats not so different from a 110 (eg. Good for kids but less so adults). Primary battery is located under one of the rear seats, and space for a second battery (eg. Along the width of the rear seats, so conceivably space for a battery management system). Mounts to accept cargo barriers internally and to change quickly, without need for modification. Space under the front seats (eg. Tool roll perhaps?).

Very nicely proportioned vehicle. Indicative fuel tank capacity of 90 litres. Watch this space for long range fuel tank options. They are really thinking outside the square for service delivery / spares etc. Partnership with Bosch and others (slowly growing). I won't go through all the details, but suffice to say a good plan for when you wish to order parts. Also, digitable manual with 'expandable' graphics (a bit better than Haynes I'd hope!). A very novel ambition to be able to add after-market accessories pre-delivery (eg. ARB bull-bar).

So... it doesn't rewrite the rulebook. I don't look at my Landy much differently, it still has history, nostalgia and functionality (although will without a doubt be far more liveable). It also doesn't replace a Troopy, which remains a great big 4WD van that you can happily cut the roof off for a tent conversion and kit out the inside (I suspect the electronics in the Grenadier roof may prevent this from being easily done).

But I don't think these observations hold it back, rather, they highlight it's functionality and quality. The whole vehicle was just so bloody well thought through. I've got little reason to doubt that the engine and gearbox won't be a great match. Coming from a Tdi it will be punchy and smooth I've no doubt. Everything was strikingly practical. I struggled to get out of the vehicle and leave, would have been happy to poke around it all day.

Hats off to what this company had pulled together. Evidently Sir Jim has had more of a say about certain features than I would have thought. Above all, they are serious.

At this stage we'll be staying in the que....

Mules

Originally Posted by Mules

Hey Hoges,

Yep sorry been meaning to put some words down.

No test drive unfortunately this time (read between the lines here!) but a great opportunity to get a look at a prototype. It really is a prototype and while the interior dash and trim are indicative of the end product, they are mostly 3D printed. I am quick to forgive the lack of a test drive as they are pushing the vehicle as intended, and in the open.

The gentlemen who hosted us were very professional, including an Ineos engineer who had previous experience with Land Rover, and who was proud to seemingly fix most things that bug us about Defender ownership (or endear us!). No silly sales pitch; I think they know the vehicle largely speaks for itself.

My principle reservation up front is my perception of cargo space - it's not as deep as in a 110, unsurprisingly as the vehicle is shorter. But, it is also wider so perhaps it's better than on first glimpse. I'd put it in between a 110 and a G-wagon. Access is fantastic with the rear door set-up, and the weight-bearing door has sizeable 'pins' top and bottom that are properly engineered to prevent rear door cracking over corrugations. So, no obvious requirement for a rear wheel carrier.

Roof is load bearing and and has practical tie down 'poles' on the side. Great to tie off to. Very solid and handy rear ladder (optional extra).

Seats very comfortable, front and rear. Ample manual adjustment forward and rear (I mean a LOT). Tall drivers no problem with leg space (or head space for that matter). I'm 182 cm and after 7 years of using seat extenders in the Defender, I took them out as I was sick of ducking slightly to get a clear line of sight. This is not a problem in the Grenadier. It feels like you are sitting in a 'cabin', the view out is excellent, the instrument panel and layout just works really nicely (I was worried it was a little overstated, not so). That roof console is something else! Steering wheel was really nice, perfect size and feel. Amazing amount of elbow room and the feeling of a lot of car between you and outside. A bit tighter in driver leg room than I expected, but evidently some modifications are in play.

Rear seats don't fold completely flat apparently, this is a bummer. View from the rear seats not so different from a 110 (eg. Good for kids but less so adults). Primary battery is located under one of the rear seats, and space for a second battery (eg. Along the width of the rear seats, so conceivably space for a battery management system). Mounts to accept cargo barriers internally and to change quickly, without need for modification. Space under the front seats (eg. Tool roll perhaps?).

Very nicely proportioned vehicle. Indicative fuel tank capacity of 90 litres. Watch this space for long range fuel tank options. They are really thinking outside the square for service delivery / spares etc. Partnership with Bosch and others (slowly growing). I won't go through all the details, but suffice to say a good plan for when you wish to order parts. Also, digitable manual with 'expandable' graphics (a bit better than Haynes I'd hope!). A very novel ambition to be able to add after-market accessories pre-delivery (eg. ARB bull-bar).

So... it doesn't rewrite the rulebook. I don't look at my Landy much differently, it still has history, nostalgia and functionality (although will without a doubt be far more liveable). It also doesn't replace a Troopy, which remains a great big 4WD van that you can happily cut the roof off for a tent conversion and kit out the inside (I suspect the electronics in the Grenadier roof may prevent this from being easily done).

But I don't think these observations hold it back, rather, they highlight it's functionality and quality. The whole vehicle was just so bloody well thought through. I've got little reason to doubt that the engine and gearbox won't be a great match. Coming from a Tdi it will be punchy and smooth I've no doubt. Everything was strikingly practical. I struggled to get out of the vehicle and leave, would have been happy to poke around it all day.

Hats off to what this company had pulled together. Evidently Sir Jim has had more of a say about certain features than I would have thought. Above all, they are serious.

At this stage we'll be staying in the que....

Mules

Thanks for that. So the 'hype' of it being what the New Defender should/could have been is real?

one_iota,

Tough call for a Puma driver, sure.

But I know which one I'd choose.

May yours serve you reliably.

Originally Posted by one_iota

So why would I buy one?

When I already I have a real one!


Arckaringa Hills at dawn | Arckaringa South Australia A Land… | Flickr

I think so Tins.

In fact I'm almost convinced so. Just shows how much Land Rover were off the mark with the new 'Defender'.

Originally Posted by Tins

Thanks for that. So the 'hype' of it being what the New Defender should/could have been is real?