Hello, Well went for a Grenadier drive yesterday here in Perth, WA at an Industrial driving instruction ground. The vehicle wasn't one of the prototypes but a 95% production model. I normally drive manual vehicles (Colorado, Hiux, Landcrusier etc) so Whilst I can't speak German I can understand what the gentleman in the video was going through. Having said that I can see the benefit of an automatic in loose sand. The Grenadier effortlessly trundles through sand with the tyres at normal road pressure. Handles hills with ease. It can be a bit choppy in ruts but definitely more comfortable than my present Colorado. The driving expert who was in the car with us said he thought I went a little fast probably because you don't have that jarring feedback that you get from a rear leaf sprung vehicle. Anyway I blamed it on the latest Lewis Hamilton video.
Having driven automatics in the past it was good to find the vehicle has an amount of engine breaking especially in low range manual mode 1st, 2nd. This probably removes the need for descent control unless you leave it automatic all the time. I would have liked to go rock climbing like you have go over in the Pilbara but overall it was a good experience. Even the wife said she didn't get thrown around in the back so there's a plus for passengers.
So if you want to be picky there's a couple of things. Any Aussie is going to say it needs a bigger fuel tank or a preferably a second one. Perhaps move the fuel filters underneath and have a second one on the other side of the prop shaft to the normal tank. Oh and a speed read out in the little fascia panel and the ability to turn it off in the center panel so your partner can't see it. Finally Being older I'm going to have to figure out a way to get the spare off and on the rear door.
Still a good vehicle though and glad I ordered one.
Grey Nomad
