Change of plans…

In September, I discovered the Grenadier and fell in love with the design. I visited the local dealer and drove a couple and went home to think about it. Then I asked for and received permission to drive one for a few days to check out the suitability of the Grenadier for towing our Airstream trailer. Finally, I ordered one, a very nicely equipped Eldoret blue Station Wagon.
Then the factory shut down. Then the discussions about Recaro and the second guessing began.
In the mean time, my wife and I got aboard our little trawler and began our winter trip down the east coast of the US toward our favorite winter haunts in Key West. We left New England in mid October and have just arrived in Key West a few days before Christmas. This is a cruise more than a delivery so we stop in lots of interesting places and spend a little time here and there. On this trip, I have seen just two Grenadiers “in the wild”… one in Washington DC and another in Charleston SC.
I have also had many hours of time to reflect on my decision to order one.
I love the Grenadier. It is a very special thing and it is, in my opinion, extremely well executed. I should also say that I have very little brand loyalty. I like many automotive designs and brands. A good vehicle is a good vehicle and I don’t care who makes it.
I spent my working life in the business of what I like to refer to as high end European auto maintenance and repair. We also sold cars and we were Vespa and Aprilia dealers. I have owned and driven a lot of different vehicles.
Anyway, we stopped in Ft Lauderdale Florida for a few days and because I can not leave well enough alone, I decided that we’d go look at a few cars. This town has some big dealers and they have things in stock that we don’t get to see often in New England. For example, I have always been a fan of the Audi SQ7. My wife drives an RS Audi that I love but an RS makes a poor tow vehicle. The SQ7 will tow up to 7700 pounds though and it has always been in my list. I simply never see them in dealerships where we live. The Audi dealer in Ft Lauderdale has six of them in stock and this was our first stop.
My wife and I swung by on Monday morning a week ago and it was quiet there. A salesman happily agreed to show us a nice 2025 SQ7 even though I warned him that I was just killing time…
It was a very nice car with just about everything I would want if I were in the market, which I was not.
We looked at it and a few others before thanking the man for his time and getting ready to leave. He, as he is supposed to do, asked me if I would just hear his offer… I’d wasted his time so I felt obligated to let him try.
I said ok… A few minutes later, the sales manager introduced himself and said that they would take $10,000 off of sticker if I was interested. I was so surprised that I didn’t say anything. Then the number grew to about $12,000 and they had an easy way to deliver the vehicle to our home some 1500 plus miles away.
Well, I now own a very slick 2025 Audi SQ7 and it was home before the end of the week!
My Grenadier plans dissolved right in front of my eyes.
While I will miss the Greandier, I am also thrilled with my new ride. I won’t even see it again until sometime in late April but what a vehicle!
I am pretty sure I will end up with a Grenadier at some point although not too quickly now.

Well, hopefully you have good friends who will let you ride in theirs
Buying a new car should always be exciting, no matter the path that took you there, and congratulations are certainly in order.
That SQ7 is quite a vehicle and should give you a terrific albeit quite different experience. And a much better HVAC system

At least you will not think about heavy drinking manners of your car and so can concentrate on your own while thinking what life would have been (or will be someday) with a Grenadier.
The SQ7 for sure is not the worst choice you could have made.
Anyway, Merry Christmas. You bought yourself a very nice (but not the most exiting) present

bemax said:

At least you will not think about heavy drinking manners of your car and so can concentrate on your own while thinking what life would have been (or will be someday) with a Grenadier.
The SQ7 for sure is not the worst choice you could have made.
Anyway, Merry Christmas. You bought yourself a very nice (but not the most exiting) present

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Merry Christmas!

To be honest, I find the Q7 (with or without the 'S') so tasteless that I wouldn't take one for money or good words.

But that's just my opinion, and there's no accounting for taste.

So good luck with it.

these “typical” SUVs are so different from the grenadier on so many facets.. for being so easily swayed to go with one of the typical ones, the grenadier is likely not a good fit for you, long term.

You really need to love the grenadier, to overlook its many faults

Good for you.

Bruce B said:

View attachment 7882371View attachment 7882372In September, I discovered the Grenadier and fell in love with the design. I visited the local dealer and drove a couple and went home to think about it. Then I asked for and received permission to drive one for a few days to check out the suitability of the Grenadier for towing our Airstream trailer. Finally, I ordered one, a very nicely equipped Eldoret blue Station Wagon.
Then the factory shut down. Then the discussions about Recaro and the second guessing began.
In the mean time, my wife and I got aboard our little trawler and began our winter trip down the east coast of the US toward our favorite winter haunts in Key West. We left New England in mid October and have just arrived in Key West a few days before Christmas. This is a cruise more than a delivery so we stop in lots of interesting places and spend a little time here and there. On this trip, I have seen just two Grenadiers “in the wild”… one in Washington DC and another in Charleston SC.
I have also had many hours of time to reflect on my decision to order one.
I love the Grenadier. It is a very special thing and it is, in my opinion, extremely well executed. I should also say that I have very little brand loyalty. I like many automotive designs and brands. A good vehicle is a good vehicle and I don’t care who makes it.
I spent my working life in the business of what I like to refer to as high end European auto maintenance and repair. We also sold cars and we were Vespa and Aprilia dealers. I have owned and driven a lot of different vehicles.
Anyway, we stopped in Ft Lauderdale Florida for a few days and because I can not leave well enough alone, I decided that we’d go look at a few cars. This town has some big dealers and they have things in stock that we don’t get to see often in New England. For example, I have always been a fan of the Audi SQ7. My wife drives an RS Audi that I love but an RS makes a poor tow vehicle. The SQ7 will tow up to 7700 pounds though and it has always been in my list. I simply never see them in dealerships where we live. The Audi dealer in Ft Lauderdale has six of them in stock and this was our first stop.
My wife and I swung by on Monday morning a week ago and it was quiet there. A salesman happily agreed to show us a nice 2025 SQ7 even though I warned him that I was just killing time…
It was a very nice car with just about everything I would want if I were in the market, which I was not.
We looked at it and a few others before thanking the man for his time and getting ready to leave. He, as he is supposed to do, asked me if I would just hear his offer… I’d wasted his time so I felt obligated to let him try.
I said ok… A few minutes later, the sales manager introduced himself and said that they would take $10,000 off of sticker if I was interested. I was so surprised that I didn’t say anything. Then the number grew to about $12,000 and they had an easy way to deliver the vehicle to our home some 1500 plus miles away.
Well, I now own a very slick 2025 Audi SQ7 and it was home before the end of the week!
My Grenadier plans dissolved right in front of my eyes.
While I will miss the Greandier, I am also thrilled with my new ride. I won’t even see it again until sometime in late April but what a vehicle!
I am pretty sure I will end up with a Grenadier at some point although not too quickly now.

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My friends who have/ had Audi Q7 (Petrol and diesel) without exception are delighted with the marque and that model especially.
The reality is, different vehicles for different purposes. The Audi Q7 version in Australia is a very fine long distance blacktop tourer. Given my experiences a couple of decades ago on innumerable work visits to the USA, a vehicle like the Audi Q7 gobbling up the endless miles on the "interstate" would have been fabulous!
Enjoy!!