7500 km in the Grenadier and back she goes!

[Dono 17]

Ok, so a big previous LR Defender fan, own a 1959 series II and super excite that the Grenadier was next for me. Returned my 2020 LR defender and bought a IG Trialmaster. Huge disappointment! Terrible on tar road holding. Brake and swerve for wild life crossing the road and the huge nose dip and oversteer is down right dangerous. No way my wife is going to handle this. Massive drive train vibration and rear diff only engages 1/3 of the time. Then there’s the clown who located the rear view camera in the centre of the larger of the two doors…. Not above the hitch! Try to hitch a trailer on your own, in the dark at 20 deg below Celsius when it’s snowing! So… it’s going back to Ineos, I’ll enjoy my Ford F350 with solid axles over this any day!!!

 

[landmannnn]

Sounds like the right decision, this vehicle wasn't for you.

 

[Shopkeep]

First and last post? Enjoy the Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forum.

 

[Phred]

You didn’t even tell us what color you had…

 

[Zimm]

Calgary is 20 below already?

Oddly, other than the "return to center" not being up to a track day, I find two lane'rs, and city driving kinda quick in this. It's the highway driving that the casterless brick has more difficulty with.

 

[Dono 17]

Agreed, the highway driving is the biggest issue. In the US and Canada, thousands of miles done on highway - in my case a 12 hour drive each way to Flin Flon, Manitoba. Mostly tarred roads then onto dirt to fish some of the lakes. It handles the dirt/ gravel very well but not the asphalt. My 2020 LR defender was brilliant on and off road…. Just didn’t think it would last long term with all that tech! The reason I posted is just as a heads up to others thinking of over landing in North America. Cheers,

 

[Zimm]

Agreed, the highway driving is the biggest issue. In the US and Canada, thousands of miles done on highway - in my case a 12 hour drive each way to Flin Flon, Manitoba. Mostly tarred roads then onto dirt to fish some of the lakes. It handles the dirt/ gravel very well but not the asphalt. My 2020 LR defender was brilliant on and off road…. Just didn’t think it would last long term with all that tech! The reason I posted is just as a heads up to others thinking of over landing in North America. Cheers,

Yea, I think for the money I'd get a Lexus LS for that type of use. I have an f350, and without 4000 lbs in the back, it sucks donkey balls for all sorts of driving. It does seem odd that your two complaints, if they were your primary needs, would both be sorta obvious on the test drive, and don't really have much to do with "overlanding."

 

[anand]

Agreed, the highway driving is the biggest issue. In the US and Canada, thousands of miles done on highway - in my case a 12 hour drive each way to Flin Flon, Manitoba. Mostly tarred roads then onto dirt to fish some of the lakes. It handles the dirt/ gravel very well but not the asphalt.

Interesting you felt that way, with multiple 12+hr drive days in a row (all highway, nearly all at >125km/h or faster), I felt the Grenadier to be an excellent highway cruiser (well planted, super comfy seats, great driving position); and just the same on twisty mountain backroads as well

 

[Bruce B]

Interesting you felt that way, with multiple 12+hr drive days in a row (all highway, nearly all at >125km/h or faster), I felt the Grenadier to be an excellent highway cruiser (well planted, super comfy seats, great driving position); and just the same on twisty mountain backroads as well

I have only driven about 300 miles in a Grenadier, a loaner, but I too liked the way it drove both on highways and secondary streets. Granted, it is no Porsche but it did very well for me. I was actually convinced that I’d probably like it but not enough to actually want one. I was wrong and I placed my order the day I returned the loaner.

 

[anand]

Granted, it is no Porsche but it did very well for me.

This is an important thing to keep in mind; it isn't a Cayenne or a GLE, or even a 200 series LC, and will never drive like any of those. It is a purpose built tool, and unfortunately I feel that a number of dealers are attempting to push them to the masses

 

[bemax]

So maybe his Grenadier has some issues with the steering that we don’t have. Than for sure it’s the right thing to give it back.
… or to let someone have a look on the steering parts.

 

[DaveB]

Mine has 26,000 kms (16,100 miles) on the clock and drives really well on all types of roads.
Not as smoothly as an SUV but then again I never expected that.
I think North American vehicles/SUV's do tend to have a softer riding setup than we normally do anyway.

Rule of thumb in Australia is never swerve for an animal or you will end up in a ditch or a tree trying to convince a cop and your insurance company that there really was an animal there.
Brake in a straight line and take off as much speed as possible.
Also the reason we have bull bars on our vehicles.

 

[Bruce B]

So maybe his Grenadier has some issues with the steering that we don’t have. Than for sure it’s the right thing to give it back.
… or to let someone have a look on the steering parts.

I am a little amazed at the complaints about Grenadier steering performance. It is a theme that keeps repeating. Of course you are correct, something may have been wrong with the vehicle but I suspect not. I found the steering much like several 3/4 ton vehicles I have driven, different but easily adapted to and just fine once you do.
It is a really curious thing.

 

[Nadir5]

I don't mind mine's highway manners at all. I don't tow, so couldn't offer an opinion one way or another on that. It does seem like relocating the camera would be a possibility, or perhaps adding a camera that mates with your phone if relocation isn't possible but that view is critical. People used to be able to use trailers without cameras helping them not that long ago.

 

[Kevin Mokracek]

Sorry to hear you didn’t get to enjoy your purchase. I had a complaint about highway driving after my purchase but any concern I had vanished after a week of ownership, I now love the way it drives and look forward to every chance I have to drive it, especially long road trips. I just got home from a 1000 mile plus trip through the southwest and it performed perfectly and was loaded down with tons of rafting gear and still handles great.

I always tell prospective buyers that they will most likely hate the way it feels on the highway but that after a week you won’t even notice it.

 

[DoubleDoom]

Terrible on tar road holding. Brake and swerve for wild life crossing the road and the huge nose dip and oversteer is down right dangerous.

I am not experiencing anything like that. However, if your tyres are over filled, it can feel that way. Initially mine were pumped for heavy load by the dealer and when warm (over long distances) it became uncomfortable (not too much but more than I would like). I dropped back to a sensible PSI and not had that issue since.

Also, if you are a gripper of the steering wheel rather than relaxed hold, you will keep correcting within the lines. My daughter did it initially. She was steering within the white lines. I told her to let go of the wheel and watch it go in a straight line. And it did. I then told her to relax her hands and just rest on the wheel and guide it when necessary and that worked for her. She didn't suffer it again.

The bottom line is that if you are long distance road running, then any of the LR/RR are going to better than the IG. They are built for that. If you are expecting SUV on road performance with the IG then you are going to be disappointed. It is in line with UV on road performance.

I used the camera during a hail storm to attach a 3.5T muck trailer and had no issues at all. However, my Defender Puma rear camera was offset (the other side) and never had a problem with that either.

 

[globalgregors]

Agreed, the highway driving is the biggest issue. In the US and Canada, thousands of miles done on highway - in my case a 12 hour drive each way to Flin Flon, Manitoba. Mostly tarred roads then onto dirt to fish some of the lakes. It handles the dirt/ gravel very well but not the asphalt. My 2020 LR defender was brilliant on and off road…. Just didn’t think it would last long term with all that tech! The reason I posted is just as a heads up to others thinking of over landing in North America. Cheers,

Acknowledged, here’s a message for those who are intending to overland North America.

Have now done upwards of 30,000km overlanding just in North America and this is absolutely not our experience.

Dempster Highway, the ALCAN, Denali Highway, Top Of The World Highway, Trans-Labrador Highway, the entire Trans-Canada… ate them all up.

Also got great support from the Ineos North America team and dealer network around sustaining the Grenadier in arduous conditions.

No matter what you’re in, it’s always great to chat with another overlander. Good luck with the next vehicle!