City drivers - do you enjoy your Ineos?

[JP132]

I don't think I've ever been more interested in, yet less sure of, a purchase in my life.

I live in a city, fully work from home and drive roughly 7000 miles/year.

Any thoughts from owners living and driving in dense, urban areas?

 

[Jeremy996]

I don't live in a dense, urban area, I just drive though a lot of them. Coming from an old LR Defender, the Grenadier is a fine urban car, the autobox making the biggest difference. I'd rather drive the Grenadier over the small manual sports cars in an urban area, (but I know I'm weird).

 

[Tom D]

If you aren’t going to tow with it or drive it off road what’s the point?

I get that it’s one of those vehicles that maybe you just want. And if thats the case then fine.

FWIW I regularly drive mine in the city, and our cities were built before cars so streets are tight and twisty, I like it even though the turning circle is crap. The auto box is excellent.

 

[Shopkeep]

I don't live in a dense, urban area, I just drive though a lot of them. Coming from an old LR Defender, the Grenadier is a fine urban car, the autobox making the biggest difference. I'd rather drive the Grenadier over the small manual sports cars in an urban area, (but I know I'm weird).

Daily driver, 40kms each day, 34 sets of traffic lights, crossing multiple tram lines. Love it, it’s no 7 Series BMW but I find it very comfortable, smooth transmission and relatively quiet (and I have the diesel). I replaced the steering damper and made it even better, plus changed out the K02s mainly for better braking performance.

 

[Tinerfeño]

Most of traffic around where I live is urban. Only longer trips can be made on circular highway (75% of the island ready). Old streets are narrow, corners tight and parking places small. Despite all this I love using my Grenadier here!

My home street (and just few meters behind there are cars parked):

 

[G-Man]

Driving a Grenadier in any North American city ought to be a breeze as the road infrastructure and car parking facilities out there are designed for much larger vehicles. Somebody from that side of the pond explained to me on this forum that the Grenadier is considered 'midsize' compared to some of the common 'SUVs' on the market!

I commute in and out of Aberdeen city on a daily basis on relatively narrow lanes and through heavy traffic and have no issues - the autobox is excellent and the vehicle is more than capable with keeping up with modern day traffic. It's not as nimble as a generic hatchback or saloon but more than makes up for it by its significant road presence - each trip feels a little like a tactical operation. If you can live with the (significantly) higher fuel consumption and truck-like handling then you should be fine.

 

[Burrero]

These vehicles are great anywhere if you’re not in a hurry. Only city issue for me is the view to the traffic lights.

 

[Back in Black]

I drive mine in cities regularly (probably 70-80% of the time). I have never really given it a thought. Only thing I have thought about was height of parking garages. I printed out a sticker in feet & inches and stuck it on the ceiling panel as a quick reference since most garages post their height that way. I don't feel like doing math every time I want to park!

 

[bigleonski]

I do, and a landcruiser is better suited to driving around town hands down. IG steering at slow speeds is very heavy so reverse parking takes some work, acceleration on take off has an annoying lag (throttle controller helps), visibility at the rear is woeful, and if you’re a 3 or 4 year flipper the landcruiser will have a better resale value. If people are honest most will agree.

But I love it, and I’d sign up again I reckon.

 

[Bayford]

I would second Back in Blacks comments - I live on a farm and spend most of my time there but use my car for city trips and have no problems except for parking - in the UK multi storey parking lots are generally 6'6" (2 meters in napoleonic ); that coupled with the poor turning circle can rule out certain parking lots. That said I have always found somewhere to park and a tow hitch on the back and a winch on the front tend to mean that the bumpers/fenders don't get damaged when the inevitable BMW driver with blacked out windows reverses into your parked vehicle and I like sitting high enough to see over compact cars at the traffic lights or road junctions. I have also found other drivers quite good at letting you out at junctions if you drive a Grenadier - if you drive a Range Rover most just think that you are a d**k-head and never let you out.....

 

[JP132]

Great feedback all around, I'm taking one for a test drive on Friday.

Thanks so much! To answer some questions - there's really no functional reason for me to have a Grenadier, I just love the build, design and brand story. This is definitely about pursuing something fun as opposed to functional, though I suspect both boxes will be checked.

 

[Chadd7]

This car is heavy, steers heavy, and accelerates heavy. Not a nimble choice when I’m running around to take care of errands. But I still love it.

 

[Skymark]

Here in the North East USA, many of the parking garages only have 6' 6-8" published clearance so you must avoid and even when the published clearance is higher, there can be low-spots so take care when you adventure inside.

 

[ppearman]

Great feedback all around, I'm taking one for a test drive on Friday.

I am test driving Friday too !! For the second time - this time out of the city on real roads !

 

[landmannnn]

Great feedback all around, I'm taking one for a test drive on Friday.

Thanks so much! To answer some questions - there's really no functional reason for me to have a Grenadier, I just love the build, design and brand story. This is definitely about pursuing something fun as opposed to functional, though I suspect both boxes will be checked.

Trust your heart, not your head. We will all be dead soon, grab it while you can.


And yes, it isn't the preferred urban transport....... assuming that really matters.

 

[anand]

I've got no qualms with city driving, other than parking... With that being said, prior to the Grenadier I daily drove a 10' tall Sprinter, so, I'm used to planning ahead for parking

 

[Skydance]

Not in the city no. Turning circle is an issue on tight turns, u turns, parking, small round abouts and it’s like a gym workout. If you go with diesel, be prepared for full helicopter DPF mode when stuck in stop/start traffic too.

But the Ineos is designed for open road adventures. So can’t really complain or compare.

I would think most Grenadier owners have other daily vehicles suitable for each purpose.

 

[Tazzieman]

This car is heavy, steers heavy, and accelerates heavy. Not a nimble choice when I’m running around to take care of errands. But I still love it.

Get a throttle controller. You'll be jumpin' G wagens off the lights

 

[Tazzieman]

Only thing I have thought about was height of parking garages. I printed out a sticker in feet & inches and stuck it on the ceiling panel as a quick reference since most garages post their height that way. I don't feel like doing math every time I want to park!

Thoughtful touch comes standard with the Ineos

 

[Znarfgh]

City driving has its challenges for the Grenadier. U turns are no longer on my radar - it's around the block for me now. The turning circle is far from ideal, but you learn to live with it.

The engine and gearbox combo make it a pleasure to drive, and I just live with the downsides.