Friday Musings: Will the Grenadier burst the Defender bubble?

[DCPU]

And this is part of the reason why I haven't thrown my money down for a Grenadier. I need to be really sure it's going to be a long term improvement for what I do over my defender. Because once the Defender is gone it's never coming back.

How are you going to be really sure it's for you without throwing your money down?

A test drive (10 minutes or two hours), a crawl underneath, a studious read through a technical specifications sheet can only get you so far.

When you say the Defender is not coming back, it's still going to be around for a good few years. Other than the financial side of the equation, isn't there always going to be a return route to an old Defender if the Grenadier fails to live up to expectations?

 

[ORSO]

This is a great article from Sam which mirrors my feelings precisely.

https://www.drive.com.au/caradvice/...campaign=73ea3dbc-8588-4403-9185-2fcfd9f4219c

I have driven a Defender td5 110 for 5 years and over 250,000km and I agree with the article too

when I ordered the IG I had doubts about many things but not about the fact that the project was spectacular. Even the toyota 70 series is amazing but not to make us over 40,000km/year.

today out of pure curiosity I went into the LR dealership to see the new Defender. There were two on display: a V8 and a 75 Anniversary. Respectively €150,000 and €120,000. Apart from the price, I have only seen an SUV like many others. It didn't even make me want a test drive. I said goodbye to the spare parts man who years earlier had given me filters and various spare parts and went away.

it is no longer the LR I knew.

 

[Tomdoc]

I have driven LR Defenders since I was 16. I have been to war zones in them. I love them dearly. However the new "Defender" is a completely different vehicle - it is a lovely SUV and should be - for the price. The reason I walked away from LR Defenders was simply because they don't make a "Defender" anymore. I want a vehicle I feel able to modify, live in and get to be friends with. A soul-less Chelsea tractor is not that. Like most on here, I have taken a punt on the IG to be the modern option to rekindle my feeling of "I can go anywhere with this thing and I trust it - despite its idiosyncrasies". Of course it's a "feeling" - but life is about feeling isn't it? I cannot afford to have an IG and a Defender (old or new!) so I have my eggs in this basket. If I am wrong, then I will go back to a Defender (old style) - but never to a shiny SUV that simply doesn't cater to my needs.

 

[lightning]

l did 90,000 miles in my 2005 Defender 110 before selling it and buying......a new Defender

As a business owner l had to look past the emotion and decide which vehicle would be better for my business going forward.

So l bought a base specification 90 Commercial (well, a few extras such as tow bar, centre console, fog lamps, but not much)

l have to say, the new Defender is a fantastic vehicle, the D250 engine is outstanding and it's nothing like a Discovery to drive. lt's not "soulless" but obviously a different vehicle than the old version.
l think it looks best in base 90 specification with the steel wheels.
l've had no issues with it but l really like the look of the Grenadier. Now it's actually available l am looking at changing over.

 

[Tomdoc]

New Defender - It is lovely - really! But I cannot drill holes in one and feel that I am improving it for my own reasons! I totally accept it's fantastic as a new 4x4 but somehow, I am with Sir Jim on his crazy idea to make a car that gives me an option to bolt stuff onto it and (horror) scratch down a Scottish mountain without annoying my wife.

 

[lightning]

New Defender - It is lovely - really! But I cannot drill holes in one and feel that I am improving it for my own reasons! I totally accept it's fantastic as a new 4x4 but somehow, I am with Sir Jim on his crazy idea to make a car that gives me an option to bolt stuff onto it and (horror) scratch down a Scottish mountain without annoying my wife.

l can see that, and it's one of the reasons l am looking at the Grenadier myself.

All the fun of an old Defender without the heartache

 

[DesertGecko]

Totally understand your thinking on this.

Why not get the Grenadier and if it satisfies your requirements - then sell the Defer (subject to $$ of course)

My problem is I don't have the garage space .. or maybe the finance for a defender and a grenadier. Even if I did I'm not sure I'd be able to justify having two.

 

[grenadierboy]

My problem is I don't have the garage space .. or maybe the finance for a defender and a grenadier. Even if I did I'm not sure I'd be able to justify having two.

yeah I understand but, surely you will decide relatively quickly (like, 2 months) and then sell one of them.

Otherwise I'm not sure of the exact arrangement by which you are going to adequately satisfy yourself and feel comfortable.

 

[Tazzieman]

I have driven LR Defenders since I was 16. I have been to war zones in them. I love them dearly. However the new "Defender" is a completely different vehicle - it is a lovely SUV and should be - for the price. The reason I walked away from LR Defenders was simply because they don't make a "Defender" anymore. I want a vehicle I feel able to modify, live in and get to be friends with. A soul-less Chelsea tractor is not that. Like most on here, I have taken a punt on the IG to be the modern option to rekindle my feeling of "I can go anywhere with this thing and I trust it - despite its idiosyncrasies". Of course it's a "feeling" - but life is about feeling isn't it? I cannot afford to have an IG and a Defender (old or new!) so I have my eggs in this basket. If I am wrong, then I will go back to a Defender (old style) - but never to a shiny SUV that simply doesn't cater to my needs.

Every time I have driven an SUV I've felt I've been squeezed into somebody else's clothes!
A bit too comfortable , not the hair shirt I've grown up with!