Grenadier Vs Defender 110 (+25yo) In the US

[MileHigh]

As the IG gets more expensive and moves away from its ‘simplistic/non-electronic’ design ethos, I started wondering about where this all started- with a 1992(3?) NAS 110.

Late 90s Defenders are getting eligible for the 25 year old exemption for import. I know some people have been doing that, and some have been cutting corners (and getting caught). Outside of an East Coast Rovers complete re-(and up)-builds, are there actually spartan driveable ones for sale in the US?

Even $100k for a rebuild isn’t that crazy with the prices of the IG where they are.

 

[Tom D]

Having owned 3 110’s and done maybe half a million miles in them, I can honestly say that whilst I loved them they are not a patch on the grenadier. Simple and basic yes, but in so many other areas the grenadier is better. If I was building a play thing for competition off roading or doing the Rubicon then yes the defender would be great, but as a tourer / overlander the IG wins hands down. The IG gives defender like off road performance with way more comfort then any (old) defender ever could.

 

[Cheshire cat]

I own both an old Td5 Defender and a Grenadier. Driving the Grenadier has made me realise how far ahead of the Defender it is, whilst still possessing more of that basic feel which I love about the Defender. I was recently visiting a well known Land Rover specialist who convert and refurb Defenders. They had a 90, which had just sold for £140,000. I asked if I could look at it and they were very accommodating. The workmanship was superb and the vehicle very well presented but, when he shut the door, it closed with the same noise as my old Defender. That combined with the cramped cabin compared to the Grenadier. I knew I had made the right decision. The old Defender is an absolutely iconic vehicle but definitely verges on vintage.

 

[Tom109]

In North America Defenders are simply too expensive for what they are. I’ll keep my 2a 109 forever and it is a much more enjoyable contrast to a Grenadier.

 

[Tjhappel]

I have a 2011 defender 110 puma and someone said it’s essentially vintage…. They’re not kidding. Fun to drive for a little bit but just so many issues and nobody here to fix the, in the usa. Aircon is my biggest gripe living in a hot climate, really hoping the Ineos tackled that.

 

[255/85]

I have a 2011 defender 110 puma and someone said it’s essentially vintage…. They’re not kidding. Fun to drive for a little bit but just so many issues and nobody here to fix the, in the usa. Aircon is my biggest gripe living in a hot climate, really hoping the Ineos tackled that.

Surfed T street a fair bit back in the day. Maybe you can enlighten us as to how you legally imported a 2011 model into the US?

 

[MileHigh]

Surfed T street a fair bit back in the day. Maybe you can enlighten us as to how you legally imported a 2011 model into the US?

I wanted to know too, but was afraid to ask…

 

[Krabby]

Surfed T street a fair bit back in the day. Maybe you can enlighten us as to how you legally imported a 2011 model into the US?

And, living in Cali, register and inspect it!

 

[255/85]

And, living in Cali, register and inspect it!

Emissions check only in CA. There's no road worthiness inspection afaik. You can drive a verifiable bucket of bolts as long as it will pass a smog check.

Maybe the OP regrets shooting his mouth off? Maybe they only think of the vehicle as 25 years old when the registration is due?

 

[Krabby]

Emissions check only in CA. There's no road worthiness inspection afaik. You can drive a verifiable bucket of bolts as long as it will pass a smog check.

Maybe the OP regrets shooting his mouth off? Maybe they only think of the vehicle as 25 years old when the registration is due?

I could be way off the mark, but I‘d image the emissions test could be a hurdle for a 12 YO Puma diesel.

 

[lightning]

I own both an old Td5 Defender and a Grenadier. Driving the Grenadier has made me realise how far ahead of the Defender it is, whilst still possessing more of that basic feel which I love about the Defender. I was recently visiting a well known Land Rover specialist who convert and refurb Defenders. They had a 90, which had just sold for £140,000. I asked if I could look at it and they were very accommodating. The workmanship was superb and the vehicle very well presented but, when he shut the door, it closed with the same noise as my old Defender. That combined with the cramped cabin compared to the Grenadier. I knew I had made the right decision. The old Defender is an absolutely iconic vehicle but definitely verges on vintage.

l can't believe someone would pay £140,000 for an old Defender
You can get the very best old style Defender for £30-40,000 in standard form, and that's the best way to have one.

You can drop in a huge engine, totally ruin the handling with suspension "upgrades" and cover the interior with quilted sh!t and it will still be an old Defender.

l've had five of them and done over 150,000 miles. lMO the best old type Defender is a late TD5 Station Wagon or XS.
Buy a pristine low mileage one for £30,000 and spend £70,000 of the remaining £110,000 on a Grenadier.

Put the remaining £40,000 in Premium Bonds.

 

[Sam]

This isn’t a valid comparison IMO. Old is old, now matter how restored/shiny/exxy.

Ageing materials, superseded techniques, antiquated thinking.

IG is brilliantly new, but with (some of) the old spirit.

 

[255/85]

This isn’t a valid comparison IMO. Old is old, now matter how restored/shiny/exxy.

Ageing materials, superseded techniques, antiquated thinking.

Even I am having to admit this is true. (Shakes head.)

IG is brilliantly new, but with (some of) the old spirit.

Hence our deposit on one.

 

[curb-optional]

This pretty much sums up so many folks. There's a very large Old Defender shop/dealer by me. They have many OD out on the lot, waiting for folks to test & buy. I have never visited, and yet I drive a LR. The reason is that - like many others here - the OD is nostalgic but lacks daily driving practicality for my needs. They look great on the outside, but the rest of it (on the inside and under the hood) are a challenge. My LR is very comfortable, very durable, never broke down (other than flats), and I have had no problems on any of the trips I've gone on. Because the IG is a current production model, it will be easier to repair when something brakes and it provides modern safety technology. The OD is a collectors item, and if I wanted a project to tinker with, an OD could fill my day. But I want to drive the car daily, and use it for family driving needs. ND makes alot of sense and checks alot of boxes an OD can't. If IG can be a daily driver, it may pull some ND sales from the current LR ownership crowd.

 

[Tjhappel]

And, living in Cali, register and inspect it!

Sorry for the late response! I need to turn on notifications… I live two breaks down from t street! I have dual citizenship, USA/Guatemala so I bought the vehicle new and drove it here. Really no big deal but I have to keep reg and insurance down south.

It’s a cool vehicle but I kinda prefer the 1997 d90 automatic, ac works maybe better and my wife can drive it. I’m REALLY ready for an ineos and I hope it doesn’t disappoint. I’m looking forward to king road trips down tl Baja in it.

 

[Tjhappel]

Also maybe you guys can fill me in but I’be somehow slipped in 1st quarter delivery for ineos even tho I did everything on time and early, deposited at a very early stage so I’m curious why but maybe reading about a few bugs I might be lucky, who knows I just really want to be driving that vehicle to mammoth this ski season!

 

[Lord Ripon USA]

I get it that in many places people don’t drive very much.
30,000 miles is a normal year for me.

I can’t imagine why anyone would want to punish themselves for hours at a time driving or riding in an old vehicle.
Beating your vertebrae together for hours at a time is not hip, it’s dumb.

1990’s OD’s bear little resemblance to a 2024 anything, in regards to safety, comfort, quietness, and drive ability.
If you are actually going to drive it for more than an hour or two, ocassionally.

 

[Cheshire cat]

l can't believe someone would pay £140,000 for an old Defender
You can get the very best old style Defender for £30-40,000 in standard form, and that's the best way to have one.

You can drop in a huge engine, totally ruin the handling with suspension "upgrades" and cover the interior with quilted sh!t and it will still be an old Defender.

l've had five of them and done over 150,000 miles. lMO the best old type Defender is a late TD5 Station Wagon or XS.
Buy a pristine low mileage one for £30,000 and spend £70,000 of the remaining £110,000 on a Grenadier.

Put the remaining £40,000 in Premium Bonds.

I am in complete agreement with you however, there appears to be a thriving business in refurbished, very expensive Defenders. Twisted, Arkonic, Mahker, Chelsea, to name a few. All these companies have old Defenders up to and even over £100,000 +.
Like you I believe the best investment choice is in a none molested version and kept for sunny day driving

 

[stickshifter]

No way I would pass on a $80,000 Grenadier and then drop $100,000 or more on a 25-year old Defender. To me, that makes absolutely no sense, but that's just me. And I say that despite the fact that I am pretty disappointed in some of the decisions by Ineos to take the more electronic option as opposed to the more analogue option (auto transmission, e-lockers, big screen instead of independent analogue gauges, etc.).

 

[Lord Ripon USA]

I am in complete agreement with you however, there appears to be a thriving business in refurbished, very expensive Defenders. Twisted, Arkonic, Mahker, Chelsea, to name a few. All these companies have old Defenders up to and even over £100,000 +.
Like you I believe the best investment choice is in a none molested version and kept for sunny day driving

Everything has it’s time and place.

I’m glad there is a robust secondary market.

But for me, as I actually drive a lot, reality rears it’s ugly head. And I like a/c.