Hello and HELP!

[gowyn]

Hi all from Ontario, Canada.

Popped by the Grenadier dealer last week just to have a look....haha

Still haven't committed, mainly the PRICE! Help me justify it please!

My needs are simple, over the years I've had many vehicles (pics below of some) but I find the new nanny state we're in leaves a lot to be desired, then I found the Grenadier! It's just the price.

The dealer had quite a few "base" models which other than being slightly "cheaper" are probably all I need! All I "need" are heated seats and wouldn't mind lockers but honestly centre diff lock is all I will ever need.

Anyway too serious, here are some of my past cars:


1868 Series IIa circa 1989





1995 ex MoD Defender 110





1990 HDJ81 RHD imported from Japan





2007 FJ Cruiser



2020 New Defender





Right now driving 2017 GX460 which I love and this is the dilemma. I can throw $10000 at the GX make her be all I need or drop $60k on a new Gren and have almost everything I want....haha

 

[Dokatd]

Regardless of if you need them, I wouldn't buy a Grenadier without lockers.

Your vehicle requirements seem to have shifted over the years to be much more tame. The Grenadier will do fine for you, but unless you just can't live without the Status/Style or the functionality of a Grenadier then you might be better off in the long run with the GX460.

 

[Coullabus]

Depends on your use really - my advice? Just buy one! I only have the standard centre diffs. More than enough for me.

 

[rovie]

Hi all from Ontario, Canada.

Popped by the Grenadier dealer last week just to have a look....haha

Still haven't committed, mainly the PRICE! Help me justify it please!

My needs are simple, over the years I've had many vehicles (pics below of some) but I find the new nanny state we're in leaves a lot to be desired, then I found the Grenadier! It's just the price.

The dealer had quite a few "base" models which other than being slightly "cheaper" are probably all I need! All I "need" are heated seats and wouldn't mind lockers but honestly centre diff lock is all I will ever need.

Anyway too serious, here are some of my past cars:


1868 Series IIa circa 1989

View attachment 7879537



1995 ex MoD Defender 110

View attachment 7879538



1990 HDJ81 RHD imported from Japan

View attachment 7879539



2007 FJ Cruiser

View attachment 7879540

2020 New Defender


View attachment 7879541


Right now driving 2017 GX460 which I love and this is the dilemma. I can throw $10000 at the GX make her be all I need or drop $60k on a new Gren and have almost everything I want....haha


View attachment 7879542

Hi @gowyn I can only agree with @Coullabus . It depends on what you want to do with the vehicle. I think the centre differential lock is basically enough. I often drive on muddy, rutted forest tracks and country lanes. I couldn't get any further without the front and rear axle locks.

 

[Dokatd]

Hi @gowyn I can only agree with @Coullabus . It depends on what you want to do with the vehicle. I think the centre differential lock is basically enough. I often drive on muddy, rutted forest tracks and country lanes. I couldn't get any further without the front and rear axle locks.

My concern regarding diff locks is resale value. Factory lockers are a huge plus. Toyotas tend to bring a fair bit more money when they have a rear locker.

 

[Jeremy996]

I'm another one without the optional extra lockers; I did not need them with my old LR110 and I don't expect I'll need them with the Grenadier. So far, (29,000+ miles), I have been right. My Grenadier was bought as a vehicle for life, not just for resale, so I am not expecting the lack of them to matter.
As a general rule, accessories make a vehicle easier to sell, not more valuable, but I know there are exceptions, like missing an auto box in a Merc, that make it only sellable at a discount.

 

[Max]

My Grenadier was bought as a vehicle for life, not just for resale, so I am not expecting the lack of them to matter.

You're right...drive to yours and your vehicles abilities and hopefully you will have a vehicle for life.
Now that I am longer in the tooth...I chose the TrialMaster and will lock in the diffs to reduce the anxiety in certain situations. Back in the day when traveling around OZ in 1981 with an MQ Patrol, no diff locks but a Highlift Jack and wire rope that could be used as a winch...inch by winch as they say...never did use it but with it there I challenged the environment a little more...I could always buy an aftermarket winch but I tend to go on trips with company...happy motoring

 

[Coullabus]

I'm another one without the optional extra lockers; I did not need them with my old LR110 and I don't expect I'll need them with the Grenadier. So far, (29,000+ miles), I have been right. My Grenadier was bought as a vehicle for life, not just for resale, so I am not expecting the lack of them to matter.
As a general rule, accessories make a vehicle easier to sell, not more valuable, but I know there are exceptions, like missing an auto box in a Merc, that make it only sellable at a discount.

Spot on. Absolutely.

Mine is my daily driver on some pretty shoddy country roads. And tows my caravan beautifully. Low range is rarely used but is definitely useful on occasion. Diff locks - very rarely needed in my life. The Grenadier is still the ideal vehicle where I live - despite not being constantly knee-deep in mud! Dokatd sounds as if he/she believes that life without the need for diff locks all round is tame...... I have to say that not every Grenadier owner agrees with that assessment.

 

[rovie]

My concern regarding diff locks is resale value. Factory lockers are a huge plus. Toyotas tend to bring a fair bit more money when they have a rear locker.

If you think about it, then that may be the case. I used to keep that in mind too. But now I buy what I like and what I need.

 

[Dokatd]

If you think about it, then that may be the case. I used to keep that in mind too. But now I buy what I like and what I need.

This forum is kinda hilarious. There are some seriously polar opposites here.

On one thread your told that if you don't seriously off-road your Grenadier then you bought the wrong truck. On the next it's suggested that if you bought your truck to cruise the local shopping malls that's just fine. And the vitriol that comes with some of the suggestions is a touch much.

I don't generally sell vehicles, I buy them because I want them and hang on to them seemingly forever. That's why I have such a storage problem .

Get lockers or don't, they are vastly cheaper in the long run to get them upfront though if you find yourself in need. Unless you only have a couple years to live it's hard to say with certainty that you will never have an occasion to use them, life changes. If your guys are as old as your comments seem to insinuate I would expect you would have realized by now that life always brings surprises and you better be well equipped. And lockers on a Grenadier are cheap insurance.

Oh and I despise MUD. I avoid it at all costs typically. Lockers are not "for mud". Lockers are for low traction. They can be handy for pulling a heavy boat out of a steep slick ramp, recovering someone's vehicle in a dicey situation. Etc etc. Lockers are far more versatile than MUDDING.

 

[Jeremy996]

Most common low traction surfaces encountered in my bit of the UK are long wet grass, soft clay mud and wet snow; I saw and drove all of them last week.

The Army taught me to drive off-road; the bits I remember from the distance of 40 years are 'read the ground, drive to the capability of the vehicle and don't get stuck, as unpleasant people are trying to kill you'. He did not say 'people'.

Lockers cost more than I was willing to pay for them; mine is a base truck with stuff added. I remember the engineers on the prototype tour being very clear that lockers would be expensive to add in the aftermarket.

 

[Max]

This forum is kinda hilarious. There are some seriously polar opposites here.

You are spot on with your assessment...and the Ineos marketing team know exactly that when they decided what groups they were going to focus on...they knew what people use 4x4 vehicles for and fortunately you don't have to be a Marketing Professor.
You only have to be an enthusiast at the mall, on the beach or in the bush and you are right, it can bring a big smile to your face just seeing what it is all about.
Not everybody agrees with each other and will defend why and what version of Grenadier they purchased and whether it be for the long haul or short. It puts a big smile on my dial just seeing and reading how building and purchasing something and then bolting it on can give such pleasure...brilliant.
We can see here on the forum that possibly more people purchased one variant over another and may never use it to it's full capacity but we don't care...just enjoy it, knowing.

PS: Mud tyres and lockers will work a treat

 

[Dokatd]

I've argued here before that without the Soccer Moms and mall crawlers we won't have anyone to subsidize the existence of Grenadiers. There are not enough hard core overlanders, rock crawlers or general sever off-road users to justify the trucks existence by itself.

This was Land Rover's road map in the 80's and 90's and it did well. Sadly they departed from their original (perceived anyways) mission a bit more than I would have liked.

 

[Max]

I've argued here before that without the Soccer Moms and mall crawlers we won't have anyone to subsidize the existence of Grenadiers. There are not enough hard core overlanders, rock crawlers or general sever off-road users to justify the trucks existence by itself.

This was Land Rover's road map in the 80's and 90's and it did well. Sadly they departed from their original (perceived anyways) mission a bit more than I would have liked.

It all comes down to usage and figures. Contracts will play a big part Ag, Defence and so on, hopefully.
There is and old saying, "you build and they will come"
Ineos knew that, also the market and are playing right into our hands and I thank them for that

 

[gowyn]

Interesting discussion on lockers, thanks. Neither my Series IIa or Defender had lockers, just the centre diff. The "New Defender" did but it was all electronics, black magic and wizardry...

The Land Cruiser was an absolute beast though, triple locked, diesel, that was probably my first "real" off-roader, unstoppable.

Problem is every time I went "off-road" around here someone always broke something. Lot's of mud, roots, water, narrow trails and hidden rocks.

So for me no serious off-roading. Overlanding? It's a "thing" now, I know it's been around forever but just seems to be "in" right now. Have to laugh I see plenty of trucks all kitted out with new gear, maybe one in ten actually go out there and do it. You Aussie's have it made.

Makes me think back to 2000. I had a BMW GS all kitted out, rode the ^&%^ out of it travelling around. Couple years later those Ewan McGregor films came out.

Anyway back on topic, I grew up on centre diff lock only, comes down to judging the terrain, know yours and vehicles limits and for my use I'm probably fine with the base unit. I need reliability, quality and durability, all the things missing from new cars.

 

[landmannnn]

In my experience, cross axle difflocks give you the ability to traverse technical off road areas with much more control. I need less speed and momentum and am far less likely to damage the vehicle.
Completely unnecessary if you don't intend driving in those conditions. But somehow nice to have.