I was there yesterday as well and did have the pleasure of meeting
@Drausch1976 and
@Guru
Here's my 2-cents:
1) The venue's trails were a fantastic testing ground and represent the types of trails and obstacles I am most familiar with. The rain that has pounded the east coast made for very muddy tracks and exposed wet, slippery rocks and roots. My off-roading experiences have been limited to PA/NJ and in the same basic terrain. Having said that, the Gren made it though most of it without breaking a sweat whatsoever. As one of the instructors said, if you've never been off-roading before, the IG is NOT a good car to learn in because it does everything so well and effortlessly. My truck was on BFGs but we were unlocked the entire voyage.
2) The seats are extremely adjustable and for us shorter folks, the adjustability - in combination with the short hood and unobstructed view (no gauge binnacle) made for amazing visibility.
3) The ride was amazingly smooth, regardless of what I was driving over. In my Series, I was basically a bobble-head doll my Disco and JK were still wobbly, but the Gren was extremely sure footed and composed.
4) The truck looks better in person than in pictures/videos and has a very commanding presence.
5) I would have been over the moon for a "modern "real"" Defender - this blows that idea out of the water.
6) The undercarriage/frame/suspension etc. is beefy and if it's as strong as it looks, bombproof. Most of the armor underneath the truck on the ramp is removed so you can see things; the standard coverings will be sufficient for most things, but more coverage (optional) will become available.
7) The overhead switches feel awesome - nice and "clicky" when moved. They're weighted appropriately and you can confidently tell when you are moving from one position to the other.
Even with rose-colored glasses, here are some things that IMO could be better (superfluous as they may seem).
1) The interior storage (not the overall capacity for carrying) is pretty limited. The cubby is tiny even by Wrangler standards, thee, ahem, "glove box," will barely fit the manual (actually, it may not). The areas beneath the front seats are usable space, but inconvenient when driving.
2) The rear cargo area is certainly sizeable, but the space over the wheel wells - especially the right/gas tank filler side - is a waste. Had the wheel wells been squared off it might help. Hopefully someone in the aftermarket world will make something that can sit on/be installed over that area to create storage or a place for a subwoofer.
3) I have small feet and had no issues with the toe-box or petals but can see how someone with larger feet might feel a bit claustrophobic.
4) The overhead buttons (wading mode, off-road mode, etc.) need more than just the little orange light. Basically, you need to engage those functions with "long holds" - not just pushes (as you would say heated seats). But the orange light is little and cannot really be seen because it's beneath your thumb/finger. I think if they made them light up like the backlit coin returns on arcade machines it would help. Even if just for a moment when it's actually engaged. The little display in front of the driver may make that point moot but on the PTOs nearly every symbol was lit up so I couldn't tell what it would actually show.
5) As has been discussed, the lack of a flat floor when the 2nd row seats are flipped is pretty significant, but perfect for a drawer system that levels it out. Eyeballing it, it's like 7 or 8 inches deep which would be fine for tools, recovery stuff, dry goods, etc.
My brother came with me and he thought it was amazing - so much so that the thought of reserving one.. But he's also a logical guy who will not be bumbling around the woods and scratching his expensive truck. His environment would mostly be sand at the beach and crappy weather and he understands completely a million vehicles in the US market can handle that job. Which lead to a very lengthy conversation that was difficult to answer - who "IS" the IG market in the US? While all of the markets where Ineos will be bringing vehicles are different, the US is least like the rest IMO. Or should I say this, the US buyer is least like the rest. I can/will open a separate thread on that question, but I did want to throw it out there - following up with a totally unscientific, broad-stroke-painted, stereotype filled observation:
The group of individuals that I took notice of at the event was way more varied than I could have imagined. I assumed the demographic would be middle-aged+ and outwardly affluent people (regardless of reality). Based on some of the vehicles in the parking lot that was maybe - few Porsche products, some Audis, proper Range Rovers, a Rivian, etc. But then you also had the off-roader crowd vehicles -
@Drausch1976 's awesome Bronco,
@Guru 's beast 130 Defender, there was a heavily modified beefed up Nissan X-terra on 35s(?), I saw a nice Series 3 88," a few Jeeps, and some pickups.
The cool part was the different people in the mix - many of whom do not immediately fall into my admittedly small-minded, ethnocentric, I want to wheel in the woods brain. There were some younger people with kids with them, lots of women and couples, and thankfully some diversity. There was an eclectic variety of dress - jeans, boots and hoodies on some, dressy pants with stylish shoes, cargo pants and wellies, and even a Sammy Hagar look-alike in teal 3/4 length sweatpants and Nikes. There was everything and everyone, and that was fantastic! As someone in a Land Rover club full of a bunch of pudgy white guys (a group that I fall into), it was great to see a "variety" of folks. One thing I am genuinely curious about is how/where/why did lots of these folks hear about the Grenadier?
OK - if you've made it this far, thanks. It was more a nickel's worth than 2 cents but there it is nonetheless.
edit - forgot to express that I am not a fan of the BMW shifter - in looks, but more importantly, in use. Perhaps with time and muscle memory I will, but I did not like it.
