On the Fence About Buying

[Jack Burton]

There shouldnt be any software gripes on an MY24. (and I mean factory MY24, not what US dealers refer to MY24 which seems to straddle the MY23.5 and MY24 period). Maybe you should ask for the VIN to give you an idea of when it was built. The dealer may be tempting you with a MY23.5 which operates a different firmware to MY24. (another tell tale of real MY24s is the reverse camera fills the screen area and doesnt look like a pop up on top of the display).

Bingo! The car the dealer was trying to flog on me before I told him I had a 9 month buying window only filled less than half the screen.

 

[ANNML]

I joined this forum to get the user experience as a result of an encounter with a current owner with nothing but smiles coming out of the dealership for a service. I’m just a sceptical person. Tell me the good, bad and ugly experiences.

DO IT NOW. Just by starting this thread, you know you already bought one. I know you already bought one.

I too am methodical and over-researchy and want to know everything I should. And then I might sit there in indecision and freeze up for way longer than necessary.

I finally went for it when I arrived at “is there really that much to lose if I just go for it?” - and the answer for me was no, not really. If you buy it and don’t like it (which won’t happen), you sell it. You will lose some money, yes, but that money over a lifetime is probably not a game changer. And if you keep the Grenadier (which you will) you will have it for many years, if not forever — so the price divided by all those years of loving it and enjoying it is not terribly expensive in the long run.

Get it done! As a former nurse, it will be good for your health — so think of it as a long term prescription. My Grenadier has been nothing but a total joy!

 

[Mad Hatter]

Buy one and drive it back overland, you’ll have a fantastic retirement adventure one the way and the you’ll probably keep that Grenny for the rest of your life because of the memories

 

[DaveB]

Here's a review of the Toyota 300 Landcruiser by a very experienced 4WDer.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1-saCYCxEU

 

[ethree]

I have experience with a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 and 2006 Toyota 4Runner 4x4 and a bit of off roading in the USA. Mostly farm applications where there is just a field, technically there’s no road. So I have a few years left in Dubai and really want to trade in a BMW 330 before major maintenance on its 9th birthday. I always kick myself in the arse for not buying the last year of the original Defender 110 in 2016. I always loved that vehicle. I was frugal at the time and opted for a car that was sensible for where I now live. I like to go off-roading a few times a year but that’s easily accomplished here with a rental vehicle or friend.

Incredible is the engine and transmission are very similar to my 330 so it works very well and familiar.

Nine years on I find myself at a crossroads. I desperately want to offload my BMW and get something useful for the next stage. The Adamas Motor company are offering 20% down, 2 years 0% interest and 3 years 2.7% interest financing on a 2023, maybe 2024 wagon. My shelf life for working here is about 5 years before retirement then I want to go back to Spain and take up light farming again in my second career.

My problem is I can just but a new vehicle in Spain in 5 years and sell the maintenance intensive BMW now and buy a cheap Toyota.or I can buy a Grenadier and export it for relatively low cost after the payments are done and I’m ready to leave the UAE.

My ask of the forum is to ‘sell me the 2024/2025 Grenadier”

This is a fair ask. Many of us in here have been with the INEOS Grenadier story since the beginning. And I mean beginning, when the idea of a standard was still being discussed. We had no idea what the engine might be. Dana axles? So, way back.

What I present may not “sell” you on the truck but here is what I was looking for.

1) Durable. Road worthy tractor if I am being totally honest. Check.
2) Lasting. After years of watching grainy Camel Trophy videos and owning several LRs, I learned one thing. I could buy an old Defender, put an old Cummins in it and that puppy would continue on. Shy of crash, they last and are iconic whether LR stay in business or goes under. The Grenadier has the same lasting qualities as the best old series, disco or defender—but way better built.
3) Safe. I actually pity the fool that crashes into this truck. I used to investigate very serious collisions for a living—height and heft are two factors that undoubtedly save lives. At least that was my experience.
4) Capable. Without a doubt. We have narrow log roads in the NE (USA). This vehicle is phenomenal.
5) Phase out. There seems to be an endless series of regs that are going to phase out combustion engines. The Grenadier may not be available for purchase in Spain in 2029. In the USA, we may not be far behind. I was hoping mine wouldn’t have the nanny cam put in but, alas, they had to. It’s not overbearing but I fear that situation is only going to get worse.

That is my two cents. I absolutely love mine. Heading up to Maine later this month. Can’t wait! Best to you.

 

[Jack Burton]

This is a fair ask. Many of us in here have been with the INEOS Grenadier story since the beginning. And I mean beginning, when the idea of a standard was still being discussed. We had no idea what the engine might be. Dana axles? So, way back.

What I present may not “sell” you on the truck but here is what I was looking for.

1) Durable. Road worthy tractor if I am being totally honest. Check.
2) Lasting. After years of watching grainy Camel Trophy videos and owning several LRs, I learned one thing. I could buy an old Defender, put an old Cummins in it and that puppy would continue on. Shy of crash, they last and are iconic whether LR stay in business or goes under. The Grenadier has the same lasting qualities as the best old series, disco or defender—but way better built.
3) Safe. I actually pity the fool that crashes into this truck. I used to investigate very serious collisions for a living—height and heft are two factors that undoubtedly save lives. At least that was my experience.
4) Capable. Without a doubt. We have narrow log roads in the NE (USA). This vehicle is phenomenal.
5) Phase out. There seems to be an endless series of regs that are going to phase out combustion engines. The Grenadier may not be available for purchase in Spain in 2029. In the USA, we may not be far behind. I was hoping mine wouldn’t have the nanny cam put in but, alas, they had to. It’s not overbearing but I fear that situation is only going to get worse.

That is my two cents. I absolutely love mine. Heading up to Maine later this month. Can’t wait! Best to you.

Great info, thank you. Insightful.

 

[ANNML]

Here's a review of the Toyota 300 Landcruiser by a very experienced 4WDer.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1-saCYCxEU

Is this the LC that there is hype about? I’ve been wanting a picture of whatever LC some people rave about but when I’ve looked online I just haven’t seen anything that is rave worthy.

 

[Abdalsharhan]

I was walking out of my test drive and a current owner ninth a baby seat in the back approached me and we had a 5 minute conversation and he had nothing but praise. Granted where I live cars are typically traded in every 4 to 5 years due to affluence and local maintenance/NCT/MOT rules.

The vehicle is great. No doubt about that. I’m on the fence about waiting a few years or getting one now. It’s silly I know. I want to buy one right hand drive for my farm in Ireland and getting one now for my limited time in the UAE and eventually exporting that to Spain. That is apparently easy.

That would be me sir.

My family car before the grenadier was a tesla model y, we went out to fujairah and didn’t plug it on purpose. Told her see we cannot go anywhere with this car.

I have a few tools and I pretend that I am a handy mechanic, all I did was add some KC lights on my other truck, so wifey thinks I’m Caroll Shelby when it comes to cars, she trusts me blindly! Told her that Tesla ranks 124673 in car safety, she believed it. End of the story!

 

[Abdalsharhan]

Alright, let’s get real about the Ineos Grenadier. This will explain my praise of it!

Is it perfect? Absolutely not. First off, it's loud—like 'your-neighbors-will-hear-you-before-they-see-you' loud, the fans could be heard from miles away. You could hear the wind noise at 140km, you could hear your tires and drive shaft wines like a teething baby, But hey, it’s a giant, boxy beast. You don’t buy it expecting the purr of a luxury sedan. And then there's the whole ‘driving straight’ thing... yeah, the Grenadier sees lanes as more of a *suggestion* than a rule. HVAC? Let’s just say you’ll experience all four seasons in one drive. And don’t even get me started on traffic. This car’s as impatient as you are in a Monday morning rush hour—except it shows it by grumbling and throwing tantrums with those downshifts.

But guess what? I LOVE IT. This thing has more character than a lot of people I know, and I wouldn't trade it for anything else. It demands your attention—no lazy autopilot drives here, my friend. It keeps you on your toes, like it’s saying, ‘Stay alert, we’re in this together!’

I jumped back into my Silverado, and it felt like I was driving a golf cart. My cousin’s Defender? Too soft—like wrapping yourself in a fluffy blanket when you’re supposed to be on an adventure. At the end of the day, it’s all about perspective. The Grenadier is one of those 'love it or hate it' deals… but if you love it, you really love it.

 

[DaveB]

Is this the LC that there is hype about? I’ve been wanting a picture of whatever LC some people rave about but when I’ve looked online I just haven’t seen anything that is rave worthy.

I don't think you get this model in US.
This is the Landcruiser 300 in Australia
The one you are getting is the new Landcruiser Prado here in Australia.

2025 Toyota Prado vs LandCruiser 300 Series: SPEC BATTLE!

What are the differences between these two large frame-based off-roaders?

www.whichcar.com.au

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvrNBbKlxao

 

[CrazyOldMan]

I don't think you get this model in US.
This is the Landcruiser 300 in Australia
The one you are getting is the new Landcruiser Prado here in Australia.

2025 Toyota Prado vs LandCruiser 300 Series: SPEC BATTLE!

What are the differences between these two large frame-based off-roaders?

www.whichcar.com.au

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvrNBbKlxao

Correct - US gets the Prado (ish), labeled as the LC - the 300 was discontinued in the US. We also don’t get the 70 series. So the Yota fans got all excited the LC was “coming back,” but that’s not really true. It’s a 4 cylinder hybrid with 8.5” of ground clearance, independent front suspension, and suburban commuter tires and wheels. You can retrofit it and do a lift (TRD doesn’t yet have one a available), and then with the $10-15k in dealer markup, you’ve spent as much as a Grenadier, but still have IFS and a 4 hybrid. Sad face emoji. It will suffice for most and be very comfortable as a daily - but not the tough-as-nails Land Cruiser. Just the badge.

I bought my son a naturally aspirated 6 cylinder Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road last year, knowing Toyota was switching out to hybrid - the service guys at the Toyota dealer are NOT happy about the new Land Cruiser (but they love my Grenadier). I cancelled my order for the Sequoia TRD Pro (because it’s stupid) and had a reservation on a LC First Edition (but obviously cancelled that). Very happy about both decisions and that I ended up with the Grenadier. And to my surprise, the guys down at the Toyota dealer all think I made the right decision.

 

[Jack Burton]

That would be me sir.

My family car before the grenadier was a tesla model y, we went out to fujairah and didn’t plug it on purpose. Told her see we cannot go anywhere with this car.

I have a few tools and I pretend that I am a handy mechanic, all I did was add some KC lights on my other truck, so wifey thinks I’m Caroll Shelby when it comes to cars, she trusts me blindly! Told her that Tesla ranks 124673 in car safety, she believed it. End of the story!

That’s funny. I can’t wait to take my new Trialmaster out and about. I just payed out a deposit down at the Dubai dealership!

 

[Jack Burton]

That would be me sir.

My family car before the grenadier was a tesla model y, we went out to fujairah and didn’t plug it on purpose. Told her see we cannot go anywhere with this car.

I have a few tools and I pretend that I am a handy mechanic, all I did was add some KC lights on my other truck, so wifey thinks I’m Caroll Shelby when it comes to cars, she trusts me blindly! Told her that Tesla ranks 124673 in car safety, she believed it. End of the story!

Yeah your story really sold me. You had such enthusiasmg Abdalsharhan. It’s nice to connect with you.

 

[Zimm]

The unemotional point of view? Since you're moving around, and the company has a stop production order, I'd wait.

They haven't gotten their act together on parts and service, and you're going to need service. Sales up until now have been the hyped up pre order crowd, and they are entering the make or break '25 sales year when they need to work at sales like every other manufacturer, without any foreseeable inventory.

Unless there's some compelling use and financial reason why it has to this rig, the "reasonable man" waits.

 

[Jack Burton]

The unemotional point of view? Since you're moving around, and the company has a stop production order, I'd wait.

They haven't gotten their act together on parts and service, and you're going to need service. Sales up until now have been the hyped up pre order crowd, and they are entering the make or break '25 sales year when they need to work at sales like every other manufacturer, without any foreseeable inventory.

Unless there's some compelling use and financial reason why it has to this rig, the "reasonable man" waits.

So I put a deposit down today for a 2024. My compelling reason is I need to spend loads of money (tyres, 4 brakes, battery and something else that I can’t remember) in the next several months to get my current car to pass the local yearly test. I don’t want to spend €6,000 on a 9 year old mediocre BMW I don't really like, well it’s fast and comfortable. Should have bought a 2016 Defender but here we are.

 

[LC0013]

The unemotional point of view? Since you're moving around, and the company has a stop production order, I'd wait.

They haven't gotten their act together on parts and service, and you're going to need service. Sales up until now have been the hyped up pre order crowd, and they are entering the make or break '25 sales year when they need to work at sales like every other manufacturer, without any foreseeable inventory.

Unless there's some compelling use and financial reason why it has to this rig, the "reasonable man" waits.

Ahh, not long for Debbie Downer ( who drives what, nobody knows) to show up.
Get the Grenadier and enjoy it like most of us are doing.

 

[DoubleDoom]

So I put a deposit down today for a 2024. My compelling reason is I need to spend loads of money (tyres, 4 brakes, battery and something else that I can’t remember) in the next several months to get my current car to pass the local yearly test. I don’t want to spend €6,000 on a 9 year old mediocre BMW I don't really like, well it’s fast and comfortable. Should have bought a 2016 Defender but here we are.

I sold my December 2015 Defender and bought an IG. I loved the Defender but at 9 years old, most of the rubbers were going to need replacement and rust bubbles were appearing and as much as I smiled every time I drove it and I shed a tear when I drove it for the last time and again when it drove away, my head said it was the right thing. The Defender Puma engine bay was so tightly packed that accessing many of the things would have been engine removal. Indeed, the next year service for it would have been engine out. So, its gone but with the knowledge that my young grandson got to climb in the backdoor and climb into the front and go around the farm in it and experience such a thing whist he is an age that he will remember it (same as I was in the 70s when I experienced my first Land rover ride and got me hooked).

I test drove the new defender but found it boring. Great on dual carriageway and motorway but it didn't do it for me. Perhaps I became too JLR bored. I loved the Disco 2 V8, I think the Disco 4 was the best vehicle I have owned, The old Defender is probably the best vehicle I have owned in my heart but not my head and after three RR Evoques for the wife and an RRS, I have found the recent RRs to be just a bit boring.

I had got to the point where I was going to stick with the Defender and pay to get the work done on it but I sat in an IG and instantly felt at home with it. It helped that one of the days we test drove it, the weather was awful and it was hailing and I could hear the weather outside, just as you could with the Defender. You couldn't in the new defender as its sound proofing was very good. And then I realised that the new Defender was too good. It took some of the joy away from the experience, whereas the IG isn't as good (in soundproofing, drive and computers), but it leaves you the joy. I would take joy and the memories that gives every day of the week and that is why I own an IG.

Just remember it is what you do with it that matters. That is what you will remember.

 

[jwb15]

Bingo! The car the dealer was trying to flog on me before I told him I had a 9 month buying window only filled less than half the screen.

Bingo! The car the dealer was trying to flog on me before I told him I had a 9 month buying window only filled less than half the screen.

is there a definitive way to determing MY of 2024?

 

[Jack Burton]

is there a definitive way to determing MY of 2024?

I saw a video review on YouTube where the 2022-2023 has the reverse camera on half the screen. Apparently the 2024 has the camera on the bulk of the screen. You don’t really need to know how fast you are going when making small manoeuvres. Sure that will be a software update for all at some point.

 

[Jack Burton]

So the new vehicle is at the port in the UAE and will be at the dealership around October 18-20th. Then another week for the dealership to install the options. I’ll have it by the end of the month. My hand was literally trembling when I signed the quote sheet and filling out the personal information from. That could be because I drank too much coffee at work.

I can’t believe they had the configuration I wanted minus 2 things in the pipeline (it has carpet vs rubber floors and no winch). The dealer says they will swap out the floor at no cost which is great and have a WARN brand winch that is the same specifications as the factory Red Winches.