After 15 months of ownership as a fencing contractor, wireless is crap, so is the handsfree. My dealer is great, but Ineos customer service is poor. Yep still no manuals, and this was a major selling point. Foot rest is still noticeable, but not a huge issue, steering is wide, but self centering not an issue at all. Reverse camara does need centering though. But the vehicle is good, very good, the engine and transmission are great, its comfortable and once you learn the vehicle its the best 4x4 ive ever driven and owned. Its impressive, just wish they had spoken to more people that use them for work, as that back could be improved, its a sod to fit out. Great and honest review John, enjoying your channel, from over here in the UK.
Thanks so much for your comment, I agree wireless is crap but I haven't has a problem with the hands free. They just missed a few of the simple thing but a great 4x4, Cheers John
Fair description. Have also had the car for over a year, in Germany, absolutely satisfied. ‘Not a woman's car’, no make-up mirror. The task for the designers was: off-road capability, liability, look. Excellently solved; always high-quality suppliers, great package. Thanks to Sir Jim Radcliffe for his entrepreneurial courage.
Agreed on all fronts from the US (but I don’t have to deal with the footwell). You’re always so fair and balanced, and I often check back in to find out how you did something - thanks for figuring it all out for so many of us around the world! Dislike the piano black panels - would like to replace all of them, but that’s just an aesthetics point. AC and heating could probably use some fine tuning and can be pretty loud, and kind of bounce back and forth between too hot and too cold. But FUNCTIONALLY, if you want to get out and go, it will just do the job. Also agree with your points on the accessories- there are now better options on the market for racks, bars, rock sliders and runners, light bars, awnings, etc. I would recommend if people are considering, save some money and skip all of that and purchase aftermarket- you’re going to replace whatever you get from the dealer, anyhow, once you start seeing the amazing products available for the Grenadier.
@@cannyoutdoors I’m not so sure this is a US vs Australia difference on aftermarket suppliers. The only real exception I could think of off-hand would be Leitner for bars/racks - Bernhard is a genius. Maybe Agile and Owl, but they are really more integrators, although they do have some of their own fabrication (or at least contract it out). Other than that, we’re buying the same stuff you guys are, which is dominated by Australian suppliers - I guess we can throw in Buzz from the UK, Alu-Cab from South Africa, and Blacksheep from Switzerland. Otherwise, we’re mostly wondering what you guys are doing and drooling over your cool stuff (lookin’ at you guys over at Clevershade). Aussies are definitely the cool kids in the class. The ones in the shades, with “Thunderstruck” cranked all the way to 11.
Having watched this I feel so lucky. I have been a 70 series owner for different periods of time and around the farm they are terrific. I made the mistake of selling my 79 thinking it wouldn't be too long to get my new 79 and that was now 2 years ago. Now the new 79 is supposed to be coming next year. I was thinking about a grenadier as an alternate. In the meantime I thought I'd just buy something cheap and cheerful so earlier this year I got a late model Holden Colorado with 100,000 ks on it, canopy and roof carrying system for roundabout the $20000 mark.. it came with a 145 litre tank and I added a winch and upgraded the suspension, new tyres and a few bits and pieces. All well less than $30,000. Now I know this is not about money - but it's just a fill in car until the new 79 arrives. So I hooked up my camper trailer 3 months ago and I've travelled circa 9000 km mostly in various parts of the Outback. Well the bloody thing is so good that I'm really seriously considering why the hell to change it for any car that costs about 4 times as much (before any modifications or upgrades). I didn't have to worry about diesel, works easily with high flow diesel, happily pulled two tons at whatever the speed limit happened to be, huge amount of carrying space at around 1100 payload, etc. Powered through dry and really wet conditions and never missed a beat. The thought of having a car in the outback with only 90 l of diesel underneath it just wouldn't work for me.
Stick with the Colorado. Sounds like it's doing a great job. Sometimes we change because we can...but maybe we shouldn't. If you check out may early vid on why I decided to go for the Grenadier I needed to get out of my Ranger because it is too hot in Qld to carry my dogs in the back.. That being said I love having and driving the Grenadier and I am getting older so why not?Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Had mine for 9 months and loving it. Added a Brown Davis Aux tank (68L) to my petrol vehicle and working great. Goes where rear muffler was so under bash plate at rear. Was a bit too noisy after this so added a small hotdog to exhaust $200 and now perfect. Also had steering Castor adjusted to +3 degrees and a big improvement at all speeds.
My Grenadier - young Cedric, is a valued member of the family and our dealer equally, but they're in Sydney as the car is hardly home... We change oil at 10K. It's habitual, but we grabbed a filter, and oil was done out in the country. It's all good for us - The good thing is that the co-driver loves the car. The footrest is not an issue for me either. 100% Furfy!! The team fixed Carplay.. all good. No problems anywhere...and NOT ONE RATTLE
Thanks for an excellent review John. My Trialmaster has just been through its first year service here in Germany at 13k KM. I drive an electric BMW Coupe as my other vehicle (company car) and the contrast getting into the Grenadier after that also makes me smile every time. From my time in the military I have a tank driving license and I must say, the Grenadier on muddy slopes reminds me more of a tank (well my “Spartan” at least) that any Defender I drove back then, with power and grip to delight.
Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it. Glad you are enjoying your Grenadier and you would no doubt be noticing a few BMWisms in it. Cheers John
I have had mine for about 8 months and pretty much agree except for the steering and reverse camera , I have never had a vehicle with a reverse camera before and seldom use the one on the grenadier except to check that I am not running over the dogs , the steering was a real problem for me as I have a disco 2 over 20 years old and it drove along the road so much better , to the popint that the grenadier sat in the shed hardly used for 3 months ,it was not a pleasure to drive. I eventualy took it to a wheel alignment specialist and asked him to check the settings and increase the castor to the max spec , drove a completly different car home . I then fitted a bilstein damper sold as a grenadier after market part and although there was a slight improvment (mainly with the self centering) it as a waste of money ,$77 for the wheel alignment compared with over $500 for the damper . My main gripe is the ignition , it needs some sort of ilumination almost impossible to find if it is a bit dark , I dont understand the gps system at all and wonder why anybody would fit a system to a car that seems more suited to a dingy so that you can find your crab pots same as the radio system ,I have not yet managed to make the radio work , what ever happened to the old push button radios with a volume knob that were fitted to the kingswoods and falcons . I have no regrets purchasing the grenadier and am thinking of purchasing a cab chassis as well when they are available
I also came from a D2. I bought the Gren as I considered it the only new vehicle that was the equal off road. Yeah the G articulation is not as great, but it has lockers. My V8 D2 was nice and smooth, but my petrol Gren has heaps more power and way less fuel consumption. Steering wise they are about the same. My D2 has been parked street side for the last 9 months, but I just cannot part with it.
@@davidkelly3779 I think the steering issues vary because I am led to belive that most cars including the grenadier are assembled with jigs and the steering will generaly be within spec , mine was just in spec on the minium value and also had about a degree of variation side to side and once that was all sorted to max spec ai was a totaly different vehicle . As the specialist said there i nothing wrong with the steering but it could be a lot better to drive and it was . I will not part with my disco it is a TD5 and certainly not the most powerful machine but hook up a load and it performed did nt change
@@davidkelly3779 i like your write up , i own a Disco 2 td5 auto with centre diff lock , a remap was done and its performance is great , on road and off road . i test drove the Granadier and the Landy out performs the Granadier on every level .
Saw a great solution for the small reversing camera. I watch a video where a guy replaces his rear view mirror with a computerized one. They installed the camera at the back of the car and the vision was outstanding. When the camera they also installed additional charging points for phones etc. looked great and substantially improved the reversing camera scenario
@@cannyoutdoors Great video John Very fair review The factory reversing camera does look very crap. The above comment sounds like a good solution In LR products, they have the Clear Sight Rear View Mirror. It operates as per normal, or it can give u an adjustable / full view from beyond the rear of the vehicle, via camera mounted on the roof, at the back of the vehicle. I’m sure that at the first update of Grenadier, many things u mentioned, that aren’t so great, will b improved.
Crazy it has been a year! First week and 600 miles on my new Grennie. I love how it drives. I feel same way about the shiny bits one the console. The unit I picked up from someone else's order has secondary battery power and tow package. So still have to understand how those are hooked up. I will be relentless getting a shop manual. I have no issue with reversing camera at all. I have ZERO issue with steering, single hand driving from first moment. LOVE the thick grip at 6 o'clock on the steering wheel! I've been nothing but thrilled so far this beast even made it to the USA. Cheers!
So pleased you are enjoying the vehicle so much (as I am). The second battery set up is a bit of a brain teaser and completely different from how e run the is Aus. Fair bit of info on the Grenadier Forum that might help. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Thanks for the review, John. Got my Grenny for about 15 months now and all in all I like it. Great offroad and decent onroad. Steering I adjusted by putting in an OME damper and the rear view camera I use is a wolfbox 900 dashcam now. Changes everything regarding view while reversing. My car has been to the dealer a couple of times, mainly for fixing the HVAC system. Still a pain in the backside. Hope they get it sorted at some point.
Liked and Subbed from the US. GREAT breakdown on your Grenadier! Wife and I just test drove one today and absolutely loved it! I went into the test drive with a ton of the "detractors" I have read about and seen online. Everything from turning radius to steering return to center (RTC), ADAS nanny alerts and even on to Highway behavior....you name it I went into the test drive with those issues in the forefront. Well I will address the issues....Turning radius for me was a "mild" point to note. It is larger by about 4' curb to curb than my Toyota Tacoma so not a HUGE deal but since I know about it....I would just plan for it. Return to Center (RTC) on the steering....since we knew what to expect (and I am used to solid axle vehicles for dedicated off roading this was not a surprise) the time it took for me to get "used" to the steering was literally 2-3 minutes. Not an issue at all for me but it WONT be like a new Defender/Lexus GX550 etc....This transitions into the highway behavior and I found ZERO issues with that whatsoever. Highway driving was just fine....at 70 mph up to 85 mph there is considerable wind noise. No getting around that but it was NOT noisier than my Tacoma with its roof rack, lights, and gun cases. We did not experience any issues with the ADAS as we test drove a 2023 "Pre Production" model that did not have ADAS. Bottom line is that we loved the IG....now optioning it out is our next step!
Thank you so much for your very interesting comment. I have visited the States many times (my favourite country next to Aus) and I I know you guys have big trucks. So glad you also are loving it. Love to see a pic when you fit it out. Cheers and thanks for subscribing. John
John, I appreciate your comments, and am very much on a parallel with you. I have had mine now for several months, but have only done 5335 km, mostly farm related. Had it parked with windscreen sun shield. saw nothing at that time, but a couple of days later had a crack developed. Must be two months now, still no replacement available. At least passenger visor largely hides it from my view. There is an ongoing message that a service is overdue, the days overdue increases day by day even if the vehicle just stands unused for several days. It is a very slight irritation because the msg last for long enough to hide other info at regular intervals. Regards, Hector. Kingaroy
Hi from UK, enjoyed all your vids over last 12 mths . Like you I love mine , had it 15 mths now and again like you get so excited when I next jump on it. I love that grenadier are pro active regarding updates . I get calls from my dealer informing to drop in so they can check , tweak , or replace some small issue they’ve identified . I had no idea there was a problem with the 8/9 things the dealers worked on . I don’t really use review cameras ex class 1 truck driver but I do agree a bigger view area / image would be nice . Footwell / steering no problem at all. Love the 3.0L bmw diesel , leagues better than my 2018 g wagon . To conclude the grenadier is a far better carbon every way than my over priced W463 G wagon . Hey guys let’s not forget the 5 year warranty . These cars will be going well past Ineos predication of 25 years, I have no doubt about that ! Big , heavy and built like a tank , built to last years and years . Looking forward to more videos mate , take car and drive safe .
What sorts of things have they got you back in for? Had my first service a few weeks ago and they replaced the door seals even though I’d had no issue but nothing else.
@@MarthaMansbridge the big one was early in ownership the full software update , I’m guessing as yours is almost new. All the things early adopters were called back in for have now been sorted on the production line . I had four desk replaced but like you thought they were fine before . Are you pleased with ya wagon ?
Thank you so much for your comments. Glad you are loving yours also. As an ex truckie you would be using your mirrors I assume rather than the camera. Cheers John
@@PeterFearon-g8q One reason that Australian vehicles were held back from delivery ( back in May 2023 ? or around then ) to customers, was that Ineos Australia, had received vehicles, but then waited for an important Software Update, before letting dealers, deliver vehicles to customers.
Great review. Back in the 60's I started driving in a Series One Landrover and steering was over the place and I could barely keep the thing on my side of the road. Two weeks later and it wasn't an issue. Off-road though that steering was perfect. Years later Landrover went upmarket and lost the essence of an off road bias vehicle. Those early Series 1 and II Landrovers were great vehicles though badly built. Six bolts and the roof and sides came off, though this was balanced by needing both Whitworth and AF and when Land Rover went metric they just added metric so three sets of spanners. Its great Ineos have carried on the concept, modernised it and fantastic to see it tested in the Outback.
Fixing the truck cab roof on S1 with a few 1/4" gutter bolts is maybe not too crashworthy, but fast removal of that and another 30 seconds to change over to a set of 'summer' half doors makes it a very practical convertible !
Great review John. I'm only one week into ownership and vision out the rear is terrible!! I'll be in Noosa next week - I'll look out for your Grenadier!
Hi Robert, one week.... exciting. Yeah the camera is a bummer but I am sure you are loving it. I am often floating around Noosa Civic If you see me we will have a chat. John
Congrats on your Grenniversary! Funny how different people have such different peaves. I couldn't give a toss about having a camera at all. I think key thing about steering is we know why it is as it is as it is and it can be tweaked. The OEM stabilizer is very stiff, but with a Fox adjustable swap out it radically improves the return to center, if that is an issue for someone.
I’m from Texas and appreciate your honesty. What would “needle” on yours is driving on the right side of the vehicle. The one I’m planning on getting has a left hand drive. Just kidding with you man!
Well at least you won't have to worry about the foot rest causing a problem. Even with the steering wheel on the wrong side 😂, I am sure you will enjoy it. I must visit Texas again soon, we now have direct flights Brisbane to Texas. John
Hi John. I have had my Grenadier for a similar length of time to you (since August 2023), now have 25,000+ on the clock, maninly outback touring - totally agree with your thoughts. Apart from the rear camera, my only other concern is the windscreen - had one replaced in first month and now need another one - virtually any stone that hits it , crack it. Mean I drive very defensively on remote roads. Other issue I had was one of the door hinges broke internally - not a big issue and replacement covered on warrantly but required a respray of the door as the hinge itself is external!!
Today I test drove one in Colorado Springs. There were two large cracks on the windshield! I asked the saleslady about it and she said they took it off roading a lot? I thought it was really odd that there were two large (more than 12 inches) cracks on the test drive vehicle at the dealership. Why do you think the windshields crack so easily?
Awesome Ep and chat about your lovely 4wd.. Wow 60kg just for the Roof rack John . My roof rack I made Myself is 6 bars across 5 legs and a full gutter mounted to our old 80 series is only 23kg and I have 540 watt solar panel on its only 33kg,
Agree John; it's a brilliant vehicle in virtually all araes. It's the first vehicle I've owned with a reverse camera , so I feel superior to the Leylands and Malcolm D. That said , I've installed a plug and play Gator mirror mount dual camera as I have a van. Very economical unit , and great quality a far as I'm concerned.
The thing is like mobile phones you soon become reliant on them. They are a great safety feature and I still secretly hope we will see an upgrade. Those Gators are a good option. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Well, I was told there was an upgrade that would improve it. I had the upgrade and could not see any difference. My insider advice is "don't hold your breath" so who knows.
At speed, the steering tracking is definitely not a problem. Because of the very vertical caster angle it's definitely lighter, loser, more of a tendency to meander at slow speeds though. But, I got used to that in around 15 minutes to be honest. People who have a 'quick go' do tend to think the tracking feels a bit odd. But I think it's fine.
Good to see you’re doing well! When are you doing the Canning Stock Route? P.S someone should make a carbon fibre roof rack that’s very light but strong.
Hi John, great review and basically reflects my experiences too, although I haven't yet been able to get bush very far. One thing you didn't mention, and it's on my list, is the BushWrapz PPF. How is it performing after those many kms outback? Cheers, Steve
Hi Steve, I guess I can sum it up with "bloody good". It is still as good as the the day I put it on (well better actually as it settles down after a week or so of sun on it) not a mark on the paint work, its looks shiny and is easy to keep clean. so I would recommend it still. Didn't mention it because I don't want to sound like a. salesman for Bushwrapz (and I forgot). Cheers John
Agree the reverse camera and the view is piss poor. It’s the worst I’ve had on any car for 20 years. When I consider my 2023 Rexton which I had before, that camera system and view in particular with the large screen was impeccable and with such a large car, you really do need a good camera system these days. It should have a 360 system also - wouldn’t be difficult or costly. The steering so contextual - in the UK the car does wander, our roads are generally rubbish and not very straight. I wouldn’t dream of taking hands off the wheel even for a second on a UK Motorway or A/B road. It’s not an issue but it is the most vague steering I’ve ever had and I’ve had original Defenders for years.
Yes, I borrowed a Chinese GWM not so long ago and the camera was amazing and the screen was large.. I didn't help my frustration !! Probably not recommended to take hands off! Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Loved the video and cannot disagree with much - no fuel capacity issues in the UK and France. My UK diesel Grenadier has done nearly 25,000 miles in 16 months and probably only 30 miles off a tarred road; the UK is not famous for its Outback, but mud, wet clay, wet grass and gravel are all common hazards. Having never had a back-up camera before, it is still a novelty, so I don't get the drama and at 6', I don't get the footrest issue either. I am deeply irritated by the lack of workshop manual and will be poking Ineos Automotive with a legal stick later in the year.
Good on you Jeremy. I know Ineos watch my videos and I too will continue to nudge them. Reversing cameras are a bit like calculators. We could all add up until we got one and now we can't do without them. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Yes still have it on and it is still really good.It has certainly protected the paintwork and the car seems easier to keep clean (could be my imagination) I was worried that the Donny Grey would always look a bit grubby ...It doesn't seem too. Would definitely recommend it. Cheers John
Steering is probably typical of recirculating ball and nut offset steering boxes attached to a live solid front axle. The steering is antiquated by today’s standards. My Ranger pickup is bigger with a longer wheelbase but has a metre less turning circle. Also, because the Grenadier has this type of steering and axle arrangement, if prevents superior and simpler electric power steering to be fitted. This also means that the expected modern safety systems associated to electric steering cannot be fitted which also means that it probably will not get more than two of five stars in crash tests. This is not to be dismissed lightly, because just the day before yesterday a friend of mine was less than five miles from home in West Wales on his return journey from Iceland when he fell asleep at the wheel, hit two other cars and landed on his roof. The other two vehicle occupants were fine but he has lost all four fingers on his left hand and possibly his thumb, they are not sure at this stage. If his car was compliant with the latest common technology on newly introduced models he would have had active driver attention alert warning and lane keeping assist and autonomous emergency braking and several other features that would almost certainly have avoided the accident but if not would have significantly reduced the severity of the accident. These are NOT irrelevant to Grenadier because they are fitted to Ranger and Amarok destined for Europe and most are fitted to HiLux with the driver attention monitoring to be included on the next batch is not already here.
Your comments on the safety features are relevant although some disagree that all of these are appropriate or effective. Having spent 12 years in road accident rescue with the fire services I have seen a lot of vehicle accidents and often it seems there is no explanation as to why some people get off scott free from the most violent accidents and others are severely injured from seeming minor collisions. One thing is for sure falling asleep while driving rarely ends well. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Great blog mate. I’ve just returned from 4 weeks touring NSW, Canberra, Victoria and Tasmania. LOVE IT!! All comments you’ve made seem pretty accurate to me. Quick one … what the tow tongue you’re using with the DO35?
Bit of a long story. I wanted a longer tongue as the one supplied is very short and under the tyre. However the receiver has very tight tolerances and I sent the dimension to a number of well known suppliers such as Hayman Reese, Aldo and a few others and they all advised they were outside those tolerances for a 50 mm2 tongue. I tried a couple and they would not fit. However Allin Towers in South Australia made one for me 280mm long .They sent me a blank at first to make sure it would fit. They are not cheap but it is beautifully made and a solid tongue rated 3500kg and 350kg down. They have now supplied quite a few to Grenadiers I believe so if you are interested make sure you tell them it is for Grenadier. You can mention that they supplied one to me but they may not remember me. Hope that's helpful. Cheers John
Yes really good. I didn't mention it because it is the one thing I have not paid for and I think I have given it enough positive comments. Don't want to sound like a salesman for Bushwrapz. But look it's still perfect and has protected my paintwork I absolutely recommend it. Cheers John
Thanks for the review. I'm considering getting one of these as a new tow vehicle. Are you enjoying towing with it? And did you have an concerns re: GVM or axle loads, especially with the front winch etc.
I have no problem towing with it or the axel loads. That being said I am really towing a light load so I should not have any issues. I have previously towed heavy loads like big stock trailers but not with this vehicle but my feeling is it would do the job well. Cheers John
Hello John. Your observations are spot on. Can you tell me please, were your sidesteps replaced under warranty or how was the issue fixed? Ours look sandblasted too.
Not sure if my response went through, so here goes again. Yep they were replaced under warranty but with the same product and finish so I look forward to the same problem in the future. I will find a way to touch them up in the future I guess. Cheers John
@ thanks for you reply John. Just today I've sent pics of ours to the dealer and we'll see what happens. Sidesteps aside we do love our Grenadier and use it in much the same touring mix as you appear to. Keep up the great vids
Good question. I have had a couple of Range Rovers (although earlier models) Mitsubishi Pagero and Tridents, Ford Ranger. Have driven a lot of Toyota 70 series and 200 in the fire brigade. Got to say I have enjoyed them all. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
The footrest causes unreasonable discomfort for just about any driving range for numerous people - considering the price point makes it worse. A 300km trip can have you searching for a more fitting position that cannot be found. A Raised left leg by roughly 60mm ensures the back of thigh has minimal contact with squab of seat as compared to right leg which sits firm... it's tough being an owner of this vehicle when just about everything else about this vehicle is good - just the most important part (symetrical seating position) is big design flaw.
I've owned mine 7 months, 6,000+ miles and I'm still smiling everytime I get in the car. Your review is spot on. This is the car ticks a lot of boxes for us who travel by way of 4WD Quick question John, Which REDARC trailer brake controller did you buy? and are you completely satisfied with it? How heavy is your camp trailer loaded?
It is the Redarc Tow Pro Elite V3 The trailer is about 2000kgs so not overly heavy. I am very happy with it but have used the Redarc on the last couple of vehicles so I am not sure what the alternatives are like. I did see an ELECBRAKES plug and play at Expedition HQ at the Gold Coast in Queensland that looked interesting. They claim to have a Grenadier specific version. No need to wire it in (cost me a $1000 to get mine installed). Don't no much more about it but might be worth checking out. Cheers John
Need an aftermarket solution to that ridiculous exhaust setup which is taking space that could be used for a long range tank. Compared with an old Defender (even the W461), the underfloor space for extra fuel and water is very disappointing.
Greetings from across the pond! Fellow Grenadier owner! How is the light bar wired up? Curious how you ran the cables to get power and the light both to high beams and to the toggle switch?
Sorry for the late reply. Ran all new and separate cabling. Drilled a hole above the wire in the external power outlet after removing the grab rail assembly. inserted a grommet and ran the wire through. The with a fair bit of fiddling got he wire through and down by the rear door pillar to the electrics under the back seat. Theneasy enough to run a switch to the front and a connection to the high beam. Hope that is of some help. John
Yes sorted that one. A bit different from other vehicles I have had but once the you get the procedure down pat they seem to work well. Thanks for your comment, John
Farmers would not care less about the minor trim scratches. We chuck tools and veterinary stuff in on top of the inevitable dust and dirt. The lack of promised workshop manuals is inexcusable at this stage. The main differences between countries is left and right hand drive and either petrol or diesel engines. Other variations and options are minor as far as manuals are concerned. The manual should be made available on-line only as a PDF Acrobat file so that it can be downloaded and stored, either in whole or relevant sections to a local device such as iPad or laptop.
Yes as a retired farmer I agree however I never paid this much money for a farm vehicle. The WS manuals or lack of is a real letdown. While they still promote it on their website they appear to be doing nothing about it. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
So I do know its no longer a legal requirement for manufacturers to supply workshop/repair information to home users anymore, but they do have to supply them to mechanics/repair shops. the law was changed awhile ago and the likes of landrover revoked access to their online portal for the average user. if you google you will see the law change so i wouldn't be holding your breath for it.
Yes but I bought the car with the agreement that the manuals would be provided and to this day their current brochure still states that they will be provided.So you never know your luck!Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Yes a very interesting situation although I think we have had a few similar with other manufactures including the supply of chips...but lets hope they get back going again soon. John
I don't know that they will. The aftermarket have come up with some options but requires removing the rear muffler. Perhaps the side mounted Jerry cans are the option. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
One minute in, and the bias overwhelms. It's just not possible to spend this much money on something and believe you can provide an objective review. Anyway, lovely to see you overjoyed with your car, happy days.
Yes , I guess I am now biased as I am happy with the vehicle. However, check out the video I did about being unhappy with Ineos. . I try to say it as it is for me. I appreciate your comment ,thank you for watching,Cheers John
Guys the ineos looks like a plastic defender rip off. It's no land cruiser! It's a new car so most cars are reliable when new. Lets see what's it like after the warranty expires - junk
After 15 months of ownership as a fencing contractor, wireless is crap, so is the handsfree. My dealer is great, but Ineos customer service is poor. Yep still no manuals, and this was a major selling point. Foot rest is still noticeable, but not a huge issue, steering is wide, but self centering not an issue at all. Reverse camara does need centering though. But the vehicle is good, very good, the engine and transmission are great, its comfortable and once you learn the vehicle its the best 4x4 ive ever driven and owned. Its impressive, just wish they had spoken to more people that use them for work, as that back could be improved, its a sod to fit out.
Great and honest review John, enjoying your channel, from over here in the UK.
I agree it's stunning how good these are off road.
Thanks so much for your comment, I agree wireless is crap but I haven't has a problem with the hands free. They just missed a few of the simple thing but a great 4x4, Cheers John
Fair description. Have also had the car for over a year, in Germany, absolutely satisfied. ‘Not a woman's car’, no make-up mirror. The task for the designers was: off-road capability, liability, look. Excellently solved; always high-quality suppliers, great package. Thanks to Sir Jim Radcliffe for his entrepreneurial courage.
Agree and yes my wife has mentioned the make up mirror!!Thanks for watching and commenting, John
So glad to see now such kind of reviews! Happy about what we contributed and wishing the remaining team at INEOS all the best.
Agreed on all fronts from the US (but I don’t have to deal with the footwell). You’re always so fair and balanced, and I often check back in to find out how you did something - thanks for figuring it all out for so many of us around the world! Dislike the piano black panels - would like to replace all of them, but that’s just an aesthetics point. AC and heating could probably use some fine tuning and can be pretty loud, and kind of bounce back and forth between too hot and too cold. But FUNCTIONALLY, if you want to get out and go, it will just do the job. Also agree with your points on the accessories- there are now better options on the market for racks, bars, rock sliders and runners, light bars, awnings, etc. I would recommend if people are considering, save some money and skip all of that and purchase aftermarket- you’re going to replace whatever you get from the dealer, anyhow, once you start seeing the amazing products available for the Grenadier.
I agree and your aftermarket in the US seems much quicker to respond to providing options. Thanks for watching and I appreciate your comments ,John
@@cannyoutdoors I’m not so sure this is a US vs Australia difference on aftermarket suppliers. The only real exception I could think of off-hand would be Leitner for bars/racks - Bernhard is a genius. Maybe Agile and Owl, but they are really more integrators, although they do have some of their own fabrication (or at least contract it out). Other than that, we’re buying the same stuff you guys are, which is dominated by Australian suppliers - I guess we can throw in Buzz from the UK, Alu-Cab from South Africa, and Blacksheep from Switzerland. Otherwise, we’re mostly wondering what you guys are doing and drooling over your cool stuff (lookin’ at you guys over at Clevershade). Aussies are definitely the cool kids in the class. The ones in the shades, with “Thunderstruck” cranked all the way to 11.
Having watched this I feel so lucky. I have been a 70 series owner for different periods of time and around the farm they are terrific. I made the mistake of selling my 79 thinking it wouldn't be too long to get my new 79 and that was now 2 years ago. Now the new 79 is supposed to be coming next year. I was thinking about a grenadier as an alternate. In the meantime I thought I'd just buy something cheap and cheerful so earlier this year I got a late model Holden Colorado with 100,000 ks on it, canopy and roof carrying system for roundabout the $20000 mark.. it came with a 145 litre tank and I added a winch and upgraded the suspension, new tyres and a few bits and pieces. All well less than $30,000. Now I know this is not about money - but it's just a fill in car until the new 79 arrives. So I hooked up my camper trailer 3 months ago and I've travelled circa 9000 km mostly in various parts of the Outback. Well the bloody thing is so good that I'm really seriously considering why the hell to change it for any car that costs about 4 times as much (before any modifications or upgrades). I didn't have to worry about diesel, works easily with high flow diesel, happily pulled two tons at whatever the speed limit happened to be, huge amount of carrying space at around 1100 payload, etc. Powered through dry and really wet conditions and never missed a beat. The thought of having a car in the outback with only 90 l of diesel underneath it just wouldn't work for me.
Stick with the Colorado. Sounds like it's doing a great job. Sometimes we change because we can...but maybe we shouldn't. If you check out may early vid on why I decided to go for the Grenadier I needed to get out of my Ranger because it is too hot in Qld to carry my dogs in the back.. That being said I love having and driving the Grenadier and I am getting older so why not?Thanks for watching and commenting, John
My 12 months is coming up at end of this month. I was going to do a review but you pretty much just did it for me.
Had mine for 9 months and loving it. Added a Brown Davis Aux tank (68L) to my petrol vehicle and working great. Goes where rear muffler was so under bash plate at rear. Was a bit too noisy after this so added a small hotdog to exhaust $200 and now perfect. Also had steering Castor adjusted to +3 degrees and a big improvement at all speeds.
Thanks , great information, sound great. Glad you are enjoying it.
John
Thanks for watching, you must have had your car early also. Cheers John
My Grenadier - young Cedric, is a valued member of the family and our dealer equally, but they're in Sydney as the car is hardly home... We change oil at 10K. It's habitual, but we grabbed a filter, and oil was done out in the country. It's all good for us - The good thing is that the co-driver loves the car. The footrest is not an issue for me either. 100% Furfy!!
The team fixed Carplay.. all good. No problems anywhere...and NOT ONE RATTLE
That's great, yes didn't mention it but no rattles either and I have put her over a lot of nasty corrugations. Cheers John
Thanks for an excellent review John. My Trialmaster has just been through its first year service here in Germany at 13k KM. I drive an electric BMW Coupe as my other vehicle (company car) and the contrast getting into the Grenadier after that also makes me smile every time. From my time in the military I have a tank driving license and I must say, the Grenadier on muddy slopes reminds me more of a tank (well my “Spartan” at least) that any Defender I drove back then, with power and grip to delight.
Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it.
Glad you are enjoying your Grenadier and you would no doubt be noticing a few BMWisms in it. Cheers John
I have had mine for about 8 months and pretty much agree except for the steering and reverse camera , I have never had a vehicle with a reverse camera before and seldom use the one on the grenadier except to check that I am not running over the dogs , the steering was a real problem for me as I have a disco 2 over 20 years old and it drove along the road so much better , to the popint that the grenadier sat in the shed hardly used for 3 months ,it was not a pleasure to drive. I eventualy took it to a wheel alignment specialist and asked him to check the settings and increase the castor to the max spec , drove a completly different car home . I then fitted a bilstein damper sold as a grenadier after market part and although there was a slight improvment (mainly with the self centering) it as a waste of money ,$77 for the wheel alignment compared with over $500 for the damper . My main gripe is the ignition , it needs some sort of ilumination almost impossible to find if it is a bit dark , I dont understand the gps system at all and wonder why anybody would fit a system to a car that seems more suited to a dingy so that you can find your crab pots same as the radio system ,I have not yet managed to make the radio work , what ever happened to the old push button radios with a volume knob that were fitted to the kingswoods and falcons . I have no regrets purchasing the grenadier and am thinking of purchasing a cab chassis as well when they are available
I also came from a D2. I bought the Gren as I considered it the only new vehicle that was the equal off road. Yeah the G articulation is not as great, but it has lockers. My V8 D2 was nice and smooth, but my petrol Gren has heaps more power and way less fuel consumption.
Steering wise they are about the same.
My D2 has been parked street side for the last 9 months, but I just cannot part with it.
@@davidkelly3779 I think the steering issues vary because I am led to belive that most cars including the grenadier are assembled with jigs and the steering will generaly be within spec , mine was just in spec on the minium value and also had about a degree of variation side to side and once that was all sorted to max spec ai was a totaly different vehicle . As the specialist said there i nothing wrong with the steering but it could be a lot better to drive and it was . I will not part with my disco it is a TD5 and certainly not the most powerful machine but hook up a load and it performed did nt change
@@davidkelly3779 i like your write up , i own a Disco 2 td5 auto with centre diff lock , a remap was done and its performance is great , on road and off road . i test drove the Granadier and the Landy out performs the Granadier on every level .
@@davidkelly3779 What fuel consumption are you getting from the petrol grenadier?
@@pinkpotato1 Generally 14L/100km around town with gentle driving though will go to 15 without much effort. Highway about the same (100 km/h)
Saw a great solution for the small reversing camera. I watch a video where a guy replaces his rear view mirror with a computerized one. They installed the camera at the back of the car and the vision was outstanding. When the camera they also installed additional charging points for phones etc. looked great and substantially improved the reversing camera scenario
Interesting, would like to know which video or what the name of the camera is. Thanks for the comment, John
@@cannyoutdoors
Great video John
Very fair review
The factory reversing camera does look very crap.
The above comment sounds like a good solution
In LR products, they have the Clear Sight Rear View Mirror.
It operates as per normal, or it can give u an adjustable / full view from beyond the rear of the vehicle, via camera mounted on the roof, at the back of the vehicle.
I’m sure that at the first update of Grenadier, many things u mentioned, that aren’t so great, will b improved.
Good vid. I think everyone who has now lived with the car would agree completely with your experience.
Thank you so much Mark, I appreciate your comment, John
Crazy it has been a year! First week and 600 miles on my new Grennie. I love how it drives. I feel same way about the shiny bits one the console. The unit I picked up from someone else's order has secondary battery power and tow package. So still have to understand how those are hooked up.
I will be relentless getting a shop manual. I have no issue with reversing camera at all. I have ZERO issue with steering, single hand driving from first moment. LOVE the thick grip at 6 o'clock on the steering wheel! I've been nothing but thrilled so far this beast even made it to the USA. Cheers!
So pleased you are enjoying the vehicle so much (as I am). The second battery set up is a bit of a brain teaser and completely different from how e run the is Aus. Fair bit of info on the Grenadier Forum that might help. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Thanks for the review, John. Got my Grenny for about 15 months now and all in all I like it. Great offroad and decent onroad. Steering I adjusted by putting in an OME damper and the rear view camera I use is a wolfbox 900 dashcam now. Changes everything regarding view while reversing.
My car has been to the dealer a couple of times, mainly for fixing the HVAC system. Still a pain in the backside. Hope they get it sorted at some point.
Thank you. I have heard of the Wolfbox looks good glad to hear from you that you are happy with it. Might investigate it as an option. Cheers John
Great review and it covers everything and a true story on the Ineos. Hope they get the manual sorted soon.
Safe travels
Thank you. Still hoping and prodding them for it. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Liked and Subbed from the US. GREAT breakdown on your Grenadier! Wife and I just test drove one today and absolutely loved it! I went into the test drive with a ton of the "detractors" I have read about and seen online. Everything from turning radius to steering return to center (RTC), ADAS nanny alerts and even on to Highway behavior....you name it I went into the test drive with those issues in the forefront. Well I will address the issues....Turning radius for me was a "mild" point to note. It is larger by about 4' curb to curb than my Toyota Tacoma so not a HUGE deal but since I know about it....I would just plan for it. Return to Center (RTC) on the steering....since we knew what to expect (and I am used to solid axle vehicles for dedicated off roading this was not a surprise) the time it took for me to get "used" to the steering was literally 2-3 minutes. Not an issue at all for me but it WONT be like a new Defender/Lexus GX550 etc....This transitions into the highway behavior and I found ZERO issues with that whatsoever. Highway driving was just fine....at 70 mph up to 85 mph there is considerable wind noise. No getting around that but it was NOT noisier than my Tacoma with its roof rack, lights, and gun cases. We did not experience any issues with the ADAS as we test drove a 2023 "Pre Production" model that did not have ADAS. Bottom line is that we loved the IG....now optioning it out is our next step!
Thank you so much for your very interesting comment. I have visited the States many times (my favourite country next to Aus) and I I know you guys have big trucks. So glad you also are loving it. Love to see a pic when you fit it out. Cheers and thanks for subscribing. John
Great review. Enjoyed all of your information.
John, I appreciate your comments, and am very much on a parallel with you. I have had mine now for several months, but have only done 5335 km, mostly farm related. Had it parked with windscreen sun shield. saw nothing at that time, but a couple of days later had a crack developed. Must be two months now, still no replacement available. At least passenger visor largely hides it from my view. There is an ongoing message that a service is overdue, the days overdue increases day by day even if the vehicle just stands unused for several days. It is a very slight irritation because the msg last for long enough to hide other info at regular intervals. Regards, Hector. Kingaroy
Hi from UK, enjoyed all your vids over last 12 mths . Like you I love mine , had it 15 mths now and again like you get so excited when I next jump on it.
I love that grenadier are pro active regarding updates . I get calls from my dealer informing to drop in so they can check , tweak , or replace some small issue they’ve identified .
I had no idea there was a problem with the 8/9 things the dealers worked on .
I don’t really use review cameras ex class 1 truck driver but I do agree a bigger view area / image would be nice .
Footwell / steering no problem at all. Love the 3.0L bmw diesel , leagues better than my 2018 g wagon .
To conclude the grenadier is a far better carbon every way than my over priced W463 G wagon .
Hey guys let’s not forget the 5 year warranty . These cars will be going well past Ineos predication of 25 years, I have no doubt about that !
Big , heavy and built like a tank , built to last years and years .
Looking forward to more videos mate , take car and drive safe .
What sorts of things have they got you back in for? Had my first service a few weeks ago and they replaced the door seals even though I’d had no issue but nothing else.
@@MarthaMansbridge the big one was early in ownership the full software update , I’m guessing as yours is almost new. All the things early adopters were called back in for have now been sorted on the production line .
I had four desk replaced but like you thought they were fine before .
Are you pleased with ya wagon ?
DOOR SEALS 🤷♂️ predictive text
Thank you so much for your comments. Glad you are loving yours also. As an ex truckie you would be using your mirrors I assume rather than the camera. Cheers John
@@PeterFearon-g8q
One reason that Australian vehicles were held back from delivery
( back in May 2023 ? or around then ) to customers, was that Ineos Australia, had received vehicles, but then waited for an important Software Update, before letting dealers, deliver vehicles to customers.
Great review. Back in the 60's I started driving in a Series One Landrover and steering was over the place and I could barely keep the thing on my side of the road. Two weeks later and it wasn't an issue. Off-road though that steering was perfect. Years later Landrover went upmarket and lost the essence of an off road bias vehicle. Those early Series 1 and II Landrovers were great vehicles though badly built. Six bolts and the roof and sides came off, though this was balanced by needing both Whitworth and AF and when Land Rover went metric they just added metric so three sets of spanners. Its great Ineos have carried on the concept, modernised it and fantastic to see it tested in the Outback.
Fixing the truck cab roof on S1 with a few 1/4" gutter bolts is maybe not too crashworthy, but fast removal of that and another 30 seconds to change over to a set of 'summer' half doors makes it a very practical convertible !
Thank you. yep those old landys were certainly interesting vehicles. We know where the Grenadier genetics come from. Cheers John
Great review John. I'm only one week into ownership and vision out the rear is terrible!!
I'll be in Noosa next week - I'll look out for your Grenadier!
Hi Robert, one week.... exciting. Yeah the camera is a bummer but I am sure you are loving it. I am often floating around Noosa Civic If you see me we will have a chat. John
Congrats on your Grenniversary! Funny how different people have such different peaves. I couldn't give a toss about having a camera at all. I think key thing about steering is we know why it is as it is as it is and it can be tweaked. The OEM stabilizer is very stiff, but with a Fox adjustable swap out it radically improves the return to center, if that is an issue for someone.
Thanks for that, good advice and worth investigating for those who have a concern.Thanks for watching and commenting, John
can't believe its been 12months ,time goes fast glad you happy with it John👍👍👍
Thanks Lucy, yep it has gone a lot faster than those years we waited for them to arrive, hey! Thanks for watching and commenting, John
I’m from Texas and appreciate your honesty. What would “needle” on yours is driving on the right side of the vehicle. The one I’m planning on getting has a left hand drive. Just kidding with you man!
Well at least you won't have to worry about the foot rest causing a problem. Even with the steering wheel on the wrong side 😂, I am sure you will enjoy it. I must visit Texas again soon, we now have direct flights Brisbane to Texas. John
Thanks a great review and they are a nice car.
Thanks for watching and commenting, I appreciate it.John
Hi John. I have had my Grenadier for a similar length of time to you (since August 2023), now have 25,000+ on the clock, maninly outback touring - totally agree with your thoughts. Apart from the rear camera, my only other concern is the windscreen - had one replaced in first month and now need another one - virtually any stone that hits it , crack it. Mean I drive very defensively on remote roads. Other issue I had was one of the door hinges broke internally - not a big issue and replacement covered on warrantly but required a respray of the door as the hinge itself is external!!
Today I test drove one in Colorado Springs. There were two large cracks on the windshield! I asked the saleslady about it and she said they took it off roading a lot? I thought it was really odd that there were two large (more than 12 inches) cracks on the test drive vehicle at the dealership. Why do you think the windshields crack so easily?
Awesome Ep and chat about your lovely 4wd.. Wow 60kg just for the Roof rack John . My roof rack I made Myself is 6 bars across 5 legs and a full gutter mounted to our old 80 series is only 23kg and I have 540 watt solar panel on its only 33kg,
Thanks Craig, yes the weight of it is an issue.Nice size solar panel you have. Cheers John
@@cannyoutdoors Thanks yes it pumps out 32 amps laying flat.
I believe Brown Davis now have a 68lt aux tank that comes with a high flow compatible filler.
Yes I believe so.Requires removal of the rear muffler I think. I will check it out a bit further, thanks for the comment, John
Agree John; it's a brilliant vehicle in virtually all araes.
It's the first vehicle I've owned with a reverse camera , so I feel superior to the Leylands and Malcolm D.
That said , I've installed a plug and play Gator mirror mount dual camera as I have a van.
Very economical unit , and great quality a far as I'm concerned.
The thing is like mobile phones you soon become reliant on them. They are a great safety feature and I still secretly hope we will see an upgrade. Those Gators are a good option. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Thank you for sharing
The head INEOS engineer in a recent Robert Pepper video says the console viewing area when reversing is coming (a bigger viewable area that is).
From what I was told, only in new models, I hope this isn't true and is just an update
@@mikefoster7085 Whatever happens, it will take time. Time is measured by the INEOS clock, slower than most people's clocks.
Well, I was told there was an upgrade that would improve it. I had the upgrade and could not see any difference. My insider advice is "don't hold your breath" so who knows.
@@cannyoutdoors The Head Engineering said it was coming, it was not released. It will come when it comes.
Thank you for sharing. Most dissapointing thing I've heard is the workshop mamual still being unavailable. Cheers
Yes it would add so much to the experience.Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Great looking car, I was hoping they would bring out a SW base version but I think not
Who knows what the future will bring I guess it depends on the success of this one. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
At speed, the steering tracking is definitely not a problem. Because of the very vertical caster angle it's definitely lighter, loser, more of a tendency to meander at slow speeds though. But, I got used to that in around 15 minutes to be honest. People who have a 'quick go' do tend to think the tracking feels a bit odd. But I think it's fine.
Good comment, I agree. Cheers John
Thank you for the one year review…
Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Good to see you’re doing well! When are you doing the Canning Stock Route?
P.S someone should make a carbon fibre roof rack that’s very light but strong.
CSR has got to be on the to do list...maybe next year!. And yes 60kg for the Rhino rack... Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Hi John, great review and basically reflects my experiences too, although I haven't yet been able to get bush very far. One thing you didn't mention, and it's on my list, is the BushWrapz PPF. How is it performing after those many kms outback?
Cheers, Steve
Hi Steve, I guess I can sum it up with "bloody good". It is still as good as the the day I put it on (well better actually as it settles down after a week or so of sun on it) not a mark on the paint work, its looks shiny and is easy to keep clean. so I would recommend it still. Didn't mention it because I don't want to sound like a. salesman for Bushwrapz (and I forgot). Cheers John
Great insight - thank you.
Thank you , I appreciate your comment, John
Agree the reverse camera and the view is piss poor. It’s the worst I’ve had on any car for 20 years. When I consider my 2023 Rexton which I had before, that camera system and view in particular with the large screen was impeccable and with such a large car, you really do need a good camera system these days. It should have a 360 system also - wouldn’t be difficult or costly. The steering so contextual - in the UK the car does wander, our roads are generally rubbish and not very straight. I wouldn’t dream of taking hands off the wheel even for a second on a UK Motorway or A/B road. It’s not an issue but it is the most vague steering I’ve ever had and I’ve had original Defenders for years.
Yes, I borrowed a Chinese GWM not so long ago and the camera was amazing and the screen was large.. I didn't help my frustration !! Probably not recommended to take hands off! Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Loved the video and cannot disagree with much - no fuel capacity issues in the UK and France. My UK diesel Grenadier has done nearly 25,000 miles in 16 months and probably only 30 miles off a tarred road; the UK is not famous for its Outback, but mud, wet clay, wet grass and gravel are all common hazards. Having never had a back-up camera before, it is still a novelty, so I don't get the drama and at 6', I don't get the footrest issue either. I am deeply irritated by the lack of workshop manual and will be poking Ineos Automotive with a legal stick later in the year.
Good on you Jeremy. I know Ineos watch my videos and I too will continue to nudge them. Reversing cameras are a bit like calculators. We could all add up until we got one and now we can't do without them. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Do you still have the BushWrapz on? How has that been holding up?
Yes still have it on and it is still really good.It has certainly protected the paintwork and the car seems easier to keep clean (could be my imagination) I was worried that the Donny Grey would always look a bit grubby ...It doesn't seem too. Would definitely recommend it.
Cheers John
Steering is probably typical of recirculating ball and nut offset steering boxes attached to a live solid front axle. The steering is antiquated by today’s standards. My Ranger pickup is bigger with a longer wheelbase but has a metre less turning circle. Also, because the Grenadier has this type of steering and axle arrangement, if prevents superior and simpler electric power steering to be fitted. This also means that the expected modern safety systems associated to electric steering cannot be fitted which also means that it probably will not get more than two of five stars in crash tests. This is not to be dismissed lightly, because just the day before yesterday a friend of mine was less than five miles from home in West Wales on his return journey from Iceland when he fell asleep at the wheel, hit two other cars and landed on his roof. The other two vehicle occupants were fine but he has lost all four fingers on his left hand and possibly his thumb, they are not sure at this stage. If his car was compliant with the latest common technology on newly introduced models he would have had active driver attention alert warning and lane keeping assist and autonomous emergency braking and several other features that would almost certainly have avoided the accident but if not would have significantly reduced the severity of the accident. These are NOT irrelevant to Grenadier because they are fitted to Ranger and Amarok destined for Europe and most are fitted to HiLux with the driver attention monitoring to be included on the next batch is not already here.
Your comments on the safety features are relevant although some disagree that all of these are appropriate or effective. Having spent 12 years in road accident rescue with the fire services I have seen a lot of vehicle accidents and often it seems there is no explanation as to why some people get off scott free from the most violent accidents and others are severely injured from seeming minor collisions. One thing is for sure falling asleep while driving rarely ends well. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
The steering is set up for minimal kickback on steep rocky trails
Good point.Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Great blog mate. I’ve just returned from 4 weeks touring NSW, Canberra, Victoria and Tasmania. LOVE IT!! All comments you’ve made seem pretty accurate to me. Quick one … what the tow tongue you’re using with the DO35?
Bit of a long story. I wanted a longer tongue as the one supplied is very short and under the tyre. However the receiver has very tight tolerances and I sent the dimension to a number of well known suppliers such as Hayman Reese, Aldo and a few others and they all advised they were outside those tolerances for a 50 mm2 tongue. I tried a couple and they would not fit. However Allin Towers in South Australia made one for me 280mm long .They sent me a blank at first to make sure it would fit. They are not cheap but it is beautifully made and a solid tongue rated 3500kg and 350kg down. They have now supplied quite a few to Grenadiers I believe so if you are interested make sure you tell them it is for Grenadier. You can mention that they supplied one to me but they may not remember me. Hope that's helpful. Cheers John
Good review, John. How is the paint orotection film holding out?
Yes really good. I didn't mention it because it is the one thing I have not paid for and I think I have given it enough positive comments. Don't want to sound like a salesman for Bushwrapz.
But look it's still perfect and has protected my paintwork I absolutely recommend it.
Cheers John
Thanks for the review. I'm considering getting one of these as a new tow vehicle. Are you enjoying towing with it? And did you have an concerns re: GVM or axle loads, especially with the front winch etc.
I have no problem towing with it or the axel loads. That being said I am really towing a light load so I should not have any issues. I have previously towed heavy loads like big stock trailers but not with this vehicle but my feeling is it would do the job well. Cheers John
If I had the coin, I would get one of these 👍
Yes they are a big investment that's for sure.Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Hello John. Your observations are spot on. Can you tell me please, were your sidesteps replaced under warranty or how was the issue fixed? Ours look sandblasted too.
Not sure if my response went through, so here goes again. Yep they were replaced under warranty but with the same product and finish so I look forward to the same problem in the future. I will find a way to touch them up in the future I guess. Cheers John
@ thanks for you reply John. Just today I've sent pics of ours to the dealer and we'll see what happens. Sidesteps aside we do love our Grenadier and use it in much the same touring mix as you appear to. Keep up the great vids
@anneclugston4273 Good luck with it I hope they are responsive. Thanks again. John
What made you decide to get a Grenadier ?
What cars have you had, that you can compare it to, pros and cons
Good question. I have had a couple of Range Rovers (although earlier models) Mitsubishi Pagero and Tridents, Ford Ranger. Have driven a lot of Toyota 70 series and 200 in the fire brigade. Got to say I have enjoyed them all. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Josh from My Automobile Obsession TH-cam channel fitted a reversing camera combined rear vision mirror to his Grenadier.
Thank you I will check that out.Thanks for watching and commenting, John
The footrest causes unreasonable discomfort for just about any driving range for numerous people - considering the price point makes it worse. A 300km trip can have you searching for a more fitting position that cannot be found. A Raised left leg by roughly 60mm ensures the back of thigh has minimal contact with squab of seat as compared to right leg which sits firm... it's tough being an owner of this vehicle when just about everything else about this vehicle is good - just the most important part (symetrical seating position) is big design flaw.
Yes the simple answer is it would be better if it was not there. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
I've owned mine 7 months, 6,000+ miles and I'm still smiling everytime I get in the car.
Your review is spot on.
This is the car ticks a lot of boxes for us who travel by way of 4WD
Quick question John, Which REDARC trailer brake controller did you buy? and are you completely satisfied with it? How heavy is your camp trailer loaded?
I personally used the Tow Pro Elite v5 I'm sure John will comment as well.
It is the Redarc Tow Pro Elite V3 The trailer is about 2000kgs so not overly heavy. I am very happy with it but have used the Redarc on the last couple of vehicles so I am not sure what the alternatives are like. I did see an ELECBRAKES plug and play at Expedition HQ at the Gold Coast in Queensland that looked interesting. They claim to have a Grenadier specific version. No need to wire it in (cost me a $1000 to get mine installed). Don't no much more about it but might be worth checking out. Cheers John
Need an aftermarket solution to that ridiculous exhaust setup which is taking space that could be used for a long range tank.
Compared with an old Defender (even the W461), the underfloor space for extra fuel and water is very disappointing.
Yes a few aftermarkets are doing this. Would have been nice to have a factory option on this.Thanks for watching and commenting, John
@nnoddy81612 local manufacturers have them on the market, Longranger and Brown Davis 67-68lts
A true shame the diesel was not made available in the USA.
Yes Bryan its a great engine, John
Greetings from across the pond! Fellow Grenadier owner! How is the light bar wired up? Curious how you ran the cables to get power and the light both to high beams and to the toggle switch?
Sorry for the late reply. Ran all new and separate cabling. Drilled a hole above the wire in the external power outlet after removing the grab rail assembly. inserted a grommet and ran the wire through. The with a fair bit of fiddling got he wire through and down by the rear door pillar to the electrics under the back seat. Theneasy enough to run a switch to the front and a connection to the high beam. Hope that is of some help.
John
what about the diff locks ? i remember you said on 1 of your trips they did not want to engage .
Used mine dozens of times the day after we bought ours. Not perfect, but better than some vehicles.
Yes sorted that one. A bit different from other vehicles I have had but once the you get the procedure down pat they seem to work well. Thanks for your comment, John
Farmers would not care less about the minor trim scratches. We chuck tools and veterinary stuff in on top of the inevitable dust and dirt. The lack of promised workshop manuals is inexcusable at this stage. The main differences between countries is left and right hand drive and either petrol or diesel engines. Other variations and options are minor as far as manuals are concerned. The manual should be made available on-line only as a PDF Acrobat file so that it can be downloaded and stored, either in whole or relevant sections to a local device such as iPad or laptop.
Yes as a retired farmer I agree however I never paid this much money for a farm vehicle. The WS manuals or lack of is a real letdown. While they still promote it on their website they appear to be doing nothing about it. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
So I do know its no longer a legal requirement for manufacturers to supply workshop/repair information to home users anymore, but they do have to supply them to mechanics/repair shops. the law was changed awhile ago and the likes of landrover revoked access to their online portal for the average user. if you google you will see the law change so i wouldn't be holding your breath for it.
Yes but I bought the car with the agreement that the manuals would be provided and to this day their current brochure still states that they will be provided.So you never know your luck!Thanks for watching and commenting, John
I find the same thing with the steering is does not drift like press show.
I agree. We did not even do alignment after adding 35s and it's fine
That's great to hear. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Wow! This guy's tone has changed quite a bit. Did Inoes pay you?
like them ,utilitarian wagon, s.u.v. with " utility " not a 3 row luxury family school bus like most wagons /S.U.V'S
Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Great video. Is your colour black or Donny grey?
Donny grey, but yes it can look black. happy with the colour and easier to keep clean than I expected. Cheers John
CRAMP FROM LEFT LEG RAISED ON TRANSMISSION HUMP
FOREVER
Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Just getting to a few weeks 😂
Not so long!John
Unfortunately production has paused due to the Seat manufacture Recaro going bankrupt
Yes a very interesting situation although I think we have had a few similar with other manufactures including the supply of chips...but lets hope they get back going again soon.
John
I'm 6'3" and the footrest is fine. Not sure what the fuss is about.
The 90l tank kills it for me. Hope Ineos addresses this in future models.
I don't know that they will. The aftermarket have come up with some options but requires removing the rear muffler. Perhaps the side mounted Jerry cans are the option. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
Taylor Jeffrey Lee Donna Lopez Carol
The foot rest is a deal breaker.
It is certainly an issues for some. Thanks for watching and commenting, John
20mpg is not good enough for a car meant for farmers
Yes interesting comment. I am a retired cattle farmer and the cost of diesel was always a big expense.
Thanks for your comment, John
One minute in, and the bias overwhelms. It's just not possible to spend this much money on something and believe you can provide an objective review. Anyway, lovely to see you overjoyed with your car, happy days.
Yes , I guess I am now biased as I am happy with the vehicle. However, check out the video I did about being unhappy with Ineos. . I try to say it as it is for me. I appreciate your comment ,thank you for watching,Cheers John
Guys the ineos looks like a plastic defender rip off. It's no land cruiser! It's a new car so most cars are reliable when new. Lets see what's it like after the warranty expires - junk
The steering is setup for minimal kickback on steep rocky trails
Yes I thinks that's correct, Thanks for commenting, John