Help me out #WeirdCarMastodon
The #IneosGrenadier is a puzzling vehicle. It has a high price tag and a luxurious interior, which suggests it is a toy for the wealthy. But it lacks the features of modern fun off-roaders, such as large tyres and huge ground clearance. On the other hand, it is marketed as a workhorse for farmers and local authorities. But why would they pay twice as much as they would for a reliable HiLux? Who is the target audience for the Grenadier?
I want this thing to do well, but I think they concentrated way too much in creating a Defender from the past rather than targeting this vehicle to the market.
Farmers and local authorities buy work trucks and Gators. Overlanders and off-roaders buy Wranglers, and Broncos.
Perhaps the hope is that the Ineos becomes a platform for people to create their ideal off-roader. More of a Series 70 for modern times. There's nothing wrong with that either... Maybe it is the European Series 70.
What do you guys think this vehicle is? What is it for? Who is it for?
@gpowerf Rich dummies? 🤷♂️
@vwdasher I kind of like it, but not at that price. Am I a poor dummy? 😂
@gpowerf It just looks like an aliexpress knock off though. In which case it should come with Aliexpress pricing?
@vwdasher it is around £60k for the basic version after adding a few extras. In person it actually doesn’t look bad and once you get it is evidently nicely detailed and solidly inside. Will it be reliable? That’s a different question 😄
@gpowerf bloody hell that is a lot of money.
@vwdasher Ooooh... No! Maybe it is the G-Wagon for Brits :( Maybe it is that pointless.
At least it doesn't come with 22-inch (or whatever they are) wheels and low-profile tyres as the G Wagon does.... I REALLY don't understand that thing.
@gpowerf the OG G Wagon was dead useful as an offroader with amazing capabilities. The current version is just for chavs and drug dealers, it seems.
@gpowerf I think it's well heeled, old money land owners who'll buy one and keep it for years. I can't see current work-Defender owners moving over to it.
@cianhan That's to say that Jim Ratcliffe created a car for himself :) I can see that.
@gpowerf My limited understanding is that this was/is basically targeted to people who are very nostalgic for the Defenders before the Defenders revamp a few years ago. I think the founder pretty much stated that was his mission - to offer the old style classic Defender now Land Rover doesn't make them anymore.
@koji That I get entirely. What’s puzzled me though is that in interviews I’ve heard Jim Ratcliffe talk about farmers and local authorities being potential users of the vehicle. And when I went to see one of them the Ineos representative talked about farmers specifically and not what I think makes more sense which is recreational users.
In person it is pretty cool, the interior does feel like something military. As in fantasy military, like if the military was luxurious.
@gpowerf there are so many improved defenders out there, such as the ‘Twisted’ one, I don’t really see the point in this entirely new vehicle. Makes me think of a Santana rather than a Defender too
Clarification: When I said overlanders and off-roaders buy Broncos and Wranglers I mean those are the trendy in vehicles that you see in lots of videos and shows. Lots of people buy other things like Fortuners, D-Maxes, HiLux, Jimnies, etc... But all of those are affordable, they are not luxurious European SUVs!
Perhaps the competition are Land Cruisers and Patrols. Maybe... Its just that, another premium off-roader that's slightly smaller than an LC200 or 300.