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[Hopeydaze]

I’m pleased to report that while driving my old Defender down a road near Tavistock in Devon I saw a new Defender 110 with a roof rack filled with ladders which clearly worked for its living. First time other than on the Harry’s Garage YouTube channel

Mind you, knowing the price if my builder turned up in one...

[Craig T]

I haven't been lucky enough to look at a Grenadier yet and certainly not in a position to order one but, I have enjoyed following the story through their emails and Facebook page. It does look a very capable vehicle and something I could see myself happily driving around in.

It is a shame to say that Land Rover no longer produce anything I like the look of. The Discovery lost its looks at the 3rd version and the Range Rover has developed into a huge oversized jelly mould on wheels. The Range Rover Sport is probably the best looking of the bunch now for me.

I think if I had the kind of money to buy a new vehicle I wouldn't. I'd buy an old 110 station wagon and pay someone to rebuild it onto a new chassis, new bulkhead, new interior and fresh paint. I kind of miss the 110 V8 station wagon my parents used to own, that was great.

Craig.

[Exile]

I think if I had the kind of money to buy a new vehicle I wouldn't. I'd buy an old 110 station wagon and pay someone to rebuild it onto a new chassis, new bulkhead, new interior and fresh paint. I kind of miss the 110 V8 station wagon my parents used to own, that was great.

Craig.

Great choice Craig.

However, I think if I had the space, I would buy a Discovery 3 (or possibly 4).

Not for any reason other than I like the look of them when they come towards me on the road.

They have "presence". 

The new Defender" can drive past me and I don't even notice it......

[Bronze Green]

Great choice Craig.

However, I think if I had the space, I would buy a Discovery 3 (or possibly 4).

Not for any reason other than I like the look of them when they come towards me on the road.

They have "presence". 

The new Defender" can drive past me and I don't even notice it......

The D3 I had was a great vehicle, I had a few niggles with it in the 8 years I had it as my daily but along with my Skoda Yeti it was a great vehicle. Not sure how the electrics will hold up on a + 10 year old D3 but they are lovely to drive. My Old Toyota LC feels like D2 to drive but far more reliable. I’m not sure how bullet proof the current LC is as they are more complex so I’ll stick with my LC 90 Colorado.

[Rog-from-Bix]

The D3 I had was a great vehicle, I had a few niggles with it in the 8 years I had it as my daily but along with my Skoda Yeti it was a great vehicle. Not sure how the electrics will hold up on a + 10 year old D3 but they are lovely to drive. My Old Toyota LC feels like D2 to drive but far more reliable. I’m not sure how bullet proof the current LC is as they are more complex so I’ll stick with my LC 90 Colorado.

I also have a 90 colorado a 1999, in 9 years of ownership it was cost virtually no money in repairs just servicing costs. I was looking for a disco or defender when I ended up buying it as pound for pound I thought it gave much better bang for the bucks. It tows a horse trailer brilliantly and at 23 years old everything still works.

[Larry S.]

Huh... no responses from others here in the States...

If I had that kind of money I wouldn't buy either; I would take some of that money though and have Grover gone over with a fine toothed comb by better Rover mechanics than myself!!!  With the rest I'd probably buy a nice SI 80".

As to the Grenadier - I do prefer it's looks.  The new 'Defender' - not on your life - hate the thing!!!  It doesn't even look like it belongs within the LR stable.  A buddy of mine's said it reminded him of a fancy version of a 1990s Dodge Caravan!!  To me, and few friends in the area, they come off more as snooty soccer mom SUVs and nothing more.

[diffwhine]

Don't underestimate the capabilities of the New Defender. It is highly impressive. I too don't like the styling, but that's a personal thing. Mind you - I hated the look of Discovery 3 when it first came out, now I think that was a fantastic design, so things do grow on you.

An interesting comment from a friend of mine (who works for JLR) last year at an event where we were showing off one of our prototype Grenadiers... "We should have built that as our New Defender. We should have badged our New Defender as Discovery 5 and never built our Discovery 5...

I agree - that would have been one impressive stable of vehicles.

[crumbly65]

I would not be surprised if in the future Ineos sells the Grenadier to JLR - lock, stock & barrel….

[Peter Holden]

Mark, I am like you, I do not like the shape of the new defender but I have a couple of friends who have them (they are also series owners).  They apre pleased with them and they have proved to be very good off road and so far reliable.

I do like the shape of the Grenadier and I always thought Iveco missed a trick when they cocked up the PS10

Peter

[Exile]

An interesting comment from a friend of mine (who works for JLR) last year  "We should have built that as our New Defender. We should have badged our New Defender as Discovery 5 and never built our Discovery 5...

                                    So many people, including me, have been saying that ^ ever since the Pretender was revealed (after a painfully long build up).

                                    So it is good to hear the same from a Factory insider!

I would not be surprised if in the future Ineos sells the Grenadier to JLR - lock, stock & barrel….

Stranger things have happened!

[Phil2014]

                                    So many people, including me, have been saying that ^ ever since the Pretender was revealed (after a painfully long build up).                         

There will be a lot more people that don’t agree, myself included, times move on, vehicles develop, I’m glad the new defender isn’t like the old one, I’d love to know if the haters have driven one or even looked closely at one. The factory can’t make them fast enough, I waited 10 months for ours, some are being told now the wait is over a year, if you don’t like a car, you don’t have to buy one or moan about it, just accept you don’t like it and move on. Rant over.
Phil.

[22900013A]

Yet those who love it can't seem to resist temptation to prove those who don't like it to be "wrong". Why doesn't the live and let live attitude work both ways?
The new Defender poses two questions to me. Is it's good car? Is it a good Defender replacement? I doubt ever will truly be resolved.

[Phil2014]

Yet those who love it can't seem to resist temptation to prove those who don't like it to be "wrong". Why doesn't the live and let live attitude work both ways?
The new Defender poses two questions to me. Is it's good car? Is it a good Defender replacement? I doubt ever will truly be resolved.

Is that aimed at me? If so, where did I say anyone was wrong?

[22900013A]

No, just a general observation.

[Exile]

There will be a lot more people that don’t agree, myself included, times move on, vehicles develop, I’m glad the new defender isn’t like the old one, I’d love to know if the haters have driven one or even looked closely at one. The factory can’t make them fast enough, I waited 10 months for ours, some are being told now the wait is over a year, if you don’t like a car, you don’t have to buy one or moan about it, just accept you don’t like it and move on. Rant over.
Phil.

Hmm.
Am I allowed to comment on other cars I don't particularly like (however "good" they are), or is it just the new "Defender"?


(My comment, of course, focused on the fact that even a factory insider said it should not have been called "Defender").