Farm jeep wish list ( aka the Ineos Grenadier Farm R&D thread)

Looks like massive PR job last day or so as on all media ?

Dukes Fit said:

The Discovery and Range Rover constantly evolved in to better and better vehicles.
Arguably the Range Rover and Discovery are at the top of the tree in there classes. Audi, VW, Mercedes, BMW, Toyota etc are all trying to beat the Green Oval. None of them have yet succeeded

Then you have the (old style) Defender. Quality lessened with every revision, chassis got thinner, body panels got thinner, build quality went progressively downhill, engines became the cheapest lump they could get away with sticking in all the while the price went up.

Every Land Rover that’s been here since pretty much the first TD5 that came home has been back to the dealers for various problems. Best ones we had were 200 and 300tdi versions.

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Not sure I entirely agree

A MK1 Range Rover at £2k and reasonably simple became a luxury car. Much more sophisticated but left it's cross country roots behind. Why would you risk a £80k+ vehicle doing a basic farm and towing job

The last Defender was way behind in it's safety especially but it still could be bought as a basic hardtop for £17k, would tow a livestock trailer and broadly do what a farmer needed

JP1 said:

Not sure I entirely agree

A MK1 Range Rover at £2k and reasonably simple became a luxury car. Much more sophisticated but left it's cross country roots behind. Why would you risk a £80k+ vehicle doing a basic farm and towing job

The last Defender was way behind in it's safety especially but it still could be bought as a basic hardtop for £17k, would tow a livestock trailer and broadly do what a farmer needed

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Exactly what I wrote, the Range Rover has evolved and become better.

The Defender stayed the same but the quality got worse.

Pretty sure there were no hard tops available latterly for 17k, fathers 110 was one of the very last off the line and was around 35k if I remember right

Dukes Fit said:

The whole point of Grenadier is it’s supposed to be a no nonsense utility vehicle.

Stick to the basics, radio with either an aux cable or Bluetooth connection, standard din fitting so any 3rd party unit can be fitted.

Manual locking diffs with raised/remote breathers so they don’t suck in water when they cool

Manual low range selection

Decent steering articulation when fitted with bigger tyres

Doors that actually seal properly

Analogue heating controls, decent heater, decent airflow. air con an option

Decent sound proofing

Sealed inner tub so foot wells can be washed out

Trim levels varying from vinyl seats to cloth to leather

Manual handbrake, manual key start.

Decent sized recovery points at each corner of the vehicle for the inevitable getting stuck.

Underneath/chassis shouldn’t have awkward/blind angles where mud can get in but can’t be washed out and ends up rotting out the metal (like a Discovery 4)

Selectable 4x4 for fuel economy

Heated screen

Option of a diesel fired night heater

Not made of Aluminium

Option of Under body/tank protection

Basically make it a Land Rover without all the Land Rover faults. It baffles me that the same company that makes the Range Rover and Discovery made every version of the Defender worse than the previous one.

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not wholly with you, but you're nearer to it than most...certainly nearer than LR!

JP1 said:

Not sure I entirely agree

A MK1 Range Rover at £2k and reasonably simple became a luxury car. Much more sophisticated but left it's cross country roots behind. Why would you risk a £80k+ vehicle doing a basic farm and towing job

The last Defender was way behind in it's safety especially but it still could be bought as a basic hardtop for £17k, would tow a livestock trailer and broadly do what a farmer needed

Click to expand...

We all find ourselves using the wifelets disco for towing heavy stuff, cos it does it so well.
She would rather it didn't get bullock shite / sawdust / cement / dog hair /whatever all over the interior but hey ho.

If LR made a more utility version of that I'd be interested.

As for later Defenders, my knees hit the dash, the donks are a mixed lot with loadsa failures, can't squeeze a third in the front, etc etc.
LR lost the plot.

If VW made an amorak with rhd/single cab/3.5 t towing...in the absence of a new LR I'd be looking.

This fixation with double cabs sickens me.
I don't need a mini-bus, I want something I can put a 8' square bale in/ tip 800kg logs straight in from handler bucket/ load with mobile sawmill handtools/bands/fluids for days work.
I want to be able to haul 8' fence posts, 2 dumpys of cake from't mill etc etc.
And Hi-cap LR wipes the floor with everything I've looked at, hands down.
Pity they couldna put decent lashing points on the butt, a bit stronger aly/more rivets, and held the calendar at about 1999.
(or are we back to the techno tractor rant thread, where I'm subconsciously wishing to be back in my own halcyon years?)

Listen up ineos.
(oh, and if I can buy British I do..... the bloke in Solihull I used to employ- when I could use what he made- presumably paid taxes that fed my sub cheque. I'm just as happy if he's a Welshman next time round, but less keen if he's a Slovenian or whatever the hell it might be)

egbert said:

We all find ourselves using the wifelets disco for towing heavy stuff, cos it does it so well.
She would rather it didn't get bullock shite / sawdust / cement / dog hair /whatever all over the interior but hey ho.

If LR made a more utility version of that I'd be interested.

As for later Defenders, my knees hit the dash, the donks are a mixed lot with loadsa failures, can't squeeze a third in the front, etc etc.
LR lost the plot.

If VW made an amorak with rhd/single cab/3.5 t towing...in the absence of a new LR I'd be looking.

This fixation with double cabs sickens me.
I don't need a mini-bus, I want something I can put a 8' square bale in/ tip 800kg logs straight in from handler bucket/ load with mobile sawmill handtools/bands/fluids for days work.
I want to be able to haul 8' fence posts, 2 dumpys of cake from't mill etc etc.
And Hi-cap LR wipes the floor with everything I've looked at, hands down.
Pity they couldna put decent lashing points on the butt, a bit stronger aly/more rivets, and held the calendar at about 1999.
(or are we back to the techno tractor rant thread, where I'm subconsciously wishing to be back in my own halcyon years?)

Listen up ineos.
(oh, and if I can buy British I do..... the bloke in Solihull I used to employ- when I could use what he made- presumably paid taxes that fed my sub cheque. I'm just as happy if he's a Welshman next time round, but less keen if he's a Slovenian or whatever the hell it might be)

Click to expand...

Trouble is if you have a more utilitarian Discovery it doesn't fit with LR's projected image/market base for what Discovery is and even if it's utilitarian inside, it still has the suspension, drivetrain, and underpinnings of a Discovery which are fantastic ........ so they're expensive

What specs would you put on your hi-cap to make it more livable with?

egbert said:

We all find ourselves using the wifelets disco for towing heavy stuff, cos it does it so well.
She would rather it didn't get bullock shite / sawdust / cement / dog hair /whatever all over the interior but hey ho.

If LR made a more utility version of that I'd be interested.

As for later Defenders, my knees hit the dash, the donks are a mixed lot with loadsa failures, can't squeeze a third in the front, etc etc.
LR lost the plot.

If VW made an amorak with rhd/single cab/3.5 t towing...in the absence of a new LR I'd be looking.

This fixation with double cabs sickens me.
I don't need a mini-bus, I want something I can put a 8' square bale in/ tip 800kg logs straight in from handler bucket/ load with mobile sawmill handtools/bands/fluids for days work.
I want to be able to haul 8' fence posts, 2 dumpys of cake from't mill etc etc.
And Hi-cap LR wipes the floor with everything I've looked at, hands down.
Pity they couldna put decent lashing points on the butt, a bit stronger aly/more rivets, and held the calendar at about 1999.
(or are we back to the techno tractor rant thread, where I'm subconsciously wishing to be back in my own halcyon years?)

Listen up ineos.
(oh, and if I can buy British I do..... the bloke in Solihull I used to employ- when I could use what he made- presumably paid taxes that fed my sub cheque. I'm just as happy if he's a Welshman next time round, but less keen if he's a Slovenian or whatever the hell it might be)

Click to expand...

Plenty of brands sell single, king and double cabs as well as chassis/cab pickups. If you don't want a double cab, don't buy one.

Dukes Fit said:

Trouble is if you have a more utilitarian Discovery it doesn't fit with LR's projected image/market base for what Discovery is and even if it's utilitarian inside, it still has the suspension, drivetrain, and underpinnings of a Discovery which are fantastic ........ so they're expensive

What specs would you put on your hi-cap to make it more livable with?

Click to expand...

I had a HiCap for 22 years. What I waited patiently and in vain for was something like the Grenadier with a roomy, lengthy wide comfortable cab, reliable electric windows that could be used for five minutes with the ignition off, 200hp+ coupled to an auto box and full time 4wd. A heavy duty load box similar to the HiCap's. Central door locking with an app to check status and location. Double DIN in the centre console so I could fit any head unit of my choosing. Good noise insulation. Rubber mats similar to LR's. Model HVAC system. Precise handling on the road with superb off road performance.

All the modern safety suite of airbags, adaptive cruise control, EBA and switchable autonomous emergency braking. Volvo standard crash protection structure/cage including industry leading roll-over crush protection. Obviously the statutory tyre pressure monitoring.
If a head unit were offered as standard or factory fit optional, I would certainly want Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and plenty of USB C and lighter sockets for charging stuff. Surround cameras including a display majoring on aligning trailer hitch to ball. It would be nice to have a standard inverter with 12V socket [country specific ] somewhere useable. A hand throttle or fast idle facility would be great also, plus remote lugs for charging and jumping. somewhere at the front of the engine bay.

Now some will argue that they want a 'basic' machine, which implies far more basic than the above. Well this is going into the second quarter of the 21stC, not 1958 when the LR SeriesII was introduced. Time and tide move on and wait for no man or vehicle. A lot of the above is common sense. More of it plus emissions equipment is to meet legal minimum standards today.

A fold out step feature should be fitted to pickup models as standard. One that will last 20 years not some weedy mild steel rubbish that will bend and rot away between its fifth and tenth birthday.

The pickups we get in the UK are hellish basic and lacking in convenience surprise and delight features compared to American ones.

It needs to be quiet comfortable with heated seats and windscreen, a decent ventilation system that blows hot air where you want it on a cold day and cold air where you want it on a hot day.
armrests for comfort on longer journeys (I miss those on the pickup after having them on my last disco) suspension that soaks bumps up loaded or unloaded and doesn’t wallow when a trailer full of cattle is hooked on the back.

permanant 4wd aka the defender of old. There’s nothing better in that dept.

automatic gearbox as standard.

Cowabunga said:

Plenty of brands sell single, king and double cabs as well as chassis/cab pickups. If you don't want a double cab, don't buy one.

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VW seemingly don't, (or at least not here) and none of the others have impressed me much.
sticking with Hi-Cap for now (having galv chassis as we speak as it goes)

Dukes Fit said:

Trouble is if you have a more utilitarian Discovery it doesn't fit with LR's projected image/market base for what Discovery is and even if it's utilitarian inside, it still has the suspension, drivetrain, and underpinnings of a Discovery which are fantastic ........ so they're expensive

What specs would you put on your hi-cap to make it more livable with?

Click to expand...

I'm quite happy with the mix we've got , Disco carts humans on longer trips, and doubles to tow anything, often.
defender gets stuff slung in/on, tows big ugly things plus tools. tows 14' trailer, hugely overlength sawmill, all sorts.

I wouldn't want to tart up a defender much, but Disco is plenty 'luxurious' enough.
(and has too many lecctrics)
I am impressed with its' engine and trannie (would never have believed i would like an auto)

Would I want the bigger donk and auto in a Defender type vehicle? Hmm.... cost must be an issue.

Dukes Fit said:

The Discovery and Range Rover constantly evolved in to better and better vehicles.
Arguably the Range Rover and Discovery are at the top of the tree in there classes. Audi, VW, Mercedes, BMW, Toyota etc are all trying to beat the Green Oval. None of them have yet succeeded

Then you have the (old style) Defender. Quality lessened with every revision, chassis got thinner, body panels got thinner, build quality went progressively downhill, engines became the cheapest lump they could get away with sticking in all the while the price went up.

Every Land Rover that’s been here since pretty much the first TD5 that came home has been back to the dealers for various problems. Best ones we had were 200 and 300tdi versions.

Click to expand...

7 landys here from mk1 to highly tuned bowler
Two td5s one on 279000 other nearly 300 both origanal engine box , and just got a nice one off a tff member ,
What else is there you can jam around farm ,or into woods ,and not worry about damage , take a ranger or amorak ,same places and would be trashed in no time , put a dent in a landrover ,and it adds to its patina ,
The ultimate farm truck is built but not available over here , V8 landcruiser ute with tray back , Inios should build some thing similar , and will sell no frill robust ,

egbert said:

VW seemingly don't, (or at least not here) and none of the others have impressed me much.
sticking with Hi-Cap for now (having galv chassis as we speak as it goes)

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No, VW don't. In fact VW have very little unsold stock left and have ended production. Same goes for Mercedes.
Since you are giving the 110 a new chassis, you should be fine until oil runs out.

How about bring back the folding down front windscreen

Haysteve said:

How about bring back the folding down front windscreen

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Get a Wrangler.

For me, I want aircon as standard, f/c/r diff locks not fudging electronic buggery, wings you can stand on, tie downs in the back to secure my dog cage, decent soundproofing, low cost option to fit BFG Muds without paying the price of tyres over and above and not getting the originals back (Landrover I hope you get the pox for that, fool me once only scumbags), prefit for snorkel and factory option winch and bumper, real world 400 mile range empty.
Things I'd like to be told it already has, marine grade electrical fittings, galvanised chassis or replaceable anodes, inherent reliability i.e if it screws up in the first three years you get a like for like replacement you can use off road in a swamp like you use your own.
Things it had better have, 24hr parts backup, dealers who care about working folk, heated rear window and wash wipe, enough comfort to get the wife to travel in it for at least a couple of hours.
Option I'd like, banging sound system to turn my repair shed into a veritable AC/DC concert while I work on other things.

Grease nipples on wheel bearings, steering and suspension parts

Just thinking. If Ineos spent a fraction of the money they are throwing at the Grenadier on getting the rules changed so UK could have 70 series Landcruisers we would have access to a reliable proven vehicle and they could take a percentage on the sales.
I for one would be happy.

jellybean said:

Just thinking. If Ineos spent a fraction of the money they are throwing at the Grenadier on getting the rules changed so UK could have 70 series Landcruisers we would have access to a reliable proven vehicle and they could take a percentage on the sales.
I for one would be happy.

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I’ve never known why Toyota don’t offer the 70 series cruisers here.

What are the rules that stop it?