DEFENDER2.NET - View topic - I've borrowed a Grenadier

↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home · FAQ · New Posts · My Posts · PMs · Search · Members · Map · Calendar · Profile · Donate · Register · Log In

Home > INEOS Grenadier > I've borrowed a Grenadier

Page 2 of 2

Print this entire topic ·

johnlad

Member Since: 18 Dec 2023
Location: Blackpool
Posts: 95

I was loaned a new 1924 Belstaff edition to use for the for a long weekend a week ago.
Initial impression was it’s borderline dangerous with the steering leaving the dealership I was nearly on the kerb!
My wife tried it and wouldn’t drive it after testing for an hour. It was a diesel and I achieved 10mpg less than I get from my D300 Defender.
Another annoyance is the seat recline function where it’s squeezed between seat and door pillar, only an issue if there are multiple drivers.
You forget about the lump in the footwell as your concentrating on steering so much.
Then there’s the rear seats not folding flat to the floor.
And when I’m in my correct seating position (I’m 6’2”) the door pillar stops you looking out the side window, so you have to lean forward just like my old defender.
The sun visor has a notch cut out for the hinge which is below the top of the windscreen that lets the sun blind you!
Throttle response from stationary is very poor, once you press the pedal there’s a delay before setting off so you have to estimate when it’s going to set off which is entertaining when at junction’s or roundabouts.
It wanders on the motorway especially with the wind of lorries. Most annoying is all the bongs informing your not in lane, over the speed limit,etc. which you can turn off but lights up the warning panel in front of you and also has a flashing warning on the centre screen informing that you’ve turned off the safety system. That’s not distracting at all, especially at night.

Click image to enlarge

Loads of play in the steering, if it was my old defender I’d fit a new steering box to it!
There’s loads of other minor wind ups.
But after all the above, by the time I’d done the long weekend in the Grenadier I liked it.
So much so I bought one. Just not the one I tested at 75k.
Never worth that but I paid £43k for a used one with 11000 miles.
First thing I’m doing is a new bumper that fit a proper winch.

Click image to enlarge

15th Aug 2025 6:42pm

Ianh

Member Since: 17 Sep 2018
Location: Essex
Posts: 2457

johnlad wrote:
I was loaned a new 1924 Belstaff edition to use for the for a long weekend a week ago.
Initial impression was it’s borderline dangerous with the steering leaving the dealership I was nearly on the kerb!

What did you expect from a 101 year old vehicle

15th Aug 2025 6:49pm

Bowbearer

Member Since: 12 Aug 2022
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 223

1985 Defender 110 200 Tdi SW Auto Baltic Blue

At least it’s got character.

Enjoy.

16th Aug 2025 9:13am

lightning

Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 3314

Get the front suspension geometry checked, some are not to specifications and it makes the steering worse.

Fit an RTC steering damper

There's now one available for the Grenadier and it will improve the steering considerably for road use, without compromising the off road ability.

16th Aug 2025 11:19am

TexasRover

Member Since: 24 Nov 2022
Location: Paris
Posts: 1298

2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Chawton White

Quote "My wife tried it and wouldn’t drive it after testing for an hour." sold!

How does the one you bought compare to the one you tested? Same steering issues? Something to get used to, or a flaw?

16th Aug 2025 12:24pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17911

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

The steering on a Grenadier is "different" and has less return-to-centre action than most vehicles, but, certainly to anyone who has driven a classic Defender extensively, not an issue and you get used to it very quickly. Off the road the reasoning for the steering set-up becomes clear very quickly and is advantageous.

I regularly drive five or six very different vehicles one of which is the Grenadier and can honestly say that I don't really notice that the steering is in any way different.

16th Aug 2025 12:42pm

Retroanaconda

Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2762

They are very variable, some are as described above - like a Defender but without the return-to-centre, which could easily be lived with. Some are much worse.

At an event last year I drove two back-to-back, one was good and the other was downright dangerous. It drove like a Defender with no swivel preload at all, and skated all over the road on bumps etc.

16th Aug 2025 12:52pm

Page 2 of 2

All times are GMT + 1 Hour

Jump to

< Previous Topic | Next Topic >

Posting Rules

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum