I'm struggling not to buy another 1924 Belstaff, I have the Inky Black one, but I also want one in Magic Mushroom, so yes, I would buy again.
I'm not a car expert, I'm not an off-roading maniac (well, I did off-road to avoid Florida Highway Patrol in October, but that was a rather tame event, pretty funny), so I don't consider myself qualified to assess the value of it as an off-roader, or does it do what others want kind of thing.
It does what I want. So far no issues, ordered mine in January, picked it up in May this year. 7800 miles on it, oil change at 700, 1500, 3500, soon again, I want it to last and I have time on my hands. Why. Well ...
I had a 2005 4Runner that I'd still be driving today if it hadn't rusted out. I was about to buy a 2024 4Runner as I don't trust the new hybrid that the 4Runner has become. Daughters said don't get one until after you've gotten your Grenadier, you may never drive the 4Runner after that, and they were right I think. Well, before that I was considering the new Land Cruiser, a capable vehicle I'm sure, but again, not trusting the new stuff yet, and with Toyota engines blowing up lately, I think I made the right decision. The new Defenders? Bleh. Fancy looking, but I'm not looking for fancy. I'm looking for analog switches and a real ignition key.
Came across the Grenadier and really struggled with the decision to get my 1924 edition, loved the black and the dark headliner. New company, new vehicle, untested long term, was a real risk, and more expensive than the 4Runner TRD Pro and Land Cruiser. I'd looked a G63s but I don't like them. Then in January I test drove a Grenadier and was sold on it.
Everyone has opinions and we see them here, and I'm not saying anyone should love or hate this vehicle, so the arguing and debates here aren't really relevant in this thread, up to them entirely. What I can say for certain is that there's a quote, I think Thomas Sowell, "There are no solutions, only tradeoffs". I'm willing to trade the risks, the potential front drive shaft issue, and anything else that comes, until I'm not. Until the tradeoffs no longer work for me. So I don't think there's one answer here, a yes or no, I think there's an answer based in a moment in time that's related to enjoyment, bias, financial ability, and more.
I did do research on the B58 engine, other aspects of the Grenadier.
I can only speak for myself. I find reasons to drive this beast. "What?!? We're out of SALT???? That's criminal! I'll be back in an hour!" I don't know why, I can't explain it, but driving the Grenadier is just that much fun for me, and I don't go crazy off-roading. I've driven many other vehicles. I don't know what it is about this driving experience that tops them all, but I'm willing to make the tradeoffs necessary here. And I LIKE how it steers and the steering radius is fine too, give me plausible deniability. "Sorry about that huge dent in the side of your brand new Land Rover, but you know, steering radius! You should have known not to get in my way. FYI I have a bull bar now, so ... and thinking I should Mad Max my rig." That's all in jest. It is possible I just love the Recaro seats and if I could remove one and put it in any other car, an Aztek maybe, I'd be happy as a lark. (More jest probably).
So, I'm sure my HT and LT coolant reservoirs have to be replaced, there are the signs of seepage at the seams and I have had to top off twice since May. Maybe my front driveshaft CV will fail, now I'll be under my Grenadier weekly fretting about it, not sure what I'm looking for as signs of failure.. But - I - don't - care, the tradeoffs are worth it for me now. Fan boy? Sure, whatever. Was called an Apple fan boy by a friend who is now kept at arm's length. Sorry, but Apple h/w is bulletproof, and I take the tradeoffs in that ecosystem where my 2012 MacBook Pro wasn't replaced until 2020 with the new M1. EIGHT YEARS? Yes, and it didn't need replacing, it still ran great, but the M1 was so much faster at startup and everything else.
Anyway, I'm fine with stock tires and all the rest, no intention of going crazy with this rig, and anyone who wants to judge me for not wanting to roll over MOAB, you're clearly a very judgmental person and we can have coffee, but nothing more. If it starts to give me trouble, as in weeks away in maintenance, I'll get a second car (maybe that Magic Mushroom Belstaff!) and that's a tradeoff I'm willing to make.
I think the problem with people often is that they have what they'll tradeoff on and spend on, and when anyone who has different tradeoffs or spending choices comes across the radar, the judgements come out. We are all still monkeys, when it comes to our brains, very thin veneer of reason and logic. I count myself among them, as I was the same and can still catch myself at it, but getting much better as I get much older.
/s.
