So where are all the first impressions? (right here)

[CrazyOldMan]

Engine light error code P0461 from over top off fuel was cleared easily with OBD scanner from Amazon($111). Model OBDLinkMX+ requested firmware update. Cleared code by turning engine off and back to on.

Which scanner did you go with?

 

[gregcraybas]

Which scanner did you go with?

 

[TK42one]

1st Impressions of my Trialmaster. BLUF love it even with some quirks.

To calibrate my comments I also drive a 1995 Defender 110 (regularly), Kia EV6 and a 911.

I have a total of 2200 miles in two weeks on the Grenadier with some off road, 1400 mile road trip and daily in the city.

1. The ride is about equivalent to my D110 in the city (D110 has new Koni and springs). The D110 hasn't been on a trip longer than 100 miles at once. WRT driving the Grenadier on the road trip it was a tad harrowing at times with a 60 mph crosswind and crappy I-40 roads on the way to NM. The way back winds were less and drive much better. I did add the fox steering stabilizer yesterday and my quick impression on the fwy was much improved, time will tell.
2. Interior Noise: Quieter than both the D110 and 911 on the road at any speed.
3. Power: places 3 of 4 only above the D110. EV has a ton a we all know and not even close to the 911. Plenty of it for me though and no issues passing, merging or jumping on the freeway. Easily maintained TX highway speeds.
4. Features: I like the switches and buttons a lot. Especially the overhead panel. The Kia is too busy for me, the D110 is about perfect just lacking CarPlay and equivalent to 911 for my needs.
5. Looks: Have been mistaken for a G Wagon, I assume it's the lights, but I love the look. Out of my four the Kia is dead last. It evokes different emotions compared to the 911 and about equal to the D110 though the right hand drive on the defender puts it a tad ahead. Standard K02 are nice. Wanted more rubber so put 285 70 17 KO3 on and it's perfect for me.
6. Good visibility except for rear view mirror. Replaced with wolfbox and now happy.
7. Pre-wired switches. Awesome feature and already used two of them.
8. Heat/Cool: have to fiddle with a lot to maintain comfort. The auto temp is weak at best. Will be interesting to see in hot summer. In 9 deg temps had some issues below. Once working plenty of heat.

Quirks - More time needed.
1. Same as everyone with the overspeed thing. Hitting favorites and turning it off are now part of the start routine.
2. Had a heater / flap issue in NM. resolved itself but watching for it. Seemed the flaps would not operate well in the cold and on high speed fan a "flapping" sound on heat. Again went away, have read something about cracking a window??? Will monitor and play around with it to see if I can reproduce.
3. Height: Good and bad. Before tire swap 1" extra to get in the garage. After not so much. Also at the garage, Comerica Center, for Stars games I can get under the height indicators up the 1st ramp which is where I park, coming down they have them hanging lower and I caught the roof just barely on stock tires. So new ones will hit and a roof rack would be no go.
4. Rear doors have to be slammed in order not to show open on the dash
5. Body roll in city driving - seems binary as in it flops over and just stays there vice a smooth transition. I'm sure that's a me thing but it has gotten more normal to me.

Wants
1. Heated windshield. My D110 has it. Best thing ever.
2. Bigger garage

 

[UncleBuck]

2. Bigger garage

To be fair, I think we all want this....

 

[cdsvt]

Old-ish thread, but I'd like to weigh in.

Full disclosure: I'm a Land Crusier guy, I've had a bunch, maybe 6(?), multiple 80 series, 100 series, and 200 series. Toyota sold out when they stopped selling the real Land Cruiser in the US rebadged the light duty Land Cruiser Prado as the Land Cruiser. To add insult to injury, they put a hybrid powertrain in it and ate up the cargo area with battery packs. Because of their design tradeoffs, it doesn't have tow capacity to handle my 5500 lb (dry) Off Road Camper. The sister product Lexus GX is only marginally better - turbo v6, more tow capacity, but same small form factor (4Runner, GX, Land Crusier are all the same platform). The next closest product is the LX600, and they're more luxury than we want right now. So we're giving the Grenadier a try - I'm trying to decide if the Grenadier is a worthy successor before I sell either of the Toyotas. The jury is out...

First impressions:

• It drives as well as I expected, very Land Cruiser 80 series like (makes sense: same front & rear solid axles, recirculating ball steering, coil spring suspension)
• The return to center is a huge learning experience
• The turning radius is HORRIBLE - I didn't think this would be a big deal, but just parking at work or the supermarket daily becomes a chore
• Not Land Cruiser levels of driver ergonomics - literally any Toyota newer than 1980 is better than this
• Feels very jeep wrangler-ey
• Steering takes a good amount of input (I expected that)
• Acceleration is good
• Braking is only fair (could be much better)
• Well matched suspension for on road and mild offroad use
• Well matched powerplant and transmission (power, tuning, and gearing)
• Manual e-Brake is awesome
• Steering wheel is deluxe (nice touch to have a leather steering wheel and hand brake despite the overall utilitarian vibe)
• B pillar position impedes driver visibility
• The cabin feels slightly narrow at the shoulder height due to B pillar and wide door trim
• Rear visibility is almost nonexistent
• Reverse camera is bargain basement
• I hate the joystick button that controls the infotainment - not intuitive at all, and overall feels cheap
• No good place to put a phone (tried the rubber mat in front of the shifter, but it quickly slid off onto the floor)
• Radio volume blocked by the shifter (IMHO should swap position with the hazard light due to frequency of use)
• Shifter manual mode forward for down shift and back for up shift, unlike any other auto I've driven
• Shifter aesthetic doesn't fit the rest of the vehicle
• Ergonomics are just okay for me(seats, meh, toe of work dress shoe hits something above the accelerator, exhaust hump on right side seat flooring is inane)
• The switch panel and prewiring is great (would it kill them to have better documentation though?)
• The sum of the whole is not greater than the parts - lots of good components, but the engineering of the whole is not fully thought out.
  • Example - the batteries and fuse boxes under the seat should be easily accessible for field service. If you're going to bury it, put an opening hatch in fer crissakes.

Plusses

• I love the whole design intent and backstory
• To have an old school rugged vehicle with modern systems is something I've wanted for a long time
• Brilliant that we have a real SFA vehicle with proper heavy duty offroad underpinnings
• Top tier and quality component suppliers
• Pretty decent aesthetics (except the nose is disproportionately short, and the hood is too sloped and rounded)
• The suspension components are rugged - like as rugged as my 200 series (or bigger) and much more stout than the 80
• The galvanized frame. Brillant!
• Inclusion of many (sturdy!) tie down points and the L-track systems inside and out are smart, very smart
• Impressed that they used stainless steel brake lines on a stock vehicle

Minuses

• Where is the driver side A pillar grab handle? And why do you charge so much for one after sale? Thankfully the aftermarket comes to the rescue.
• Fix the plastics under the second row seats to make the electronics accessible without disassembly.
• The interior feels cheap. Especially the plastics - look at the plastics below and around the second row seat.
• Adhesive velcro where the rear seat belt latches sit on the lower seat bottom. It feels like an afterthought.
• The stupid stop start and having to turn it off manually every drive cycle. Couldn't they use a latching switch? Aftermarket to the rescue again.
• Front idiot lights are distracting. There should be like four, and for critical things. The rest shouldn't be in your face all the time.
• Idiot lights should not come on when you turn off nannies like lane keep assist, emergency braking, wakefullness alerts, etc. Maybe required by something regulatory?
• The airbag light above the mirror needs to dim, or turn off after some period. It is massively distracting at night.
• Speed warning at 5mph over the limit. Seriously... Thank goodness they allow the (off) setting to persist after the newest software update.
• The vehicle instrumentation in the center display is silly. At least put a speedo and key gauges in front of the driver.
• Exposed positive terminals (high amp relay for the Nato plug, main starting battery, etc.) It is pennies to buy silicone terminal connectors.

Meh

• The critics are right, the steering isn't great. About the same as my 80 series (same suspension architecture, same recirculating ball steering box)
  • The marker on the steering wheel makes it more visible than it needs to be.
  • I suspect that some of the bigger criticisms come from modern cars that have effortless steering
• It is bigger outside than inside - the cargo area feels small despite the size of the vehicle
• These cloth Recaros aren't a great fit for my frame. My lats hit the upper bolster uncomfortably. It's a bummer since I have Recaros in my Golf R that fit nicely. Maybe they'll wear in? Definitely not Land Crusier comfort levels.
• What's the deal with the fake sections of the front center console stack? It is one panel, I'm sure it makes for easier build. It'd be great if they were separate, modular, and easily rearranged. I want my Redarc brake controller knob in the empty spot where people's seat heater button goes, but have to blaze trails to figure it out.
• Rear cargo wheel wells could have been more utilitarian (I have the side panel off and don't understand why they sloped the plastic top)

 

[cdsvt]

Oh, one little touch that I thought was cool was the green and red vertical stripes on sides of the center console. Makes me think of boat navigation lights (port/starboard). Does anyone know if that is what these are?

 

[ADVAW8S]

Oh, one little touch that I thought was cool was the green and red vertical stripes on sides of the center console. Makes me think of boat navigation lights (port/starboard). Does anyone know if that is what these are?

Yes, it s nod to the American Cup team that Ineos sponsors. Just like the root is for cycling team.

Parking, I back in for almost every parking spot and I drive the QM.

Shifter, all my European cars that I owned shifted the same way. BMW, Volvo and Land Rovers.

Controls, use the steering control for volume. You can use the screen as it is touch instead of the rotary dial.

 

[abbeyroad]

Old-ish thread, but I'd like to weigh in.

Full disclosure: I'm a Land Crusier guy, I've had a bunch, maybe 6(?), multiple 80 series, 100 series, and 200 series. Toyota sold out when they stopped selling the real Land Cruiser in the US rebadged the light duty Land Cruiser Prado as the Land Cruiser. To add insult to injury, they put a hybrid powertrain in it and ate up the cargo area with battery packs. Because of their design tradeoffs, it doesn't have tow capacity to handle my 5500 lb (dry) Off Road Camper. The sister product Lexus GX is only marginally better - turbo v6, more tow capacity, but same small form factor (4Runner, GX, Land Crusier are all the same platform). The next closest product is the LX600, and they're more luxury than we want right now. So we're giving the Grenadier a try - I'm trying to decide if the Grenadier is a worthy successor before I sell either of the Toyotas. The jury is out...

First impressions:

• It drives as well as I expected, very Land Cruiser 80 series like (makes sense: same front & rear solid axles, recirculating ball steering, coil spring suspension)
• The return to center is a huge learning experience
• The turning radius is HORRIBLE - I didn't think this would be a big deal, but just parking at work or the supermarket daily becomes a chore
• Not Land Cruiser levels of driver ergonomics - literally any Toyota newer than 1980 is better than this
• Feels very jeep wrangler-ey
• Steering takes a good amount of input (I expected that)
• Acceleration is good
• Braking is only fair (could be much better)
• Well matched suspension for on road and mild offroad use
• Well matched powerplant and transmission (power, tuning, and gearing)
• Manual e-Brake is awesome
• Steering wheel is deluxe (nice touch to have a leather steering wheel and hand brake despite the overall utilitarian vibe)
• B pillar position impedes driver visibility
• The cabin feels slightly narrow at the shoulder height due to B pillar and wide door trim
• Rear visibility is almost nonexistent
• Reverse camera is bargain basement
• I hate the joystick button that controls the infotainment - not intuitive at all, and overall feels cheap
• No good place to put a phone (tried the rubber mat in front of the shifter, but it quickly slid off onto the floor)
• Radio volume blocked by the shifter (IMHO should swap position with the hazard light due to frequency of use)
• Shifter manual mode forward for down shift and back for up shift, unlike any other auto I've driven
• Shifter aesthetic doesn't fit the rest of the vehicle
• Ergonomics are just okay for me(seats, meh, toe of work dress shoe hits something above the accelerator, exhaust hump on right side seat flooring is inane)
• The switch panel and prewiring is great (would it kill them to have better documentation though?)
• The sum of the whole is not greater than the parts - lots of good components, but the engineering of the whole is not fully thought out.
  • Example - the batteries and fuse boxes under the seat should be easily accessible for field service. If you're going to bury it, put an opening hatch in fer crissakes.

Plusses

• I love the whole design intent and backstory
• To have an old school rugged vehicle with modern systems is something I've wanted for a long time
• Brilliant that we have a real SFA vehicle with proper heavy duty offroad underpinnings
• Top tier and quality component suppliers
• Pretty decent aesthetics (except the nose is disproportionately short, and the hood is too sloped and rounded)
• The suspension components are rugged - like as rugged as my 200 series (or bigger) and much more stout than the 80
• The galvanized frame. Brillant!
• Inclusion of many (sturdy!) tie down points and the L-track systems inside and out are smart, very smart
• Impressed that they used stainless steel brake lines on a stock vehicle

Minuses

• Where is the driver side A pillar grab handle? And why do you charge so much for one after sale? Thankfully the aftermarket comes to the rescue.
• Fix the plastics under the second row seats to make the electronics accessible without disassembly.
• The interior feels cheap. Especially the plastics - look at the plastics below and around the second row seat.
• Adhesive velcro where the rear seat belt latches sit on the lower seat bottom. It feels like an afterthought.
• The stupid stop start and having to turn it off manually every drive cycle. Couldn't they use a latching switch? Aftermarket to the rescue again.
• Front idiot lights are distracting. There should be like four, and for critical things. The rest shouldn't be in your face all the time.
• Idiot lights should not come on when you turn off nannies like lane keep assist, emergency braking, wakefullness alerts, etc. Maybe required by something regulatory?
• The airbag light above the mirror needs to dim, or turn off after some period. It is massively distracting at night.
• Speed warning at 5mph over the limit. Seriously... Thank goodness they allow the (off) setting to persist after the newest software update.
• The vehicle instrumentation in the center display is silly. At least put a speedo and key gauges in front of the driver.
• Exposed positive terminals (high amp relay for the Nato plug, main starting battery, etc.) It is pennies to buy silicone terminal connectors.

Meh

• The critics are right, the steering isn't great. About the same as my 80 series (same suspension architecture, same recirculating ball steering box)
  • The marker on the steering wheel makes it more visible than it needs to be.
  • I suspect that some of the bigger criticisms come from modern cars that have effortless steering
• It is bigger outside than inside - the cargo area feels small despite the size of the vehicle
• These cloth Recaros aren't a great fit for my frame. My lats hit the upper bolster uncomfortably. It's a bummer since I have Recaros in my Golf R that fit nicely. Maybe they'll wear in? Definitely not Land Crusier comfort levels.
• What's the deal with the fake sections of the front center console stack? It is one panel, I'm sure it makes for easier build. It'd be great if they were separate, modular, and easily rearranged. I want my Redarc brake controller knob in the empty spot where people's seat heater button goes, but have to blaze trails to figure it out.
• Rear cargo wheel wells could have been more utilitarian (I have the side panel off and don't understand why they sloped the plastic top)

Nice summary. I'll play since I'm a big Land Cruiser 80 series fan.

Like many of you, I've had the fortune of owning a bevy of cars including cool trucks. I like heritage so latched on to the Land Cruiser thing and remain a fan. I owned a dialed in 1997 factory 3x locked Land Cruiser including a fully OEM new 1FZ-FE long block and all suspension bits so I know what a good solid axles truck should/could drive like.

I traded in a bought new Bronco Raptor (missed conquest) which I will argue is the most capable out of the box SUV on the market today for both daily duties and all manners of off-roading from crawling to Baja mode. Raptor school is legit.

Call it auto ADD, but I've had my eye on the IG since wanting a Defender sans Defender shortcomings for years. Even without heritage and a proven history of reliability, I was willing to leap because of my familiarity with BMW's modern bi-turbo inline six engines. Totally solid. Heck, Toyota ran it through its testing program. Sold.

What cooks for me

• The looks and I'm very specific about options. I like it on black steelies, conservative tires, black/gray. The chopped Defender rear with the sloped front section roof (a la Land Cruiser troopy) is the bee's knees visually. Seriously awesome. It's better looking than any G wagon imho. I don't like it when people compare the two looks wise. IG is peerless in today's market. Only the original Defender bests.
• Solidity of construction. The tightness and seals of the door closing action is almost as good as the G wagon and 993 Porsches. It lacks the metallic clink. But nothing else is better out there. So fun to open and shut the doors. Chassis feels rock solid.
• Powertrain - I wouldn't say it's smoother than the Ford V6 in the Bronco Raptor. Certainly not as powerful stock for stock. It's just a very familiar BMW inline 6 thrum which feels nice. The thing zips and is about as fast as I want it to go with the tire/brake combo slowing down 3 tons.
• Driving position is upright as it should be. I just wish there was even less distance between me and the windshield aka less dash. But this probably comes down to modern electronics getting in the way.
• Proximity to service center - I'm <30 minutes to Pasadena even with traffic. Hoping I don't have to go too often, but likely I will reading through the threads here.

What leaves me cold

• I'm still very surprised that people tolerate the steering pump squeal. It's obnoxious and pretty embarrassing. I came into the purchase having zero idea about this, but now whenever I watch YouTube videos with IGs in a group, that squeal is ubiquitous. Like many others, my IA service dept said "it's normal", pound sand.
• Intrinsic driveshaft angle problems with lift. So many YouTuber shops and owners alike just show you their meaty tires and lift without sharing their alignment specs and real world observations on wear/tear on the driveline components. I cannot stand driveline vibration and noise at any speed. It's clear as mud to me based on research that lifting the IG is going to take a significant amount of "correction" in the aftermarket to which I have run into zero solutions yet. I'm OK with mine remaining bone stock for now if evermore, but would be nice to be tempted to lift on 35s. My Land Cruiser ran on 37s and 2.5" lift with zero vibes, zero noise for tens of thousands of miles (double cardan ds).
• My nearly 30 year old Land Cruiser had a tight turning circle and nary a dead spot driving at 85 mph lifted on 37s. Solid axle in the front and rear. Power steering box, not a rack. Steering returned back to center like any normal vehicle. I find the turning circle in the Quartermaster to be a deal breaker. IG is acceptable, but the excuses parroted by reviewers just show ignorance and/or inexperience. My Bronco Raptor also had a tight turning circle and that's bone stock on 37s. But again, I'm totally OK with it as is. Overblown and idiosyncratic in a charming way.

What I'm looking forward to with the IG

• Connecting with some cool local owners who know what they're talking about
• Putting some miles on it as a daily LA driver and figuring stuff out. When things are too perfectly reliable (e.g. Prius), I tend to get bored which is the reason why the Bronco Raptor is gone. It was just too capable, zero stress, all world.
• Once someone sorts out the driveshaft issue, I'll probably end up lifting it with 35s, but this is the first SUV I've ever owned where I love it just as it rolled off the shipping truck. Never ever thought I'd be rolling on 31s and being happy. lol

The only mod I've done is XPel tint, PPF and windshield film to enjoy some peace of mind wheeling in this Grand Theft Auto of a city. I'm here to learn and be entertained by ya'll! Enjoy your IGs in good health.