When the original Land Rover Defender ceased production, it left a box-shaped hole in the heart of many. That void is something that the Ineos Grenadier has aimed to plug, being regarded by many as the Defender’s spiritual successor. But while Ineos’s rendition manages to capture much of the old-school charm that the Defender served up, it also seems to bring with it the appreciation experienced by some of the run-out models of old.
According to one UK-based dealer, those wanting to pick up a brand new Ineos Grenadier are in for a 14-month wait period, prompting used examples to be advertised for a higher resale value. One independent dealer is offering a 2023-registered, 200-mile example for £77,000 (approximately $99,000). That’s between £5000 and £10,000 ($6,430–$12,860), dearer than a brand-new one (depending on when it was ordered, thanks to a price hike). Similarly, another 2023 example, this time with just 64 miles on the clock, sold on online Auction website Collecting Cars for £73,000 ($93,900). Prior to the price hike, a similar model would have cost £64,000 ($82,300).
Related: Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster Truck Claims “Class-Leading” Off-Road Skills
Viewed from a certain perspective, this could be the Ineos Grenadier’s greatest compliment — that demand for the vehicle is so much it prompts impatient would-be owners to bid over retail on used examples. Of course, a spike in used values is not always a sign of overwhelming demand alone and can also be attributed to throttled supply. Either way, flippers — those who buy up in-demand vehicles and resell them for higher values — are rarely loved by automakers. And according to a report from Autocar, Ineos is taking a stand to ensure that examples of the Grenadier end up in the right hands.
Ineos joins the likes of Ford, Toyota, and indeed Land Rover, in attempting to stop their vehicles being sold on soon after purchase. “We have clauses within our agent and customer contracts that are clear around ordering and onward sale, whether that be done by a company or an individual,” said a company spokesperson. “Our agent partners have canceled a number of orders where it was evident that the buyer’s intention was to resell their Grenadier.”
The company concedes that there’s very little that can be done for vehicles that have already been delivered, but Ineos is planning unspecified restrictions for those buyers who resold their brand-new SUVs.
Is reselling an in-demand car fair game, or should automakers be doing more to stop the practice of flipping? Let us know in the comments below.
