Romanian SUV?
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An interesting webpage that did not yield very much data. V6 gasoline engine, appears to be five speed only, and on demand four wheel drive. Basic in design. The body looks like a cross between Landrover Defender and an older Toyota Landcrusier. Although the pictures are fuzzy, it looks a little like the military 4x4's you might see in Russia and China.
No dealers up this way - Alaska, Washington, Idaho, or Oregon. Although, CA, CO, and UT seem to have at least one each.
The company appears to have been privatized to a US firm.
Interesting.
No dealers up this way - Alaska, Washington, Idaho, or Oregon. Although, CA, CO, and UT seem to have at least one each.
The company appears to have been privatized to a US firm.
Interesting.
Brasilian SUV
This ones been up here several times. (Note the copyright dates on the pages: 2002 and 2003) Harald has the skinny on them; but as I remember, there's a fraudulent investement person involved with this one.
Caveat Emptor!!
This one is Brasilian, made in the city of Manaus; which is in the heart of the Amazon and the home of lots of questionable enterprises. That flag in the lower RH Corner is Brasil.
This ones been up here several times. (Note the copyright dates on the pages: 2002 and 2003) Harald has the skinny on them; but as I remember, there's a fraudulent investement person involved with this one.
Caveat Emptor!!
'80 230G SWB, '03 G500, '80 280GE LWB (sold), '98 Jeep Wrangler Sahara (sold)
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This is from crosslander.com, the Houston dealership's website,
"PRODUCT FACT SHEET...
The Cross Lander 244X is based on the Auto Romania (ARO), a vehicle that possesses a solid track record for quality, performance and endurance. ARO is the national Romanian automotive company that has been manufacturing rugged, off-road vehicles and light trucks for more than 50 years."
So apparently it is based on the ARO, yet built in Brasil. Much like the Tempo Trax is really based on the G, but built in India.
'80 230G SWB, '03 G500, '80 280GE LWB (sold), '98 Jeep Wrangler Sahara (sold)
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Oh I know... I was just using their online literature to make a point about it's proposed origins. Every couple of months somebody comes across the crosslander and brings it up here, and the story always changes a bit. But I suppose that's how a fraudulant business like this one stays afloat for so long.
I was actually researching the crosslander for a bit. Some of what I read indicated that they were going to try to bring it to the u.s. with the international 2.8 tdi motor which is made in brazil. I thought well this could be good a bare bones worker truck with a modern diesel motor for cheap. (Low 20's was projected cost). When I was in Fl. a few months ago I actually contacted there U.S. headquarters in Miami to get the story. They are still trying to get through all the e.p.a. and safety hurdles and the only version they are trying to push through is the 5-door with a ford v-6 gas motor like was used in old ranger pickups. I asked if they had one I could come down and look at and they said there were none to view in the U.S. yet...right. It was about there that I lost interest, but I have to agree that something seems suspect with the whole operation. Thats all I know. Glad I have changed my focus to finding the right G-wagen! Chris
'80 230G SWB, '03 G500, '80 280GE LWB (sold), '98 Jeep Wrangler Sahara (sold)
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I'm sure Harald will pipe in here soon enough, but here is what he had to say about the crosslander when it was brought up a little more than a year ago in a previous post:
I think I'll trust his judgement and experience a bit more than an article of it's rumored introduction into the US market.
Brasilian SUV - Beware!
Reverse lookups on the phone numbers of other "dealers" in Georgia turn up addresses and names which don't agree with the Cross Lander website info. Something smells like very old fish.[xx(]
Chris, Thanks for the heads up. I noticed a bad smell this time around when I looked a little closer at the Atlanta area dealer's info. His phone number is located in the far SW part of GA - about 300 miles from Atlanta; and it is the phone number of something called "The Money Tree". Sounds promising, doesn't it!
Reverse lookups on the phone numbers of other "dealers" in Georgia turn up addresses and names which don't agree with the Cross Lander website info. Something smells like very old fish.[xx(]
On the topic of the ARO. On any visit to Romania outside of Bucharest, you will see these things by the thousands. They are indeed very sturdy and, in true soviet fashion, overbuilt but they utilize poor quality materials. Workmanship is OK (nothing like the old Nivas from Russia).
Under the old Romanian communist government, the mindset was to become totally self sufficient for everything. Thus, most of the parts will have been manufactured in now defunct Romanian factories. Parts will be available for some time in Romanian auto markets but outseide of Romania, they are non-existent.
With all cars like this, a good philosphy to follow is "never buy a French car unless you live in France". The same can probably be said for Romania, Brazil, India, etc.
Under the old Romanian communist government, the mindset was to become totally self sufficient for everything. Thus, most of the parts will have been manufactured in now defunct Romanian factories. Parts will be available for some time in Romanian auto markets but outseide of Romania, they are non-existent.
With all cars like this, a good philosphy to follow is "never buy a French car unless you live in France". The same can probably be said for Romania, Brazil, India, etc.
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