| Author | Message | ||
     Kamil K. (Kamil) New Member Username: Kamil Post Number: 9 Registered: 04-2003 |
First, I'm sorry if this is a repost, but I've seen no mention of it before. Ok, little back-ground info. I was born in Poland in '77 and I came to live in the U.S. in '87. When I was about 8-9 years old my father, who is really into 4x4s and off-roaders, was excited w/ the idea of a new Romanian 4x4 coming to the market. I remember that thing, it was quite ugly and loud but I guess it made for a great off-roader but not w/o having its share of problems. Anyway, sixteen (or so) years later, it is still being build in Brazil (prolly along old school Toyota Land Cruisers, which are also being build in South Africa) today. Now, some guy w/ money who probably drove it while on vacation decided to import it to the US. He put on a brush guard, bigger tires, roof rack, gave it catchy name and turned an ugly looking $5000 truck into a $20000 off-road freedom machine. Brilliant! Here's the link: http://www.crosslander4x4.com/ Do a search under "Aro 4x4" to what the trucked looked like originally. Personally, I like it, but I want to learn more about before I really make up my mind. It could be the a POS. Opinions anyone? | ||
| Joel (Jsaenz80) New Member Username: Jsaenz80 Post Number: 22 Registered: 04-2003 |
Looks too much like a Land Rover, I feel a lawsuit coming on... JEJEJE | ||
| Peter Sharratt (Gummikuh) Member Username: Gummikuh Post Number: 110 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hi Kamil Check the archives, this has been discussed before to some length. Pete S. | ||
| David Marchand (Dmarchand) Member Username: Dmarchand Post Number: 137 Registered: 09-2002 |
They've progressively changed the release date on that thing for the last two years. Your not going to see it anytime soon. | ||
| Christopher Dynak (Adtoolco) Member Username: Adtoolco Post Number: 221 Registered: 08-2002 |
Kamil, Its nice to see a fellow Pollock on the Dweb  My parents came over in '72. I see your from NYC, I hear there are some good trails in New Jersey(Pine Barrens), We should go wheeling sometime. -Chris | ||
| gp (Garrett) Senior Member Username: Garrett Post Number: 2078 Registered: 10-2001 |
yes. this has been discussed on here a good amount. i had gotten a good amount of informtion from them on starting a dealership. i wanted to see what the fuss was about. but i have grown a little skeptical of this truck. just too many "what ifs" and no one every really gives me a good straight answer. they will in no way compete with a rover i am sure. but IF they decent at all they will at least inject the market with another viable option out there amoung the wanna be cute SUV's. hopefully it will combine the simplicity of a wrangler with the added room. i just hope it does not turn out to be a freaking Yugo. | ||
| D. Chapman (1hank1) Member Username: 1hank1 Post Number: 204 Registered: 02-2003 |
Even if I have not seen one, I think the Crosslander will give the Rovers a run for there money off-road. A 135hp 2.8L turbo diesel, 335 pounds of torque, stright axle, And, (only from what I hear), under $20,000.00. That still leaves another $8 (from a jeep price) to 20,000.00 (rover disco price) for more parts, winch, bumbers, lift, etc... But, only time will tell for sure. | ||
| Richard Dekkard (Richard_dekkard) Member Username: Richard_dekkard Post Number: 65 Registered: 04-2003 |
as was mentioned in the other thread.. its not 335 ft pounds of torque, its newton meters. which is alot les.. | ||
| Mark & Bev Preston (Markp) Member Username: Markp Post Number: 201 Registered: 02-2002 |
Someone tried to import them 10 years ago, lined up prospective dealers, advertised, it never got off the ground. Seen one up close. It was a POS. Same today. Lots of noise, dealers looking for a buck, advertisement, promises. Probably still a POS. Like you said, a $5,000 truck to be sold for $20,000. The 2.8L International deisel is probably worth more than the rest of the truck. Someone here said the Crosslander signs are already coming down. | ||
| Swamp Pappy (Swamp_pappy) New Member Username: Swamp_pappy Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2003 |
Kamil(ek): Dzien Dobry. The ARO has a terrible reputation for reliability. They served as military units during the Cold War and still see duty in Eastern European countries. They're cheap by Western standards, but I'd likewise be skeptical of quality by those same Western standards. You'll find that there are cheap 4 x 4 options from Eastern Europe such as Auto GAZ, but unless a support/dealer network with service and parts is established, the American market may not be so quick to embrace this brand. | ||
| Stacey R Abend (Srafj40) Member Username: Srafj40 Post Number: 77 Registered: 03-2003 |
Mark, You are right Just last Sunday I drove by the dealer here in Tuscon that had the Crosslander sign up for 3 some months. Bang all of a sudden it is down. Dealer guy was going to call me ASAP when one came in. NOTHING. Stacey | ||
| Christopher Dynak (Adtoolco) Member Username: Adtoolco Post Number: 222 Registered: 08-2002 |
Oh boy...do we have a third Polski member? I think its time to pull out the kielbasa and spiritus.(The real stuff, not that 150 proof american piss) -Krishek | ||
| Kamil K. (Kamil) New Member Username: Kamil Post Number: 10 Registered: 04-2003 |
Krzysiek (the right way to spell your name, I think) I currently don't own a Rover or any other 4x4. I started coming here in order to find a RR Classic or a Disco1. I had two that I was interested in, but both owners of these flaked in one way or the other. My previos car was an '02 Subaru WRX, a 4x4 (AWD) in a way. I've decided to sell it mostly because of the high costs and lack of room. As a replacement, I was going to buy the above mentioned and a second, cheap car that would satisfy the speed freak in me and make that into an HPDE/autoX car and use the truck as a potential tow vehicle. These plans were going great... until two weeks ago I was laid off work.  I have managed to fine a perfect condition, one owner '94 BMW 318iS which I have purchaed to get around now and in the future turn it into a nice toy car. The 1.8 I4 is pretty peppy, but can always be repalced w/ I6. Once I get another job and put some money away I'll be shopping for a 4x4 again, most likely a RR Classic or something along these lines. In the mean time, I have my girlfriend's '99 Wrangler which I can use when I get into my "damn I wish I had a Defender" zone. Last time I did any off-roading was in Venezula at the end of last year where I went on a three week exploration/vacation. It was in the back of an old, beat-up Toyota Land Cruiser pick up. I have the pics somewhere and I could scan them in. Other then that, two years ago, with a group of 13 people, I drove a LR 110 wagon and a Land Cruiser for 9000+ miles in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia. 90% of that drive was off-road driving, lots of fun. As for my father, he still lives in Warsaw, and now he drives a silver Lada Niva, which replaced his green UAZ. Swamp pappy - dzien dobry. Yea, i wasn't sure of Aro's reputaion, I was too little, but I do remember it being used by the Forst dept and other govm't agencies. -Kamilek | ||
| Christopher Dynak (Adtoolco) Member Username: Adtoolco Post Number: 225 Registered: 08-2002 |
Yup...thats my broken Polish for you, I can't even spell my own name. Anyway, get a job so you can buy a Rover -Chris |
