Well has anyone heard about the cross lander? It's a romanian company thats been around for about 50 years, building barebones, reliable, and cheap trucks, suvs, etc for the romanian and such areas. They've been selling them in europe and are importing them to america. There first product is called a 244. The 244 comes from the engine size, thats right, a 244 cubic inch, SOHC FORD V-6. Right behind that sits either an eaton 5 speed standard or a Ford supplied 5R55E, then to a part time, 2 speed manual transfer case, thru 3.73's, to unknown front hub set up(maybe full time, maybe manual hubs), and onto (from what I've read) 235/75/15's. The rear suspension consist of leaf springs and the front I'm pretty sure is full IFS with coils.

The most I can figure out is that it weighs someweres around 6000 pounds and can pull almost its own wieght with a top speed of 90 mph. Gas milage figures are 17 city and 22 highway.

Options include A/C, the auto tranny, aluminum deep dish rims, and a very large assortment of functional brush gaurds, tail light gaurds, roof racks(and appropriate lighting), and a winch. I've read conficting reports about size, some sorces say, mid size, others say full size, and some say about the size of a new explorer.

Either way you can have all this starting under 20 grand.

Here's there website, http://www.crosslander4x4.com

I also here that there going to be bringing over a larger(not so off roadish type) suv, a four door pick up, and a cab and chassis truck. Either the larger suv or pick up is called a 281(4.6 liter motivation???) and the cab and chassis is being called a 330(5.4 liter motivation??)

Personally even if the vehicle turns out to be junk the concept is awsome, cut two doors off it, throw on a removable top, and call it a 2005 bronco.

 

so you would not then be considered a traitor for buying one ?

 

I'd buy one. They need a dealership in WA state, though. I'm not driving to CA for one.

 

From Romania, huh?

Well, we'll see.

I just keep saying to myself, "Yugo SUV....."

 

From the sound of things, Kia and Hyundai have another "bic" to compete with. I'll not even think about resale value on it, .

 

I heard about them - the design is from a Romanian military vehicle but aren't they actually built in Brazil? The engine is the 4.0L thats been put in Explorers for years.

 

looks like a good set up to me. looks like the old land rover defender series.