Cross Lander gets EPA OK
It dates back to the 50's. It's built in Romania. It will be at a dealer somewhat near you. The EPA has given Cross Lander and their 244X old-school SUV the green light to sell in the USA starting in June. The US versions of the Cross Landers, if the Romanian company can stay afloat long enough to build them, will be powered by a Ford 4 liter V-6 built in Germany. There are 140 dealers signed up to start peddling the $20,000 (base price) trucks. "Cross Lander's (244X) is designed clearly for those drivers who want to take their vehicles off-road and not worry about keeping them pretty," says General Manager Bill Goetze. He's got one thing right, no one will worry about thinking they are pretty.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Darren 10:33PM (12/18/2005)
Wasn't this the Aero of the 80's? If so, I know where there are some zero mileage versions rusting away. I know, that is what they all did!!
Seriously, this rig was imported in the 80's by a group located here in Maine and in New York ( I think). They were powered by a Ford German V-6 (read underpowered lump) and were just as well made and engineered as the Yugos were!! If they did not break down, they rusted away post haste.
I think there are still a few unsold Aero's here in southeren Maine rotting away in a field!!
OHH BOY!!
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C.Y. 10:33PM (12/18/2005)
Two words: LaForza! Or is that one word. Whatever.
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Latchy 10:33PM (12/18/2005)
Darren(above..) is right. but it's called ARO , not Aero. It is awful.Period!
I would prefer the russian UAZ with a diesel engine.You don't need roads for this stuff...
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ThomD 10:33PM (12/18/2005)
If you are going to go old school and ugly, how about a Unimog?
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Pablo 10:33PM (12/18/2005)
Buy a unimog? Seeing as a unimog is something in the neigborhood of 4 to 5 times more expensive than one of these Cross Landers, I don't see that as a viable option....
I wonder what kind of warranty they will offer?
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Dave 10:33PM (12/18/2005)
I think this is a good idea, actually. Maybe its ugly, but its $20K! I'm tired of people expecting to get SUVs designed like luxury cars. The SU-U in S-U-V means sports utility, not spoiled-uptight. I'm not someone who offroads, but I have friends who are into it and they will be glad that there are some more options available now...they won't all be looking for used Landcruisers.
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John De Ryckere 10:33PM (12/18/2005)
So it's 20K and ugly. A hummer is 52K and ugly.
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motech 10:33PM (12/18/2005)
hm, id still rather have a wrangler,
or a defender 110
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paul 10:33PM (12/18/2005)
a woman in my office is a recent arrival from Romania. She says if you buy one of these ne prepared to replace it every year. They are poorly made and even the Romanians hate them.
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Fooman 10:33PM (12/18/2005)
Laforza... still a few hundred unsold... but good looking with a decent ford engine/frame and a good itailian body..
But I want the defender 90 back in the US.. The 110's are too big.
interesting to see the quality on it...
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christian 10:33PM (12/18/2005)
I'm Romanian and I'd like to say that Aro used to be good back in the 70-80s, although some of them were rusting, there was no other model better for offroad. As I read the newspapers, there seems that Cross Lander has changed the engine and the traction system, probably making it better. Just want to point out that before Cross Lander bought Aro, Aro came out second in an offroad contest beating Mercedes, Range Rover and the Wrangler. It all depends what Cross Lander has changed to the car. If they did repair the "rusting problem" I think it's a good buy since it's only 20k
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