Hi everyone, just though I would share some pics off my car doing some off road shenanigans earlier this year. I didn't actually get any photos on the day, but my mate filmed a lot with his go pro. I couldn't be bothered with the faff of getting proper stills so I just took photos of the TV screen - hence awful quality. But you get the idea anyway, and hopefully it will help potential buyers making their decision on whether they need 4 wheel drive or not.

Plus points - Traction+ is an excellent system, tyres, adequate ground clearance, visibility (a bigger advantage when off road than you would think)

Negatives - Extremely steep uphill sections result in a lot of wheel spin as the weight falls to the back end (where 4 wheel drive would help, and the 4x4's crawler gear), while ground clearance was ok, it could still be a bit higher for my liking, engine braking down hill.

All in all it was a nice cold winters day of just messing about.

Love the rear wheel in the air shots. Looks the business!

Oattam said:

Love the rear wheel in the air shots. Looks the business!

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Great images... a bit of help with traction on the front is fine for those gravelly roads as you say... pick up our 4x4 Antarctica on Thursday, as you say similar but different all the same.


Have fun

Oattam said:

Love the rear wheel in the air shots. Looks the business!

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Haha, it's a good job my terrified face isn't visible to ruin that one!

Aikidoamigo said:

Great images... a bit of help with traction on the front is fine for those gravelly roads as you say... pick up our 4x4 Antarctica on Thursday, as you say similar but different all the same.


Have fun

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Cool, you are going to love that I'm sure. Where the trekking scrabbles, the 4x4 would go with ease.

I found the lip under the front bumper a bit too low on my 4x4, I can see why the new Cross has a more angled front end.

It's easy to catch particularly in or crossing rutted tracks, but I'm getting used to the sound of it grounding out now and so far it's been flexible enough not to break, but I can see the silver "chin" on mine will look a bit chewed soon enough.

So far grip is fantastic though.
(mainly wet grass, hard packed but loose surface climbs, slimy hard packed clay)
Most of the bigger 4x4's I've had seem to squirm or shimmy a little on steep climbs as they fight the weight for grip and shunt the power about, my little "baby Range Rover" just scoots up no messing even dragging my bike trailer.

I've yet to point it at some seriously soft mud, you know the stuff, wet and without anything hard under it, but I can sense it would be like most 4x4's on road biased tyres, it'll get you to the middle of mire then bog down as all four corners loose grip, so nothing new there!

Steeper decents can be a little nervy, yes the 4x4 has a lower first gear, but it's not as low as you'd want or as low as a 4x4 in low range, you can't really let engine braking take you down (the TA hasn't much of that anyway) and stabbing the brakes on a steep wet decent isn't on my favourite things to do list!

I'd also hate to fail a climb and have to resort to the old trick of holding it and starting it in reverse to get me back down, I'd more than likely fill my trousers as it took off backwards!

But saying all that, it's no monster 4x4 mud plugger and it copes with what I really need it for well enough, just got to resist the temptation to "play" when the urge arises, as that's how I bent my old Discovery!

Just collected the car from the dealer tonight, when I'm in the wilds of North Wales and the snow is deep I will take / post some pictures to show.

Roll on wintertime