Does anyone take a Range Rover Sport off-road?

[Diego Luego]

I haven't been a member of Aulro for very long, but I don't see anyone writing about Range Rover Sports.

Do any members own one and if so does anyone actually take them off-road?

I read all this stuff about how good they are (almost as good as a Disco 3), but does anyone actually do it? It seems like a waste if you don't, and a shame if you do.

[BigJon]

I read all this stuff about how good they are (almost as good as a Disco 3),

There is actually a good argument to say they are better offroad than a Disco 3. Same suspension and terrain response system in a shorter wheelbase = more manouverable.

[loanrangie]

Of course old chap, when one leaves the bitumen and mounts the kerb when one is going to the pony club, that old chap is offroad ;).

[inside]

This guy enjoys the sand

YouTube - Range Rover Sport - Supercharged (Drifting & Donuts) Digeci (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejihygwpw-Y)

and a little mud

YouTube - Range Rover Sport - Supercharged 2007 (digeci) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qMwEi-kEfM)

[abaddonxi]

Oh dear, what kind of idiot stands on the apex of a mud puddle corner waiting for a car to come round and get just a little out of control.

Cheers
Simon

[blitz]

Ya not wrong Simon a temporary Australian at best.

BUT it is nice to see one being used and played in. I must admit it is a bit to grandeous for my taste but would love to take one out for a fang.

Blythe

[Psimpson7]

Ive driven a RRS V8 off road at Millbrook Proving ground and I was very impressed. I agree that it has the potential to be better off road than teh D3 too!

Pet

[FenianEel]

I've had a TDV6 for a couple of weeks.
They are unbelievable off road, I have only driven this one on the beach at Straddie and a few bits on the back way to O'Reillys and around Mt Mee / D'Aguilar.

I wouldn't take it everywhere, or do what I do in the D2 with it though :D

[werdan]

Oh dear, what kind of idiot stands on the apex of a mud puddle corner waiting for a car to come round and get just a little out of control.

You only get the best action shots when you're scared ****less. ;)

[abaddonxi]

You only get the best action shots when you're scared ****less. ;)

You get the best action shots on a long lens from a safe distance.

Close up and scared ****less, you just get dead.

On the apex of a corner the camera operator has nowhere to run. If you are planning to take action shots of moving vehicles you need to plan where and how you are going to get out of trouble before you start shooting.

In that case, the car could have lost control at any point. In the first pass you can see the driver losing traction before entering the corner. From there it is entirely possible for the car to go sideways and come straight at the camera operator.

And there is nowhere to go. If you can't adequately predict where the car would go in case of trouble, don't go there.

/rant off.

Cheers
Simon

[ivery819]

:cool:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/49042-slightly-dirty.html
:D

[BigJon]

Oh dear, what kind of idiot stands on the apex of a mud puddle corner waiting for a car to come round and get just a little out of control.

Cheers
Simon

That camera operator is on the outside of the corner, not the apex :angel:.
Still a potentially dangerous place.

[Reads90]

this is one that turned up to an event my brother organised the other weekend. and the bloke was not affrad to use it

http://www.shirelrc.com/members/gallery/latest_photos/files/page57-1111-full.jpg

[29dinosaur]

:cool:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/49042-slightly-dirty.html
:D
http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/8447
Where??

[abaddonxi]

That camera operator is on the outside of the corner, not the apex :angel:.
Still a potentially dangerous place.

Hmm, I think we're talking about the same thing, just looking at it from a different perspective.

You're talking about driving line, I'm talking about the road. Still the apex


apex: Definition, Synonyms and Much More from Answers.com (http://www.answers.com/topic/apex?cat=health)


The highest point; the vertex: the apex of a triangle; the apex of a hill.
The point of culmination. See synonyms at summit (http://www.answers.com/topic/summit).
The usually pointed end of an object; the tip: the apex of a leaf.

define:apex - Google Search (http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&hs=ig2&defl=en&q=define:apex&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title)

The point(s) or region on the line through a corner that touches the corner's inner radius.


Driving Tips - Kingston Park Raceway (http://www.gokarts.com.au/index.php/kartinginfo/drivingtips/)

The main idea is to make it (the corner) as straight as possible and thus increase your exit speed. The driver is on the "racing Line" and clips the apex of the corner as he accelerates out off the turn.


Obsessive much? Not me.;)

Cheers
Simon

[Diego Luego]

Thanks Reads90.

Is that a winch on the front? Only today, whilst admiring a fully kitted out Disco 3, I was told you couldn't fit a winch to a RRS.

And its got a snorkel, you can't get them either!

[camel_landy]

In a word... Yes.

I've used them off-road a lot. :p

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/03/437.jpg

While they are built on the same underpinnings as the D3, there's a couple of slight differences.


Slightly shorter (6" IIRC).
A little bit more overhang on the front.


I can usually take the RRS through the same places that I take the D3 but the only thing I need to watch out for are the trim panels on the bottom of the doors.

HTH

M

[Reads90]

Thanks Reads90.

Is that a winch on the front? Only today, whilst admiring a fully kitted out Disco 3, I was told you couldn't fit a winch to a RRS.

And its got a snorkel, you can't get them either!

Yeah it has a winch and a snorkle and you can get them both

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[ivery819]

The full range of factory off-road accessories is shown here:

Land Rover UK - Land Rover G4 Challenge Accessories (http://www.landrover.co.uk/gb/en/Vehicles/Range_Rover_Sport/Accessories/LRG4_Accessories.htm)

[Diego Luego]

Thank you again ivery819

As I have written before, why is it so hard for the "sales" staff to tell prospective clients the truth? Why fob us off by telling convenient untruths instead of doing their homework?

I was clearly told today that there were no "Land Rover" branded nudge bars available suitable for fitting a winch to RRSs.

Considering the price of these vehicles it is simply not good enough. Presumably winches, bullbars and snorkels don't fit in with the image they are trying to project in Australia.

[sclarke]

Ask Camel_Landy... he tests them....

[Reads90]

Thank you again ivery819


Considering the price of these vehicles it is simply not good enough. Presumably winches, bullbars and snorkels don't fit in with the image they are trying to project in Australia.

May be it is because all bull bars and winch bumpers are Banned in the Uk now so land rover don't think about it now

[sniegy]

Hi Diego Luego,

I have driven a few on driver training days as my Service manager & myself run courses for new owners of the LR product.

I will say that the RRS "is" more capable than the D3.
Its just a feeling u get as i am pretty used to the D3, but once inside u can feel the vehicle is more nimble, it has a great turning circle & i just love em.
I know a few people dont like the sitting position as it seems cramped, but for me it is heaven.

One day i will own one...one day....

[Diego Luego]

sniegy I agree 100%! The RRS fits me like a glove too.

I am a Defender owner and I have always driven them, so unless an obstacle is bigger than Ayers Rock (sorry Uluru), I tend to ignore it. Do you find the ground clearance a problem in the RRS when the going gets tough?

[camel_landy]

sniegy I agree 100%! The RRS fits me like a glove too.

I am a Defender owner and I have always driven them, so unless an obstacle is bigger than Ayers Rock (sorry Uluru), I tend to ignore it. Do you find the ground clearance a problem in the RRS when the going gets tough?

Not at all... In fact, for most things, I find the clearance is better under the RRS than a Defender. (That's the independent suspension for you). You've got a nice, clean line under the RRS. Mind you, although you don't have a live axle and diff housing to think about, in VERY deep ruts, you need to think about the clearance of the lower wishbone where it's attached to the wheel hub.

M

[LRHybrid100]

also Redbacks mate goes touring with him in his TDV6 Sport.

Saw it up at Lithgow one time - went well.

LRH

[Scouse]

Did anyone see or hear of the Supercharged Sport at Lithgow/Zig Zag a couple of weeks ago ?
I heard there were lots of photos taken but they don't appear to have surfaced yet.

[ak]

There is a photo on the overlander site in the trip section "stockton beach" of two RRS's bogged. The owners most likely had never been off road before.

Having said that a client of mine has one that does get off road sometimes and he was just saying the other day it's brilliant everywhere except it struggles a bit on the beach even after the tyres are let down, however I think the 20" tyres are to blame.

[LRHybrid100]

Stockton beach shots would have been the photoshoot with LROC Sydney member Idletorque (Greg)

LRH

[ak]

Stockton beach shots would have been the photoshoot with LROC Sydney member Idletorque (Greg)

LRH

In the shots a Pajero was recovering the RRS's so don't think this is the photoshoot you are talking about.

[loanrangie]

Yeah it has a winch and a snorkle and you can get them both

http://www.shirelrc.com/members/gallery/latest_photos/files/page57-1186-full.jpg

http://www.shirelrc.com/members/gallery/latest_photos/files/page57-1187-full.jpg

Is that an LROCV sticker i see in the lower rh side of the front screen ?

[rmp]

The RRS works very well indeed offroad. Indeed, it is more capable than the Defender, and more capable than just about anything else off the showroom floor. The advantages over the D3 are length, as described, but also a slightly lighter weight and some variants have the Dynamic Response swaybar disconnect system. Add in the $1000 auto-locking cross axle diff on the rear and you have one quite amazing offroader.

[Reads90]

Is that an LROCV sticker i see in the lower rh side of the front screen ?


Nah that is in the Uk where by law you have to put the Tax disc (rego) and there only (unlike here) . So i can say for sure it is not a sticker :)

[one_iota]

Some immediate thoughts:

No doubt about the capability...but comparisons with a Defender or the Discovery should be put in the context of the price of ownership.

...and the waste of all that capability only used to move bodies around tarred roads mostly in the inner city.

:)

[rmp]

Not at all... In fact, for most things, I find the clearance is better under the RRS than a Defender. (That's the independent suspension for you). You've got a nice, clean line under the RRS. Mind you, although you don't have a live axle and diff housing to think about, in VERY deep ruts, you need to think about the clearance of the lower wishbone where it's attached to the wheel hub.

M

Agreed. Not having that diff housing is a MAJOR advantage. Same advantage to NM+ Pajeros, by the way ;-)

[Sandtoyz]

I sat in one today at the dealers... one with the TDV8
WOW, its so pretty. :)
Now if I could work out how to live in it,
I wouldn't need to buy a house :p

I guess if you can afford to own one,
you should be able to handle the repairs/maintenance bills too!!!
- and if I could, I would definitely use it off road (within reason) :cool:

[Scouse]

I sat in one today at the dealers... one with the TDV8
I hope you gave the engine a rev too - absolute music to the ears :p.

[Zute]

Back on the subject of standing on the outside of the corner videoing. A spinning car will spin to the inside of the turn. How ever, should it roll or the driver under steers it will head for the out side of the turn. I think in this case the guy videoing was probably safer on the out side of the turn.

[abaddonxi]

Back on the subject of standing on the outside of the corner videoing. A spinning car will spin to the inside of the turn. How ever, should it roll or the driver under steers it will head for the out side of the turn. I think in this case the guy videoing was probably safer on the out side of the turn.

Okay, here's how I see it.

A car goes best in a straight line.

When driving into a corner you are forcing the car to move away from that straight line. If things go pear shaped the car is most likely to continue on that straight line.

Understeer, oversteer, or spin to the inside of the turn are all after the fact.

Once you get into the corner centrifugal force will urge the car to the outside of the corner.

The car might spin in any direction. Particularly in the pictured situation, with severely limited traction, there is no guarantee that if the car starts spinning it will follow the directions the steering wheels are pointing.

If the car follows the wheels and spins into the inside of the curve it is still likely to slingshot off the outside of the curve.

Not having to do this stuff for a living anymore, I know where I will be.

Sitting in the driver's seat.:p


Scalextric anyone?

Cheers
Simon

[Sandtoyz]

I hope you gave the engine a rev too - absolute music to the ears :p.

No the keys weren't in it :(

Never know, I may still get a ride in it ;)

[D3Jon]

Hmm, I think we're talking about the same thing, just looking at it from a different perspective.

You're talking about driving line, I'm talking about the road. Still the apex

define:apex - Google Search (http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&hs=ig2&defl=en&q=define:apex&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title)

Obsessive much? Not me.;)

Cheers
Simon

In terms of road design & motorsport, the apex is the inside of the bend as defined in your Google link.

I should know, as a Civil Engineer qualified in road design, a long standing motorsport participant with an MSA competition license, as well as a motorsport photographer who has stood on the inside and outside of many famous circuits including 5 F1 GP's at Silverstone as an official photographer.


Back on the subject of standing on the outside of the corner videoing. A spinning car will spin to the inside of the turn. How ever, should it roll or the driver under steers it will head for the out side of the turn. I think in this case the guy videoing was probably safer on the out side of the turn.

The car will only spin to the inside if the driver can't drive and over-corrects an oversteer skid. Over-correction followed by suddenly re-gaining traction will throw the car to the inside, which is highly unlikely on a loose surface. Generally Newton's law's of motion come into play and the car will go to the outside of the corner. How many F1 cars do you ever see going off to the inside of a corner?

Jon

[dukemasterpro]

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v182/135/83/626451575/n626451575_739512_9503.jpghttp://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v213/135/83/626451575/n626451575_739535_561.jpgI've taken a TDV8 on a 4 day NSW/Vic High Country trip over Easter and have to say it was absolutely fine, asides from being worried about the dainty 255/50/19 Wrangler tyres and a bumpier ride due to the standard pressures.

Compared to a Disco 3 TDV6 SE, it drives and gets up and down the hills very much the same, but with a more grunt and less space inside. Once back on the tarmac it's a dream to drive.

My big question though is tyres? Does anyone have the 255/55/19 Goodyear MT/R's??? Been told these are the only ones to fit my rims.

Also anyone fitted an aftermarket items like drawers, dual battery, roof rack etc?

Interested in how you have gone with this.

[lro11]

This is photo was taken last year at the land rover test track UK. The same track series 1's used to use in their day, it is quite amazing what these cars can do this one is a V8 diesel just before it disappeared under water

[Disco95]

I saw one recenly doing the beach on Fraser.

And heaven knows how many on the roads on the Gold Coast.

[Diego Luego]

Its tyre that bother me. I chose 18inch rims (rather than 19s) so I could let them down a bit on soft stuff. Any advice anyone? Coopers on 17 inch Disco rims for example.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

There are lots of D3's on 18's
maybe a search on 18" tyres?

[101RRS]

Also anyone fitted an aftermarket items like drawers, dual battery, roof rack etc?

Interested in how you have gone with this.

I did see a RRS with a snorkle the other day - so there is something that is offroad orientated.

Garry