Thread: Testing of "new" 2005 Disco 3 TDV6 S (with EAS)

Took the new disco for an outing to see if it would be as a good a touring companion as our Rangie P38.

Went to a secret location for camping and playing, towing our Paramount Duet caravan, weighs about 1800kg.

Well, to say it tows easily would be a huge understatement. The P38 was fine on the flat but tended to die in the bum up hills. This thing will go up hills as fast as I tell it to.

Once camped at our favourite spot, suitably fed and 'watered' it was onto the sand for a bit of experimentation.

Straight onto the sand at highway pressures, 30 front 40 rear, standard electronic settings, ie. straight off the highway.

Well, as predicted didn't get too far. Probably further than should have been expected as the sand was the softest and driest I've ever driven in. That's including the inland tracks of Fraser Island.

Out with the pressure gauge, and the laughter from SWMBO, it was down to 20 all round and a bit of digging.







DSC turned off, sand setting turned on and off we went again.

Couple of hundred metres of seriously soft sand and we picked up a loud squeal from the front wheel. SWMBO insisted we stop to check it out, (I just knew it was a stone caught under the brake backing plate), but anyway we stop, can find nothing caught, and, of course can't move anymore.

We are really bogged!

So pressures down to 15 all round, more digging and still no movement. Tried a few different settings on Terrain Response to no avail. Then a brain wave.

What about low range! In the Rangie I normally use high range in the sand as low tends to dig in too quick, but of course the Disco has some tricks available to stop this.

So, low range, full height, DSC off, sand mode on, and wow, just drives off cool as a cucumber.

Back at camp I reinflate the tyres and remove the wheel to get the stone out of the backing plate, mightily impressed.

Next day its a drive to another secret spot to experience the handling and control on dirt roads saturated from the night's rainfall.

Gravel, snow setting seems to provide some more initial bite from the brakes before the ABS cuts in, which I like, and DSC really works as my wife finds out when the super slippery surface in one patch causes it to do its thing.

Followed a farmer, in a Hilux with big nobbly farm tyres, up a very slippery hill. He was sliding left and right, but we had no issues at all. Considering the super highway tyres, filled with mud, on the Disco, this was very impressive.

Back to camp, connect the van and head home.

More dirt road towing and a few hills to impress me again and we're back home for dinner.

The fuel 'lie-o-metre' says 13.2 but as my tyres are undersized at the moment I really have no idea, but considering the towing and sand driving I 'think' that's not too bad.

Now all I've got to do is give her a nice wash and say thank you.







"That'll do pig!"

great post cheers, got a 2011 d4 and keen to go to Stockton dunes in Newcastle nsw and take the old man beach fishing as he used to take me! thanks for all the info