L322 Ability Off Road

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Originally Posted by glenhendry

This then begs the obvious question; does the L322 improvements in TC and centre diff locking outweigh the reduction in articulation???

Otherwise stated: is the stock L322 (with 18" wheels) better off-road than the stock P38? I think we can all agree its better on road ;)

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Its pretty hard to be objective here.
When I look at the under side of my P38 its a tough bit of kit, sure some things hang down, but they are built with strength in mind. In comparison the underside of an L322 is mostly flat, I certainly wouldnt want to get hung up on a log or a boulder...because I think/know that I will leave some plastic behind.
It will be interesting to see how long the Transfer cases last in the L322, they are very small.
I agree with previous comments about the L322 road manners, they are brilliant. Dirt roads and corrugations pretty damn good as well.
I have not had the L322 off road yet to test it, but I am certainly aware of its softness bodily and on the underside, also its extra size I can see as being a problem, vision from the seat is also not as good as the P38.
Im heading out to Temora on Saturday for the Warbirds Downunder air show, might give it a shake down on a track along the way.

I have managed to put a nice huge dent in my air tank under the P38 and bash the diff's a bit (cracked one a few weeks after I got it).

Under the 322 though it all seems a bit more solid, and I have bashed a few rocks on fairly basic tracks and have a little confidence as many of the main components are tucked behind the tubular chassis frame that hangs around the trans/front of the car.

That being said, as a rather uneducated offroad driver the P38 gives me more crash and bash out of trouble confidence than the L322 does.

In the mud at speed at Melrose this year I was the only one out of the disco's and deefers who could keep tracking in a straight line, they all commented on that and were amazed I hadn't put it in low range, all on my girly highway tires.