Thread: Toy*** Land Cruiser 200 /P38a

Yesterday, while others were in the "office" my host offered me a drive of his new 200 series /V8 double turbo diesel VX model.

We proceeded to negotiate his very own 4wd test "test track" he has built at the back of his property... amazing what you can do to the backyard with a bobcat! .. he has a half dozen or so "moguls" about 450mm high strategically placed, a set of corrugations -telephone poles arranged "cattle grid"- like across the track and embedded to about half their height, a quite steep rock strewn climb which rises about 3m to a crest which then drops down abruptly into a gully, then up the other side to flat ground... all told the track is about 100m in length and surfaced with 1/2" blue metal road fill.

I must say that the Cruiser ambled over it at about 800 rpm... 600+ NM of torque in low range is rather handy. The hill descent control... never experienced one before ...was an act of faith... let it roll over the top (all I see over the bonnet is blue sky... ... feet OFF the pedals and as "it" senses the impending drop it's as if an unseen hand takes hold and eases it down the hill... albeit a bit faster than I would have liked but quite controllable.

The suppression of noise/vibration/harshness was very impressive.
The moguls were a surprise... stopping with front lhs and rear rhs wheels each on a mogul the articulation was not bad and the Cruiser was fairly level.

MY Turn! To the taunt of "do you think you can make it with THAT clearance?" ...the by now assembled small crowd of interested onlookers watched with some amazement as we rose majestically from "access" to max height (just to make it obvious ) and proceeded to amble around same track with trusty "Mr Thor" barely growling above a whisper... the obligatory stop to perch on the moguls gave me an opportunity to drop from the driver's seat and admire the articulation my magnificent obsession... virtully level body, wheels at grossly splayed angles but firmly in contact with terra firma ... the tricky bit across the telephone poles was a doddle!

My host then repeated the effort in the RR... had never driven one previously... and was graciously impressed that a 10yr old vehicle could be as pliable, comfortable light to handle in similar situation! Point made. Honour restored. Now, how do I organise a RR V8 diesel in a P38 ? ....

Originally Posted by Hoges

Yesterday, while others were in the "office" my host offered me a drive of his new 200 series /V8 double turbo diesel VX model.

We proceeded to negotiate his very own 4wd test "test track" he has built at the back of his property... amazing what you can do to the backyard with a bobcat! .. he has a half dozen or so "moguls" about 450mm high strategically placed, a set of corrugations -telephone poles arranged "cattle grid"- like across the track and embedded to about half their height, a quite steep rock strewn climb which rises about 3m to a crest which then drops down abruptly into a gully, then up the other side to flat ground... all told the track is about 100m in length and surfaced with 1/2" blue metal road fill.

I must say that the Cruiser ambled over it at about 800 rpm... 600+ NM of torque in low range is rather handy. The hill descent control... never experienced one before ...was an act of faith... let it roll over the top (all I see over the bonnet is blue sky... ... feet OFF the pedals and as "it" senses the impending drop it's as if an unseen hand takes hold and eases it down the hill... albeit a bit faster than I would have liked but quite controllable.

The suppression of noise/vibration/harshness was very impressive.
The moguls were a surprise... stopping with front lhs and rear rhs wheels each on a mogul the articulation was not bad and the Cruiser was fairly level.

MY Turn! To the taunt of "do you think you can make it with THAT clearance?" ...the by now assembled small crowd of interested onlookers watched with some amazement as we rose majestically from "access" to max height (just to make it obvious ) and proceeded to amble around same track with trusty "Mr Thor" barely growling above a whisper... the obligatory stop to perch on the moguls gave me an opportunity to drop from the driver's seat and admire the articulation my magnificent obsession... virtully level body, wheels at grossly splayed angles but firmly in contact with terra firma ... the tricky bit across the telephone poles was a doddle!

My host then repeated the effort in the RR... had never driven one previously... and was graciously impressed that a 10yr old vehicle could be as pliable, comfortable light to handle in similar situation! Point made. Honour restored. Now, how do I organise a RR V8 diesel in a P38 ? ....

Brilliant! But the rules, the rules .. !! Must have pics!

Willem