NEW DISCOVERY REVEALED – FIRST DETAILS

TAILS

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MAGAZINE

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DRIVE TO T

THE DRIVING ISSUE

GETTING THE
MOST FROM
YOUR 4X4
➜ DRIVING TIPS
➜ GREENLANING
➜ COURSES

PLUS
+ CLUB NEWS
+ ODDBALL 4X4S
+ OUR OFF-ROAD FLEET

SHAKEN AND STIRRED

Meet Tweaked’s latest Defe ender
creation, the Spectre Ed
dition
4x4 December 2016 £4.50

BUYING GUIDE TECHNICAL ADVENTURE

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 OPENING TRACK

It’s what makes

us different…
I
t probably doesn’t surprise you to know that over the years, I have been asked by
friends, family and mere acquaintances, about what car they should buy. Having been in
the business of earning a living writing about cars, I guess it’s a fair question, yet it always
The day you troubles me; it’s become obvious that different people need different answers. Years
back, when I was the editor of the much missed Cars and Car Conversions magazine, I

think you regularly drove performance cars and was regularly asked the ‘cor, how fast does it go,
mister?’ question, often by people who should have known better. I was even accosted

have learnt once when parking a Ford Fiesta XR2 in Barnes, south London, by a man in a smart blue
blazer and a BARC (British Automobile Racing Club) tie, who asked what was under the
bonnet as, ‘it certainly isn’t a standard Ford lump’! I was pretty amazed, and intimidated at
enough is first as I thought he was going to have a go about my driving! Turns out he had been
following me through London for some while and was impressed by the response of the
probably little red Fiesta ahead of him. And my driving as it happens, honest! He was quite right to
question the engine, since the model had been modified and had a lot more low down
the day your ‘grunt’ with a much improved torque; standard Fiestas being powered by the somewhat
asthmatic CVH Ford unit at the time. It simply drove so much better than standard. I can

driving starts still remember standing on the pavement for a good 20 minutes or so with this enthusiast,
just discussing the characteristics of the engine and what it was like to actually drive.

to deteriorate Although this happened many, indeed many, years ago, the memory returned as we
were putting together this issue, dedicated as it is to ensure you get the very best from your
4x4. OK, so we are not specifically talking about speed and performance cars here, but we
are certainly talking about driving. And the great thing about this is that often it doesn’t
actually matter what the vehicle is, just that you can get the most out of it, and enjoy the
time that you slip behind the wheel. Maybe that’s at a Pay and Play site where you can just
do your thing, maybe it’s during an organised greenlaning trip, which may not necessarily
be that difficult or technical, but takes you away from the tarmac… and those boy racer
XR2 drivers! In some cases, it could be taking an off-road driving course, since it should be
remembered that we are not talking just about novices learning to drive, but also
experienced drivers being coached to drive even better. It’s been said before, but you never
stop learning, in fact, the day you think you have learnt enough is probably the day your
driving starts to deteriorate. The most important thing is the enjoyment we get from getting
behind the wheel of a 4x4. Long may that continue. Just don’t get me started on the
so-called benefits of driverless cars – this magazine is not for those sorts of people…
So, to all drivers, here’s hoping you enjoy the issue.

Nigel Fryatt, Editor

OFF-ROADING WITH US THIS MONTH

Rob Hawkins meets the wide boys this month, father and son duo that will build you some wide wheels
for that extra rubber. Roll round to page 66

Greenlaning in the Green Isle, regular The name’s Defender, Land Rover We have lift off! Taking the body off a
contributor Russ Ryan joins the guys at Defender. We get all secret agent this Toyota Land Cruiser in a few easy
Pathfinders for a trip into the wild. Map month with Tweaked Automotive’s Spectre steps. Fascinating. Grab your socket
reference on page 36 Edition. Should be page 007, but it’s 44 wrench on page 52

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 5

 DECEMBER 2016

36

YOUR 4X4 LIFE 70

Mean Needs a ● Marketplace
● Club News
green double ● Let’s Go Off-road
machine take ● Focus on: Jeep Renegade

6 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

 44
COVER STORY
THE DRIVING ISSUE 22
You own a 4x4, so get the most out of it and learn to
drive it to the max! Tips, advice and the courses that you
might want to consider

GREENLANING
THE EMERALD ISLE 36
There are some very special greenlanes in the British
Isles, if you are prepared to make an effort to find them

THE NEW DISCOVERY 10

The first details have been revealed about Land Rover’s new
Discovery, ahead of its official global launch in Paris

GET DOWN AND DIRTY 42

When you bend too many panels off-roading, then why not
take them off and make a great mud-plugger

THE NAME’S LAND ROVER... 44

52
Jaguar Land Rover vehicles have been the stars of the latest
James Bond movies, we check out a version you can own

TECH: LAND CRUISER BODY REMOVAL 52

We follow the steps necessary to remove the body from a
Toyota Land Cruiser. It’s tempting, isn’t it?

SPORT: ULTRA4 PORTUGAL 58

Off-road motorsport at its best. The latest round of the
ULTRA4 Europe Championship comes from Portugal

BUYING GUIDE: RANGE ROVER 80

For some, this is the last great Range Rover. Buying tips on
looking for a decent 1994-2002 model of this iconic 4x4

REGULARS
OPENING TRACK
It’s always all about the driving...
5 58
NEWS AND VIEWS 10
The new Discovery has been announced

PRODUCTS 16
Treat yourself and your 4x4

LITTLE AT LARGE 18
The SUV makes a Goodwood Revival

OUR 4x4S 62

80
Screen problems with our Shogun

COOKE’S COLUMN 98
Thanks go to the Chevy Blazer

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 7

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News & Views
INSIDE THE WORLD OF 4X4

IN THE FAMILY

JAGUAR LAND ROVER LETS GO OF THE PAST AND UNVEILS THE all of Land Rover’s initial promotional press
material, but really? Has it come to this? But
NEW DISCOVERY, REVEALING A TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED, then that’s also become the traditional lament
PREMIUM, SEVEN-SEAT SUV DESIGNED FOR ALL THE FAMILY of an old soldier who has lost the battle long
ago. This is the future.
LAND ROVER’S NEW Discovery was vehicle, as previewed with the Discovery The new Discovery is built on a version of
launched with the usual high gloss and Vision Concept in 2014. It is a mighty the Range Rover platform and includes the
glamour presentation, complete with all-star 4970mm long, and is claimed to comfortably lightweight aluminium monocoque architecture
cast and the announcement of a world seat 95th percentile adults in those rearmost design of its bigger brothers. In total, the body
record-breaking structure having been built seats (that’s males 1.90m tall). Indeed, when construction is 85 per cent aluminium, of which
with LEGO bricks. Quite what the symbolism the kids have finished playing with their LEGO, a massive 43 per cent is recycled, which is
is of linking a new premium SUV with a child’s it will be the seven-seat configuration that will claimed to make the model 480kg lighter than
toy is open to debate, far more relevant, certainly amuse. The new Discovery is claimed a conventional steel ladder construction, the
however, was the declaration from Land to be the world’s first SUV that has Intelligent model weighing in at 2099kg.
Rover’s Chief Design Officer, Gerry McGovern, Seat Fold technology that allows you to While much is made of the on-road comfort
who said: “New Discovery redefines the large remotely alter the seat settings from your the Discovery will offer the family, it’s no
SUV. Land Rover’s design and engineering smartphone. It’s clever, useful, and seems to surprise that the model will have the next
teams have revolutionised the Discovery be the most important number one detail in generation Terrain Response 2 technology,
DNA. We truly believe the result is a radical
departure in design that will introduce the
Discovery Family to a new, wider customer
base.” Make no mistake, 27 years and some
1.2 million customers later; this is not merely
a fifth generation of the Discovery. While in
time, it might even become known by some
as a Discovery 5, that is not how it is being
promoted, this model represents a completely
new and significant departure of what has
been traditionally understood as what makes
a Discovery.
The target audience for this model is quite
specific; to offer the best family SUV in the
world. And the result is a big vehicle, stretched
to produce a full-sized, three row, seven-seat

10 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

 DAKAR
HILUX
SURPRISE
PAGE 13
How times change… The
new Discovery really has little in
common with its predecessors,
apart from a very successful name
which ensures the vehicle is able to cope with
the usual LR range of surfaces; general driving;
grass, gravel and snow; mud and ruts; sand;
and rock crawl.
There will be an option for customers to
choose whether they want a two-speed
transfer box, for serious off-road ability, or to
go for the single-speed full time four-wheel
drive with Torsen differential. Land Rover is
presumably already geared up to build far
more of the latter option. First introduced in the
Evoque, the Discovery will also have the All-
terrain Progress Control technology allowing
the driver to select a crawl speed and let the
vehicle do the rest. The Discovery gets Land
Rover’s four corner air suspension.
It has impressive ground clearance of
283mm, an approach angle of ‘up to’ 34deg, a
departure of 30deg and a 27.5deg breakover
angle. And despite Land Rover admitting that
the Discovery has been ‘designed to optimise
on-road dynamics’, it still has wheel articulation
of 500mm, and a wading depth of 900mm
(which is an increase of 200mm on the previous
model, due one would assume to the different
installation of the Ingenium range of engines).
Indeed, the versatility of the new Ingenium
engine range allows the Discovery to come
with a wide variety of power options: from the
178bhp 2.0-litre Td4 diesel, the 238bhp Sd4
diesel, the 255bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel and the
supercharged Si6 335bhp 3.0-litre V6 petrol
engine. That’s an impressive range; all engines
have the ZF eight speed automatic gearbox.
It is good to see that the Discovery has a
3500kg towing capacity, since that has been
Bear Grylls, Zara Phillips and Sir Ben Ainslie flew,
rode and sailed into the Discovery’s launch party.
Oh, and that bridge is made of LEGO
JAMES RANGE
BOND ROVER
LR 90 BARGAINS
PAGE 44 PAGE 80
one of the previous model’s major attractions up. For some perhaps, the visual appeal of the
for some years. It also comes with the very new Discovery is not that stunning, apart from
latest Advanced Tow Assist, which can make sheer size, it will take a sharp eye to spot the
even a novice look like a towing expert! difference with the Discovery Sport, but then
But as you would expect of a ‘new JLR’s ‘family’ design strategy hasn’t limited
generation’ model, it’s not actually the sales on any of the other models. They will sell
mechanical technology and advance off-road as quickly as they can be built.
abilities that seem to get the major billing in the
vehicle’s initial promotion. Far more important
it seems is the Discovery’s ability to carry up
to 2500kg of luggage; there’s hidden stowage
in the centre console capable of holding four
iPads, while the central armrest cubby is large
enough for five! There’s hidden small item
stowage behind the climate control panel
and there’s a push-operated ‘curry hook’ in
the front passenger footwell to secure carrier
bags. There are seven USB sockets (up to
nine if you opt for the rear seat entertainment
system) and up to six 12v charging points, plus
there’s an in-car 3G Wi-Fi hotspot capable of
linking to eight devices. The Discovery also
has the superb Meridian digital surround audio
system, complete with 14 speakers – although
presumably only for the driver, since all six
passengers will have all plugged in, switched
on and tuned out of the world listening to their
own devices.
First models will be available in the spring
of 2017, and this is being written before the
launch at the Paris Motor Show and so we ...AND A NEW
don’t have details of prices or model options
for the UK, other than the news that prices
JEEP COMPASS
will start from £43,495. A First Edition model JEEP’S NEW COMPASS model has
is planned, limited to ‘only’ 2400 models, and been unveiled. The first models are being
you suspect they have already been snapped built at Jeep’s Brazilian plant, and will
eventually be for sale globally, in over 100
countries. Jeep is claiming the model is
‘the most capable compact SUV ever’.
Actual details are limited at the moment;
the vehicle’s official global launch will be at
the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.
It is expected that the US will see the
models first, probably in early 2017, with
European vehicles available in the second
half of 2017. Previous Compass models
have had mixed reputations, this will be
an all-new version but carrying the familiar
name. As soon as we know more, we will
be letting you know.
www.4x4i.com • December 2016 11
News & Views

PHEV GOES GT
MITSUBISHI’S OUTLANDER PHEV model
range has been a great success, supported as
it is by the Government’s financial incentives,
which even though they have been decreased
somewhat are still attractive to many buyers.
We have always felt that while the concept
was a good one, the actual SUV was a little
bland for our liking. We will, therefore, be very
interested to see the new 2017 model year
revisions that will have been unveiled at the
Paris Motor Show. We went to press before
the Show opened, but have received de etails
on a new ‘GT-PHEV’ concept that will be
unveiled (pictured here). This model is being
described as the next generation of Mittsubishi
SUV, very much aimed at the higher end d
buyer. The GT does not, however, indic cate
that this is in any way a sports machine, it
seems it represents ‘ground tourer’ and as if
that wasn’t enough marketing mumbo-jumbo
the model will also express ‘functional beauty,
augmented possibility, sculptured dynamism,
and Japanese craftsmanship’. Yes, of course
it will.
The GT-PHEV will have an electric only
range of around 120kM, but in hybrid mode
(thereby using the ‘normal’ engine and the
electric motors) will have a range of 1200km.
It will be full-time four-wheel drive with
Mitsubishi’s own S-AWC (Su uper All Wheel
Control), which is claimed to o offffer
f new levels
of handling stability. We hop pe to have more
details of this model, and alll other new 4x4s
NEW
TOYOTA
unveiled in Paris in our next issue.

MODEL
DUE FOR LAUNCH at the Paris
Motor Show, we have acquired
pictures of the new Toyota C-HR
model. No details of this compact
crossover were available as we
closed for press, but this is now the
production version of the concept
first seen at this year’s Geneva Motor
Show. Firmly aimed at Nissan Juke
customers it is expected that the
model will be available in 2017.

OLDSSCHOOLICCESCHOOOL
THERE ARE A number off ice driving schools
around these days, allowin ng customers to
drive performance models from companies
like Porsche and BMW at great speeds across
Scandinavian lakes. It seem ms that Jaguar Land
Rover has now come up with a new twist,
which certainly appeals to us! JLR’s Classic
Ice Driving will be held at thhe company’s winter
testing facility at Arjeplog in
n northern Sweden
and drivers will be able to get behind the
wheel of classic Land Rover Series I, II and
III. And while you are there, although not 4x4,
you’d just have too try the Jaguar XJ, MkII,
MkVII and XK150 0 saloons and sports cars!
During the three-day trip, customers would
also be able to tryy the new F-PACE and Range
Rover Sport. The e Jaguar Land Rover Classic
Academy will take e place over three days and
dates in 2017 are e now being announced. As
you wou uld expect, this is not a cheap off ffering
f
prices are €3,000.00, and the experience
includess two nights’ accommodation at the
Hotel Silverhatten, VIP transfers on arrival from
Arvidsja
aur Airport and the professional ice
driving tuition. Flights to Arvidjaur Airport are
not inclu
uded. If you want to know more, check
out www w.jaguar.com/icedriving

12 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

 Sponsored by
0800 085 5000

EVEN MORE
POWER FOR
THE MACAN
PORSCHE’S EXCELLENT MACAN Turbo
is to get a new ‘Performance Package’. If the
present model wasn’t powerful enough, this
version gets a 40bhp upgrade, taking the
twin-turbocharged 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine
up to 440bhp, and hustling the thing from
zero to 62mph in 4.4 seconds. The engine’s
torque has also been raised, and it now peaks
at an amazing 600Nm! It seems this will all
add up to a possible top speed of 169mph.
A newly developed braking system, lowered
body, controlled sports chassis, Sport Chrono
Package and sports exhaust system are
all now fitted as standard. The impressive
Porsche Active Suspension Management
(PASM) is available - this damping system
has also been optimally tuned to the body,
and sits 15mm lower. Air suspension with a
self-levelling function and height adjustment,
lowered by 10 millimetres, is available as an

TOYOTA’S DAKAR SURPRISE

option. As far as sports SUVs go, this has to
be top of the pile, which means of course that
it comes at a price, which start at £68,073.
Lucky owners will be picking up these new
models at the end of this year.
THE TOYOTA HILUX has been the
bridesmaid, never the bride, at the world
famous Dakar Rally with numerous top three
finishes in recent years. This year’s model
is obviously based on the brand new Hilux
model, and we have to admit looking at
the pictures, certainly looks the business.
The surprise this year, however, is that it is
a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive model –
claimed to be both lighter and faster than
its previous four-wheel drive version. On
the scales, this new model hits 1300kg,
whereas the 4x4 version last year was a
hefty 1915kg. The Toyota Hilux Evo will be
entered into the event by Toyota South Africa
Motors and Toyota Gazoo Racing SA. Here
at 4x4 Magazine, we would love to see a
Hilux win the Dakar, and it will at least be an
‘off-roader’ but it does seem a shame that
mid-engined and rear-wheel drive makes it a
Hilux in name only, not bearing much in kind
to the truck we all know so well.

JLR IN
SLOVAKIA
THE GROUNDBREAKING
CEREMONY has occurred at Nitra in
Slovakia that is the start of a new JLR
manufacturing facility. The 300,000m²
factory will be used for the production of
aluminium manufacturing (so important
now, even the new Discovery gets the
major change to an aluminium monoque).
This is a big step for JLR and show’s the
company’s plans to have a truly global
business. Besides the UK, JLR now
manufacture in China, Brazil and India,
but some of these are only for sale in
the country of manufacture. The annual
capacity of 150,000 models from this
THE KODIAQ MOMENT IS HERE
MORE DETAILS OF Skoda’s new as well as six and seven speed automatic
plant will not solely be sold in Slovakia, Kodiaq SUV have been released. This is DSG options. There will be front and four-
and this will be an important supplier to the company’s first large SUV and will be wheel drive options.
the European market. It is expected that available as a seven seater, with the largest Built on Volkswagen’s modular transverse
the first vehicles will roll off the production boot in the class, at 2065-litres (presumably matrix system, the Kodiaq is 4697mm long
line in 2018. JLR will be employing just when you are not carrying seven) and will and 1676mm high (including the roof rails).
under three thousand people at the plant, be able to tow 2500kg, with trailer assist The great success of Skoda’s Yeti would
to date some 40,000 have registered an also available. Across the global range there seem to point to the Kodiaq being well
interest in working there! will be no less than five engine options, with received. As yet there are no specific details
transmissions including six-speed manual, of the models that will be coming to the UK.

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 13

News & Views
LIFE-SAVING NISSAN NAVARA And briefly...
NOW THIS THING looks the business! And
if you were having something of a bad day
and awaiting a rescue vehicle, then seeing this
arrive over the horizon would be pleasing. This
Nissan Navara emergency vehicle is actually a
concept vehicle, and much of the development
relies on the experience the company has
got from its electric vehicle range, the Navara
carrying a prototype portable battery pack.
This battery is permanently being charged by
the Navara’s 190bhp twin-turbo diesel engine,
so that it is available to power any necessary
emergency equipment. The rest of the space
in the pick-up’s load bed are two pull-out trays.
The shallow upper tray contains lightweight
PAT WILLIS REMEMBERED
WE ARE SADDENED to report this month
on the death of one to the sports most
successful and popular drivers, Pat Willis.
He is remembered for winning the 1983
Rally de Cimes, with Rob Aliperti navigating
– still the only British team to have won the
event. Pat’s competitive driving abilities,
together with his engineering knowledge
and general enthusiasm were limitless. We
asked fellow competitor and friend Alvin
Smith to offer his memories:
“ I first met Pat Willis back in 1972, when I
noticed he was removing the tow bar from his
very new and immaculate J-reg two door Range
Rover, Why, I asked myself, would a man be
doing this before an off-road event at Weavers
Down, this area being a very demanding Army
practice ground and being the location for an All
Wheel Drive Club speed event.
We lined up our beloved array of old 4x4
vehicles waiting to start this very tough race,
and there was the reason for the tow bar
removal, Pat had entered his immaculate
Range Rover! Who would do such a thing?
Pat won the event.
You could not fail to like, respect, admire,
(or even luv) Pat Willis, he was so competitive
he had even been photographed at a later
date still trying to drive his competition car
while his vehicle was on it’s roof. Pat (possibly
unknowingly) actually taught me to drive
“
4X4 OFF-ROAD QUOTE OF THE MONTH
The car was easy to spot at off-road meetings, with its mix of
orange, blue and green body panels. Eventually I decided
to do something about it.
SOURCE: Check out Bob Cooke’s report on a particularly good-looking Land Rover
fun vehicle. His story starts on page 42
14 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
items such as two-way radios, ropes and an
axe. The lower tray is deeper and narrower,
storing larger items such as an oxygen tank
and resuscitation kit, life jackets and buoyancy
aids. All as you might expect, but this Navara
EV also has a DJI Phantom 4 rescue drone,
with an operating height of 6000m, this thing
can fly at speeds up to 20m a second (mind
your head) and has around 30 minutes flying
time, allowing it to survey a large area that even
the Navara may not be able to cover. Now
while the actual cosmetics of the truck are not
necessarily going to aid its emergency rescue
abilities, as we say, it looks the business, and
hope it actually goes into production.
‘off-road’ when I navigated for him in our
first French event, the 1974 Rallye Infernal,
after Richard Beddall and John Hilton had
arranged for members of the AWDC to enter.
What was different with Pat’s driving was
when things go wrong, as they did, when
we unfortunately left the track at 80mph
and were cross rutting a ploughed field, Pat
would change down and floor the throttle
increasing the vehicle’s speed above 80mph
with the trusty Rover V8 lifters ‘pumped up’
and use the ‘bullet effect’. His theory was,
anything going fast enough would continue in
a straight line so that if you kept it pointing in
the right direction all would be well, not only
would he be fairly busy at this point but he
would laugh and ask you if you were scared?
I was unable to answer.
Pat was 15-years older than me and I
could not believe how he loved competition
so much.
Pat’s wife, Molly, has always been there
for him, what tales Molly would be able to
tell of her three boys, Lez, Reg and Pat. A
really great family with Pat entertaining us for
all those years, mystifying us with his love
of speed and cars, this included stock car
racing in his earlier day’s and all this while
running the family garage business with Molly
at Virginia Water, Surrey. He was a gent, and
will be missed.
”
JLR announced a strong August sales
figure, retailing 36,926, which was up 26 per
cent on the previous year, with the new
Evoque convertible being a particularly good
performer. In the US, for the first eight
months of 2016, JLR has sold 372,978
vehicles up 24 per cent on the previous
year’s figures.
Mitsubishi has been unveiled as Official
Performance Partner to England Rugby,
supporting the game from the grassroots,
right up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
England’s coach Eddie Jones has been
named as the official brand ambassador.
Special N-Vision versions of Nissan’s Juke,
Qashqai and X-Trail. These versions are
designed to promote Nissan’s smart, safety-
shield technologies, including all around view
monitor, NissanConnect, colour rear view
cameras and lane departure warnings.
If you are one of the many ‘worried’ about
the potential of ‘driverless’ cars, don’t read
any further… It seems Chinese researchers
have been able to hack the system and
managed to control the brakes, lights and
mirrors of a Tesla Model S while actually
being up to 12 miles away… Enough said.
New versions of JLR’s Ingenium engines
are due to be unveiled that are claimed to
improve significantly emission levels and
fuel economy. The company claiming that
by 2025 it will have reduced its emissions
by a further 25 per cent.
Skoda Yetis sales remain strong. Since its
launch in 2009, over 580,000 Yetis have
been sold worldwide. With the UK
representing some 10 per cent of total
sales. 2015 was Skoda’s best year in the
UK with over 13,000 models registered.
Last year we announced the new Jeep
Renegade was our 4x4 Of The Year 2016,
and next month it’s back to the testing to
see what model will take that prestigious
title for 2017. This is, therefore, probably
the most important issue of the year and
one not to be missed. If you haven’t, why
not take out a subscription and ensure that
you never miss another issue. Full details
on the offers available to subscribers can
be found on page 73 of this issue. Besides
our comprehensive 4x4 Of The Year report
we will have all the regulars plus a Shoebox
Safari, and adventure story through the
Strezelecki Desert and we’ve been to a
great 4x4 festival in Italy. What are you
waiting for? Turn to page 73 and subscribe
today – it certainly makes sense to us!
 TE E
DA AG WHEEL AND T YR
RE
SOLUTIONS
LU T I O S
UP ILE
M

FROM YOUR LOCAL 4X4 TYRE EXPERTS

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PRODUCTS
What’s new?
WHEEL STUD
RESTORER
For some of us, cross threading a nut is all
too easy; do it on a wheel and the result
can lead to an expensive repair. This new
Wheel Stud Thread Restorer Master Kit
from Laser seemed to us to be an
inexpensive option to complete the repair
yourself. For external threads on wheel
studs and bolts, the split die design allows
the two halves of the thread restorer to be
fitted to the good thread (normally at the
base of the stud). Then the 24mm hex
adaptor is fitted over the two halves of the
repair die and wound back over the damaged
portion of the thread, straightening and restoring it.
The set includes three split dies to suit the most
common wheel stud or bolt sizes: M12 (1.25mm
pitch), M12 (1.5mm pitch) and M14 (1.5mm pitch).
Restoring internal threads in the hub is claimed to
ADJUSTABLE
ANTI ROLL BAR
Here’s an interesting new offering from
om
the Australian suspension specialistss
SuperPro. It’s a fully adjustable anti-roll
roll
bar, with links in varying lengths and
fitments. For anyone building a
special competition or bespoke
machine this could well be invaluable, e,
but could also replace existing OEM
parts on other models. The links are
said to be stiffer than the standard
OEM parts, and therefore allow the forces
orces of
erred to the
load transfer in cornering to be transferred
bar itself rather than lost in the bending of links. It
should also decrease the possibility of twisting the
bar. The bar also allows you to adjust the height of
the vehicle. The bar has been designed by SuperPro
and uses 6060-T5 alloy, which is said to offer a
great balance between weight and strength. The
16 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
WHAT’S NEW FOR YOUR 4X4?
GETTING INFLATED
Often overlooked, tyre pressures are vital for even the
most basic roads cars; wrong inflations will affect fuel
economy, but can also be a safety issue. Add to that the
complications of off-roading on different terrains or towing
a caravan or horsebox and getting the correct pressures
is essential. The boring bit with all this, of course, is being
able to inflate the tyres! Good to have a decent inflator,
therefore, and this latest option from Ring seems to have
the necessary power. This RAC830 simply plugs to a 12v
socket and is claimed to completely inflate a 22-inch tyre
to 40psi in just five minutes. The RAC830 Rapid Digital
Tyre Inflator has a recommended retail price of £64.99
and is available from Argos, Screwfix and Amazon. For
more information about Ring and its range of automotive
accessories visit the website.
Website: www.ringautomotive.com
WINTER IS
COMING!
We have enjoyed a fantastic late autumn,
with some remarkably hot temperatures,
but we have to also realise that winter
is on the way. It’s time, therefore, to
think about how your 4x4 is going to
cope when the temperature drops.
Next month we have a full Winter
Preparation feature and will cover the
benefits of choosing a winter tyre. We
will be looking at what is available on the
market for SUV owners, and you can
be sure that there is a tyre out there for
be just as easy and the design of the thread you. Nokian has released a new winter
restorer lets it reform the threads without further tyre, the WR A4, that is designed ‘to
damage. The recommended retail price is only tame the central European winter’ – well,
61 (including VAT) and should be available at
£73.61 of course, we are not central European
goodd motor factors. (not European anymore it seems) but this
Website:
bsite: www.lasertools.co.uk tyre would certainly be suitable for the
more powerful vehicles on UK roads. It
covers sizes from 16 to 21 inches and
speed ratings from H up to W. As we
always say on this magazine, speak
to the experts when thinking of tyres,
especially the guys at 4Site 4x4 tyres
(www.4site4x4.co.uk) and, of course,
make sure you get a copy of our January
2017 issue for all the best advice!
Website: www.nokiantyres.com
range of SuperPro adjustable unive
universal ARB links is
extensive, with 19 distinct part numbers covering
link lengths from 75mm to 365mm, and with either a
10mm or 12mm ball stud fixing. Prices start from
£65 (plus VAT) per pair. For more information, check
out SuperPro’s website.
Website: www.superpro.eu.com
 OPEN:
MON-FRI: 8AM - 5:30PM
SAT: 8AM - 12:30PM MILNER EST. 1981

Here at Milner Off Road, we specialise in ‘the full kit’, providing you the
key items to fit the part - keeping the job simple & saving you time.

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Order before 3pm and your parts will be despatched the very same day.
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 HILS EVERITT

The SUV
Revival
This month our columnist has been to Goodwood,
to enjoy some classic motorsport and a surprising
splattering of very interesting 4x4s

O
ne of the highlights of my year is the
annual Goodwood Revival show in
West Sussex. It proves a sell-out
every year over a long weekend in
mid September. The Revival celebrates the
golden age of motor racing from the 1940s,
‘50s and ‘60s.
As you would expect, most of the 4x4s
around are military Willys Jeeps and you get the
odd Land Rover Series pottering about. The
most impressive Series, however, is the recovery
truck that hurtles around the track to rescue
stranded machines, courtesy of Everymans
Garage in Chichester. It is resplendent in baby
blue and is a favourite of the crowd when it
appears. The Jeeps also get a great reception;
many of them proudly adorning lavish military
nostalgia stands and others ferrying the great
and the good from their private helicopters to
and from the show arena, driven by guys and
gals in full American Army uniform.
It is brilliant salivating over these gorgeous
machines and the racing cars from all genres
to the top F1 classics of the old days – the new luxury SUV that was on show in the Earl’s the trademark front grille that reflects the
noise of 40 Jaguar E-Types revving up before Court exhibit. It took me by surprise seeing the sports cars of the past with the Trident badge.
the start of a race is one of the best growls much talked of Maserati Levante next to a In the same hall, under another massive
you will ever hear away from the jungle or gorgeous bright red sports Maserati from the sports car iconic name, was a proper 4x4 from
African plains. But the Revival does also pay a 1970s. I was also rather pleased as it was my the late 1970s. Lamborghini may well be joining
nod to the present when there is an important first chance of seeing it in the flesh. I have to Maserati in the SUV stakes with its oddly
new model to show off and stunning vehicles say I loved it; didn’t expect to, but in the flesh named Urus in 2018, but at Goodwood its
from the more recent past. it looks far more imposing, sleek, sophisticated classic sports cars shared the stand with its
The new model category this year in 4x4 and just downright luxurious than any pictures former brash and bold 4x4 - the LM002. It first
was represented by the presence of a brand convey. I sat in the cockpit and just kept appeared as the code-named ‘Cheetah’ as a
running my hands over the leather steering prototype, inspired by the company’s tractors
wheel and nestling into those optional Luxury and post-war military surplus as a collaboration
Pack sumptuous leather, trimmed with silk - with Mobility Technology International that
yes really – front seats and admiring the wanted an all-terrain vehicle with military
uncomplicated but classy leather dash. I must applications. It evolved during ’77 into the
admit to being a little sceptical about all these LM001, powered by a North American-built V8.
high-end road car manufacturers jumping on By 1987 it grew into the LM002 ‘Rambo
the SUV band wagon wondering whether they Lambo’ with a 5.2-litre V12 with 444bhp and a
would really work and bring some worth to the price tag at the time of $120,000. Then it was a
sector rather than a gimmicky character. revelation, but we doubt the latest ‘Lambo’ 4x4
Well, I have to eat my words and hand it to will have quite the same effect in a couple of
Maserati for producing a SUV which sports years – how times have changed.
five suspension settings and two off-road Our recent features on camping and
modes and has brought in a diesel engine into adventure overland trips made one exhibit also
the UK that doesn’t make it look so rather poignant to me. It may not be a traditional
extravagant at £53-55,000. It’s a decent 4x4 4x4 but the VW Beetle with raised suspension
with a price tag that puts it well into its sector and a Hannibal roof tent was there showing off
without being a rather ridiculous exclusive its round-the-world trips, adorned with a mass
monstrosity. There are plenty of cues that link of stickers and entry into the Paris-Prague Rally
it to the Maserati lineage, starting with its 2017 for veteran, vintage and classic cars.
name that follows the trend of naming vehicle Made me think that the rumours of a Beetle-
after winds – the Viento Levante that breezes inspired compact SUV from VW would be a
through the Strait of Gibraltar. Then there is really fun idea now wouldn’t it? Hils

18 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

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COVER FEATU URE
Driving your 4x4
4

22 December
22 Decemb
ber 2016
2016 • www.4x4i.com
www.4
4x4
4i.com
Iff you are lucky enough to own an n off-road capable 4x4 4,
then it mak kes sense to enjoy it to o the full. Off-roading
is a skill, but it’s also great fun. Start slowly, get some
instruction and learn from the exp perts. Hils Everitt offers
s
top tips, points you in the right direction, and we get
some greatt advice from Land Ro over Experience seniorr
instructor Wayne Mitchelson. Engage four-wheel drive
and dive in……

www.4
www.4x4i.com
4x4
4i.com • December
Decemb
ber 2016
2016 23
COVER FEATURE
Driving your 4x4

D
riving off-road is one of the
pleasures of owning a 4x4
and we hope that many of our
readers do just that when the
opportunity presents itself. In order to
venture off the road, however, there are a
few essential things you must do
beforehand. And the first is to make sure
you actually know what you are doing
and how to drive off the tarmac. Many
people think that because they own a
4x4 and there is either intelligent
four-wheel drive that will kick in when it
gets a little hairy underneath, or a push
button to say ‘off-road’ mode or ‘4x4
lock’ or whatever, that all they have to do
is select that and just carry on as normal
and the vehicle will do the rest for them.
Those who are lucky enough to be
cosseted inside a luxury leather-clad
Range Rover with all the off-road tech
you could ever want often (wrongly) think
just that! A Range Rover owner, however,
plus anyone with a 4x4 that features LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS When the going gets trust you will. BORDA and Lantra
hi-tech off-road modes for that matter, or If you are new to off-road driving and tough, use a spotter courses do include classroom sessions,
just the basic four-wheel drive system want to enjoy a Pay ‘n’ Play day, join a to guide you. But which deal with the mechanics of the
should make sure they are familiar with UK greenlaning weekend trip, or never go off track; four-wheel drive system to make sure
how to tackle different conditions and extended adventure in the UK or always read the signs you understand exactly what is going
terrain and what each off-road mode abroad you should get yourself some on and the theory of off-road driving
actually does and how it works. tuition. Many of the greenlane adventure before you get out into the tricky terrain
We see too many people in the winter companies and centres offering trips and put all that theory into practice. As
months trying to negotiate snowy roads also feature off-road training within their well as driving there are also
in a 4x4 with no idea what they are repertoire. We recommend that when maintenance and preparation sections
doing. Most people on a greenlane trip, you are searching for a suitable to be covered.
extended overland adventure or off-road company near you, only look for As well as standard courses for the
Pay ‘n’ Play day know the driving ropes, organisations that offer either Lantra or beginner, these companies often offer
but only because they have experience BORDA courses (British Off Road professional courses for those who
and have probably been given tuition or Driving Association). These follow need to drive a 4x4 in difficult conditions
some in-depth briefing beforehand. recognised off-road driving standards for their work. Many of our subjects in
Having a 4x4 doesn’t mean you and guidelines and you’ll get an official the Professional User section of this
automatically can guide your vehicle certificate at the end of it when you very magazine have taken official
through or over any obstacle. have passed with flying colours – as we courses run by some of our friends in

24 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

the adventure travel business to make
sure that they meet the requirements
under the Provision and Use of Work
Equipment Regulations 1998. Many
utility companies, emergency services,
forestry companies, in fact anyone who
supplies an employee with a 4x4 must
make sure they understand the
mechanics of their vehicles and how to
drive them under all conditions. And so
it should be with anyone who wants to
drive off-road for pleasure.
One of the biggest and most well
known is AA DriveTech, which runs
courses for professionals and leisure
customers alike. In recent years it
teamed up with The Federation of
Off-Road Training (FORT), which was
developed to raise and maintain the
standards of off-road driver training,
and it works through collaboration
between AA DriveTech's Specialist and
Off-Road Training Division and BORDA.
Handpicked trainers who have passed
rigorous checks and Quality Assurance
monitoring are employed to put you
through the paces. In addition, each
trainer has signed up to a Code of
Conduct, which represents appropriate
behaviour expected of those providing
professional 4x4 training to both
corporate organisations and private
individuals.
We can’t stress enough how
important it is to get your off-road driver
training from a reputable company. If you
can’t use AA DriveTech then make sure
whoever you do choose is BORDA/
Lantra affiliated and lists high quality
clients on its website. There are
companies advertising in this magazine
and a quick Google search will throw up
those nearest to you, but we will mention
Protrax, Motor Safari, Yorkshire 4x4
Training, and, of course, Land Rover
Experience.
Protrax is run by long-serving
off-road expert Vince Cobley, who has
also written a book on off-road driving
techniques for Haynes, along with
another top name in the business, Dave
Phillips. There are other books about,
such as the tome by the absolute
off-road legend Tom Sheppard – he has
driven all over the world and what he
doesn’t know is most definitely not
worth knowing. When it comes to
recommending companies, Motor
Safari, based near Wrexham, offers
excellent training, and in Toyota Land
www.4x4i.com • December 20166 25
COVER FEATURE
Driving your 4x4
Cruisers, which makes a change from
the obligatory Land Rovers.
Yorkshire 4x4 Training instructs a
number of commercial users but is also
available to those who want to learn
more proficient off-roading skills outside
the workplace. The company is currently
in the process of opening a brand new
4000-acre driving and training centre in
north Yorkshire at Raisthorpe Manor,
which will be based around the Jeep,
now that the Defender is no longer with
us, so take a look at that.
Land Rover Experience appeals to
Land Rover owners or those who just
want to get behind the wheel of a
Solihull product. LRE operates nine
centres around the country from
Scotland to the West Country, which
offer off-road training and adventures
run by highly qualified instructors. There
will be one within reasonable driving
distance from you wherever you live in
26 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
the UK. There’s the opportunity to drive
everything from the top level highly
luxurious Range Rover to the Defender,
which, no doubt, will be supplanted by
the replacement model when it appears
in two years’ time.
Another marquee specific driving
training option is a new offering that has
recently been opened by Jeep called
the Jeep 4x4 Events UK organisation.
Like LRE, there is the opportunity to
learn skills in a variety of the company’s
vehicles which range from the highly
sophisticated off-road modes as
featured in the Grand Cherokee to the
more basic 4x4 operation of engaging
the low range lever in the Wrangler. This
is also the only place at present where
you can get tuition in the new Jeep
Renegade. If you are wavering about
Jeep’s superb small off-roader, this
could be just the place to fully test its
abilities, head instructor Nigel Mayne is
Pay and Play sites just the man to instruct you – and
allow you to drive to remember to say that 4x4 Magazine
your limits in safety sent you. The Jeep off-road driving
experience takes place at Carden Park
in Cheshire and Swinton Park Hotel in
North Yorkshire (which itself is a great
place to stay over) and the wheels are
in motion as we write for other centres
to be opened around the country. And
as soon as we know about them, you
Greenlaning in the will know.
UK is becoming more Once you have undertaken a course
and more difficult. and mastered the basic skills of off-road
Taking an organised driving and fully understood the
drive where off-road mechanics of the 4x4 system, the next
permission has been move we recommend is to get yourself
gained in advance is booked on a Pay ‘n’ Play day. These
one answer operate all over the country on private
"We can’t stress
enough how important
it is to get your off-road
driver training from a
reputable company."
 land that could be a farmer’s quarry, or
landowner’s forest tracks or a site
rented by a specific 4x4 club for the
day. Some centres also feature quad
biking, falconry, archery, golf and clay
pigeon shooting so there’s plenty to
enjoy. If you just fancy joining fellow 4x4
owners who want to spend a Sunday
trundling about a site that offers basic,
easy beginners’ tracks to more serious
and technical obstacles like deep ruts,
steep sideslopes/descents/ascents/
rock crawling without the extra
activities, then there are plenty of these
around the UK. Here you will often gain
experience of what your own 4x4 can
do watching the old hands if on a club
day, or just observing what other
models can do while you have a go
yourself; plus many site owners offer
advice and guidance if required. As the
name suggests you just turn up, pay at
the gate and have a play, often from as
little as £20 per day. At some, you may
need to join the club running the site,
but membership costs are low and that
should at least encourage you to return
and have another go, if only to get your
money’s worth! It’s a great way to start.
At many sites, there are different tracks
and courses for you to follow and this
could mean it will offer up more
adventurous driving than you would
probably get from a greenlaning day,
which is the next step. At a Pay ‘n’ Play
there is usually someone to tow you out
should you get stuck, and many have
specialists there to offer advice and tips.
Of course, when on a greenlaning day it
is better to know what you are doing so
that you can avoid getting stuck and
holding up the convoy, so we
recommend starting with Pay ‘n’ Play
to cut your off-roading teeth. Check
out our ‘Let’s Go Off-Road’ guide on
page 78 which lists all the major Pay
‘n’ Play sites across the country
including the dates they are open over
the next few months.

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 27

COVER FEATURE
Driving your 4x4
GREENLANING
‘Off-roading’ does actually refer to
driving on private land that is
unsurfaced. Off-roading does not apply
to BOATS (Byways Open to All Traffic),
and any other non-metalled road that
bisects public land. It is important to
recognise that. When you venture out
into the countryside for a greenlaning
trip, then that is what you are officially
doing: ‘greenlaning’; ‘off-roading’ is not
technically driving in the countryside as
it implies you are driving off official
routes and therefore would be driving
illegally. When you do decide to go
greenlaning then make sure you are
driving a vehicle that is road legal with
third party insurance, road tax and an
MOT certificate – if not you are liable to
be stopped by the police and even if
28 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
not will be breaking all the etiquette
rules of this popular 4x4 pastime. Just
as important is to check beforehand
that the routes you are intending to
drive are all legal and fully open. If you
join a club then the chances are that
club will have a Rights of Way Officer
who knows exactly where you can and
can’t go in the area. Even if you do join
a club and intend to be a regular
greenlaner, then you should also join
the Greenlane Association (GLASS).
The organisation has a full range of
Area Representatives who can tell you
what’s legal and what’s not in the area
you want to visit. A full list of those
contacts is on the GLASS website. This
also includes the Drivers’ Code of
Conduct for Greenlaning, which is
another thing you need to familiarise
Just follow the signs
and enjoy!
yourself with before venturing out into
the glorious British countryside. It
includes rules such as keeping to a
maximum speed of 12mph and
restricting groups to four vehicles while
highlighting avoidance of damage to
trees, hedgerows and boundaries plus
driving within your and your 4x4’s limits.
Greenlane with Obvious don’ts that you should know
friends and you without needing GLASS’s advice, is that
shouldn't get stuck you can only drive on Byways; not
footpaths or bridleways and don’t drive
on lanes in the depths of winter that are
known to be waterlogged and liable to
be churned up easily. That is not illegal
but is highly irresponsible and fuels the
anti-4x4 brigade’s flame.
Regular greenlaners will know that
many of our BOATS and other routes are
being gradually diminished as more and
more local councils strive to shut them
down due to pressure from other
countryside users and landowners.
Some of them are shut down
completely, some have Temporary Traffic
Regulatory Orders (TTROs) or full TROs
slapped on them making them closed to
traffic. While this is very annoying and, in
some cases, unjustified, we have to
abide by them, so make sure you don’t
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COVER FEATURE
Driving your 4x4
ever drive illegally. There are enough
rogue 4x4 owners out there who are
determined to ruin the pastime for
everybody by taking illegal vehicles out
and driving on roads that are not open
and driving ‘off-road’ while on a
greenlane trip - they don’t stick to the
official track and venture off into the mire,
because they are irresponsible and
downright selfish. Please don’t be one of
those. And if you see anybody doing this
on your travels, get a number plate, take
a picture and report it to the police. This
terrible behaviour is adding fuel to the
"One of the best ways to enjoy a spot of greenlaning is
to join an ‘official’ trip. There are plenty of companies
that offer organised greenlaning trips in a group"
30 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
anti-4x4 flame and encourages councils
to slap TROs all over the place to
‘protect the lanes’. GLASS has a fighting
fund to try and object to these TROs and
closure, so if you want to help visit the
website and donate.
One of the best ways to enjoy a spot of
greenlaning is to join an ‘official’ trip. There
are plenty of companies that offer
organised greenlaning trips in a group.
They will know exactly where you can and
can’t drive, operating regular forays into
the UK countryside. All guides are highly
experienced and provide a brilliant day
You will get places out/weekend away with like-minded 4x4
with a 4x4 that others owners who want a great day’s driving in
can only dream the countryside with pub lunches and
of... when they are driving advice where required. We have
stationary on the M25 often joined them on their trips and
never fail to have a great time whatever
the weather. There are companies
advertising in the magazine but we
highlight Yorkshire 4x4 Tours, Atlas
Overland, Waypoint Tours, Trailmasters,
Impala Adventures, One Life Adventure,
UKLand Rover Events, Go Exploring
and Landcraft 4x4 (you can also get
yourself a copy of the October 2016
issue, which includes a comprehensive
piece on off-road adventure holidays
that features UK greenlaning trips and
all the relevant contacts).
Sadly, we have indeed seen many
routes in England closed over the last
few years, for reasons mentioned
above, so why not venture a little further
afield? This month, regular contributor
and experienced 4x4 enthusiast Russ
Ryan, gives his account of greenlaning
in the Emerald Isle. Check out his piece
on page 36.
Once you have been on a few
greenlane trips you may feel like
venturing further afield, so why not join
an adventure abroad. All the above
companies offer amazing tours that
include Europe, Scandinavia, Africa
(Morocco, Botswana, Namibia) and you
can even hop off to Peru with Peru
Safari. These often last two weeks or
more and most are self-catered with
camping en route, although some come
with the hotel option. But what they all
guarantee is a marvellous journey,
sometimes with difficult and technical
driving, plenty of camaraderie and lots
of helpful advice and tips along the way.
Plus you may discover a whole new
country into the bargain. What’s not to
like? Some are also highly child-friendly
if you just can’t leave the little ones at
home. It’s the best test yet of your 4x4
and driving skills - you’ll probably learn
a whole lot more - and it could work out
to be the holiday of a lifetime.
 What’s wrong with this picture?
Is it the driver or the driveline?
How well do you know your driveline?
The tech-averse brochure writers and,
yes, media too, all too often place fancy
wheels, styling and connectivity above
what really matters.
“You're absolutely right about the info on the drive-
lines – I haven't ever seen such a comprehensive
summary and comparison yet. This really should
be a standard brief for any y person that is driving a
4x4 ... “ South Africa reader.
“I’ve yet to find a book in any language that has this
no-nonsense and deeply competent approach to
the topic.” German reader.

‘Four-by-four driving’ has evolved

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ur dr
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g ivin
techniques follows detailed Four

Tom
-by-f

Sheppa
examination of transmission ou r

rd
Tom
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drivin rd

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and drivelines.
Edn.
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COVER FEATURE
Driving your 4x4
MAINTENANCE AND PREP
Make sure you do all the necessary
checks on your 4x4 before setting off.
That means oils and water levels, all
fluids (brake, transmission, clutch etc)
are at the required level, brakes are in
good working order, you know where
your jacking and tow points are and you
have a full tank of fuel as trundling along
in four-wheel drive consumes more fuel
than when on the highway in two-wheel
drive. Also make sure your tyres are in
good condition and inflated at the
correct psi. This includes making sure
your spare tyre is also at the correct
pressure and in good condition as you
may suffer a puncture.
If you will be driving through any
standing water make sure you are aware
of your air intake if your 4x4 is not fitted
with a raised air intake. Silly people in
4x4s have killed their engines because
they think a 4x4 is indestructible even
when the bonnet is underwater. Yes,
many have higher air intakes than
traditional road cars, but that doesn’t
mean you can just bulldoze through
water and expect your engine to survive.
Know the capabilities of your 4x4, its
approach, departure and ramp break
32 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
over angles so that you don’t attempt
an obstacle that will leave you
bottomed out in deep ruts or on the
crest of a hill. Be fully aware of your
4x4’s limitations, plus your own off-road
driving abilities and limitations.
Keep all loose equipment securely
tied down so that you aren’t
compromised by flying missiles inside
the cab, while driving, posing a threat to
both the driver and all the passengers.
Most importantly, make sure your
battery is fully secured under the
bonnet so that any harsh vehicle
movement doesn’t affect connections.
Failure to do so can be disastrous. It’s
often a good idea to remove aerials for
protection against overhead branches.
If you have a towing bracket it’s
preferable to remove it as it will hinder
your departure angle quite considerably.
If you have large mud flaps (such as on
Defenders) you may want to tie them up
if possible to avoid heavy mud
collection and they can get pulled off by
the wheels when reversing.
THE NITTY GRITTY
So your 4x4 is in good working order
and you are ready to drive off-road.
Once you have got to the start of the
off-road/greenlaning adventure and it’s
somewhere you’ve not been before and
tricky-looking unknown territory lies
ahead, it’s always a good idea to do a
reccé on foot before you head off - use
a spotter if you are unsure about wheel
placement or ground clearance. Always
drive as slowly as possible and only go
faster if necessary when more
momentum may be required or the
track is an easy, flat route. Always hold
the steering wheel with both hands with
your thumbs on the outside so that
there is no danger of injury if the wheel
spins or the 4x4 tilts sharply and
dramatically, and don’t cross your
hands. Do not change gear once
committed when ascending or
descending a hill; use the engine to
brake your 4x4; select the correct gear
and do not use the clutch to slow too
high a gear. And never forget, you may
Everyone enjoys off- have twice the traction of a 4x2 vehicle
road driving, check but you do not have twice the braking.
out the driver. (The We aren’t going to go into great detail
logo on the door is about the mechanics of off-road driving
a clue) as we would encourage newcomers to
sign up with one of the training facilities
that we have suggested in the feature
and learn with the experts. Get in touch,
and don’t forget to mention that we sent
you. If you do want to absorb some
general theory and advice then you can
order one of the manuals we
suggested earlier. We are, however,
going to provide you with some
essential top tips for different obstacles
to remember when you are driving
off-road after you have learnt some
skills. These come courtesy of Land
Rover Experience Senior Instructor,
Wayne Mitchelson. Absorb these and
you shouldn’t go far wrong!
YOUR FIRST
STEPS OFF-ROAD
TRAINING
www.4x4eventsuk.co.uk
www.aadrivetech.com
www.BORDA.org.uk
www.motor-safari.co.uk
www.lantra.co.uk
www.landrover.com/experiences
www.protrax.co.uk
www.yorkshire4x4training.co.uk
GREENLANING/
ADVENTURES
www.glass-uk.org
www.atlasoverland.com
www.go-exploring.com
www.impalaadventures.co.uk
www.landcraft4x4.co.uk
www.onelifeadventure.co.uk
www.perusafari.com
www.trailmasters.com
www.uklandroverevents.com
www.yorkshiretreks.co.uk
SIDE SLOPE RUTS AND DITCH CROSSING

1 Probably one of the greatest

off-road challenges. Every
vehicle is different, especially if
you have modified yours. The
loading of the truck will affect the
stability massively. Lifted
suspension, roof racks, roof tents
can all help ruin the factory
dynamics of a 4x4. If you have the
luxury of air suspension, there is
nothing wrong with lowering the
vehicle if conditions allow.
Removing passengers may also
help the high centre of gravity.
1 When following ruts, 90 per cent of drivers will
oversteer. This creates resistance and you can
potentially block your own route. Keep your wheels in
line with the ruts and be aware of the lowest points of
the vehicle. Also, don't assume anything, especially
that the ruts you are attempting have been made from
a similar vehicle to the one you are travelling in.
2 When crossing ruts, the difference in wheelbase
can become a handicap. First gear is recommended
for best control, and engage the difflock, if fitted. Try to
cross at 45 degrees to the ruts if possible. Remember
to keep your thumbs out of the wheel in case the ruts
cause the wheel to kick suddenly.

2 Always select first gear, low

range if fitted and engage the HILL CLIMB

1
difflock if applicable. Control is When tackling a hill climb,
the optimum word here; make it's important to keep your
sure you assess the risk on foot if eye on the goal, while steering
possible. It only takes minutes to for the goal. It's too easy to look
take a look. The impact of a at the top of your bonnet, taking
vehicle on its side is massive on your eye from the subject. A
personnel, environment and constant smooth throttle input
vehicle. If you are unsure, you are will help. Vehicles fitted with
probably correct, so don't do it! Traction Control ‘TC’, will
WATER benefit from a steady constant

1 It's human nature to assume we know better

than the vehicle manual suggests. Manufacturers
test your vehicle to its limits and give you the best
throttle input that will keep the
system alert.

information to protect you! Raised air intakes,

wrongly dubbed 'snorkels' do not allow a vehicle to 2 With manual transmission,
changing gear on a hill can
be achieved with advanced
swim. It's true they help, but there are more
vulnerable factors on your vehicle that will dictate skills. If you haven’t got those,
maximum wading depth. it's far better to stop before the
ascent, assess the situation and

2 Due to increased risk, it's not always possible to select the appropriate highest
walk ahead, so why not pre-attach your tow practical gear. This will reduce
rope before you enter the water just in case it all the risk of a fluffed gear change
goes horribly wrong. Never turn the vehicle off while and a potential failed hill climb
in the water or post water crossing, a happy engine (you will have learnt the
is a running engine. procedure for a failed hill climb
during instruction).

HILL DESCENT

1 Most books will inform you to select the lowest possible gear to
descend. In very slippery, low traction surfaces, it's possible the lowest
gear could cause the wheels to turn too slowly, which could induce wheel
slip and ultimately a loss of steering control. Pick the gear you assess is
correct for the situation. The most important part of this is gaining steering
control. Remember if the wheels match the ground speed, you can steer!

2 Always stop before you commit to a descent. Visually check the front
wheels are pointing in the direction of intended travel. Never just put
your total trust in the steering wheel. More and more vehicles are fitted
with LCD displays showing wheel position, so use it if fitted!

So there you have it. Some top tips from an expert and
all the information you need to get yourself on an off-road
driving course, join a Pay ‘n’ Play day, go greenlaning or
join an overland adventure either here in the UK or
abroad. Apart from the low-slung ‘lifestyle’ crossovers,
many 4x4s are highly capable of negotiating varying
terrain off the tarmac and so why not make sure you use
all that wonderful technology that other road users just
don’t have.
Enjoy and make sure you carry it out responsibly,
professionally and legally. And while you’re doing that,
have a lot of fun!

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 33

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GREENLANING
County Leitrim

IN THE LAND
OF GREEN
Greenlaning opportunities in the UK can be limited, so it can be worth
thinking further ahead. Why not look towards the Emerald Isle?
We join an organised drive that includes some blindfold driving…
Words and photography: Russ Ryan

36 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

 O
n this trip, we are heading for
the north west coast of Ireland
to the country's smallest
county, County Leitrim. Now
this particular Irish county might be small
in size, but it punches well above its
weight when it comes to exploring an
extensive network of greenlanes. With its
contrasting landscape that incorporates
lowlands, lush valleys, forests, bogs,
mines and mountains to the north of the
county, there is no shortage of diverse
touring here. It's also interesting to note
that Leitrim also has the shortest length of
coastline (1.6 miles) of any Irish county
that touches the sea.
We arranged to meet two Leitrim
natives, Lorcan and Elliot, who happen
to be brothers and both four-wheel
drive enthusiasts. We met at their base
just outside the quaint village of
Kinlough in County Leitrim. Over the
weekend we would be checking out
their 4WD and van conversion
operation, experiencing some blindfold
driving on their custom made 4WD
track and exploring some cracking
greenlanes, this was going to be 4WD
action packed weekend.
As we drove along a narrow lane just
outside Kinlough, we soon saw the sign
pointing towards Pathfinders and Wild
Atlantic Crusades. When you drive
through the entrance gate you arrive
into an open space with a large
workshop that has some of the best
kitted out 4WD tourers I have seen on
the Emerald Isle. Lorcan and Elliot are
the founders and owners of Pathfinders
and the recently established Wild
Atlantic Crusades, sister companies
with one thing in common adventure
and four-wheel drives.
Pathfinders is a bespoke specialist
that converts and restores both vans
and 4WD vehicles into ultimate tourers
and expedition vehicles. The brothers
combine their electrical and mechanical
qualifications with their carpentry skills to
build the ultimate touring vehicles. From
installing pop-up roofs, smart charging
systems, paneling, kitchens, lighting and

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 37

GREENLANING
County Leitrim
water systems to name but a few, these
boys provide the full package.
Wild Atlantic Crusades, the sister
company, was recently set up in
response to a large demand from
four-wheel drive and outdoor
enthusiasts who were looking for
greenlanes to legally drive and explore
in both their native County Leitrim and
the neighbouring County Sligo. With
that, Wild Atlantic Crusades was born,
an exciting initiative, which provides an
innovative 4WD experience where the
driver is blindfolded and must trust the
38 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
Public Rights Of co-pilot to navigate them around an
Way (PROW), where impressive custom built 4WD track that
vehicular rights exist, incorporates all sorts of obstacles and
are byways open to all tasks along the route.
traffic, often marked Lorcan and Elliot gave us a tour of
as BOATs their 4WD and van conversion workshop,
they had both of their touring vehicles in
the workshop on the day. Elliot’s is an
orange 1997 Land Rover Defender
powered by a 300 Tdi engine and
Lorcan's equally impressive safari
patterned 1989 Land Rover Defender
also powered by a 300 Tdi unit. While in
the workshop, Elliot also showed us his
next project, a 1972 Land Rover Series III
given to him as a wedding present by his
dad, the Land Rover is obviously the
vehicle of choice in this family.
After having a good look around, we
got straight into it and made our way to
the back of the premises to the recently
opened man-made track. Now this is
something this author had never done
before, driving a 4x4 around a track while
blindfolded, a track that from a distance
looked like it would be a challenge to
drive even without a blindfold!
Wild Atlantic Crusades has a fleet of
well kitted out Land Rover Discoverys
available for the blindfold task. Lorcan
drove one to the start of the track and
explained what we had to do. After
signing the relevant paperwork we were
ready to go. I agreed to be the guide for
the first leg of the challenge and my
mate Mark would be putting on the
Right: It's all about good communication and
the driver trusting the co-pilot as we made our
way around the track
black goggles and taking control of the
steering wheel. As we made our way
around the track it became obvious very
quickly that this exercise is all about
good communication and trust. We
started off at a snail's pace but slowly
got a rhythm going. With plenty of
challenges and puzzles along the way
this was about as much fun you can
have with your clothes on. It's the
strangest feeling driving for an average
of 45 minutes while being completely
blind to what lies ahead. The track has it
all, tight hairpins, water crossing and
some steep inclines and declines. As we
made our way around the track you
really have to trust your navigator as they
direct you onwards. This is great
four-wheel drive experience that will have
the heart racing as the adrenalin kicks in! Checking out our next route
Blindfolds lifted, it was time to head

Below: Elliot's orange back to our vehicles and join the

1997 Land Rover convoy that would take us to explore
Defender, powered some cracking greenlanes in the
by a 300 Tdi engine, region. Lorcan and Elliot would be
and Lorcan's equally taking the lead in Lorcan’s safari
impressive safari patterned Defender, and we would be
patterned 1989 Land exploring a couple of tracks that they
Rover Defender have marked out using ordnance survey
Left: A Pathfinder maps. Wild Atlantic Crusades uses the
customer vehicle latest onboard map reading software,
(Photo: C. Salviato) an application called Viewranger, here
they have the map data stored in both
their phones and the tablets that sit on
the dash with accessible access to a
number of legal greenlanes, wayward
points and points of interest.
Similar to Greenlane Donegal located
in the neighbouring northern county
Donegal, Wild Atlantic Crusades has
been very proactive in showcasing
Leitrim’s hidden beauty through the
network of greenlanes recently mapped.
As Lorcan explained, greenlaning is
driving Public Rights Of Way (PROW)
where vehicular rights exist, primarily
these are byways open to all traffic
(BOATs). Lorcan and Elliot also
highlighted that there can often be
confusion between greenlaning and
off-roading. Greenlanes are public roads
that have an unmetalled surface and to
drive them you have to have a road legal
vehicle, driving licence, insurance, car tax
and MOT certificate where as off-roading
is a different animal altogether It's clear
that the lads take the Leave no Trace
principles seriously having become

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 39

GREENLANING
County Leitrim
recent members of this worthwhile Lorcans' Defender had no trouble
initiative. Like so many of us four-wheel tackling these rocky tracks
drivers, it's all about packing up our
vehicles and getting into the countryside
to enjoy the great outdoors and most
importantly leaving places visited the
same way that we found them.
As we made our way from the Wild
Atlantic Crusades HQ, we headed up
the Unshinagh/Rossinver road/
greenlane. You are straight into it from
here, this narrow greenlane will take you
all the way to the summit of Aghavogil
hill, the surrounding countryside comes
into its own from here so have the
camera at the ready. If you continue on
you will soon arrive at the Sheenan
Mountains that provide superb views of
the surrounding countryside. After a
couple of hours exploring the network
of greenlanes in this beautiful part of
Ireland we were already planning a trip
back to further explore these tracks less
travelled. It never ceases to amaze me

“It's the strangest feeling driving while GREENLANING

Below: Wild Atlantic
being completely blind to what lies ahead, the Crusades have a fleet
of well kitted out Land
TIPS FOR IRELAND
track has it all, tight hairpins, water crossing Rover Discoverys
available for the
It is recommended that you plan

and some steep inclines and declines”

your greenlaning trip in advance,
blindfolded task ahead Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI)
have good detailed maps that will
what can be discovered and help you identify greenlanes.
experienced after a couple of hours These maps are broken into
following greenlanes. regions and give excellent detail.
If you want to take a break from the Google maps and the application
greenlaning, a visit to the Glencar waterfall Viewranger are also useful tools
is well worth a look and if you happen to to have access to.
have a fishing rod in the back of your 4x4, Please keep off-roading to
the Glencar lake is an idyllic place to cast private organised areas and
a line or just pull up and have some lunch, sites. Do not off-road anywhere
apparently it's a great spot to catch som me in Leitrim unless it is a fully
sea trout and salmon. Both natural insured safe site. Some of the
amenities are beside each other and arre Leitrim lanes are privately owned
well catered for visitors with toilets, a but are public rights of way,
picnic area, playground and a cafe. The e always confirm before
picturesque 50ft ftt waterf
rfall
f located at thee driving. Please always maintain
end of a forest walk is just walking right by driving sensibly.
Always read the ground as far
ahead as you can. If it is safe to
The glorious Sheenan Mountains do so, walk the ground before
you drive. Use great care when
driving on loose or wet surfaces
due to the reduced level of grip.
Avoid excessive wheelspin at all
times but especially on soft
ground where the vehicle can
easily lose momentum and even
cause environmental damage.
Use a gentle right throttle foot.
And finally, always tell
someone where you’re going,
what route you plan to follow,
and when you expect to return.

40 December 2016••www.4x4i.com
December 2016 www.4x4i.com
distance from the lake, it's not the largest
waterfall in Ireland, but it just could be the
most beautiful.
From a camping perspective this area
boasts one of Ireland's best glamping
sites, the well-established Teapot Lane.
Now as someone who loves nothing
better than setting up a tent in the middle
of nowhere this was a form of camping
that I had never experienced before. The
Teapot Lane can only be described as a
first class experience and certainly seems
to have set the standard nationally when
it comes to innovative glamping. We
were greeted by owner Derville who
welcomed us and gave us a tour of the
various forms of accommodation that
were nestled in this tranquil wood in the
north of Leitrim. The accommodation/
glamping options have something for
everyone, they included a treehouse,
yurts, cabins, and an old Irish cottage to
name but a few. With hammocks
scattered around the forest this place is
as chilled out as you can get, you can
even have an open fire in the designated
fire pit where you can relax, toast a few
marshmallow and sip a few beers after a
day's exploring the greenlanes.
Our short lived adventure in Leitrim
gave us a great flavour of what Ireland's Below: Unshinagh
smallest county has to offer, with its Rossinver greenlane
network of impressive greenlanes, will take you to
some of the best glamping in Ireland the summit of
and with Pathfinders and Wild Atlantic Aghavogil hill

Crusades with its priceless greenlane Above: Tea Pot Lane,

and 4WD knowledge. glamping for all!
After meeting Lorcan and Elliot, you
have to be impressed with the passion
they have for what they do and where
they want to go with their 4WD
ventures. Who says with a lot of hard
work and vision you can't turn a
passion for adventure and all things
four-wheel drive into a business
opportunity. Like most four-wheel
drivers, they love nothing more than
exploring places that are off the beaten
track, as members of the Leave No
Trace movement, they advocate the
importance of respecting the
environment by following the Leave No
Trace basic principles and ensuring that
these unspoilt trails are well respected
and left in good condition for future
generations to enjoy.

TO FIND OUT MORE:

• Wild Atlantic Crusades and Pathfinders
• Kinlough, Co. Leitrim, Ireland
• 00353 83 8118500
• Email: wildatlanticcrusades@gmail.com.
• www.pathfinderscamperconversions.com/

• Teapot Lane glamping

Teapot Lane, Tawley, Co. Leitrim, Ireland
• Mobile: 00353 87 934 0341
• Email: Info@GlampingIreland.ie
• www.glampingireland.ie/

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 41

FEATURE VEHICLE
Land Rover 90 County

GETTING DIRTY
When your off-roader’s bodywork is looking a little too dented, what do you do?
For one enthusiast, he just took the panels off to create a superb mud-plugger

H
Words and arry Sadler got the
photographs: off-roading bug as a kid
Bob Cooke riding in his dad Steve’s
Defender on regular
mud-plugging outings. The time came,
however, when Harry had had enough
of being a passenger. “I thought it was
time to show the old man how to do it,”
said Harry, “so I bought an old Land
Rover and started doing my own thing.”
The Land Rover was a Defender 90
County, which Harry threw into
off-roading with such vigour that it
wasn’t long before the body panels
began to take a beating. Said Harry:
“The car was easy to spot at off-road
meetings, with its mix of orange, blue
and green body panels. Eventually I
decided to do something about it.”
That something was more than just
a tidy up - it was a complete
transformation. Harry took the
Defender apart, discarded most of the
body and replaced it with a
spaceframe much of which he welded
up himself, incorporating the trayback
structure from Devon 4x4, a custom
fuel tank, a stout winch bumper up
front and provision for a second winch
at the rear. He replaced the suspension

42 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

 Left: Trayback
rear covers a
second winch

Left: Tidy
instrument
panel has diff
lock and winch
controls

Below left:
Winch bumper
is a smart
custom job

Below right:
Well-named
- Harry had
a tough time
keeping his
buggy clean

with a three-inch lift kit by Pro Comp

with QT arms front and rear, correcting
the caster on the front wheels. He then
fitted Ashcroft locking differentials front
and rear and a high-volume ARB
compressor.
At first Harry installed the Defender’s
original 300Tdi engine, but wanting
more power changed briefly to a V8.
Ultimately he chose a Td5. “I bought a
whole Discovery to get the engine,” he
explained, “and it’s now running a
Stage 3 remap so I’ve got all the
power I need.”
It took Harry a year to build his
special, but the result is as good as it
gets, not only does it look superb in its
green ‘Dirty Diesel’ livery but it’s pretty
much unstoppable, and if it ever did get
stopped it has the ability to pull itself out
of trouble - but Harry reckons that these
days, more often than not he’s called on
to recover his dad.

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 43

FEATURE VEHICLE
Spectre Defender
LICENCED TO
THRILL Words and photography: Hils Everitt
With the Land Rover Defender no longer
available, many ageing Solihull workhorses
are being treated by owners to cosmetic nips
and tucks, power upgrades and all sorts of
mods. One company, however, has launched
a unique, movie-themed version
T
here are plenty of companies
about willing to create a
tailored Defender for you
these days. We featured one
last month from Bespoke Cars in fact.
Well, this month we bring you another
smart tweak that is available. But it is
also one that is extremely precise in
its concept. This one has the
distinction of replicating a now much
talked of Defender 110 that graced
the silver screen and caused lots of
excitement when it appeared in our
local cinemas earlier this year. It
starred in the latest James Bond
movie ‘Spectre’ and was seen
ploughing through the snow and
slithering on ice during a superb car
chase in the Austrian Alps that also
involved a 542bhp Supercharged
Range Rover Sport SVR. In total, 10
Defender 110s were built for the film
and many ended up in bits.
This outrageous destruction can
upset a lot of Land Rover fans –
yours truly included - who had been
salivating over the smart 110 during
the scenes. That was bad news. But
don’t despair; there is good news,
all is not lost. The filmmakers may
have destroyed many of their
models, but if you really want to get
your hands on a ‘Spectre’ spec
Defender 90 then you can, courtesy
of northwest London specialist,
Tweaked Automotive.
44 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
The Spectre 110 was a special
project commissioned by the James
Bond 007 franchise and built by
Land Rover’s Special Vehicle
Operations (SVO) with a 110 SVX
Double Cab Pick-up as the base
model. Tweaked Automotive had
been toying with the idea of creating
a special Defender build for some
time, and as the Defender was no
longer being built that idea needed
to get in gear rather pronto.
Watching the 110 in the film with its
top spec components, added the
necessary spark and so the team at
Tweaked settled on a never-done-
before 90 chassis Defender based on
the Spectre 110 as its special build.
CEO Jonathan Webb heads up the
team and Tweaked Automotive has
evolved from its sister company
Super Tweaks, a European
performance car specialist that
provides a range of new parts and
accessories for Ferraris,
Lamborghinis etc, as well as Land
Rovers. Tweaked was founded as a
response to a growing demand for
modern and unique versions of the
Defender. Customers can request
specific mods and upgrades to their
own specification, but the company
also offers a range of packages put
together in-house from stock or
sourced vehicles as well as applying
them to customers’ own Defenders.
www.4x4i.com • December 2016 45
FEATURE VEHICLE
Spectre Defender

So to add a themed 90 to the existing

range of options was just what the team
wanted and they decided on converting
a 90 chassis because it’s, “a more
popular model for customers,” says
Jonathan. “We wanted to replicate it
exactly, and that meant sourcing the
parts ourselves as SVO wasn’t very
helpful,” he added with a wry smile.
Before that replication could happen a
donor vehicle was needed. They waited
for a black 90 Station Wagon to become
available and when that was obtained
they set about sourcing the external where they were sourced from apart Above: Imposing There was a little difficulty fitting these
components that were true to those from that it was in the UK – very secret two-inch lift plus roof as the rack needed a slight modification
used by SVO originally. “It was very service! The arches and 16in x 10in rack and roll cage for to the mount to fit with the roll cage, as
important to make this Spectre 90 as beadlock wheels were delayed in 007 tough stance; did the Mantec raised air intake which
authentic as possible and use the highest arriving, which was a bit of a pain as it 35in fitted to the required some adaptation to fit with the
quality components available,” remarks held up the build. Those beadlocks are 90 rather than 37in roll cage also and make sure it
Jonathan. “We had to try a few places fitted with 35x12.50x16 Maxxis M-8060 on the Spectre 110 functioned properly. “When we saw the
on occasion to find the correct Trepador Mud Terrain tyres, which are with capable Maxxis breather pipe in the film we couldn’t
specification.” different from the film’s vehicle: “As this off-road rubber; Land work out how it worked, until we
That spec included extended is a 90 chassis we had to think about it Rover soft A bar, realised it was cosmetic only; the 007
wheelarches which were essential for carefully and after thorough testing we marine grade tow intake is not functional,” smiles
wheel clearance and the Spectre look: found that the 35in tyres worked the rope with Warn Zeon Jonathan. “We had to do quite a lot of
“they are exactly as per the film and best; on our 110 conversions we use 8 - hard as nails fiddling about in general, really, just due
unlike any other extended arches the 37in tyre,” adds Jonathan, as does to the way the Defender is built; nothing
available for the Defender,” explains the 007 110. The roll cage and roof is square!” One thing that is precise is
Jonathan, although he is not telling rack are supplied by Safety Devices. the bespoke direct copy of the modified

46 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com


front bumper with raised bumper ends
to give additional clearance as seen in
the film. Then there is the soft A-frame
protection bar from Land Rover, a Warn
Zeon 8 winch, Mantec steering guard
and spare wheel carrier, NAS (North
America Spec) rear step from Land
Rover, which also supplied the headlight
and taillight protectors (not featured on
the Bond 110) plus colour-coded front
headlight surrounds, front grille and
mirror covers. You’ll notice on the roof
rack there are four LED spotlights and
two LED rear work lights with a full
11-piece LED light upgrade all round,
which is courtesy of Wipac. There is a
Marine-spec plug on the roof so that
other lights can be fitted. You may also
notice the re-painted yellow brake
callipers and smart Marine-spec
recovery/tow rope that was very
distinctive in the film wrapped around
the bonnet and front end.
As Tweaked Automotive is a
performance upgrade specialist as well,
they decided to add some power
tweaks and so treated the 2.2-litre TDCi
engine to a Stage 2 ECU remap (the
film model had uprated turbo),
The 90 is "a more popular model for our customers.
And we wanted to replicate it exactly. It's important
the Spectre 90 is as authentic as possible"
intercooler, new exhaust system with
mid pipe removed to produce a much
throatier boom, upgraded air filter and
blue hose upgrade. All this results in a
power boost of around 185-190bhp
and torque is raised to 460Nm (332lb
ft). “We thought that fitting a V8 under
the bonnet would suit, but decided
against it in the end,” reflects Jonathan
who then went on to say that the next
themed Defender, “is going to be a
different kettle of fish altogether and
powered by a big V8.” He was
extremely tight-lipped about exactly
what the next project would be; the
Below: Shaken idea is that now Tweaked has released
not stirred interior a unique themed Defender it is the first
for class effect in a long line, and that line isn’t
with full leather restricted to movie themes. Watch this
sports seats, space...
cubby box, dash As well as a tune, they decided to
trim and steering give the 90 an extra lift in the form of a
wheel two-inch suspension lift with a full
www.4x4i.com • December 2016 47
suspension overhaul with replacement
heavy-duty arms, radius arms and poly
bushes, plus heavy duty springs and
dampers from Terrafirma an up-rated
Old Man Emu steering damper has also
been fitted (007’s 110 had a separate
Bilstein steering shock so the higher
wheel loads didn’t wrench the steering
rack from its mountings); plus upgraded
brake discs and pads to make sure the
drive and handling matched the
performance upgrades. “It rides very
comfortably, is pretty solid and pulls
very well,” remarks Jonathan.
A big difference with 007’s version is
the interior. The film’s 110 is pretty basic
inside so all the work that Tweaked has
done has given it a more luxurious feel
while still being functional. The interior
modifications include full leather, heated
Sport seats, leather cubby box, door
cards, dash trims, gear gaiters and
door handles with all the leather cut,
FEATURE VEHICLE
Spectre Defender
stitched and fitted in-house. Add to that
a premium carpet set, interior special
edition ‘Spectre’ dash plaque and on
the exterior a black/silver Land Rover
grille badge, ‘TWEAKED’ bonnet
lettering and special edition ‘Spectre’
tailgate plaque. Interior lighting is LED,
you get a three-view front and rear
camera system, Pioneer satnav, starter
button, battery cut-off switches and fire
extinguisher. It’s all very impressive and
luxurious, but one item that particularly
caught the eye is the smart Land Rover
torch fitted into the dash, which comes
from the boot of an Evoque. Sometimes
it’s the little things...
The whole project took about eight
weeks of research, design, gathering
the parts, fabrication and fitment with
build time around 120 hours. The
Spectre package can be applied to
your 110, but if you want Tweaked to
source you a 110 as per the film, then
be prepared for a wait as 110 pick-ups
48 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
are hard to source in Europe. It will cost Above: It may have customised Defenders is very high, and
you £28,500 plus VAT for the 90 been a 110 in the the company is already enjoying a
Spectre or £30,000 plus VAT for a 110. movie, but the 90 healthy order book for its Spectre
For that you also get a build timeline, was considered themed model. We wait with interest for
receive constant updates via email with more popular; smart the next project with mighty V8 power.
progress pictures. Once complete the exterior with special There’s no end to what you can do with
customer receives a build book, badge; interior detail a Defender.
including photos of the base Defender, smart Evoke Land
build pictures, completed vehicle Rover torch. Raised
photographs and detailed spec. There suspension courtesy FOR YOUR
is also a framed photo with plaque and of heavy-duty
special edition numbering. “You can Terrafirma springs EYES ONLY
also have a custom message on the and dampers - the
interior ‘Spectre’ plaque.” name's Emu,
Tweaked also offers several other Old Man Emu
options, including more bespoke
interiors if you so desire. “For all our
builds we offer custom interiors, • www.tweakedautomotive.com
additions to the specification and • info@tweakedautomotive.com
various suspension, brake and engine • 0207 183 1592
tuning packages as well,” adds • FBook/YouTube:
Jonathan. Tweaked Automotive
As with many other companies, • Twitter: @tweakedauto
Tweaked is finding the demand for • Instagram: tweakedautomotive
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TECHNICAL
Land Cruiser strip down

BODYBUILDING
Ever wondered what it takes to remove a 4x4’s bodywork? The guys at
West Coast Off Road Centre show how they do exactly that on a Toyota
Land Cruiser Colorado
Words and photography: Rob Hawkins

W
hen several jobs on a vehicle
have built up, and there are
inevitably many more to come,
it can sometimes be more
economical to dismantle the majority of it to
make life easier. This is a sensible approach
for many 4x4s that have a chassis that’s
separate and independent to the bodywork.
The Toyota Land Cruiser is one such
example, and when we heard that West
Coast Off Road Centre were planning to do
this to a customer’s competition vehicle, we
decided to follow the work involved. the bodywork from the chassis. All of the work
There’s nothing particularly complicated about shown was completed on a 20-year old Land
removing the Land Cruiser’s bodywork, but this Cruiser that had recently competed in Morocco.
sort of work does require some substantial tools
for lifting. Paul Lundstrom at WCOR admits he
has removed bodies using an engine crane, but
is glad to have recently installed a two-post OUR THANKS:
ramp at his workshop, which saves on time and
makes the whole job a lot easier. West Coast Off Road Centre
The following steps provide an overview of 01704 229014
the parts that need to be removed, the fittings westcoastoffroad.co.uk
that need to be undone and how to separate

52 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

 1 2

Here’s how the Land Cruiser looked before we started to dismantle There are a number of parts that need to be removed from the front
it. There are a few competition battle scars, including a smashed of the Land Cruiser, starting with the front grille, which is clipped into
windscreen. The main reason for removing the bodywork is to weld a position and also secured with a couple of screws
competition cage inside

3 4

The headlights and sidelights are removed The radiator has to be removed, which starts
by undoing a series of 10mm bolts and with removing the cowling around the viscous
detaching the wiring plugs to them. These fan, followed by a series of 10mm bolts for the
don’t need to be removed to be able to lift the radiator’s mounting bolts. The radiator should be
body off, but it helps to preserve them drained and its hoses detached before removing it

5 6

The air filter housing and its induction pipework can all be lifted out of The fuel pipes routed to the fuel filter need to be detached (located
the engine bay. There are a few jubilee clips to undo and some 12mm on the nearside rear of the engine bay). There’s one more fuel pipe to
bolts securing the air filter housing to the inner wing disconnect, which is further below inside the engine bay (see step 12)

7 8

The ECU is located behind the glovebox, and its wiring is routed through the bulkhead After detaching the wiring from the ECU, it can be pulled through the bulkhead and into
and into the engine bay. First, two 10mm bolts need to be undone that secure the the engine bay. This main part of the loom can remain with the rolling chassis
wiring’s conduit to the bulkhead

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 53

TECHNICAL
Land Cruiser strip down
9 10

There are two heater pipes routed through the engine bulkhead.
These need to be detached by releasing their spring clips and prising
them off. If they are seized in position, they may have to be cut

11
Making sure the battery has been disconnected, the wiring to the alternator is removed, which consists of
a multi-plug, earth lead and live (the latter two are secured with 10mm nuts)

12

The throttle cable is connected to a single throttle body, which

is straightforward to detach. The rest of the cable must remain
with the bodywork, so it needs to be disconnected from any
fittings on the engine

13

Down in the nearside of the engine bay, there’s a fuel pipe from
the fuel filter that needs to be disconnected. This remains with
the chassis

Remove the old oil filter from the base of the cap that was unscrewed
14
in the last step. Also, renew the large O-ring that’s fitted around the
thread of the cap (coat it in fresh oil to prevent it catching and tearing)

15

The handbrake cable has to be detached from the base of the

handbrake lever, then pulled through to the underside of the vehicle. The gear lever gaiter is secured to the centre tunnel with crosshead screws, then the gear lever
There are two 10mm bolts to undo inside the cab, which secure a can be removed. It uses a bayonet fitting (similar to a light bulb), so needs to be pushed down and
grommet that prevents the cable being pulled through twisted to release it

54 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

16 17

Raise the vehicle on a two-post ramp to be able to detach the

brake and clutch pipes on the nearside front. Remove the horse
shoe clip for the clutch pipe after disconnecting it

18
On the offside front, there’s only a single brake pipe to disconnect. Brake fluid will leak out, so it’s
worthwhile draining it fully at this stage

19

The brake pipes to the rear brakes are routed underneath the
bodywork and chassis. They can be detached where they are
connected along the chassis, allowing the pipework to remain
attached to the bodywork and chassis

20

This particular vehicle has competition specification dampers with remote reservoirs, and the reservoirs
are secured to the bodywork, so they need to be removed, allowing them to remain with the suspension
and rolling chassis

The linkage between the steering column and rack has to be 21

disconnected to allow the column to remain on the bodywork and the
rack to remain on the chassis. There’s a 12mm bolt to undo, then a
screwdriver and hammer are required to separate the connection

22

The main wiring harness between the front and rear has to be
disconnected at a series of multi-plugs located close to the
nearside chassis. This is where the wiring travels from the chassis The fuel tank will remain on the chassis, so the filler and breather pipes need to be detached. These
into the bodywork are routed underneath the nearside rear, close to the rear wheel

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 55

TECHNICAL
Land Cruiser strip down
23 24

There are two more 14mm nuts above the rear axle, which are
secured to the upper coil spring mount. These can be corroded
and difficult to remove, which was the case for one of ours

There are eight 14mm body mount nuts - two at the

front and rear of the sills on each side, two at the 26
front corners and two more at the rear corners. Apply
penetrating fluid and wind each nut up and down to
avoid shearing the stud

25

The last fittings to undo are for the rear bumper. It doesn’t need
to be completely removed, just the 10-12mm bolts undone that
secure the underside of the bumper onto the chassis

28

If any of the 14mm nuts outlined in the last two steps are seized, the only solution may be to cut them off
using an angle grinder and cutting disc. Space is often tight, making it difficult to cut through them

27 Carefully raise the two-post ramp, lifting the bodywork up.

Look for any wires or pipes that may be trapped, but do not go
underneath the vehicle. If the chassis lifts up at the same time,
lower everything to the ground and check you have undone
everything

29

Position the legs of a two-post ramp underneath the edges of Once the bodywork is completely clear, the rolling chassis
the sills. This will enable the bodywork to be lifted, leaving the can be moved aside and worked on. Similarly, the bodywork
rolling chassis behind. Make sure the sills are not damaged or can be worked on separate to the chassis, allowing repairs and
heavily corroded modifications to be made

56 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

COMPETITION
Maxxis Tyres King of Portugal

58 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

 A CLASS ACT
The King of Portugal has always been the jewel in the crown of
the ULTRA4 Europe calendar and for its fourth year attracted a
massive entry of nearly 40 cars, by far the largest ever gathering
of the most extreme off-road race cars on this continent
Words and photography: Robb Pritchard

T
he short but varied prologue
with its natural amphitheatre
and man-made jumps and
bumps threw up its customary
spectacle and drama. Belgium's Axel
Burmann continued his incredible run of
bad luck grinding to a halt with low oil
pressure while at the opposite end of
the spectrum was Emanual Costa, who
played to the crowd by getting some
motocross style ‘air’ on the jumps. It
was an incredible performance and one
that everyone expected to be repeated
out on the first 18km lap through the
gorgeous countryside around
Vimioso…
But the thing about jumping three
metres into the air is that the landings
are very hard on the transmission. He
led for the first time around the quarry
arena but pulled over in the nasty tough
Euro4x4Parts rock section when he
realised that his buggy was only in
three-wheel drive. The roadside
maintenance to change the driveshaft
put him dead last and nearly two laps
down. Suddenly with the foregone
conclusion of another Costa win was
gone, the race was wide open, and so
was the Championship. There was still
a lot of race to go though. Jim Marsden
is famous for either winning or breaking
things beyond repair trying, Nicolas
Montador is making quite a name for
himself for coming second, Italy's
Roberto Ciani has never finished an
ULTRA4 race and no one would bet
against the Azeris winning the prize for
the furthest travelled with least raced
prize… So with nothing to lose he put
his foot down. Hard.
Marsden nipped through on the
inside of Montador. In normal racing
that wouldn't mean very much. In
ULTRA4 it was a split second decision
where he managed to spot a better line
over the 30 metre long stretch of
kitchen utility sized lumps of granite. His
new car, a steroid fed evolution of his
not to shabby former racer he set off at
blistering speed intent on reeling in
those ahead who had the cheek to
out-qualify him.
Ciani was fast and was near the lead,
as he always is when his car is working.
But the sway bar broke, then the rear
diff, then the steering box, and a wheel
rim, and… With Costa parked up it
looked a good opportunity for reigning
champion Filipe Guimaraes to improve
on his unlucky year but a melted belt in
the transmission caused reverse gear to
Main image: fail and no one does a lap of King of
Nicholas Montador Portugal without needing at least a
is building quite a couple of attempts at some of the
reputation in the sections, so he was out on the first lap.
ULTRA4 Europe Improving only slightly on their French
championship, and escapades the Azeris made it a
winning the King of relatively impressive two laps before
Portugal will do that they managed to beat their car to
reputation no harm death. Hydraulic failure put them out
whatsoever! halfway through the opening day. Again.

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 59

COMPETITION
Maxxis Tyres King of Portugal
with two laps to go got stuck on the
‘dinosaur eggs’ rocks when the bolts of
the steering piston bracket sheered off.
Fortunately Guimaraes was
contemplating the loss of his crown by
having a picnic nearby and was on
hand to help. He even drove back to
the pits to get some spares… and
when he got a puncture jogged the last
two kilometres. Montador then took the
new parts out as an express delivery
service. Unfortunately the time lost
meant that the podium turned into
sixth.
Guimaraes himself, although out on
the first day didn't have a wasted race
day. He hung around JT's Rock
watching how some of the other team's
cars performed in the extreme sections,
which is not something he normally
gets to see. He was also surprised that
there were so many spectators as from
inside the car he doesn't notice them.
Beating all expectations of first lap
disasters the never say die attitude of
the Azeris meant that they re-started
and also seemed to have learned that
the rocks deserve a little more respect
But they repaired the Beast of Baku absolutely amazing race. and a little less full throttle. JT was
overnight and were back out Saturday dawned clear and bright watching them and was impressed that
undeterred for day two. and Jim led away from the tough quarry each lap they got better at choosing
That left Jim out in front in an section with Montador right behind, but their lines and positioning the car over
absolute class of his own and by the by the end of lap one the Frenchman the bigger rocks… and were noticeably
close of play after four laps incredibly he was in the lead, Mr Gigglepin angrily but taking their time. They took a very
had lapped the whole field up to ineffectively on the horn in his dust. Just credible fifth and will be a team to
Montador, the friendly Frenchman a few seconds further back was a very watch in the future.
settling into his customary runners-up determined Portuguese driver; Emanual Above: As ever, Montador recovered to fourth but on
position, with some relatively unknown Costa was soon out in a clear physical British honours were the last step of the podium was the
names a little further down the lead, but surely the gap was too big… upheld thanks to a popular Ferdinando Batrolucci, his dust-
leaderboard. A few hectic dust filled hours later fine drive from Jim covered face and rather bewildered
After qualifying just 15th Ciani's with the sun low in the sky the young Marsden - until a stare as he climbed out at the finish line
teammate Enrico Grafas pushed his Jelle Janssens looked to have made his broken propshaft put was an indication of how hard his race
way up to third but cracked the way through the carnage and attrition an end to his new was. The first day was spent getting a
aluminium oil sump on the way. to take another splendid third place but car's first outing feeling with the new ORA chassis car
Unfortunately the repair didn't hold for
day two and the oil pressure gauge
flashing at the top of JT's Rock was the
end of his race. Jorge Araujo in his Euro
Fighter was fourth and behind in fifth,
almost an hour and a half off the lead,
was local hero Costa… but that was
just four laps. With six more to come
there was a lot of racing left for
Saturday. In ULTRA4 racing nothing can
be taken for granted.
JT Taylor, despite his facial hair
flouting several EU health and safety in
the workplace regulations, never mind
the 1963 Geneva Convention on
gender equality, was in charge of his
own rock. It was the scene of much
chaos and helped decimate the field
from 24 Unlimited starters down to just
11. Dave Cole, the founder of King of
the Hammers and ULTRA4 Racing was
shouting and cursing everyone, so it
was nice to see him in such a calm and
relaxed mood. From a lack of sleep and
the stress of running such a big and
complicated event Jose Rui, the event
director, gradually turned into an extra
from the Walking Dead over the course
of the weekend but put on an

60 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

 and newbie co-driver Gabriele Biaggi,
who had never even used a winch
before. A fire from an oil pipe broke
sending flames up through Gabriele's
legs was certainly a baptism of fire.
They were very grateful for how much
Jim Marsden helped them out and the
second day went much better, although
another competitor using them as a
hole filler and driving over the bonnet
damaging the front shocks didn't help.
Third was totally unexpected for their
first event in the car but is hopefully the
start of some great success.
Levi Shirley's old Off Road Armoury
Euro Fighter has won many ULTRA4
events but it's such a big step up from
a Land Rover that it took new owner
Jorge Araujo a while to learn what it's
limits are. Finding those limits included
rolling it three times, which in most
circumstances wouldn't be considered
a successful test drive. In his defence,
the difflocks weren't working so he had
to push to get over some rocks a bit
faster than he usually would. He was as he blew the rear differential. What
hoping for a top five result but the looked impossible at the start of day
runners up spot in the first race he one, unlikely at the beginning of day
managed to finish was mind-blowing. two, Costa managed to pull off an
Once he has got used to the power and incredible win to make it three out of
the rock crawling capabilities of the car three this year. But unlike in France and
he hopes to be able to challenge Costa; Italy where he won without even so
but no one is there yet. much as a scratch on the car, he had to
By Saturday's second lap Costa was work for this one.
ahead, although the time deficit would Talk to anyone lucky enough to be
surely be far too much to overcome, sunburnt and covered in dust and they
especially against a driver of Marsden's will tell you that this was the best
calibre. But then Jim was missing; a ULTRA4 Europe race they have ever
broken prop shaft putting an end to his seen. King of Portugal has always
new car's first outing. That meant the stood out in the European series, but
lead was only half an hour away. ULTRA4 is most definitely in the
Montador, one eye on the win, the other ascendency.
on his Championship chances, pushed The fourth and final round is in
hard and maybe pushed a bit too hard England and we'll be there!

Right: Keeping the

sponsors happy,
Emanual Costa gets
some air as he blast
passed the King
shocks flags! Indeed,
he was favourite to
win the event until
he took just a bit
too much 'air' and
broke the vehicle's
transmission

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 61

 Our 4x4s
Monthly reports on the exploits of
our personal fleet of 4x4s
MITSUBISHI SHOGUN
Nigel Fryatt, Editor

Spec: SG5
Mileage: 4765
MPG: 24.1
Recent costs: None
Arrived: July 2016

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

Bob Cooke

Spec: 4.7 Limited

Mileage: 112,552
MPG: 18.8
Recent costs: Looming
Arrived: January 2016

TOYOTA RAV4 XT-R

Sue Loy

Spec: 2.0-litre
Mileage: 74,755
MPG: 32.9

FEELING
Recent costs: None
Arrived: June 2012

SUZUKI GRAND VITARA

Louise Limb

CHIPPER
Spec: 3dr 2.0 TD
Mileage: 103,537
MPG: 40
Recent costs: Major repairs, see
text; total approximately £1500
Arrived: October 2008 Mitsubishi Shogun
Nigel Fryatt

N
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
ow I know they tell you
Hils Everitt, Editor at Large
to do this on the
adverts, but I just
Spec: Overland WK 3.0-litre forgot, OK. My report
Mileage: 63,750 last month described just how
MPG: 30ish successful a recent 500 miles-in-
a-day trip had been in the Shogun,
Recent costs: None
but I left one small detail out.
Arrived: February 2014 Somewhere along the M11 there
was an almighty deep bass ‘clunk’
that certainly made me jump. You
NISSAN PATHFINDER SE 2.5 probably have to blame Pavlov,
Paul Walton but whatever hit the Shogun’s
windscreen actually made me
Spec: SE 2.5
duck! Why do we do that, it’s not
Mileage: 88,009 going to do any good?
MPG: 30 The resulting location of the
Recent costs: None (see text!) ‘clunk’ was not immediately
obvious from where I was sitting,
Arrived: April 2015 so I hoped that the flying stone that
had obviously hit the windscreen,
might not have done much
damage. Indeed, when I arrived
home and was able to investigate
fully, the small chip on the screen
– obscured from the driver’s
position by the interior mirror –
didn’t seem to be that damaging.
As they say in the adverts, I must
call those windscreen people
quickly, as it looked as though they
would be able to do their magic
and inject the resin to repair it, and
avoid the need for a new screen.
Since I had arrived home on a
Friday evening, that job was
pencilled in for Monday when I
would be back ‘at work’. My
excuse is that we had a very
social weekend planned that
wouldn’t actually include any
driving, so Monday would be fine.

62 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

 You can guess the next bit. By
Monday, the small chip on the
screen had grown with a crack
now crawling, almost as you
watched, in two directions both
northwards and laterally across
the screen, at driver eye level. It
could well have been that that
particular weekend was that
wonderful late summer ‘heat
wave’ that the south of England
enjoyed in September, but
whatever the reason, a new
screen was now needed and it
was needed immediately.
The guys at the Mitsubishi
press office quickly set me up
with an appointment to go to my
nearest dealership, which was
Mitsubishi Brighton, where I
arrived to meet Aftersales
Director, Kevin Constable. It’s
something of a traditional
dealership, much like the Shogun
itself, not overtly flash and
expensive, with a hands-on
approach of actually talking to
you when you come in off the
street. That’s probably because
although this is a main dealership,
it has come about due to a
management buy-out back in
2009; there’s a team of people
behind Mitsubishi Brighton and
they care about what they do.
The Shogun’s keys were
LONG TIME, LONG DISTANCE
Toyota RAV4
Sue Loy
T
he RAV4 hasn’t been in
these pages for a few
months, and we have
had a few emails from
readers asking how it is faring.
Well it’s good to answer that all is
well with our black RAV. It sailed
through its MOT and had its
yearly/10,000 mile service earlier
this summer, thankfully with no
unfortunate ‘surprises’. Apart
from the usual consumables, the
only things that needed changing
were the wiper blades, which do
seem to wear out quickly, but
maybe that’s just my impression.
I was asked if I wanted the pollen
filter changing, but that always
seems expensive and since in
the summer I usually drive with
the RAV’s tilt and slide sunroof
open, it seems rather redundant,
so we left that for another day. All
in all, the annual service and the
MOT only cost me £306.29,
which I have to say seems like a
quickly whipped away so that
they could get the new screen
fitted, and while it was away I
chatted with Kevin about sales.
He explained that Shogun was
the main vehicle sold in the 1980s
and 1990s, and that they could
sell as many as they could get.
That has declined, a product of
there not being a ‘new’ Shogun,
just minor refinements perhaps.
Top product in the 2009/10
period, when the dealership
changed hands, was the L200
pick-up. Interestingly, Kevin did
comment that sales of the latest
L200 have been a little slower
than expected, although they are
now picking up. You have to
wonder if that’s due to the fact
that the latest fifth generation
L200, while being a significantly
different and vastly improved
pick-up under the skin, looks
similar to the previous model. Get
behind the wheel and you quickly
notice that it’s a radically new
vehicle and one of the best
pick-ups on the market, but it can
pass you in the street and not
turn your head. It seems,
however, that the news is getting
out there and sales are improving.
What is the best seller these
days? It seems that the main
Mitsubishi product is now the
bargain. They also swapped my
winter tyres for the summer ones
as well, and that service is FOC!
The service was carried out at
Jemca Croydon, the dealer that
has looked after my RAV for a
number of years now. Sadly,
having now moved to the south
coast, a trip to Croydon for a
service is not really practical, so
we will be going elsewhere. They
will certainly have to be good to
meet Jemca’s standards, and I
thank them for all their help over
the years; bet the free coffee you
always get offered when you go
Outlander PHEV hybrid. Given
Mitsubishi’s announcement that
the company is now concentrating
on its hybrid electric vehicle
programme that’s likely to
continue. Here at the magazine,
we are not great fans of the
Outlander PHEV, but
understandably it seems the
financial incentives are still drawing
the punters into the showroom –
even after the government
reduced those incentives!
Returning to the dealership to
pick up the Shogun later that day,
I thought I spied it on the
forecourt, proudly shining in the
to Croydon won’t be as good!
Moving has also meant that
the mileage will now increase on
the RAV. My work journey from
the south coast to Kelsey’s office
at Cudham in Kent now means
that I clock up around 600 miles
a week. Consumable costs will
certainly rise, and general wear
and tear will certainly increase. It
will be interesting to see by how
much.
One thing I can still confirm is
that the RAV still drives well, is
comfortable, and whisks me to
and from work with ease. Much
www.4x4i.com • December 2016 63
What started as a small chip, quickly
'grew' across the screen...
September sunshine. As it
happens that wasn’t ‘my’
Shogun, but director Kevin’s new
66-plate model. Good to see that
even with all these clever fuel
efficient hybrid models around,
one of the directors at Mitsubishi
Brighton still chooses to drive a
Shogun! Good choice, Kevin. If
you are in the area and are
thinking about Mitsubishi, do pay
a visit to these guys, they’ll make
you welcome. Mitsubishi
Brighton, Tel: 01273 388808,
www.brighton.mitsubishi-cars.
co.uk. Make sure you say that
4x4 Magazine sent you. NF
of my journey is actually dual
carriageway, so done at a decent
pace, with a little bit of country
lanes as I get nearer the office.
Despite pushing the now 11-year
old 4x4 along with enthusiasm, I
am averaging 32.9mpg, which
for a 74,000 mile 2-litre petrol
engine is probably par for the
course, although it has made me
wonder what it would be like
using one of the new hybrid
RAV4s to do the journey. Would
the savings meet the extra cost
of the hybrid? Something to look
into perhaps. SL
OUR 4X4S
Running reports

CLICK, CLICK, CRUNCH

Jeep Grand Cherokee
Bob Cooke
again, not quite so loud and only
on full lock. A quick check
showed that the wheels still
cleared the wheelarches - which
could only mean one other thing:
impending CV joint failure. A
closer look underneath revealed
the sad truth, a torn nearside CV
gaiter.
There appear to be some
widely differing views on the time

T
here was a horrendous and cost of replacing a CV joint
clicking noise from on the Grand Cherokee, including
somewhere up front a suggestion that it takes a
when I turned to drive professional five hours to do both
out of the tyre shop. It turned out sides. On-line videos seem to
to be the rubber of the heavy- show it as a fairly straightforward
treaded BFG All Terrains catching operation, some amateurs
the plastic at the bottom corner of suggesting it shouldn’t take more
the Jeep’s front offside wheelarch. than half an hour a side, with the
Could it really be true that going side comment that it all depends
up a size in tyre meant they on how rusty everything is. While
wouldn’t fit within the Grand the CV joint can be separated
Cherokee’s wheelarch? The from the axle shaft and repaired
245/75 x18s were meant to be an and replaced, the easiest option
accepted alternative fitting for the would seem to be to simply
car, and besides, it has a two-inch replace the driveshaft complete
lift, which should have helped. with new CV joint, and since
Closer inspection revealed the removing the shaft involves
odd fact that the nearside wheel removing the brake caliper, I’d fit
cleared the same corner of its new brake pads while I’m at it.
wheelarch by a good three You might be wondering why coming up to MOT time and to keep the Grand on the road.
centimetres; a careful check I’m hesitating. It’s not the cost of although I don’t know of anything I’ll have time to consider over
underneath suggested that the the replacement that worries me else that’s wrong with the Jeep I’d the next few days, because her
axle was as square as it should be - I’ve been quoted £140 for the hate to spend time and money on indoors has decreed that we need
on its long leading arms. It also driveshaft from my local parts a repair only to find that it’s failed an away break on the Isle of
looked as if the bumper was shop - or even the work, which expensively in some other area. Wight, doubly annoying since we
neatly square, but ultimately I had could be quite demanding if Just as with any old car there naturally won’t be taking the Jeep,
to accept the likelihood that it everything has been rusted well comes a point where the cost of and I’ll have to suffer the indignity
wasn’t - either it hadn’t been fitted together, which could mean repairs exceeds the value of the of driving her little Corsa. Hope
accurately during initial assembly sheared-off bolts and the need to vehicle, so I really wouldn’t want the hotel stocks a good single
or, more likely, had been knocked drill them out. It’s more that it’s to fork out more than £500 or so malt, I’m going to need it. BC
out of shape as a result of some
overenthusiastic off-roading,
though there’s no sign of any
other damage to suggest that.
For a brief moment I considered
cutting some extra space into the
wheelarch, but then settled for a
more sophisticated solution,
which was to remove the screw
holding the rear of the bumper up
to the bodywork and replace it
with a longer one, after inserting
some spacers to effectively twist
the front of the bumper upwards.
A simple answer, but it worked;
the offside wheel still has a little
less clearance than the nearside
one, but at least the rubber
doesn’t catch.
It was a couple of weeks later
that I heard the clicking noise

64 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

 !
!
Call now on:
01452 309 983

HEATING & AIR - CON

SPECIALISTS
• SERVICE • REPAIR • INSTALL

Unit 2 Llanthony Business Park, Gloucester. GL2 5QT

www.ac-automotive.co.uk
OUR 4X4S
Running reports
OUT OF TUNE
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Hils Everitt
L
ast month I regaled you
with a tale of how a
stupid French white van
driver managed to clatter
into my beloved dent-free Jeep on
a narrow country road in the
depths of the southern French
countryside. His idiotic manoeuvre
resulted in my door mirror
popping out and some scratches
on the chrome mirror covers.
When I bought my Grand
Overland spec it had been
blinged up with huge chrome
sidesteps, those mirror covers
and chrome door handles. I
wasn’t really a fan of this extra
cosmetic frippery, but I loved the
Mineral Grey colour, the Overland
spec and the price at around
£15,800 for an ’09 plate at
four-years old. It had taken me
ages to find a Grand Cherokee
that fitted the bill, so I wasn’t
about to let a few bolt-on bits put
me off. Anyway, I could easily
take the side steps off – which I
did straight away. They are safely
snoozing away in the garage and
66 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
I will re-attach them when I sell it,
as I have been told by Jeep
dealers that buyers love that sort
of thing…
But I am really still bothered by
those chrome door handles and
mirror covers. They are all
showing signs of age and don’t
look so great. I really haven’t got
the inclination or patience to
spend time religiously polishing
them to keep that tarnish-free
gleam. Winter is also approaching
which probably won’t help. It
might be a good time to
re-evaluate those chrome covers
that I have never liked, especially
now that the silly French man has
made the mirror covers even
more tarnished with those
scratches.
Trouble is, I don’t know what I
will find underneath if I try and
take them off. It all depends what
they have been stuck on with and
what sort of mess it leaves on
removal. Have any readers
successfully removed similar
items and found it easy/
impossible/a right pain but worth
doing/a right pain and not worth
attempting because it left such a
mess and they needed to respray
the paintwork? I would love to
hear any thoughts or advice.
Another recent event was fitting
the DAB radio, which itself caused
a few issues. I had to get Halford’s
to do it for me as I managed to
break the flimsy aerial and
couldn’t get the A-post cover off
without causing some damage as
I didn’t have the right tool. It
worked fine for a little while, but
now I can’t seem to get the digital
radio to work. The power and
aerial connections are all fine as I
removed the cover under the
glove box to check just in case
something had worked loose from
the hidden Dab unit. I have also
re-tuned the preset frequency of
87.6MHz, which is what the DAB
uses to see if it pops back again,
but so far no good; DAB is not
recognised. I find this most
frustrating and not sure what to
do about it. Again, any reader
experiences and advice would be
most welcome. I don’t want to
have to remove the unit and have
to pay for a replacement and go
through all the procedure again.
Apart from these fairly minor
annoyances, the Grand is doing
fine, well, apart from the fact that
there are two potential oil
problems with a small seepage
from the back of the gearbox and
an even smaller one at the rear
diff. I will take it to my mate’s
garage soon and get the guys to
take the underbody protection off
and have a look to see how it’s
going. I’ve had it three years, but
am wondering whether I should
think about changing for a newer
model; or even something
different. I left it too late to swap
Grands last time; I kept the WJ
for seven years and it really
started to have problems and
cost a bit of cash in the last two
and a half years of ownership, but
then the mileage was much
higher; something to think about
seriously. EV
STILL HAVING A BALL
Suzuki Grand Vitara
Louise Limb

I
’d been on a circuitous route
back from Harrogate in late
March, the A59 still shut at
Blubberhouses due to the
previous December’s floods,
when I realised that my odometer
would do something momentous
and introduce an extra digit.
Turning into the lane that takes
me home, just outside Ilkley I
watch mesmerised as all the
nines turn into noughts and a
one. I’d never had a car do that
before, my white 1994 Vitara’s
gearbox dying at 66,000 miles
and the 4u2 doing the same at
99998 miles… The elation
passed and I realised that among
many other maintenance issues,
a second cam belt is looming.
The Grand Vitara will continue
to be my daily driver for the
foreseeable future, as I frequently
emphasise to Jeep Phil, ‘my’
mechanic. I can’t imagine life
without it. Not only is a new
runabout out of the question for
financial reasons, I really like my
Grand. It’s as strong as an ox,
sitting on a proper ladder chassis
and with an Aisin heavy-duty
gearbox. Just as long as the old
ox stays fairly healthy…
It seems quite a while since I
was complaining that manoeuvring
my car sounded more like the
Titanic listing than a neat Japanese
4x4. Various theories were posed
as only I could hear the awful
metallic sighing every time I
reversed out of the drive.
Eventually, after Phil went to move
it, the Suzuki having been parked
at the garage for longer than an
hour on another job, sure enough
turning and reversing prompted a
loud groaning from beneath the
beast. The culprit was the offside
front disc calliper sticking and both
were replaced, the drum brakes on
the rear behaving themselves
impeccably as ever.
After the surprise of being
reminded that the battery needed
replacing after nearly 100k miles,
attention then turned to the
rumbles and knocks, also
emanating from beneath the
vehicle. Phil had declared the
problem solved last May when he’d
lubricated a steering joint. I’d long
since digested the bacon sandwich
he’d bet me over the success of
the repair and the jungle drums
were getting louder. I’d taken the
Suzuki down to Suffolk in August
and while the engine and gearbox
behaved reasonably well, other
sections including the interior and
door catches giving me occasional
threatening looks due to wear and
tear, the banging and crashing over
bumps was more of a disturbance.
Back home and down the garage,
Phil took the wheel over a course
taking in adjoining streets with
speed bumps while I waited for the mechanism is stiff and sometimes
racket to start. It did, though rather refuses to play at all, requiring gear
than over the bumps, more selection before starting the engine.
randomly, it thudded in reaction to It doesn’t require a crystal ball to
slightly uneven surfaces. see where this is actually heading
Further inspection on the ramp, and how much spare cash that will
complete with a jemmy and a require... LL
colleague showed the ball joints
needed replacing. There was
visible play. Little wonder it was
handling like a bag of monkeys.
The ball joint and lower wishbone
assembly took some sourcing.
Only recently has the part become
widely available as an aftermarket
item and certainly in West
Yorkshire, they appear very rare!
Fitted, along with the rubber Very worn ball joint
gaiters which were splitting, the
front end feels a good deal more
secure though we’ll now need to
keep an eye on the steering and
tyre wear, which have worn
alongside the ball joints.
Meanwhile, the clutch has
begun having occasional tantrums.
After approximately 50 miles you
can stop, park and then find it
difficult to engage gear. The Two deceased ball joint wishbones

Checking play in ball joint

Ball joint boot showing perishing rubber

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 67

OUR 4X4S
Running reports
VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY
Land Rover Discovery 3.0 HSE Luxury
Paul Walton
I
had every intention of taking
my Nissan Pathfinder on our
holiday to Spain, really I did.
The ferry crossing had been
booked under its registration
number and I even had the brake
discs and pads renewed in
preparation for the long haul to the
Costa Daurada, 1200 miles from
home. But when a last minute
chance to take a Land Rover
Discovery 3.0 arose, I grasped it
with both hands.
Now, I have a long association
with the car. In 2004, I took a
pre-production 2.7 example
across the Garburn Pass in the
Lake District, one of the roughest,
toughest public greenlanes in the
UK. I came away not only
impressed by the car's off-roading
abilities (this was the first time
we'd seen Land Rover’s now
familiar Terrain Response System
that puts the car in pre
programmed settings depending
on the type of surface) but also
how refined it was. Now with
JLR's 3.0-litre V6 diesel producing
a healthy 256bhp, I was interested
to see if the Discovery was still as
competent as it was a decade
ago.
The Waitomo Grey example that
was delivered to my door the day
68 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
before departure certainly looked
impressive. Although arguably not
as handsome as the Jaguar
F-PACE I'd recently tested in my
day job as editor of 4x4's sister
title, Jaguar World, the Discovery
with its big, square edges is still an
imposing machine.
As an HSE Luxury (recently
replaced by the Windmark trim
level for the 2016), its long
specification was perfect for a long
drive through Europe. To begin
with there was a DVD player with
The Discovery and caravan at Portsmouth docks waiting to check in for the Brittany
rear screens in the front headrests,
Ferries crossing to Caen
satnav and dual zone air
conditioning. There was also a big
boot that at 1124-litres compares
well to the cavernous rear of my
Pathfinder and was big enough for
my gas barbecue, caravan air
conditioning unit, spare gas bottle
and two scooters for the kids.
Interestingly though, push the rear
seats down and it doesn't create a
completely flat floor like in my
Nissan or most modern SUVs; a
sign of the car's age perhaps?
My favourite bit of tech was the
reversing camera (a £740 option),
which has a hitch assist setting
that highlights and zooms in onto
the tow ball, illustrating where it's
heading as you reverse. The same Due to the busy French motorways on Black Saturday, Paul took a smaller (but free)
system also comes with two Route National dual carriageway south

cameras either side of the car
giving a kerb view, which made
entering the narrow lanes at
French motorway toll stations
much easier.
But the big question was, how
would it tow our caravan, a 2011
Bailey Pegasus Ancona that
weighs, when fully laden, 1300kg?
I soon found out at 3.00am the
next morning when I negotiated
our quiet street and headed to the
motorway for the 8.30am Brittany
Ferries Portsmouth to Ouistreham
channel crossing. With 443lb ft of
torque, the Land Rover pulled the
caravan easily, too easily in fact.
Used to working my 168bhp
Pathfinder hard, overtaking a
slower lorry I pulled into the fast
lane and squeezed the Discovery's
throttle harder than I needed to
since the car accelerated with a
forcefulness I wasn't expecting
with the caravan on the back.
Thankfully, due to air suspension
coming as standard, the car rode
perfectly level improving the
caravan's stability.
I was also sat higher than in my
Pathfinder which to begin with I
found unsettling but as I laid back
in my large, leather chair and
lowered the arm rest, I soon got
used to it and began to enjoy the
lofty driving position and the
improved visibility this gave.
After navigating round a very
quiet M25 and M3, we arrived at
Portsmouth's docks in good time
and was soon loaded onto Brittany
Ferries' Mont St Michel vessel.
After a pleasant six-hour crossing,
we reached Caen where I set the
satnav for our first overnight
campsite near Poitiers, 200 miles
away. Once on the clear French
motorway, I set the car's cruise
control to 90kph and watched the
The outfit at the final motorway services
in France before the Spanish border
The car's optional Surround Camera System's kerb view made it
easier for Paul to negotiate through the tight motorway toll stations
beautiful French countryside roll by,
the car's high position giving us a
great view. After 12 hours rest we
headed to Marmande, 35 miles
west of Bergerac, to visit my wife's
family. However, this was what's
known as 'Black Saturday' when
all of northern France goes on
holiday in the south meaning the
main roads were very busy but
thankfully the Discovery's satnav
warned us of any long queues
around Bordeaux meaning we
came off the motorway and used
the smaller RN and D roads. The
final 70 miles on a single
carriageway was particularly
interesting in a car that's 2.2m
wide and an outfit when combined
is a truck-like 12.5m long.
After two days in Marmande
(that included a boat trip on the
River Lot at nearby Castelmoron),
A very full boot. Thankfully with 1124-litres, the Discovery is
more than big enough
we began the 400-mile journey to
our final destination, a campsite
near Altafulla, an hour south of
Barcelona. Despite the
temperature rising as we headed
further south, the Discovery
performed perfectly, the air con
remaining as cold as when we left
the UK. And despite a traffic jam
on the long, long ascent to the
Spanish border on the A9, the car
never misbehaved like others we
saw that stranded their
passengers on the side of the road
due to overheating. The aspect of
driving the Discovery I liked the
most was the feeling of invincibility
it creates, the feeling of whatever is
happening outside (heat, rain, the
apocalypse) you're safely
cocooned inside.
Following our arrival on the
campsite at Tamarit on the Costa
The Discovery under the road
bridge at Castelmoron-sur-Lot in
the Lot-et-Garonne department in
south-western France
www.4x4i.com • December 2016 69
The Surround Camera System's tow
assist function made reversing to attach
the caravan easy
Daurada coast at 7.30 that
evening the Discovery became our
luxury shuttle for several day trips,
including to Barcelona (where I
lowered the suspension to its
'access height' so we’d fit in the
low car park near the famous La
Rambla), Salou and Port Aventura,
a huge theme park. Compared to
its aluminium Range Rover
siblings, the steel bodied Discovery
isn't the most economical of cars.
With the caravan it was returning
21mpg and without it was just 25.
There's no denying the current
Discovery is getting long in the
tooth and the next generation has
already been spotted in disguise
on UK roads, with ‘official’ spy
images being released. Yet
European caravanning can be
hard since big demands are
made of the tow car. Based on
our long, 2500-mile Spanish
odyssey, it's clear the Discovery,
despite its age, is still a highly
capable and comfortable SUV
and will be much missed when
it's finally replaced. PW
Thanks to: Brittany Ferries
(www.brittanyferries.com)
BUYING, OWNING & LIVING WITH
THE GREEN MACHINE
O
ne of the great things about being
a 4x4 enthusiast is that it can
actually mean different things to
different people. That is no more
obvious than when looking back on the years
of this feature, as we always say, it’s Your
4x4 Life and when we were sent details of
Gary Hennessy’s striking green Land Rover
we had to know more. For those who think
that perhaps it is all rivet counting, real ale
and really ignoring everything else, this truck
certainly interested us, and probably upsets a
few of the traditionalists. We will let Gary take
up the story:
“When I got my Land Rover it was in a
pretty bad way. While it looked pretty good in
the picture, it had all the usual stuff; too many
oil leeks and a smoky and very tired, turbo
engine. And of course the doors were rotten.
70 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
But as I only wanted it road legal so that me
and my mates could use it for shooting it did
the job just fine.” (Rest assured, this is country
sports shooting, not drive-bys… Ed).
“It wasn’t long before I started to fall in love
with the whole Land Rover experience. This
led to me spending some time working on the
truck and starting to tidy it up. Of course, as
you can well image, one thing lead to another
and it wasn’t long before the idea of a full
rebuild came to mind and then that was it –
the rebuild was on.
“Luckily, I had a few good mates around me
that were pretty handy at working on motors.
And to add to that, I also had a son-in-law
who was a mechanic, which was a bonus.
You would want to also have a fat wallet that
was getting a bit heavy... I wish!
“The first port of call was a fully galvanised
chassis. Given the state of the vehicle, it was
obvious from the start that we needed to start
from a solid base, hence working on the
chassis first was a must. It also needed a new
front wing, after my son wrecked the near side
one hitting by a tree.
“It was also important to have a new winch
bumper. These important bits were needed to
be completed before the respray was done.
Annoyingly, it had that reaction of aluminium
against metal frame and it wasn’t really good
enough. This led to me going out and
spending £1000 on two doors from a much
more recent Land Rover - at a cost of £1000.
Expensive, but they made such a difference to
the vehicle’s new look.
“When the body was sorted, we decided to
look under the bonnet and get rid of the
original lump. I managed to source a 200 TDi
 P74: MARKETPLACE
from a Defender that only had 65,000 miles on
the clock, and that made a big difference.
“It’s the colour and the truck’s interior that
gets people talking when they see my Land
Rover. It has full checker plate covering in the
rear tub, which looks great and contrasts
nicely with the then green metal flake paint job
on it. The Land Rover is actually finished in
candy apple green, you can’t miss it. Plus the
interior is all colour coded in green leather.
Add the tinted windows and it’s now a very
special Land Rover that I’m very proud of.
“Of course I can’t just claim all the credit
here, I’ve had a lot of help from some great
P76: CLUB NEWS
mates. The main man on the build was my
best mate, Ian Allen. He helped me do all the
electrics and most of the fabrication. My
son-in-law Mike Mitchell helped with the
mechanical stuff. It was the three of us that
managed to fit the 200 TDi engine under the
bonnet. Then my mate Gary, who owns West
Herts Customs did the bodywork and the
candy green paintwork. All the carbon dipping
and hydrographic was done by Darren of
Liquid Witchcraft. And finally, my mate Brian
who owns Challenging Developments was
responsible for all the checker plating. As you
can see they’ve all done me proud.”
P78: OFF-ROAD DIARY
We also noticed the buggy in one of the
photographs and Gary explained: “Yes that is
my off-road buggy. It’s a Goka buggy with a
650cc engine but that wasn’t quick enough so
I got the mates around again and we fitted a
Citroen Saxo 1.6-litre engine. The result is a
very quick buggy. I don’t do much off-roading,
as I’m really more into shooting so use the
buggy for that.”
As we always say, it’s Your 4x4 Life and
Gary’s stunning Land Rover pick-up
epitomises that. Is it an off-roader? Is it a
custom truck? Who cares, it’s loud and proud
and we love it!.
www.4x4i.com • December 2016 71
CONTINUED

SHOGUN SUPPORTER
A
fter our recent report about
the magazine’s new long term
Mitsubishi Shogun, and the Editor’s
concerns about the truck’s dreamy
creamy interior leather upholstery, regular
reader Jim McKinney contacted us:
“Just picked up October’s issue of the mag
(I wish someone could explain to me why
Oct’s comes out in August – shouldn’t it be
Aug or, at the very most, September) and see
that you’ve got a Shogun SG5 to play with for
a while.
“Now you’ll probably remember that I’ve
been a big Land Cruiser and RAV4 fan for
more years than I care to admit and while I still
think that the Toyota in particular is the best
4x4/SUV available, bar none, I am now
running a Shogun SWB Barbarian, pictured
here. It’s metallic white, with 20inch alloys –
Bling Central!
“We bought this one, once again, at the effective auto box with 2wd/4wd and low-ratio for the first service next month, which seems a
behest of my good lady wife, Sue, who has capabilities; a very comfy interior and it is a bit pricey compared to our previous Land
always had a thing for the three-door Shogun. brilliant long-distance cruiser. And it came with Cruisers, neither of which ran to more than
This one popped up on Auto Trader back in an MMC-fitted tow bar and full electrics. £300 for an annual service. But if that’s the
February at a BMW dealer in Yorkshire with “There are very few downsides: the mpg only issue, I think I can live with it.
only 600 miles up and one owner on a isn’t brilliant but I have seen over 30mpg “Regarding your cream upholstery, don’t get
65-plate. Seems that the original purchaser several times without trying too hard. The too paranoid about it. Our last Land Cruiser
bought it without trying it out, filled it with his Barbarian gets a Kenwood infotainment had a similar ivory leather interior and it didn’t
family and dogs, which all rather unfortunately system rather than the Rockford system in mark at all and was just used as normal. Even
demonstrated the car’s total unsuitability for his your five door version and I have to say that blue denim didn’t mark it (and that is usually a
needs the first time they loaded up. So the Kenwood DAB is poor – it needs looking at risky material for white leather). An occasional
apparently he chopped it in for an X5. His loss again at the upcoming first service; no clean with good leather products should keep
but our gain as we got it at a bargain price! reversing sensors, just a camera, which is fine it reasonably tidy.
Much as we’ve loved our Land Cruisers over once you understand the parameters of your “Good luck with the new toy; I look forward
the years, they’ve proved too big as the family proximity to objects shown by the fish-eye to reading about your experiences with it.”
has grown up and moved out into their own lens. No auto headlights or wipers, but in reality Thanks for that Jim, we certainly intend to
homes and cars. The Shogun on the other they are just more things to go wrong (and if have fun. The SG5’s great rear space has
hand, is just about the perfect size as we now you don’t know when to switch on your lights been a big help with our recent house move.
only have one son at home (and who’ll be or wipers, should you be driving?). And I completely agree with you regarding
independently mobile once he passes his test) “Typical Japanese reliability so far with only a the Kenwood stereo - fitted to out long term
and two little dogs. software re-flash needed for the alarm and the test L200 Barbarian pick-up - not as good as
“The thing that really appeals however is the aforementioned DAB issue but I’ll blame JVC it should be. The Rockford version, on the
fact that it is an ‘old skool’ 4x4: no overly for the latter, not Mitsubishi. The servicing other hand, is pretty good – which means
sophisticated electronics; a big, honest four costs look as if they may be somewhat north when I’m driving alone and able to turn it up
pot diesel that could tow Mt Everest; a very of Toyota’s in that I’ve been quoted £470-ish very loud! NF

LET’S HEAR FROM YOU!

Have you got an off-road story? Do you own a new, old,
special, standard 4x4? Whatever you have, we’d like to
hear from you, as these pages are where we can display
what our readers really own. Modified or completely
standard we just want a few photographs and some
details about the vehicle, why you love it, and how you
got into the off-road game. Send direct to the Editor at
4x4.ed@kelsey.co.uk. Remember, it’s Your 4x4 Life.

72 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

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Minor 1000. Value:£3000. Main policy Member of associated club. Postcode
OX10, the vehicle is not the main car and includes example based on: 1957 Morris Min
mium example based on: 1957 Morris
request. **Premium licence with no claims or convictions. Insurance Premium Tax. Male driver Minor 1000. Value:£3000. Main policy

Hotline open: Mon–Fri 8am - 6pm. Please note that calls are charged
and conditions, which is available upon limited mileage, and full clean driving Towergate House, Eclipse Park, Sittingbourne
Road, vehicle garaged with no modifications. aged
Includes a £10 arrangement fee. Footman over 25 years old, 2000 annual limited mileage, only and does not include any FJ+ cover
*All cover is subject to insurers terms aged over 25 years old, 2000 annual
from ain England No. 4043759. Registered Address:
mileage and full clean driving licence options. All premiums assume
Insurance Premium Tax. Male driver Maidstone, Kent ME14 3EN. Authorised with no claims or convictions. Member
**
James is a trading name of Towergate
Underwriting Group Limited. Registered
the vehicle is not the main car and includes
and regulated by the Financial Conduct Underwriting Gr of associated club. Postcode OX10,
James iss a trading name of Towergate Authority. Telephone calls may be recorded. Group Limited. Registered in England
Includes a £10 arrangement fee. Footman callss may be recorded. FP ADCC203.11.14 FP ADCC203.11.14 No. 4043759. Registered
Address: Towergate House, Eclipse Park,
vehicle garaged with no modifications. Authority. Telephone Sittingbourne Road,
and regulated by the Financial Conduct
Maidstone, Kent ME14 3EN. Authorised
Call our friendly UK team for a quote today:
wide range of
redefined. cover options . *
☎ 0333 207 6004 at your local rate, for further information please check with your service provider.
or visit footmanjames.co.uk
*All cover is subject to insurers terms and conditions, which is available upon request. **Premium example based on: 1957 Morris Minor 1000. Value:£3000. Main policy only and does not include any FJ+ cover options. All premiums assume
the vehicle is not the main car and includes Insurance Premium Tax. Male driver aged over 25 years old, 2000 annual limited mileage, and full clean driving licence with no claims or convictions. Member of associated club. Postcode OX10,
vehicle garaged with no modifications. Includes a £10 arrangement fee. Footman James is a trading name of Towergate Underwriting Group Limited. Registered in England No. 4043759. Registered Address: Towergate House, Eclipse Park, Sittingbourne Road,
Maidstone, Kent ME14 3EN. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Telephone calls may be recorded. FP ADCC203.11.14

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Marketwatch
MONTHLY 4X4 PRICE REVIEW
2007 Range Rover 2. 7TDV6 - at
£7800, a good £1500 below retail
DOWNWARD
TRENDS
Interest in used 4x4s eased during August in spite of the
approach of winter. As Bob Cooke explains, this could
be a lack of confidence as the reality of Brexit looms, or
could simply be a lack of trust in used car traders?
C
an it be true that demand for 4x4 vehicles
is beginning to ease? Latest figures from
British Car Auctions reveal that although
prices paid for used cars during August rose to
record levels - by an average of 6.4 per cent
year-on-year, equivalent to an average increase of
£500 - demand was highest for estates and
coupes, even more so than convertibles which
usually sell well during the summer, with MPVs
taking the biggest hit, with prices down by nearly
two per cent. Also taking below-average bids
were ordinary saloons and hatches - and 4x4s,
down nearly a percentage point, which we
wouldn’t expect with the approach of winter
which is usually a spur to increased 4x4 sales.
This is against a background of continuing
strong demand for new cars, with sales for
August up by around three per cent. While the
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
welcomed the increase, it’s notable that fleet
operators were the key factor with purchases up
nearly eight per cent, in response to attractive
finance deals and discounts, while private
registrations actually took a dive - by less than a
percentage point, and possibly simply because of
74 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
a natural desire to wait for the September plate
change, though there’s also a question of
consumer confidence in the wake of the Brexit
vote. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes
expressed that concern in a recent report: “The
key to maintaining this strong market is consumer
confidence for which we look to government to
deliver the conditions for economic growth.”
However, the increase in fleet purchases should
herald good news for secondhand buyers in two
to three years’ time as these company cars flood
on to auction floors and used car forecourts.
Also interesting is the continuing slow but
inexorable decline of the diesel, partly because of
a five per cent increase in purchases of
petrol-powered cars, but also a whopping 30 per
cent increase in registrations of alternatively
fuelled vehicles - in this area the only significant
player in the 4x4 sector being the Mitsubishi
Outlander PHEV, an expensive choice with list
prices ranging from £34,000 for the entry-level
GX3HG to over £45,000 for the range-topping
GX5H, but which nevertheless outsells other
plug-in hybrid vehicles. One reason for current
popularity is that you don’t seem to need the full
£45k to aspire to the most luxurious version
- several dealers are offering big discounts on
delivery-mileage examples over and above the
Government grant on electric vehicles.
WHO’D HAVE GUESSED IT?
It seems that only seven per cent of us trust used
car dealerships. Is that surprising? We’re guessing
every one of us who’s bought a car from a
second-hand dealer has at some time had reason
to feel cheated to some extent either because the
car didn’t live up to expectations or the ‘warranty’
it came with wasn’t worth the paper it was written
on. Even so, suggesting that car traders are even
less trustworthy than bankers or estate agents, as
revealed by a survey by Auto Trader of 5000 car
buyers, seems a little harsh. The report asks for
more transparency from dealers, for instance by
encouraging access to dealer reviews and clearer
information on the condition of the vehicle, leading
to a level of trust that would ultimately encourage
people to change their car more often. That
should be good for dealer and customer alike.
However, the reality is that used car dealers are in
exactly the right kind of business to allow them to
make a quick buck, and there’s little incentive in a
booming marketplace to spend money on
anything other than a quick cosmetic makeover
on a car they’ve bought for resale before
advertising it at an inflated price.
What spurred this review is the realisation that
more and more people are looking for, and even
buying, their used cars on-line - a situation that
seems at odds with the traditional wisdom that
you need to see the car for yourself and take it for
a test drive before haggling over the price. Buying
a car sight-unseen does indeed require an
exceptional level of trust, a factor that is
enhanced no end by the realisation that used car
dealers are themselves relying more and more on
on-line purchases. British Car Auctions reports
that 44 per cent of their regular customers access
stock from mobile devices with a corresponding
increase in sight-unseen purchases - and a dealer
buying a flawed vehicle in this manner is unlikely
to highlight the flaw when selling it on. Is there an
answer? One might be to consider buying directly
from the auction floor, where you’ll be paying less
than the forecourt retail price, and a reputable
auction house will allow you a short but
nevertheless effective period to satisfy yourself
that the car has no major flaws.
New PHEV - dealers double the Government discount

FOCUS ON: JEEP RENEGADE
GO FOR: Trailhawk AIM TO PAY: £24,000
T
he Renegade has been Jeep’s
top-selling car in the UK, and we’re
not surprised since we liked it enough
to award it the overall winner’s accolade at
our 2016 4x4 Of The Year comparison. Even
so, it seems they still can’t sell enough of
them - not only have dealers been offering
£2000 off the list price in the form of a
‘deposit contribution’ when you buy on a
PCP deal, but many have been offering new
or low-mileage nearly new examples at
significant savings over the original list price.
The majority of Renegades - including the
otherwise desirable Dawn of Justice special
edition - are two-wheel drive vehicles, so
when surveying what’s available at a keen
price be sure you are looking at one with
4WD, and also be aware that low range is
only available on Trailhawk, Deserthawk and
some Limiteds with the 2.0 Multijet II
turbodiesel, all of which will have the
smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic
transmission. Note that the Limited can also
be specified with the 170bhp 1.4-litre
MultiAir II petrol engine.
Arguably the Renegade isn’t the most
practical of compact SUVs, it has some of
the feel of the previous generation of
Wrangler about its driving position with its
rather upright dash and bulky centre
console, but it does offer adequately
comfortable five-seater accommodation with
a reasonably capacious boot. The interior
styling might seem a little heavy, to some
extent because of the high waistline and
relatively small windows, also in the way the
door trims are moulded to include armrests,
but the weight is lightened somewhat by the
neat contrasting surrounds for the air vents,
speakers and gear lever. The seats are also
well-shaped and smartly upholstered in
stitched leather.
The entry-level four-wheel drive
specification is the Limited, very well
equipped with DAB radio, satnav and
Bluetooth with a seven-inch colour display,
leather upholstery with heated front seats
and heated steering wheel, dual zone climate
control, rear parking sensors and silver roof
rails, while driving aids include forward
Buying Guide Archive
What are you looking for?
We have run a number of detailed
Buyers’ Guides, useful if you are
thinking of changing your 4x4, or
buying for the first time. Back Issues
collision and lane departure warning. are available by calling 0845 241
Motorpoint outlets around the country were 5159 or online at: www.4x4i.com
offering a good selection of 16-plated Audi Q7
Limiteds, some with just 2000 miles on Issue August 2015
them, at £17,699, a drop of £9000 off the
Daihatsu Terios 1997-2005
original list price. Meanwhile Lookers of Issue May 2011
Cardiff (0844 659 8604) had an exceptional
offer on a one-owner example in Sierra Blue Jeep Grand Cherokee 1999-2004
with just 53 miles, they were asking just Issue July 2013
£17,999. Jeep Grand Cherokee 2005-2010
Even more conservative outlets were Issue September 2015
offering deals on pre-registered examples, Jeep Wrangler TJ
for instance Unity of Coventry (01676 Issue October 2014
483970) wanted a tenner under £24,000 for
a car with 50 miles on it that would normally Land Rover Discovery 3
Issue September 2014
have been priced at £26,495.
One of the more desirable versions is the Land Rover Freelander
Night Eagle special edition, only 350 of them Issue February 2013
built for sale in the UK, 160 of them featuring Land Rover Freelander 2
Volcanic Sand matt paintwork. Issue April 2014
Enhancements include unique black alloy
Nissan Pathfinder
wheels, rear parking sensors and satin grey
Issue October 2015
detailing on a black grille. Inside you’ll find
smart dark brown upholstery, leather- Nissan Qashqai
wrapped steering wheel and cruise control. Issue March 2016
Some will also have the optional panoramic Porsche Cayenne 2003-2010
sunroof and heated front seats. Jordans of Issue February 2016
Hull (01482 409930) were asking £19,995
Range Rover 1970-1995
for their 1600-miler demonstrator, a good Issue January 2013
£4000 off the original list price. Also worth
looking for is the 75th Anniversary edition, Range Rover Evoque
the enhancements are mainly cosmetic
Issue July 2015
including the 18-inch wheels, the Mysky Range Rover Sport 2005-2012
sunroof and Jungle Green paint job but Issue June 2013
when you can get one with only five miles Skoda Yeti
showing for £21,000, over £5000 off list, the Issue March 2015
equipment spec is of little concern - call
Beechdale of Derby (01332 494524). Suzuki Grand Vitara
Issue May 2015
The Trailhawk is the dedicated off-road
version with the Active Drive low range Suzuki Jimny
gearing, a one-inch factory lift, skid plates Issue January 2014
and 17-inch off-road alloys designed to cope Toyota Land Cruiser 2003-2009
with driving in mud or snow. You also get hill Issue December 2014
descent control and recovery hooks, but the
Toyota Land Cruiser 2010-2015
biggest bonus is the higher-power 170bhp Issue June 2015
version of the 2.0-litre MultijetII turbodiesel.
Country Motor Works of Chelmsford (01245 Toyota RAV4
701319) were selling their 2016 Issue August 2014
demonstrator with just 1800 miles for Volkswagen Touareg
£24,000, some £5000 under list price. Issue April 2015
COMPARISON BUYERS’ GUIDES
BMW X5 v Volvo XC90
Issue May 2013
Honda CR-V v Nissan X-Trail
Issue April 2012
LR Defender v Jeep Wrangler
Issue August 2012
Mitsubishi Shogun v Grand Cherokee
Issue May 2012
Porsche Cayenne v VW Touareg
Issue April 2013
Range Rover v Mercedes-Benz ML
Issue November 2012
Seven-seater SUVS
Issue March 2014
Suzuki Jimny v Mitsubishi Pinin
Issue September 2012
www.4x4i.com • December 2016 75
Club World
MONTHLY CLUB ACTION
What’s your club doing? Louise Limb goes clubbing to find out
what is happening in the 4x4 Club World. If your club has news
or forthcoming events it would like us to promote, then just email:
4x4.ed@kelsey.co.uk - marking your message Club News
Jeepey down the woods
THE JEEPEY JEEP Club might not have
the Rubicon Trail to hand but they do have
regular access to Parkwood Off Road
Centre at Tong, on the outskirts of Bradford
and Leeds. The centre, long known
affectionately as ‘Tong’, offers some of the
finest woodland and rocky outcrops in one
of the longest established and most popular
Pay and Play areas in the country. Over the
weekend of 25/26 June, you’d have found
the place brim full of Jeeps, from WW2
Willys to 21st Century Renegades, all hell
bent on having muddy fun.
With their special recipe of a laid back
atmosphere and a friendly welcome to all,
the Jeepey Jeep Club was celebrating its
ninth Jeepey Jamboree, organised by the
long established northern-based Jeep club
and based on the original US Jeepers
Jamboree, the latter now in its 64th year of
‘epic four-wheel adventure’ on California’s
legendary trail. Jeepey likes to think
Yorkshire can equal that one day. As Mike
Bonner, who works tirelessly each year to
ensure the event goes ahead explained: ‘If
there is something which makes the Jeepey
Jamboree special, it’s the way Jeep owners
always look forward to this great annual
event and share the challenges and
opportunities offered at Parkwood.’
There are certainly plenty of challenges
for Jamboree participants. Woodland trails
76 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
could be gentle or for those with a taste for
spicier fare, deeply rutted and very slippery
tracks, requiring both a decent winch and the
ability to use it. Even the old Willys Jeeps were
happily wading and splashing through the
large puddles and the lake, the latter smaller
than it once was but still a fun challenge for
venerable if tough Jeeps which once saw
action of a more serious kind. It’s always good
to see such vehicles being used and enjoyed
rather than put out to grass.
Owners from all over the UK and indeed
Europe welcomed the opportunity to catch up
with old friends and talk Jeeps. This year the
club welcomed almost 100 Jeeps to the
event, some heavily modified with roll cages
and even sturdier suspension and body lifts
while others contented themselves with the
latest aftermarket extras. Even straightforward,
basic models ventured off road while other
Jeep owners were happy just to park up to
show their pride and joy and compare notes
with fellow Jeep owners.
Once again the club raised money for the
Yorkshire Air Ambulance, with a commendable
£1650 being donated to the charity from the
entry proceeds and fund raising activities at
this year event.
Very sadly, this year’s Jamboree was
overshadowed by tragic news of the sudden
death of Rebbecca Hoare, Parkwood Off
Road Centre’s long-standing manager.
Rebbecca had always been a keen supporter
of the Jeepey Jamboree, and shared the
club’s commitment for the YAA charity. Mike
added: ‘over the last nine years her support
through Parkwood Off Road Centre
contributed to the success of the Jeepey
Club, raising over £11,500 for the Yorkshire Air
Ambulance charity’.
In recognition of Rebbecca’s contribution
over the years, the landmark 10th Jeepey
Jamboree in 2017 will be dedicated to her
memory. Rebbecca’s father David has assured
Mike that he will do everything he can to ensure
the 10th Jeepey Jamboree will be the best ever!
The Jeepey Team will be back at Parkwood
Off Road Centre for the 2017, with Jeepey
Jamboree on the 24/25th June 2017, so make
sure those dates are in your diary now! For
further information contact Jeepey Jeep Club
at www.jeepey.com Many thanks to Andy
Bonner for the excellent photographs.
DUNSFOLD OUT AND ABOUT
THE SUMMER 2016 edition of the
consistently excellent little Dunsfold Collection
Newsletter confirmed that the fresh look, style
and content of the new format was going
down a storm with Collection Friends.
The Charity Land Rover Run from Kent to
Ypres from 3rd to 5th June proved very
popular. Now in its seventh year, no less than
39 Land Rovers took part, all built between
1948 and 1975. The 2016 run took in a
number of very moving Great War and WW2
sites on the way to Ypres, where more Land
Rovers from Belgium, France and Luxembourg
joined the convoy.
Richard Beddall, one of the Collection
Trustees accompanied the convoy in
Ermintrude, a 1956 Land Rover Series One
107in Station Wagon, once owned by the
Swedes
invade
Leafers
PROVING TRACKED HAGGLUNDS BV
206s aren’t the only military vehicle to come
out of Sweden, the annual August Bank
Holiday gathering for leaf sprung Land Rover
nuts was delighted to receive an unusual
visitor from Scandinavia this year.
The hard working organisers of the
Seriously Series forum bend the rules
occasionally when the odd Austin Champ
turns up and theoretically, anything with leaf
springs is welcome. However, your
correspondent has yet to see a Willys Jeep
brave the Solihull phalanx down the National
Coal Mining Museum near Wakefield.
However, Jeep spotters came close when
a Volvo PV Jeep 903 type L3304 rolled up
along with a couple of Land Rovers also from
the Yorkshire Military Vehicle Trust. This ‘jeep’
type vehicle was used by the Swedish army
the Dunsfold Collection. The £5000 raised by
the time the newsletter went to print will likely
be exceeded by now and every little helps in
securing a permanent home for the unique and
changing Dunsfold Collection. Many thanks to
Sue James for the photographs.
Duchy of Cornwall Estates until 1966 and
subsequently owned by David Davis of Devon
who covered 230,000 miles in the Series One
before taking her in a state of disrepair to Philip
Bashall for a rebuild. Making Series One Land
Rovers and Minervas on the trip look ordinary
was a very rare German built 80in Tempo and
a Tickford Station Wagon which was awarded
first prize by Land Rover writer John Smith.
Richard Beddall commented that he was glad
he hadn’t been asked to judge as it was an
‘unenviable task’ the selection which included
a lovely unrestored 109in Dormobile, a
beautifully restored Forward Control IIB and
several amazing Series One 107in variants.
Raising nearly £37,000 since 2010 for a
number of British charities, the run nominates a
different beneficiary each year and 2016 was
as a fast attack vehicle in the anti-tank regiment.
This example was built in 1963 and came out of
Swedish Army census in 1985.
Celebrating its 10th year, the three day 2016
Leafers at T’Pit managed to cram in even more
visitors than ever and spruced up show vehicles
lurked in every nook and cranny, making this the
biggest and most varied Leafers yet. All the
profits went to the National Coal Mining Museum
for England, the donation this year an awesome
£2145. Make a note for 2017; there could be far
worse ways to spend your August Bank Holiday!
Photographs: Louise Limb.
www.4x4i.com • December 2016 77
Let’s Go Off-Road
WHERE TO GO TO ENJOY YOUR 4X4

PAY AND PLAY SITES NOVEMBER SEMA SHOW, USA

Here are some of the best places to go off-road in
the UK. We would always advise that you call to
check dates and times. If you have a site that ought
to be included, email us at 4x4.ed@kelsey.co.uk
and mark your email 4x4 PAY AND PLAY
ASH 4X4
Ash 4x4 Ltd have a Pay and Play site at Chirk Quarry, LL14 5AH, near
Shrewsbury. Check the website as the venue may vary between
Hawkstone Park and Chirk Quarry. There are no toilets, food or other
amenities, just very good off-roading. Call Billy Hilton on 07581 030331
or go to the website: www.ash4x4.com
Here is one major international exhibition that if you ever get the chance to visit,
you really should! The 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show
takes place every year at the Las Vegas Convention Centre from the 1-4
November. It is a trade only event, and so not directly open to the public, yet still
manages to attract over 60,000 visitors each year. Visitors come from over 100
different countries and a lot of the products and services that are debuted in Las
Vegas will find their way all over the world. It’s not solely about things off-road and
four-wheel drive, but it is certainly all about some of the wildest and most ridiculous
and outrageous machines on the planet. Bigger isn’t always better, but this has to
be the biggest motor industry event for the performance and modification market
and it is certainly the best. Even if you cannot pay a visit, we will be giving you a full
pictoral report in a forthcoming issue. If you need to know more, and want to find
out how you apply for a trade visitor pass, go to www.semashow.com.

AVALANCHE ADVENTURE
Run by Avalanche Adventure, this venue is at Sibbercroft, near Market
Harborough. Pay and Play days and other 4x4/off-road activities. Give
them a call on 01858 880613 or look for more details on:
www.avalancheadventure.co.uk

BALA OFF ROAD LLANNERCH YR ERYR

The Llannerch yr Eryr farm and off-road site is a very popular and
well-known pay and play site. Spectacular views over Bala lake and

UK EVENTS DIARY
surrounding mountains. Always ring to check the weather in the
winter months. £30 a day, £20 after 1pm. Call: 07850 800709.
www.balaoffroad.co.uk
6
BURES PIT OCTOBER PAY AND PLAY DAYS
Large sand pit quarry in North Essex. The prices are £30 per vehicle, but 15/16 HAMPSHIRE Muddy Bottom Off Road
that can include up to four passengers. There’s a catering van on site. To BEDFORDSHIRE Devils Pit
ORGANISED DRIVES
learn more contact Terry and Karl at events@bures-pit.co.uk or to learn
Yorkshire 4x4 Treks have a weekend drive GWYNEDD Bala Off Road
more, go to: www.bures-pit.co.uk
around the Yorkshire Dales. £80 per day.
11
DEVIL’S PIT 16
Devil’s Pit is 60 acres of different courses (novice, experienced and expert)
PAY AND PLAY DAYS
JANUARY 2017
at Barton-Le-Clay, Nr Luton, MK45 4LG (A6) Bedfordshire (OS Grid ref:
TL078297). £26 per vehicle. Children (under 16) are free. Toilets and SOUTH YORKSHIRE Frickley ISSUE OF 4X4
catering, first aid and recovery facilities. Tel: 01582 883349
Email: devils.pit@virgin.net www.devilspit.co.uk
HAMPSHIRE Muddy Bottom Off Road
MAGAZINE
PAY AND PLAY DAYS
LEICESTERSHIRE Avalanche Adventure
ON SALE
ESSEX, ROCHFORD & DISTRICT 4X4 As this is being written we are actually
Essex, Rochford & District 4x4 Club have a 4x4 site located on enjoying a very warm autumn, but we all
Creeksea Ferry Road, Canewdon, Essex, open on the second Sunday 23 know that winter is just around the
of every month for both members and non-members, check out: corner, and next month we are
www.4x4er.co.uk PAY AND PLAY DAYS
producing our Winter Preparation issue
WEST SUSSEX Slindon Safari
to ensure your 4x4 is in tip top condition
FRICKLEY OFF-ROAD CENTRE 30 for when the temperature drops. For
Frickley Off-Road Centre is near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, DN5
PAY AND PLAY DAYS many, it’s the winter period when they
7BU and includes climbs, hollows, woodland and rock climbs suitable
decide to buy a cheap ‘winter 4x4’ and
for the novice to the experienced off-roader. £25 per vehicle, all ESSEX Bures Pit
road-legal 4x4s welcome. Call Charlie: 07836 544335
we cover the best options in our
SOUTH YORKSHIRE Frickley
Email: offroad@frickley4x4.co.uk www.frickley4x4.co.uk seasonal buying guide. We also have a
detail rebuild of a classic, and very rare,
HARBOUR HILL NOVEMBER Toyota Land Cruiser and report on the
24 Hours Off-road race from France. To
Harbour Hill, near Aldermaston A340. Non-members £30 (£10
membership, £20 for the day). Wheel washing, catering and toilets
1/4 ensure you never miss an issue, why not
available. Call: 07887 533168 Email: withoutaclub@yahoo.co.uk SEMA SHOW Las Vegas take out a subscription? Special offers
www.4x4-withoutaclub.co.uk (see separate panel) this month are on page 50 of this issue.

78 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

We aim to make this feature the most comprehensive off-road events’ calendar published, and you have to admit, there are a lot of
events listed here! However, we know we can do better, but need to hear from new Pay and Play sites, clubs, associations or travel
companies. Send us the details and a couple of pictures and we will highlight your event, off-road day, expedition or weekend jolly in
these pages. Just send to 4x4.ed@kelsey.co.uk mark the subject of the email: 4x4 CALENDAR

13 BEDFORDSHIRE Devils Pit

PAY AND PLAY DAYS HAMPSHIRE Muddy Bottom Off Road KIRTON OFF ROAD CENTRE
HAMPSHIRE Muddy Bottom Off Road WEST SUSSEX Piccadilly Wood Kirton Off Road Centre is a massive 600 acre site near Kirton
Lyndsey, Lincolnshire, DN21 4JH. Standard days are £40, and there
BERKSHIRE Harbour Hill
11 are often camping weekends at £75 inclusive. Check their website
WEST SUSSEX Slindon Safari
or call for more details. Call Paul: 07907 450974
ESSEX Essex, Rochford & District PAY AND PLAY DAYS Email: paul@korc.co.uk www.kirtonoffroadcentre.co.uk
SOUTH YORKSHIRE Frickley Off SOUTH YORKSHIRE Frickley Off
Road Centre Road Centre LANDCRAFT
20 BERKSHIRE Harbour Hill Offering the chance to get to some superb parts of Snowdonia, David
PAY AND PLAY DAYS WEST SUSSEX Slindon Safari Mitchell’s experienced outfit offer some great Adventure drives, and for
BEDFORDSHIRE Devils Pit those more ‘adventurous’, there’s always Adventure Plus. Paying on
HAMPSHIRE Muddy Bottom Off Road the day is £60 (inc VAT), pre-book and save £10. Call 07831 258864
18
27 Email: info@landcraft.co.uk www.landcraft4x4.co.uk
PAY AND PLAY DAYS
PAY AND PLAY DAYS HAMPSHIRE Muddy Bottom Off Road MUDDY BOTTOM 4X4
ESSEX Bures Pit
The Muddy Bottom 4x4 site is located in the heart of the New Forest
WEST SUSSEX Slindon Safari
26 (postcode SO43 7FL). All pay and play days have an entry fee of £25,
SOUTH YORKSHIRE Frickley Off and you need to be a member (day membership is only £1, or annual
Road Centre PAY AND PLAY DAYS membership £10). The site has a jet wash, burger van, picnic area and
BERKSHIRE Harbour Hill free recovery. Please note that no kinetic ropes are permitted on site,

DECEMBER 27
and that you will have to jet wash your vehicle before you leave to
avoid leaving any mud on the roads. To find out more contact Carla on
3/4 07754 940783 or 07801 088203. Email: muddybottom4x4@aol.com
PAY AND PLAY DAYS www.muddybottom4x4.com
ORGANISED DRIVE ESSEX Bures Pit
Two days of technical lanes through the
Lake District, rock crawling and river
PARKWOOD 4X4 (TONG)
crossings. You’ll need A/T tyres and 29/30 Parkwood is at Tong village, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD4 0RR.
Open 10-4pm, catering, toilets, first aid, vehicle wash, £35 per
Low Range. £90 each day. Check out: ORGANISED DRIVES vehicle including passengers - providing that there are correct fitting
www.yorkshire4x4treks.co.uk Wales Christmas Blast! Two days of seatbelts. Call: 0113 285 4356 Email: info@parkwood4x4.co.uk
driving (probably) in the snow after www.parkwood4x4.co.uk
4 Christmas. It’s suggested you wrap up
PAY AND PLAY DAYS warm! £90 per vehicle. To find out more PICCADILLY WOOD 4X4
GWYNEDD Bala Off Road go to: www.yorkshire4x4treks.co.uk This site is operational on the first Sunday of every month and
based at Colwood Lane, Bolney, West Sussex RH17 5QQ (just off
A23). Open between 10am – 4 pm, the cost is £30 per vehicle.

JANUARY 2017
AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL
As a public visitor, you might not be able to attend the SEMA Show in Las
Vegas (see separate panel) but you certainly can go to Autosport International,
which is now Europe’s largest indoor pre-season motorsport and performance
event. This is a major event for all motorsporting enthusiasts and will be
celebrating its 27th anniversary between 12th-15th January 2017, based at its
usual venue at the NEC in Birmingham. The show features the very latest in
motorsport, automotive and performance engineering technology, alongside
cars and exhibitors from every level of motor racing, and this includes off-road
racing. Last year there was a great display of the ULTRA4 Europe cars and it
was great to get up close to these amazing machines. If you enjoy motorsport
at any level, this is a great exhibition to visit. The show also has a separate Live
Action arena. You can find out more and buy advance tickets to both the show
and the Live Action showings by going to www.autosportinternational.com
There is free tractor recovery, toilets and the all important tea van!
You can contact them on 01444 461690/07984 543886, or to find
out more, email: jperver@btinternet.com or go to:
www.piccadillywood4x4.co.uk
SILVERDALE
Explore this site at Haying Wood, Silverdale, Stoke-on-Trent, ST5
6QQ which has 53 acres of steep wooded tracks, water holes and
mud! £25 per vehicle. Open from 10am until 4pm, road taxed
vehicles. Tel: 07970 286881. Email: exploreoffroad@hotmail.com
www.exploreoffroad.com
SLINDON SAFARI
Slindon Safari, near Arundel, West Sussex, 10am until 4pm; £30 per
vehicle, Quads welcome, £15, all riders 16+ and there’s a 10mph
speed limit. Routes for beginners and more advanced. Call: 01903
812195 or 07802 582826
Email: johnmorgan@4x4driving.co.uk www.4x4driving.co.uk

TRANS PENNINE OFF ROAD EVENTS

Club runs Pay and Play sites at various venues in Derbyshire including
Holymoorside, near Chesterfield, S42 7EG; Biggin Quarry, Ashborne,
DE6 1QU and Padley Wood Farm, S45 8EL. Gates open at 9.00am
and costs are £20 per vehicle. Catering and toilet facilities.
Email: events@tpore.co.uk Check out: www.tpore.co.uk

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 79

BUYING USED
Range Rover (1994-2002)

STEPPING UP
The Range Rover started out as an off-road truck with a thin
veneer of sophistication. From 1994, a rapid sequence of
fundamental transformations saw the tables turned as luxury
and refinement took precedence over hard-core image
TARGET RANGE: £5000

80 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com

T
he Range Rover was an
inspired concept. Take a
seriously competent hard-core
off-road chassis, put a stylish
body on it and sell it as a luxury car. It
was an instant hit, so much so that no
competitor has yet managed to topple
it from its podium-topping place as the
luxury SUV to be seen in. The popularity
of the model was not lost on rival
manufacturers, who may indeed have
been somewhat bewildered at the
Range Rover’s early success in spite of
an almost legendary reputation for
unreliability. When BMW took control in
1994, it would certainly have been in
the hope of ironing out those reliability
issues; they may have found that an
overly daunting challenge, which
explains their eagerness to sell the Land
Rover brand to Ford just six years later,
but they did at least kick-start the
process helping to make the all-new
second-generation model for the 1995
model year a much more reliable and
desirable proposition.
This uprated Range Rover was
described as all new, but it was still very
much a traditional Land Rover product.
However, it did give a clear indication
that the Range Rover was losing its
agricultural roots and aiming for the
heights of luxury with more opulence
inside and more power and mechanical
refinement from reworked versions of
the original 3.5-litre petrol V8. The
overall shape was little changed, so the
new model retained all its original
classic appeal, the interiors were more
spacious and more opulently
appointed, higher-specification versions
featuring superb Connolly leather
upholstery and concert-quality stereos
- hi-fi rather than Wi-Fi in those days,
but nevertheless already leading the
way in in-car technology. In family mode
the Range Rover is a comfortable
five-seater, but it can also be quickly
While it did get
significant cosmetic
improvements over
the original, this is still
a ‘real’ Range Rover
converted into a luxury load carrier,
tipping up the split-fold rear seats
reveals a long flat load bed untroubled
by awkward wheelarch intrusion,
backed by a payload of nearly 700kg,
not to mention the drop-down tailgate
which can either be used to support a
longer load or serve as a comfortable
bench or picnic table while watching
the horse trials.
The main input from new owners
BMW was the availability of a 2.5-litre
straight-six turbodiesel engine,
replacing the Td5 of the previous
generation, but the mainstream power
was still of the petrol V8 variety, a
4.0-litre 187bhp unit in entry-level base
or SE models, a 4.6-litre variant with
222bhp on tap in the more luxurious
HSE; after 2000 this could also be
specified with the 2.5DT. Base versions
have a five-speed manual, others a
four-speed automatic; as before all
versions have a proper geared
www.4x4i.com • December 2016 81
BUYING USED
Range Rover (1994-2002)
permanent four-wheel drive system with
dual range gearing.
The chassis remained the separate
steel subframe with rigid axles, but
suspended on air springs aimed at
giving a more refined quality of ride,
with the added practicality of variable
ride heights. It’s a set-up that arguably
marks this as the last of the true
off-road Range Rovers; riding high on
its air suspension and with excellent
articulation from the rigid axles and the
body protected by the underslung
separate chassis it retains much of the
genuine hard-core capability of the
original; the all new monocoque bodied
third generation car of 2002 with its
independent suspension is still a class
leader in off-road competence, but it
needs its cutting-edge electronic driving
aids - and impressive as they are, the
82 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
later Range Rover is just too Above: Of its time, yet
sophisticated to be trashed off-road. still a sophisticated
On the other hand, since an early and quality interior
second-generation model could be
yours for as little as £500, leather luxury
and all, you’d have a car that would
happily provide some serious off-road
excitement. Or, if you’re thinking more
of some classic high street posing,
£5000 could buy you a high-
specification HSE with less than
100,000 miles, which with a little care
and attention could provide many more
years of luxurious family transport.
OUR VERDICTS
The Range Rover has attracted many
rivals over the decades, but nothing’s
really matched its particular blend of Below: This version’s
elegant style, opulence, on-road bodyshape is still very
presence and off-road ability. The first true to the original
 The uprated Range Rover was described
as all new, but it was still very much a
traditional Land Rover product

significant comparison we featured
coincided with our 4x4 Of The Year
gathering for 1995, and the cars we
picked to challenge the new Range
Rover were a Toyota Land Cruiser, a
Mitsubishi Shogun and a Vauxhall
Monterey. As you might expect the
cheap and cheerful Monterey (a
rebadged Trooper) was quickly
sidelined, while the massive Toyota
gripped everyone’s attention with its
gutsy 4.2-litre turbodiesel engine. The
Shogun impressed with its solid build
but lost out for its dated styling, leaving
the Range Rover uncharacteristically in
second place. In retrospect we blame
the decision to feature the DSE version,
a low-specification model with the
smooth-revving but gutless 2.5-litre
BMW turbodiesel, which did the car no
favours either in its dull on-road
performance or in tough off-road
situations where low-rev torque is
paramount. However, we did
appreciate the more general
improvements over the original: “The
Range Rover has a far better armoury
of handling characteristics, making it a
significant improvement over the
previous model. Steering, gearchange
and pedals are all easier to use,
needing far less physical effort than
before. The interior is lighter and more
spacious than any of the other vehicles
in this group, the whole design being a
big improvement. The Range Rover has
class, it has outstanding heritage and a
desirable image.”
When Jeep introduced its new
4.7-litre V8 in a high-specification Grand
Cherokee we felt the need for a
thoroughly detailed comparison. This
time the verdict of this showdown test,
featured in the October 1999 issue, was
a clear win for the Range Rover even
though one of the first comments was a
reference to the eye-watering price tag
of the 4.6HSE - £51,170 - for which
you could buy a Grand Cherokee 4.7
Limited (£35,020) and a Wrangler 4.0
Sport (£15,720) and still walk away with
some change.
What swung it for the Range Rover
was partly the extra oomph provided by
the V8 - which we described as the
engine the Range Rover deserves - but
also the sheer levels of interior luxury.
While we enjoyed the lively performance
and boy-racer handling of the Jeep, the
Range Rover behaved with so much
more aplomb. We wrote: “Progress in
the Range Rover is more refined than in
the Jeep, the interior remaining
beautifully isolated from the outside
world. The look and feel of the Range
Rover’s interior is more impressively
traditional and the big, classically styled
body has enormous road presence. The
Jeep makes more economic sense, but
the Range Rover HSE is the one to be
in if you want people to know that
you’re seriously rich. As long as image
still counts it will retain its right to
off-road royalty.”
We revisited the Range Rover as,
with the all-new 2002 model looming,
Land Rover made a final effort to
enhance the luxury appeal of the
run-out range by reintroducing the
high-specification Vogue. We were
impressed by the unrivalled opulence of

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 83

BUYING USED
Range Rover (1994-2002)
the interior: “What makes the Vogue is
the traditional wood and leather trim.
There’s no faulting the delightfully
crafted Connolly leather seats, the
touches of walnut veneer on the door
caps and on the upper dash panel are
elegantly appealing.”
But the key comment came later:
“For all its air-conditioned luxury the
Range Rover is still an off-road truck
under that elegantly polished body. It
has good ground clearance, excellent
wading ability and surprisingly good
approach and departure angles in spite
of the heavy bumpering front and rear.
The big V8 is also an ideal off-road tool,
with a broad torque band that starts
virtually from idle. The air suspension
also comes into its own in the rough,
allowing the car to be lifted two inches
84 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
over its normal ride height, with another
inch available automatically if the car
grounds out.”
Land Rover chose at the same time
to add off-road guidance to their Carin
satnav system, giving a compass
bearing and the car’s position in relation
to surrounding roads. “Don’t worry if
you’re too far away from the tarmac,”
we commented, “because the screen
also shows your exact latitude and
longitude, so at least the rescue
helicopter will know exactly where to
find you. A gimmick? Of course, but like
so many other features, the Range
Rover’s got it.”
WHICH ONE TO BUY
Much of any Range Rover’s equipment
list will be made up from optional
Above: For many, additions, the entry-level DT versions
this is the real Range will have cloth upholstery but will have
Rover shape - later electric seat adjustment, along with
models becoming basic luxuries such as air conditioning,
smoother and more electric windows, cruise control and
rounded prehaps, but remote controls for the stereo. The
also more corpulent base models are few and far between,
in fact several we saw advertised as
“DT” turned out be smarter DSE
versions, such as the elegant dark
green 1995 example with still-superb
black leather upholstery asking £1975
at Arc Cars of South Shields (07832
121019), excellent condition for its age
and with an MOT to August 2017,
though it is a high-miler with 174,000
on the clock.
Pick a turbodiesel by all means if
you’re that concerned about fuel
economy but be prepared to accept the
dull performance - unless the engine
has been chipped to provide a punchier
output, make sure you know about any
such enhancement because it may
affect your insurance.
The SE is a step up from the basic,
but is also the entry-level model for the
4.0-litre petrol V8 engine, certainly
thirstier than the turbodiesel but much
livelier and more refined. Lion Motors of
Tipton (07572 412730) had a 1996
example with good service history and
a new MOT, 152,000 miles but still a
good runner with pristine-looking piped
beige leather upholstery.
The higher HSE trim always proved
popular, so there’s a good selection
available, these will have either the
turbodiesel or a petrol V8 and
equipment might include an electric
sunroof, leather upholstery with heated
seats, headlamp washers and a CD
 Specifications
multichanger. You shouldn’t need more leather, full service history and sold with
Range Rover
than £2000 to acquire an early a new MOT and six month warranty. 4.0 V8
high-miler still in good condition, but Best deal, however, has to be the
Engine: 8cyl/3947cc
we’d suggest picking a later model to £4999 tag on the 2001 Y-reg white
take advantage of the improved torque 60,000 miler with beige leather interior, Power: 187bhp@4750rpm
and economy of the post-1999 petrol good service history and new MOT at
Torque: 235lb ft@3000rpm
engines. Cars of Ringwood (01425 Trade Cars of Newcastle (0191 265
206169) had a 4.0 V8 from 2001 in 9700); why the keen price? Probably
metallic silver with an uprated Premium because it’s had the air springs 4.6 V8
ICE system on offer at £3999, 89,000 replaced by traditional coils.
miles, with a good service history, three- There were also several special
Engine: 8cyl/4552cc
month warranty and a long MOT, editions, including the Linley, the Power: 222bhp@4750rpm
Bedford Car Centre (01234 217777) Holland and Holland and Bordeaux,
had a similar-age one-owner 82,000- worth looking out for only if you like the
Torque: 280lb ft@3000rpm
mile TD HSE in metallic Oslo Blue with idea of owning a special edition - in any
beige leather upholstery at £4490, full case we haven’t seen any second-hand 2.5 Td
service history and six-month warranty. examples worth shouting about. The
More luxurious versions such as most luxurious production model was Engine: 6cyl/2497cc
Vogue will include upgraded stereo the Westminster, again rare, but Power: 134bhp@4400rpm
Below: This model is systems and satnav, John Kemp of ultimately no more desirable than an
available with BMW’s Hethersett (01603 508333) was asking Autobiography, one of these definitely
Torque: 198lb ft@2300rpm
2.5-litre straight six £7995 for an 84,000-mile 4.6 V8 Vogue worth looking at is the 4.6 V8-powered
turbodiesel engine on a 51 plate, metallic red with beige example with electric sunroof and Transmission:
Five-speed manual/Four-speed auto
4WD: Permanent
Dual range

Suspension:
Front: Rigid axle, air springs
Rear: Rigid axle, air springs

Brakes: Ventilated discs front and rear

Tyres: 255/65R16
Length: 4715mm
Width: 1850mm
Height: 1820mm
Weight: 2090kg
Towing capacity: 3500kg

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 85

BUYING USED
Range Rover (1994-2002)
concert-quality stereo, a 1996 model
but with just 73,000 miles, sold with a
new MOT, three-month warranty and
12-month AA recovery package, just
£2995 at Roneo Prestige of Hornchurch
(01708 573702).
LOOK OUT FOR
ENGINE
Generally speaking, if a Range Rover’s
engine is still running well after 100,000
miles it’s probably not going to fail;
porous cylinder blocks are a known
problem but usually show quite early in
the car’s life. Cooling systems can
pressurise, usually because of blocked
hoses, leading to overheating and
blown head gaskets, so check that the
temperature stays normal when the car
idles. A car that’s been off-roaded could
suffer clogging or damage to the
radiator, which could also cause
overheating. Check the coolant
reservoir for signs of mayonnaise which
could indicate a failing gasket. A
sluggish starter motor could be down to
a weak battery, cash-conscious owners
might have fitted a replacement battery
that looks the right size but doesn’t
provide adequate cranking current. The
turbodiesel has a plastic impeller that
has a habit of cracking up, one
symptom is the lack of heating inside
the car, but it will lead to overheating
and engine damage.
DRIVETRAIN
The four-speed ZF transmission is
usually trouble-free but the electronic
86 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
air system with readily-available longer
coil springs to give good ride height and
better articulation. If the car you’re
buying has the air springs check that it
works properly by selecting all five
heights and ensure that the system
works quickly and that the car remains
at its maximum height without frequent
recourse to more pumping from the
compressor. Worn ball joints can give
the steering an excessively vague feel,
the wheel should turn smoothly and
freely, any irregularity could point to a
failing power steering pump or worn
joints in the collapsible steering column.
BODY AND INTERIOR
The only parts of the body that seem to
be prone to corrosion are the rear
wheelarches, have a good look
underneath. Most problems affecting
this model are electrical, make sure that
all systems work, particularly the air
conditioning - higher-specification
models have a complex dual zone
system that can fail, others have a
simpler heater system with a matrix that
can spring a leak, check the driver’s
footwell for signs of such dripping. Cars
with sunroofs can also show signs of
water ingress, usually because the
drainage tube has become clogged, this
may be easily cured by blowing it
through with an air line. Build quality
control system can glitch, one symptom Above: If you buy a was better for this generation, but it’s
being that it won’t engage the ‘Sport’ Range Rover, make still worth having a look around to see
mode. The manual gearbox is also sure that you make that body panels and door shut lines are
strong but the synchromesh can wear full use of its excellent as neat as you’d like them to be.
excessively, especially noticeable when abilities!
changing down from third to second. A
rough or noisy change quality could
also be caused by a worn clutch, but
either way reject the car and look for
something better. Also check that the
transfer gearbox works smoothly, and
check underneath for oil leaks. Wheel
bearings are worth checking on an
older car, these frequently need
replacing after about 100,000 miles,
check their condition at the same time
as inspecting the brake discs for
excessive wear. Excessive pressure
needed to brake effectively could point
to seized caliper pistons.
CHASSIS
The steel chassis ought not to show
serious signs of corrosion, but if the car
is otherwise in good shape it might be
worth having the chassis cleaned and
properly undersealed. The main
problem affecting older cars is a failing
air suspension system, which could be
caused by a faulty compressor or
cracked and leaking air bags. A repair
can be expensive, many owners have
taken the simpler option of fitting
traditional coil springs which in reality is
no hardship unless you really want to
make use of the five ride heights offered
by the pneumatic system; if you intend
to use the car as an off-road plaything it
would make sense to replace a faulty
Or you could consider…
TOYOTA LAND CRUISER AMAZON
This is the car that outpointed the Range Rover in our comparison
test back in 1995, both for being cheaper and for having a lustier
engine. The big Cruiser also has magnificent road presence even if
only because of its sheer size, and it also outclasses the Range
Rover in having a huge eight-seater passenger compartment. One
key advantage boasted by the Amazon is legendary reliability, but
that in turn does rather turn the tables pricewise two decades on;
you’ll be hard-pressed to find a well-maintained Amazon for less
than £5000. The big Toyota is by no means perfect, however, the
styling is blandly dated, the ride quality not as refined as the
Range Rover and although the 4.2-litre turbodiesel has much
more muscle than the puny BMW turbodiesel in the Range Rover
it’s not particularly economical; consider the 4.7-litre petrol
alternative, if you’re paying that much for your daily transport you
might as well enjoy the punch and refinement of a big V8.

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE PORSCHE CAYENNE

Back in 1999 our head-to-head test relegated the brash Jeep to
second place behind the Range Rover, but we did make the point
that the Jeep was also packed with luxury equipment but at a much
lower, better-value price. Heavy depreciation on the Range Rover
means that’s no longer the case, so it could just boil down to the
driving experience; the Range Rover isolates passengers from its
surroundings, the less sophisticated Jeep is a much more involving
affair and will please enthusiast drivers. It also offers excellent
performance from the 4.7-litre V8, end even if economy concerns
lead you to think of the 2.7-litre turbodiesel you’ll find it a lustier
engine than the BMW unit in the Range Rover, although it’s noisier
and less fuel efficient it does work well as an off-road engine with
bags of low-down torque. Mechanical reliability is also good, though
you’ll need to make sure all the electrical systems, including the air
con, work properly.
This may not seem like the obvious alternative to a stately and
elegant Range Rover, but let’s face it, other rivals such as the BMW
X5 and Mercedes ML are just too bland on the outside and
uninspiring inside to come anywhere near. If you’re looking for a
distinctive vehicle that makes a statement, the Porsche will do just
that. The Cayenne is mainly about performance, but the luxurious
and spacious interior will still provide convenient family
accommodation, and the four-wheel drive system will even allow a
modicum of off-road adventure. Being enthusiasts, we’d naturally
point you towards the 4.5-litre Turbo S with its five-second 0-60mph
acceleration, but they’ll be rare under £7000 - unfortunately the same
applies to the 3.0-litre turbodiesel. However, since you oughtn’t to be
thinking about a Porsche unless to wanted some driving excitement,
there are lots of the 4.5 S version around offering significantly more
pace and handling pleasure than a Range Rover.

CLASSIC OR
MORE REFINED?
The Range Rover buying second-hand options
are certainly varied. If you are brave, and have a
well-equipped workshop, then you could buy an
earlier version, now known as the Classic. We
had a full Buying Guide on this model in our
January 2013 issue. If it’s even more refinement
that you are after, we have a comparison test of
the 2005 model year Range Rover up against
the comparable Mercedes-Benz ML in our
November 2012 issue. Back issues are available
to buy online, go to: shop.kelsey.co.uk/4x4

www.4x4i.com • December 2016 87

ODDBALLS
S
FORGOTTEN 4X4S
PERODUA NAUTICA
Malaysia’s biggest car manufacturer has always had links with Daihatsu,
although the Terios-derived Nautica was a short-lived venture. Paul
Guinness explains the background to this compact SUV
P
erodua may not be known in the UK
as a manufacturer of 4x4s, but in its
Malaysian homeland it’s had success
in this sector thanks to links with
Daihatsu, Japan’s foremost specialist in compact
vehicles of all types. That’s because Perodua is
25 per cent owned by Daihatsu, which means
there’s inevitably been plenty of Daihatsu
influence in each new model over the years.
Daihatsu’s own take on the mini-SUV theme
– the Terios – is, of course, fairly well-known in
Britain, where it sold strongly in both first- and
second-generation guises until the company’s
imports ceased altogether five years ago.
Daihatsu is still missed by many 4x4 enthusiasts
in the UK, particularly by those who remember
the glory days of the Fourtrack workhorse.
Anyway, I digress. Regular readers may recall
that we ran a feature on the Perodua Kembara
(no, not Ken Barlow) back in our May 2015
issue, this Malaysian-assembled 4x4 being little
more than a badge-engineered Daihatsu Terios
Mk1. It proved to be a popular model in its
homeland, selling well from its launch in 1998 to
88 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
its eventual demise 10 years later. By then,
however, Daihatsu was already offering its
second-generation Terios in Japan and major
export markets (including Britain), and so it was
inevitable that Perodua would launch its own
version to replace the by-then-dated Kembara.
That’s where the Perodua Nautica enters the
story, with this re-badged latest-spec Terios
going on sale in Malaysia in 2008. After the
rather dated Kembara, the Nautica was a
refreshingly modern design that looked set to
have a great future. But there was a downside,
because the Nautica wasn’t the only badge-
engineered Terios being sold in Malaysia.
Also arriving was the Toyota Rush, available in
both short- and long-wheelbase guises and
again being a Terios in all but name. Surely
though, Malaysian buyers would rather opt for a
locally-produced Perodua than a Toyota
imported fully-built from Japan? In theory, yes;
but the truth was that the Nautica was also
imported as a complete vehicle, with only the
front grille and both bumpers being
manufactured and fitted in Malaysia.
Not only was this a disappointment to
anyone hoping to buying a Malaysian-built SUV,
the Nautica also fell foul of the country’s strict
regulations regarding vehicle imports. Permits
were needed, which proved to be reasonably
easy for a foreign company like Toyota to
arrange. But with Perodua being considered a
national car company with its focus on
Malaysian assembly, the government wouldn’t
issue enough import permits to make the
project worthwhile.
The Nautica was available in a choice of just
two colours (Medallion Grey or Majestic Black),
with only one engine option (a 1.5-litre four-
cylinder petrol unit) and automatic-only
transmission. Not enough vehicles could be
imported to allow expansion of the range, which
led to the Nautica being discontinued as early as
2009 – less than a year after it first went on sale.
In the end, just 489 examples of the Nautica
were sold in Malaysia, making it the least
successful Perodua of all time. It was a sad end
for a model that could – and should – have had
real sales potential.
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In spite of its big V8 power, the pick-up based Blazer might not
have been the most memorable vehicle produced by Chevrolet,
A
s a Jeep enthusiast I’ve always
appreciated the marque’s dedication
to off-road capability, and in
particular the way the old Cherokee
offered a rough-and-ready but nevertheless
competent blend of on-road comfort, off-road
competence and excellent all-round
practicality. However, I do sometimes wear my
Chevrolet cap, not that Louis, the Swiss bloke
who gave his name to the Chevrolet Motor
Company in 1911, had anything to do with the
1957 Bel Air sedan which has to be one of the
automotive styling icons of the 20th Century,
or the almost art deco Corvette of the same
era with its side coves sweeping back from
the front wheelarches, or the muscle car
Camaro of the ’70s with its 7-litre version of
the legendary small-block V8. Yes, I know
none of these has anything to do with
four-wheel drive, but during the 70s Chevrolet
also made the charismatic 4x4 Blazer estate.
The bout of nostalgia that brought the
Blazer to mind was inspired by a recent flying
visit to the Isle of Wight. As everyone knows,
time on the island runs more than a few
decades behind the mainland, as evidenced
by strains of Paul McCartney’s Mull of Kintyre
and various Abba tracks providing the
background music at the tapas bar we visited
one evening. These sounds of the ’70s took
me right back to the first group comparison of
four-wheel drive vehicles I attended for a
magazine - not this one, which is interesting
since it shows that even back then there was
a recognition in the general motoring press
98 December 2016 • www.4x4i.com
BOB COOKE
TRAIL
BLAZER
but it has a place in Jeep history
that interest in four-wheel drive vehicles was
about to take off. There were seven cars
involved, including an obvious rival for the
Blazer in the form of a Jeep Cherokee Chief;
these were naturally pitted against a Range
Rover, but there was also a little Daihatsu Taft
taking on a Lada Niva, and a Subaru estate
challenged by a pretender if there ever was
one, a Matra Rancho which looked the 4x4
part but only had drive to the front wheels.
The Matra was quickly sidelined, as recalled
in the comment that appeared in the July
1978 issue: “…after we finally dragged it out
of the mud with the Range Rover we forgot
about it in scorn and left it parked to watch the
other cars having fun.” We recognised the
go-anywhere ability of the Daihatsu but felt
that even at half the price it was no match for
a man-sized Land Rover. The Subaru
surprised us with its off-road competence and
comfort, the Niva for its competence and lack
of comfort.
Naturally the Range Rover won: “For sheer
competence on mud, steep and unsurfaced
tracks, or for coping with massive ruts the
Range Rover is exceptionally good, combined
with outstandingly good road behaviour which
makes it an unrivalled dual-purpose vehicle.”
The four-door Cherokee Chief pleased
because of the roomy interior - the Range
Rover was still only available with two doors
- and the 178bhp power of the 5.9-litre V8, but
lost points for its brash styling and crashy
leaf-spring suspension. In comparison the
two-door Blazer still felt very much like a
The Blazer in a 1978 off-road test
pick-up truck in drag - which, of course, it was,
and it was difficult to disguise these origins in
spite of luxuries such as air conditioning,
carpeted floors and smart upholstery fabric. I
wrote: “It’s a typically American approach to a
‘go anywhere’ vehicle; it’s as much a fun
machine as a workhorse as shown by the
comparatively poor internal capacity and
comfort-oriented interior. It copes well with
heavy loads, makes a good tow vehicle and it
handles rough conditions with ease, but where
it would really feel at home is cruising through
some North American forest with camp beds,
fishing tackle and a couple of six-packs of
Budweiser in the back.”
It was interesting for its time in having
permanent four-wheel drive, the 5.7-litre V8
driving through a three-speed automatic and
a two-speed transfer box, with limited slip
differentials optionally available. I commented:
“The Blazer looks stylish and sophisticated,
but there has been no attempt to introduce a
sophisticated suspension system. There are
leaf springs all round, resulting in a harsh,
hard ride.”
Hardly, you might think, the kind of vehicle
that would prompt me to put on my Chevy
cap. I do have a soft spot for the Blazer,
though, because Chevrolet launched it in
1969 as a rival to Jeep’s still very basic CJ
vehicles, and was directly responsible for
dragging Jeep into modern SUV territory by
forcing it to develop a compact two-door
version of its massive Wagoneer for 1974 -
the Cherokee. Bob
 GOODWINCH LIMITED
East Foldhay, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton,
Devon, EX17 6DH, England
Tel: 01363 82666 Fax: 01363 82782
E: sales@goodwinch.com W: www.goodwinch.com
TDS GOLDFISH WINCHES - The Best!
Also available as a Commercial TDS-12.0c
Goldfish complete with wire rope, roller
fairleads, and a heavy duty swingaway pulley
block. 12,000 lbs. Super value at
£498 + VAT.
Upgrade to 11mm x 90’ (27.5m)
Dyneema® Bowrope and aluminium
hawse in lieu of wire rope
£149 + VAT
All prices shown above are for 12 volt winches. Also available in 24 volt
SPECIAL OFFER WINCH & DEFENDER BUMPER full system Deals
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A TDS-Goldfish in Defender Air Con Bumper We also have special offers for Discovery 1 & 2 and Classic Range Rover
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We have BRB bumpers & fitting kits to suit Land Rover, Discovery 200, 300 & series 2,3 & 4 plus Classic Range Rover and P38
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Importers, Exporters, Wholesale Distributors & Retailers of Winches & Accessories
AS MOST OF OUR BUSINESS IS UK & EUROPEAN 4x4 DEALERS AND OVERSEAS SALES, ALL PRICES ARE PLUS CARRIAGE AND VAT (e&oe)
TDS-9.5c Goldfish complete with
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block. 9,500 lbs.
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TDS-9.5i Bridge Model Goldfish
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£479 + VAT
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Dyneema® Bowrope and aluminium
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£149 + VAT
Goodwinch Bow ‘2’ Powered High
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upgraded by David Bowyer
£669 + VAT
11mm x 90’ (27.5m)
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£149 + VAT
Goodwinch Bow ’2’ Powered Large
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£864 + VAT
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Dyneema® Bowrope with an
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NEW - Short Drum TDS-12.0
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winch with no rope or hawse, in 12
volts for
£423 + VAT
Or with a10mm x 75’ Dyneema®
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Or as shown in the picture,
mounted on a portable Bak Rak kit
complete with vehicle harness and
Anderson fittings
£653 + VAT
Also available our new receiver
hitch mounting kit. See website for
details.
Defender non air con Bumper.
All for £699 plus VAT (air con plus £10 plus VAT) (normally £716 plus VAT)
with Dyneema© Bowrope and Ali Hawse £848 plus VAT
There are three David Bowyer and
different ratios, three his team have a
motor variants and great number of
three drum sizes in years experience in
both 12 volt and winch design. David
24 volt. All can be has been teaching
Turbo Power Driven the use of winches
to give amazing line and using them for
speeds. nearly 30 years.
Dyneema® Bowrope - available from stock in
5, 6, 8,10, 11,12 & 14 mm. Ready made ropes
are complete with red safety hook or larger
yellow competition hook and tubed thimble
10mm x 100’ (30.5m) £179 + VAT
11mm x 100’ (30.5m) £189 + VAT
Bowmotor replacement winch motors. Large Also available in Green Budget Bowrope
brushes in brass holders, copper welded
10mm x 100’ (30.5m) £119 + VAT
commutators, superb quality. In three sizes,
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Bowmotor ’1’ 5.6 hp @ 4000 rpm and the longer
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New Bowmotor ‘3’ larger again 5” diameter 10”
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Bowmotor ‘1’ 175mm long 12v or 24v £159 + VAT
Bowmotor ’2’ 196mm long 12v or 24v £199 + VAT
Bowmotor ’3’ 252mm long 12v or 24v £275+ VAT
GOODWINCH Turbo Power Controller for the
serious competition enthusiast. Instant, on the
fly, 24 volts to your 12 volt TDS winch, or any
other Bowmotor powered winch for high speed
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harnesses and in cab switching panel
£199 + VAT
Land Rover Defender Bumper Also available for ‘Twin Motor Winches’
£299 + VAT
for TDS / EP9 winches
Non Air Con Special Price £189 + VAT
Air Con Special Price £199 + VAT
For other bumpers and fitting kits please
see website
Full range of winch spares, Albright and EP
sealed solenoids, handsets, quick disconnect
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£99 + VAT
ATV/GP 3000 & 4000 lb Winches
Both come complete with wire rope, roller
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100’s of uses around the home, garage,
TDS budget DIY Wireless Remote Control garden, trailers, portable towball use,
System for light duty use. 12 volt only. caravanning, swimming pool covers,
£39 + VAT mobility scooters and chairs and of course
Mini Lodar Wireless Remote Control System. quad bikes. Available in both 12 or 24 volt.
Unbeatable performance. Available in 12 or 24 12 volt ATV/GP3000 £197 + VAT
volt. 12 volt ATV/GP4000 £221 + VAT
£125 + VAT Either can be upgraded with 5 or 6mm
Dyneema Bowrope and Ali Hawse
A TDS-9.5i Bridge Model with Dyneema® Bowrope and
Aluminium Hawse in a Defender Bumper
He will be pleased to His Off-Road Training
advise you on the Centre and school
Come and see us at
most suitable one to facility is now fully
have, how to use it open again, and Malvern 4x4 Vintage Spares
through watching his invites you to go to Day
DVD on winching the website October Sunday 23rd
techniques, and any 1www.goodwinch.com
questions you may and click on ‘courses’
have.
&
for more information.
Great British Landrover Show
Stoneleigh Showground
November Sunday 27th
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