Is the LR3 a Serious Off-Road Competitor?

[Aubs]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

I have personally wheeled with the LR3's.

It was a desert run, and they did sustain some bumper damage. But I think if they had a few mods, ie tires and a rock rails etc, they would make a great wheeling vehicle.

They have traction control up the arse. A button for every type of terrain, and it will literally drive itself!

They are not rock buggy's, but neither is an H3.

I echo these thoughts in a way. I find that A/B/D angles are really important, but also the traction control systems play a huge part. I wheeled with a buddy that had a Cherokee, and basically he just gunned whatever he wanted to conquer. With TC, you can go at a nice, slow pace and let the vehicle do the work.

I do think the LR3 tires are not very well suited for off-road situations. But the Terrain Response system looks like it could be pretty amazing. And as for the tippy bit, Land Rover claims that the LR3 will do a 45 degree ascent drive through, and a 35 degree sustained side slope. Note that's degrees, not %. Also, the Hill Descent Control is pretty amazing (BMW has it, got it from LR) and it works very well when descending an icy slope anyway.

Actually, I shouldn't have spoken so quickly earlier. The approach angle matches the H3 (well, .3 off), the breakover beats the H3 over the head, but the departure angle is poor, probably because of the spare's location.

You do get 9.5 inches of clearance under the differentials and can do 27" of water. Actually the physical dimensions are very similar. Interestingly enough you have to add underbody protection to an H3 and an LR3 to get decent protection. The LR3 does offer something I haven't seen on one yet, a snorkel in the accessories picker. I wonder what kind of wading you can do then? There's no specs on it. Heck, there's even a cage for Shaggy:




Let's see, also we have a 4-corner independent air suspension (which is probably a problem spot for LR), and you get 7,700 lbs towing capacity. That's more than my H2! Curb weight is 5,700lbs.


Well, I think tomorrow I might just go drive one of these things. Just for the hell of it. Maybe they will let me take my H2 over the course too.

Wow, in May only 1,549 LR3's were sold. That's down 12.6% from last year.


Finally, LR says there is 10 inches front and 13 inches rear wheel travel. Is this a lot? I can't find the specs on the H3's travel. The DAKAR version has 20, but that doesn't even look like an H3 anymore..