RE: PHTV Clip of the Day - SUV drag race

[TurboHatchback]

The point of these is utterly lost on me. I like fast cars and I like 4x4s but this type of vehicle is stupendously pointless.

[300bhp/ton]

TurboHatchback said:

The point of these is utterly lost on me. I like fast cars and I like 4x4s but this type of vehicle is stupendously pointless.

I guess what I don't understand is, why would you not want a faster, more powerful vehicle?

Nobody would force you to drive at full throttle and if you never intended to do so, then there are other models in the range.

But saying they are pointless would be like claiming a Porsche 911 Turbo is pointless, because you can break ever speed limit in a regular Carrera.

[300bhp/ton]

If anyone wants to see how the Range Rover SVR does, there is a good video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL6jq2XteeQ&ab...

Awesome colour too!

[Richales]

I also wish they'd put the SVR in the ring with the other three.

I just sold mine, what a machine. Missing it already.

[ZeroH]

_Superleggera_ said:

I don't think Launch Control would have made much difference to be honest.

Still I'm of the same opinion as you. Would keep my Cayenne over the BMW.

Was suprised because turboS is same power, and a chunk lighter, and the regular 520hp has been timed by the German press as only 0.6s slower than the x5m to 200kmh - hence would fully expect a turboS to have the edge.

[TurboHatchback]

300bhp/ton said:

I guess what I don't understand is, why would you not want a faster, more powerful vehicle?

Nobody would force you to drive at full throttle and if you never intended to do so, then there are other models in the range.

But saying they are pointless would be like claiming a Porsche 911 Turbo is pointless, because you can break ever speed limit in a regular Carrera.

Because making them go that fast necessitates removing any off-road capability they might once have had which is the only reason for their existence in the first place. What is the point of an 'SUV' that can't go off road? It's a bit like fitting a formula 1 car with a lift kit and 44" mud terrain tyres then going "Look how much better it is off road now!", yes it is but now it's hopeless at racing and still not as good as a proper off-roader hence utterly pointless.

I've owned a reasonably quick 4x4 (Jeep Commander 5.7 Hemi), it was great apart from its enormous thirst. The crucial difference was that it kept all the off road necessities (locking diffs, small wheels with fat tyres, live rear axle, soft suspension with big travel etc) so actually worked at what it was supposed to do (going off road). All of these would be stuck or broken pretty much immediately if presented with any real difficult terrain.

[ZeroH]

TurboHatchback said:

Because making them go that fast necessitates removing any off-road capability they might once have had which is the only reason for their existence in the first place. What is the point of an 'SUV' that can't go off road? It's a bit like fitting a formula 1 car with a lift kit and 44" mud terrain tyres then going "Look how much better it is off road now!", yes it is but now it's hopeless at racing and still not as good as a proper off-roader hence utterly pointless.

I've owned a reasonably quick 4x4 (Jeep Commander 5.7 Hemi), it was great apart from its enormous thirst. The crucial difference was that it kept all the off road necessities (locking diffs, small wheels with fat tyres, live rear axle, soft suspension with big travel etc) so actually worked at what it was supposed to do (going off road). All of these would be stuck or broken pretty much immediately if presented with any real difficult terrain.

Sorry to disappoint you but in the case of the Cayenne turbo you are totally wrong.

It loses nothing to the regular model for offroading... in fact its actually gains off road performance versus other models as air suspension is standard to increase ground clearance, it retains locking differentials (with PTV+), and hill descent control, and it retains a super sophisticated traction management system (PTM). Oh and thats before you factor in the turbos prodigous amounts of torque !

The only thing that would limit it compared to somethinh like a range rover is if you run the ultra low profile 21s, but thats easily solved as Porsche also offers wheels for it in 18", 19", 20" size.

[300bhp/ton]

TurboHatchback said:

Because making them go that fast necessitates removing any off-road capability they might once have had which is the only reason for their existence in the first place. What is the point of an 'SUV' that can't go off road? It's a bit like fitting a formula 1 car with a lift kit and 44" mud terrain tyres then going "Look how much better it is off road now!", yes it is but now it's hopeless at racing and still not as good as a proper off-roader hence utterly pointless.

I've owned a reasonably quick 4x4 (Jeep Commander 5.7 Hemi), it was great apart from its enormous thirst. The crucial difference was that it kept all the off road necessities (locking diffs, small wheels with fat tyres, live rear axle, soft suspension with big travel etc) so actually worked at what it was supposed to do (going off road). All of these would be stuck or broken pretty much immediately if presented with any real difficult terrain.

I would think they have all the off road ability that would likely be required from vehicles of this price. Or perfectly fine going up the field at harvest or down a mild green lane.

Let's face it, few slower RRS or Cayennes are really used off road properly.

[TurboHatchback]

ZeroH said:

Sorry to disappoint you but in the case of the Cayenne turbo you are totally wrong.

It loses nothing to the regular model for offroading... in fact its actually gains off road performance versus other models as air suspension is standard to increase ground clearance, it retains locking differentials (with PTV+), and hill descent control, and it retains a super sophisticated traction management system (PTM). Oh and thats before you factor in the turbos prodigous amounts of torque !

The only thing that would limit it compared to somethinh like a range rover is if you run the ultra low profile 21s, but thats easily solved as Porsche also offers wheels for it in 18", 19", 20" size.

The Cayenne does indeed have a competent 4x4 system but unless you carry a spare set of wheels in the boot it will still be fairly hopeless due to the tyres. Decent all-terrain tyres are not rated to anything like the top speed of one of these and very few are even available in 18"+. Super wide high performance road tyres + any kind of slippery mud = not going anywhere.

300bhp/ton said:

I would think they have all the off road ability that would likely be required from vehicles of this price. Or perfectly fine going up the field at harvest or down a mild green lane.

Let's face it, few slower RRS or Cayennes are really used off road properly.

True but it doesn't make them any less pointless! Why would you pick one of these over an RS6 or E63 estate?

[cerb4.5lee]

TurboHatchback said:

The point of these is utterly lost on me. I like fast cars and I like 4x4s but this type of vehicle is stupendously pointless.

I think the fact that they are pointless is a big part of the appeal, when I had my X5 4.8iS it just didn't make much sense and that engine was completely wasted in that type of car yet it didn't stop me loving it in many ways though.

The X5M is just bonkers fast for what it is and up to yet I have only seem one of this current model on the road so very rare too, if I had a lottery win I would add one to the list.

[300bhp/ton]

TurboHatchback said:

True but it doesn't make them any less pointless! Why would you pick one of these over an RS6 or E63 estate?

I don't see them as pointless at all, quite the opposite I see them as probably the most versatile vehicle you can get. And I'd most definitely buy one over an RS6 or E63 estate. Honestly I'd never buy an estate car period.

Reasons being:

-Looks. Almost all estate cars look like frumpy family wagons. They just don't appeal to me. The SVR however looks the muts nuts.

-Ability to go off road as described above.

-Bigger more airy interior.

-Higher driving/seating position, which is so much nicer when touring, as you simply see so much more (over hedges/walls/etc.)

-More practical boot space, it's taller, so you can simply put things in it that you can't in an estate car.

-Better driving position IMO (seat to pedals/steering wheel).

-Potentially a much better tow vehicle.



For example, you could take an SVR or Cayenne here, but not an estate car, or at least not without risking damaging it.