Am I being picky?
Discussion
In my search to find out more about compact SUV's and small 4x4's, I headed over to Honest John....
On the X-Trail he says:
Do you by any chance mean locking centre DIFF? 
John then goes on to say:
Is that not akin to driving a Caterham around the Wandsworth one way system and claiming it to be superb on a race track?
So John, do you "Honestly" actually have any clue when reviewing some vehicles?
On the X-Trail he says:
Honest John said:
the Sport diesel spec comes with six-speed gearbox, push-button four-wheel drive. Push-button lockable centre clutch
What may I ask is a push button clutch??? Do you by any chance mean locking centre DIFF? John then goes on to say:
Honest John said:
I can now confirm that the X-Trail is as good off-road as it is on-road. Spent three hours splodging along forest tracks, up and down steep inclines, through black two-foot-deep gloop and hustling it on dry loose surfaces at up to 65mph. Rarely needed the push-button 4x4 and centre diff-lock.
So let me get this right John, you are telling me that by tacking the X-Trail on terrain that didn't need 4wd you can attest to it's off road ability? Is that not akin to driving a Caterham around the Wandsworth one way system and claiming it to be superb on a race track?
So John, do you "Honestly" actually have any clue when reviewing some vehicles?
300bhp/ton said:
Honest John said:
the Sport diesel spec comes with six-speed gearbox, push-button four-wheel drive. Push-button lockable centre clutch
What may I ask is a push button clutch??? Do you by any chance mean locking centre DIFF? 
kambites said:
Why do you assume that a vehicle needs 4WD to be capable off-road? I'd imagine axle articulation, etc. are vastly more important. I'd imagine that knowing that it doesn't need the 4WD to be capable off-road is a very useful piece of information.
Generally speaking 4wd is essentially for proper off roading (bar a couple of specific exceptions). In regards to a compact SUV I personally would find it interesting to know how it fairs on terrain that you couldn't reasonable take a Ford Fiesta down. Terrain that doesn't require 4wd, I would say is counter to this.
Any car based IFS/IRS 4x4 will have limited axle articulation. But knowing how the AWD system copes when cross axled or when lifting one or more wheels in the air would be highly useful. Such info as ground clearance, approach/departure and ramp over angles wouldn't go amiss either. Nor would mac wading depth and if the vehicle has any under body protection or recovery points.
I know most/many in the UK who buy such vehicles don't take them off road, but some do. And it would be really great if good info on them was available.
kambites said:
Why do you assume that a vehicle needs 4WD to be capable off-road? I'd imagine axle articulation, etc. are vastly more important. I'd imagine that knowing that it doesn't need the 4WD to be capable off-road is a very useful piece of information.
On a recent off road experience I managed to break the rear axle/propshaft on the 1997 Land Rover Discovery we were using there by leaving only front wheel drive, the diff lock appeared to work and I managed to complete the course, proving the ability of the Landy even with 2 wheel drive.RJP001 said:
The older leaf sprung Land Rover models are, for the majority, selectable 2 and 4 wheel drive and will go quite far in 2 wheel drive in the rough stuff. But as always the biggest decider is also how good the tyres are for the terrain.
On a grippy surface you can go almost anywhere with 2wd assuming you have the ground clearance and you can keep both driven wheels in contact with the ground. An LSD or locked axle diff and it'll go even further.Where 4wd plays it's part is when you are on slippery or lose surfaces and/or lifting wheels off the ground.
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