Offroad: RR classic vs disco td5- how capable
Offroad: RR classic vs disco td5- how capable
Author
Discussion

Emsman

Original Poster:

7,203 posts

214 months

Tuesday 15th December 2009
quotequote all
Right, i have the 93 3.9 classic on road tyres.

Cousin has a td5 disco on road tyres.

He claims to be able to leave me behind when the going gets muddy.

How capable will the classic be? Im not trying to go up the north face of the matterhorn, but would like to know if i will be left floundering?

Anyone got any first hand comparisons?


budrover

300 posts

228 months

Tuesday 15th December 2009
quotequote all
If the TD5 has 'traction control' it will assist, however both vehicles will be about the same off-road.

The TD5 has a bigger overhang than a Classic and you can raise the rear suspension on the air bags, however the normal limiting factor is the rear tow bar 'bottoming out'.

I would get further in the Classic, as I wouldnt be too worried about "giving it some" as its a cheaper vehicle to damage.

Emsman

Original Poster:

7,203 posts

214 months

Tuesday 15th December 2009
quotequote all
Cheers for that.

Mine is is bloody good condition, but cant see the point in having one if its not allowed to go for a play in its natural habitat every now and again!

Cousin seems to think that due to the age the classic will be hopeless.
I dont agree.


To the fields!!


budrover

300 posts

228 months

Tuesday 15th December 2009
quotequote all
other 'catch point' is the front spoiler on rutted tracks... spoiler hits the hump in the centre, cant remember if lower bib of spoiler is detachable... or if I took one off with a jig saw years ago.

Liszt

4,334 posts

294 months

Wednesday 16th December 2009
quotequote all
The front skirt of the classic can be removed, held on by about 5 bolts, check in the manua. The Disco 2 is a fixed trim.

There are certainly more off roady bits you can bolt on to the RR straight off the shelf. They are starting to come through for the Disco2 as the price of the vehicle drops.

What are the transmissions? Does the D2 have a central difflock?

I think the D2 is taller than the RR as well, so find a low hanging branch.

Off topic, were you aware that there is an MK 4x4 club which meets once a month Near the Wolverton Tescos?

plasticpig

12,932 posts

249 months

Wednesday 16th December 2009
quotequote all
budrover said:
If the TD5 has 'traction control' it will assist, however both vehicles will be about the same off-road.

The TD5 has a bigger overhang than a Classic and you can raise the rear suspension on the air bags, however the normal limiting factor is the rear tow bar 'bottoming out'.

I would get further in the Classic, as I wouldnt be too worried about "giving it some" as its a cheaper vehicle to damage.
My L reg 93 classic had air suspension and traction control. Although the traction control wasn't much cop in the muddy stuff

Emsman

Original Poster:

7,203 posts

214 months

Wednesday 16th December 2009
quotequote all
Mines a 93 on air suspension too!!!

I dont mind getting the thing messy, but i dont want to grind to a halt like a pillock after a few hundred yards either


Liszt

4,334 posts

294 months

Wednesday 16th December 2009
quotequote all
Tyres make a huge difference.
get a set of 235/85 Mud terrains and you'll be amazed.

Whaddon is just down the road from you. last time I went there, the ground has been cut up by some BIG tyres so ruts are quite bad but still plenty of space to drive about in without damaging your motor.

ehasler

8,576 posts

307 months

Wednesday 16th December 2009
quotequote all
I took my classic off road a few years ago, on standard tyres and was amazed at how good it actually is. Jack the suspension up to max height, and let the traction control do its job and you can get through stuff that you wouldn't imagine possible!

As others have said, the body kit does tend to limit approach angles but it is a very capable vehicle off road.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

214 months

Thursday 17th December 2009
quotequote all
In all honesty there is no simple answer.
 
 
Most of it will be down to the driver!!!!!!!
 
Seriously a good driver will get a badly setup vehicle lots of places while a poorer driver might suffer even in a fully prepped vehicle.
 
As others have said, tyres can also play a huge part. And if you are both running road tyres on a stock setup then I doubt you are really maxing out either vehicles abilities. In addition even a level wet grass field could stop you on the wrong tyres.
 
 
As for the vehicles themselves, it largely depends on specifics of each vehicle. However underneath they are very similar.
 
Both use a box section ladder chassis and a Discovery 1 is basically a rebodied Classic Range Rover.
 
Some Range Rover’s use a viscous centre diff while the Disco II doesn’t. This is the D2’s biggest weak point in that it most likely doesn’t have a lockable centre differential.
 
The traction control on the other hand can make a huge difference and air suspension probably gives it a slight ride height advantage, although no gains in ground clearance.
 
The D2 also uses a WATT’s rear linkage and ARB’s. Some Range Rover’s didn’t have ARB’s so will have more flex/axle articulation, if it has ARB’s then it’s still pretty even.
 
The “anti-stall” ability of the TD5 is also a bonus if you are going really slow.
 
D2 probably has bigger overhangs, is taller and will feel bulkier. When you are in a tight space this makes a huge difference on how easy or difficult it is to navigate obstacles.
 
An LSE Rangie has a longer wheel base, this is not good for approach, departure and ramp over angles.
 
 
I see someone has mentioned MK. Well if you are local maybe you’ll be interested in the Chiltern Vale Land Rover Club. It’s a dedicated ALRC (Association of Land Rover Clubs) club and holds RTV (Road Taxed Vehicle) trials and social events.
 
If you and your mate really want to settle the score why not pop along and join up and have a go. The vehicles just need a valid MOT and Road tax with suitable recovery points front and read and an additional spring on the throttle return.
 
RTV’s involve a series of “gates” (pair of canes), you start at gate 12 and have to get to the end and aim to score 0 or as low as possible. If you stop, go the wrong way or hit a cane you get penalty points awarded.
 
It’s a true test of vehicle and driver!! biggrin
 
http://www.cvlrc.co.uk/
http://www.alrc.co.uk/new%20regulations/index.htm
 
 
You can find some pics here of past events:
 
http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/300bhpton/L...