Hill Descent Control - does it spoil the fun?

[Chris71]

I had my first go at off-roading in a while last week in a Range Rover Sport, and while it was good fun, the hill descent control and various other electronic gizmos were so fantastically competent that I didn't really need to do anything bar the occasional steering input. It felt like this would allow a complete numptie like me to drive over things that would have been impossible to even quite an experienced off-road driver in the same car without the system. Is that a fair assessment?

[HowMuchLonger]

In short..yes.

[300bhp/ton]

Chris71 said:

I had my first go at off-roading in a while last week in a Range Rover Sport, and while it was good fun, the hill descent control and various other electronic gizmos were so fantastically competent that I didn't really need to do anything bar the occasional steering input. It felt like this would allow a complete numptie like me to drive over things that would have been impossible to even quite an experienced off-road driver in the same car without the system. Is that a fair assessment?

Sort of, but I suspect it's still amazing how easy it is to get it wrong. And even a Series Landy on the right tyres will go most places with moderate ease.

Also I suspect the biggest difference off road is not the HDC but the TCS and optional rear locking diff. This means getting cross axled is far less likely and you'll have more drive to more of the wheels more of the time. With open diffs it's surprisingly easy to get diagonally opposite wheels spinning.


If you want a challenge off road, why not try an RTV (Road Taxed Vehicle) trial. ALRC and AWDC clubs run such events and they'll certainly offer up a challenge in a new Rangie or Disco 3/4.

[Chris71]

300bhp/ton said:

If you want a challenge off road, why not try an RTV (Road Taxed Vehicle) trial. ALRC and AWDC clubs run such events and they'll certainly offer up a challenge in a new Rangie or Disco 3/4.

I'd love too, but sadly it wasn't my Land Rover. Good fun though...

I found the 'black route' at Millbrook wasn't especially black. I reckon the Subaru Forrestor I last did something like that in would probably have coped with most of it. I believe that had a similar system spoiling the fun!

[GKP]

The switch on the HDC allows it to be turned both on and off.

[Chris71]

GKP said:

The switch on the HDC allows it to be turned both on and off.

And while you're still rolling too... Impressive.

[GKP]

That's right. You can switch it off while moving and rely on low ratio to control your speed.

[kVA]

Chris71 said:

I had my first go at off-roading in a while last week in a Range Rover Sport, and while it was good fun, the hill descent control and various other electronic gizmos were so fantastically competent that I didn't really need to do anything bar the occasional steering input. It felt like this would allow a complete numptie like me to drive over things that would have been impossible to even quite an experienced off-road driver in the same car without the system. Is that a fair assessment?

That is the precise point of the technology!

The Land Rover engineers will be delighted that their efforts have been fully appreciated ))