Wednesday 4th April 2012

Video: Grand Cherokee SRT8 tackles the 'ring...

... with a certain amount of help from Sabine Schmitz

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Every performance car worth its name these days is sent around the Nordschleife in an attempt to claim some bragging rights - even hotted-up SUVs. The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is one of the most unlikely contenders to record a time.

Given its 477hp 6.4-litre Hemi V8, a run of 8 min 49 secs isn't exactly electrifying and is a full 25 seconds slower than the fastest SUV - the BMW X6 M. But then again it is a 2,458kg car...

This run also has some added kudos because Sabine Schmitz is at the wheel and, while the SRT8 might not be the most obscure thing the 'Queen of the 'ring' has taken around the Nordschleife, this hefty beast does look pretty lairy and is well worth a watch.

Especially since she described it as 'a house on wheels' that 'just stuck to the road'. Look out, also, for the great armfuls of understeer Ms Schmitz has to deal with...

 

[anonymous-user]

I'd like to take my Mini round the ring but it'd keep topping out and cause a lot of engine stress...maybe someone elses Mini

[lou556]

The commitment needed to chuck that Grand Cherokee around the ring like that! It's just amazing. I wonder how many owners will actually take their Grand Cherokee's on track?

[FisiP1]

Whoever set the forward-facing GoPro up needs to be shot.

On topic, absolutely horrid car IMO, I wonder if Alonso+Massa found buyers for theirs yet

[suffolk009]

Is it me, or is it a quiet week in the world of car news?

Can't you chaps give Lotus a ring? They bound to have something.

[RichTBiscuit]

hang on.... Didn't Sabine get around the ring in 10.00 flat in a Diesel Transit Van on Top Gear?

8.49 for this heap seems pretty poor.

[Aeroresh]

My kind of car!! however 25 secs behind the X6M?.....must try harder

[TomTVR500]

PSBuckshot said:

I'd like to take my Mini round the ring but it'd keep topping out and cause a lot of engine stress...maybe someone elses Mini

Same here with my Clio 182 Cup.

Also not a brilliant lap time from the Jeep.
However the thing for me is:

a.) Lap times in this sort of car are irrelevant, even more irrelevant than in other types of road car.

b.) There is no point in buying a 4x4 that isn't a Range Rover

[SystemParanoia]

why not just set a fastest time across the rubicon trail instead... at least it would be relevant!

[TomTVR500]

Also I would HAVE to stop and tie that belt up!

[Stubbs]

She seems relativly bored compared to driving the transit van.

[varsas]

TomTVR500 said:

PSBuckshot said:

I'd like to take my Mini round the ring but it'd keep topping out and cause a lot of engine stress...maybe someone elses Mini

Same here with my Clio 182 Cup.

I wouldn't worry about engine wear on a clio 182, it should stand up to it fine. Brakes and tyres and maybe suspension bushes will get a workout but the engine will cope. There's no law against changing up at 5,500rpm or 6,000rpm or whatever you are comfortable with. I personally push far harder on a normal UK trackday then I would/do at the 'ring. Besides you'll push the engine far far harder on the autobahn's on the way down.

[RichTBiscuit]

TomTVR500 said:

b.) There is no point in buying a 4x4 that isn't a Range Rover

Couldn't have said it better. Why buy anything else? I can't understand why anyone would have a pretend 4x4 such as an X5 or X6 over a Rangie.

[Aeroresh]

RichTBiscuit said:

Couldn't have said it better. Why buy anything else? I can't understand why anyone would have a pretend 4x4 such as an X5 or X6 over a Rangie.

Perhaps people have already had a Range Rover or 2? Would be pretty boring if we kept on buying the same car

[Ex Boy Racer]

Does anyone ver watch one of these videos all the way through?

[suffolk009]

Ex Boy Racer said:

Does anyone ver watch one of these videos all the way through?

No.

[Aeroresh]

got to 4 mins which was challenging enough. Maybe a little more thought into the camera set up may have helped?

[RichTBiscuit]

Aeroresh said:

RichTBiscuit said:

Couldn't have said it better. Why buy anything else? I can't understand why anyone would have a pretend 4x4 such as an X5 or X6 over a Rangie.

Perhaps people have already had a Range Rover or 2? Would be pretty boring if we kept on buying the same car

This is interesting. I wouldn't choose to own (what i would call) an inferior car just because I'd owned what (I think is) the best in the class already... But I guess if you don't actually use the 4x4 capabilities then it doesn't matter.

Completely off topic now, but I wonder if anyone actually gains anything by buying an X5 over a 5 series touring, if not going off road? I'm hoping there are actually some reasons other than posing.

[ArosaMike]

Range Rover Sport is only 6s slower! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgr...

[SWoll]

RichTBiscuit said:

This is interesting. I wouldn't choose to own (what i would call) an inferior car just because I'd owned what (I think is) the best in the class already... But I guess if you don't actually use the 4x4 capabilities then it doesn't matter.

Completely off topic now, but I wonder if anyone actually gains anything by buying an X5 over a 5 series touring, if not going off road? I'm hoping there are actually some reasons other than posing.

Perhaps because a the cheapest new RR is still £10-15K more than the most expensive X5(M50D) and offers far less performance and much higher running costs?

Dont get me wrong I love the FFRR but it is starting to get a little long in the tooth now and has always been better suited to "comfortable cruising" than anything else.

On the X5 vs 5 series debate I think the big selling points are the elevated driving position (visibility etc.), security of 4x4 in all weather condition and the perceived "safety2 benefits. You certainly get less practicality and a poorer driving experience though IME.

[PascalBuyens]

RichTBiscuit said:

hang on.... Didn't Sabine get around the ring in 10.00 flat in a Diesel Transit Van on Top Gear?

8.49 for this heap seems pretty poor.

She never made it to 10 minutes.

10:08, totally stripped out, and being dragged around by a Viper...