Yeah I reckon thats what most people would do too!Originally Posted by SummerTrance
Yeah I reckon thats what most people would do too!
Last edited by Lucky_Phill; 12-03-2010 at 03:59 PM.
I compare them to the energizer bunny adds. Sure the softroaders can do most general easy stuff but they soon drop out.
You woudn't get free, I'll just ask the dealer to sell the pile off crap and I'll take the money less there fee's.....
Or better yet,,, do what Jeremy Clarkson did to one off those crap Chinese cars in England... take delivery off the car, drive it across the road, and smash the jesus out off it with a sledge hammer.... Actualy, that might make the White Wall look better......
Someone mentioned diesel Prado?
To the OP, if this was on your list it is a clear winner. Excellent resale as well.
If free-wheel hub kit is a factory option, grab it as well.
Oh, and if you are going to use it or any other vehicle on the beach, you can never do too much before or after the event rust prevention.
You've got big brave balls for asking a question like that on here.
This Forum is full of young blokes with no money who buy 20 year old tanks and rich retirees with six figure budgets for boast and 4WDs.
The middle is mix of both and few normal people with an actual grip on reality.
Soft roaders in general are fine for beach work. And yes they do have ground clearance issues and yes nearly all of them do not a have low range.
BUT!
Big BUT!
This does not mean you can't trip to the islands and beaches and have a great time. Now that I have over 10 years experience with piloting various models of Subarus on ALL the beaches in SEQ. I can say with full experience and with out a doubt you won't have any major troubles.
Reality is, whether you drive a $110K Land Cruiser or a $10K 1998 Forester, you CAN travel up and down the same tracks, camp in the same spots, and even tow a small or medium trailer behind you. You will also be vunerable to the SAME obsticles that all vehicals encounter on the beach. And you CAN use ALL the same recovery gear that any other 4WD WILL need from time to time.
Don't be affraid of getting bogged. It will happen, and its usually fun! Trouble is, those of us with out a grip on reality think you have to have a car that has 6-feet of clearance under it, have at least 8-cylinders, low range so low you could pull a house of its stumps, and it has to have a locking centre diff. This is RUBBISH. Sand is soft slippery stuf, that is more often that not FLAT. Sure you get high centres, but you CAN deal with this, MOSt soft roaders are tall enough to deal with it, some are not. Many large 4WDs still struggle too. So whats the difference which one you drive?
Softroaders are not for everyone (especially on this forum), but you will have a bigger smile on your dial getting to the same places the big trucks do. And you'll doing knowing you spent a whole lot less, and having a nice compact and generally safer road car.
Just be very careful of some softroaders Awd/4WD system, Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan and Honda all use terrible 'locks' that dissengage when hot leaving you in 2WD, or the have a 'on-demand' system that simple doesn't work in tough sand conditions. This is more a marketing thing so you feel obliged to spend up on the bigger more capable offerings.
Stick to Suzuki, Subaru, Holden (yes the capitva works well), any manufacturer who has a god reputation on the fourms/clubs etc.
And remember, if you cop heat for the big 4Wd owners, just ask yourself "Why did they go to the trouble of buying $1000 worth of recovery gear, or get a 2" lift, or a winch if the 'real' 4WD is so capable on sand to start with?"
I still can't find an answer to that one, all my recovery gear is still sealed in boxes yet to be used (and I can't wait!!)
PS - I used to think like the majority of forum members on here too, but I gave my Subaru a go and was suprised, so I upped the ante each time, and each time it excelled. I have done so much ebach driving I am almost over it, its kinda boring. But I enjoy the beach so I just keep going back. And with the exception of needing more space or towing capacity, I don't think I'll ever need to deviate from the excellent Forester line up of cars. For now....
Very good point..............
What are we talking about here when we say soft roader anyway. I see the topic morphing slightly and the lines blurring somewhat. I wouldn't have referred to a Prado as a soft-roader.
What are some of these soft-roaders like in really soft sand? Have a mate with a Gen 1 Kluger and he says it's hard going with the on-board computer system cutting in.
My Scenic RX-4 is bad news in soft sand unless you disable the ABS/ESP before you hit the beach is then OK. The comp system takes over and cuts drive to the slipping wheels and makes forward progress a little difficult. (O/S versions did come equipped with an over-ride for just this purpose)
Is it just me or have some of the posts that were contained in this thread vanished ??????????????????????????????.
Who can do this and i wonder what reason they had,it seemed all rather civil to me ?????????????????????????????????????.
DoNotFeedTheTrollsAandBelligerent
Both of you make very good points. I forget that the Forester XT has 169kw and only wieghs 1400kgs.
I have driven the entire length of Fraser fully loaded in the soft mushy stuff and I never really noticed it being hard for the car, but I would hate to be in ANY other softroader other than my FXT. Except maybe somthing with at least 250HP V6 or turbo. I know my inlaws 1998 Forester made them feel like they wouldn't make it, but the did. The extra torque negates low range. I can't even ever think when i felt I didn't have enough torque. But I know the inlaws struggle with it all the time.
I spend a lot of time over taking old landcruisers who have NO choice but to chug along in low. Not an advantage as far as I can see.
Also I don't have to deal with TC and ESP, they were not available on my model. Bloody good thing if you ask me.
Also TC And ESP all has to be turned off on the best 4WDs these days anyway before you hit the beach, so again, not a problem for the softroader, more of a problem in general.
And I apologise if I seem up myself, but I really do thing the FXT is the ultimate sand toy, and it can be used VERY effectively for the serious beach trip. And I completely understand no one will beleive this unless they get behind the wheel of one. But I am VERY certain no one hear ever has or will.
Just so you know, I am close to buying a new challenger so i am not a complete softroader yuppie. I also drive a STR Navara day-day for work, so I get the priviledge of comparing the real thing back to back.
I haven't read this whole post so could be out of context...but do you know what happens then? the Cruiser turns left to stay at remote and secluded jewel of a camp-site and the softroader gets to travel ahead following their RACQ road map to end up sharing an overcrowded gumby spot with all the other weekend 'urbans'
Access is everything
cheers fnq
I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss softroaders for beach driving. They are great lightweight vehicles which happily skip through the sand. However, they are not the best crawling through tracks with large rocky ledges, but they often will get you through. I have taken our Forester all over Fraser, Straddie and Moreton without any troubles. We often travel these places for work with our hilux's and cruisers and they do handle the soft slog better, but we still get there in the Subaru.
I also regularly tow a one tonne boat with the Forester and it handles it without any dramas. The biggest benefit of the Forester is its great fuel economy. I travel 120 km each day to get to and from work and average 8 litres per 100 km. I can't imagine any big 4 wd returning those figures.
So for occassional beach use, don't discount soft-roaders.
I spend a lot of time over taking old landcruisers who have NO choice but to chug along in low. Not an advantage as far as I can see.
I don't see the point of this one? There'd be the odd old LC etc chugging along but likely because they are loaded as we were years ago for a 2 week stint(Jeep CJ6 LWB). Unladen, we'd make road legal speed anytime at all.
I'd bet I have been 4wding(on and off) for longer than many here have been driving and you can't beat a real 4x4 for beach and dune work full stop. Give me manual anyday over new fangled computer controlled gadgetry.
Not stirring sh*t just stating my opinion
For decent beach ability I'd go no lower than Prado, Pajero, Navara etc.
Until you have to deal with nissan warantee, and nissan service. I am counting the days till the lease is up in my Navara, then its getting shit tinned. Not sure what I will replace it with, but considering the absolute pleasure I have had with my wifes mitsubishi and the dealers going above and beyone what I expect, I reckon a triton is on the cards. I reckon I might even give the great wall a go, cheap and nasty, but who cares, all I do is go up the beach and at that price i wouldnt cry if I lost it.
Yes thats EXACTLY right! But for 99% of people, such as the thread autohor, just want the fun of heading to the beach from time to time and a smart, economical car for work on Monday. Big old 4WDS are no good for this market.I haven't read this whole post so could be out of context...but do you know what happens then? the Cruiser turns left to stay at remote and secluded jewel of a camp-site and the softroader gets to travel ahead following their RACQ road map to end up sharing an overcrowded gumby spot with all the other weekend 'urbans'
Access is everything
cheers fnq
I have been doing it for ages, but I am ready for the next step, a powerful and well equiped 4WD for reasonable money. But its tought, the new Forester is pretty good.
Hey Silla,
I'm not picking on your post, but I reckon the fuel economy of the forester is very poor. The wife drives a 2010 Forester X. Not a lead foot & doesn't carry weight. City driving. She struggles to get 550k's from a tank. I get better mileage from my D4D Hilux. Fuel economy just doesn't seem a priority with Subaru - At least they know about safety.......
On topic, I am all for soft roaders running up the beach as long as they are prepared with recovery gear.
Dan.
G'day,
As a long term 4x4 user (since 1973) I have some things to say that will probably cause some concern.
I don't go off-road much anymore because I got fed up will pulling idiots out of trouble. These are the things I got fed up with:
1. People who thought that legal tyre tread depth was enough tread for mud conditions.
2. People who thought that the time to engage 4x4 was when you are bogged.
3. People who didn't have their own recovery gear and wouldn't know how to use it if they did have it
4. People who had an expectation that I would get them out of trouble
5. People in RAV4s, CRVs, and other such rubbish who can't carry the essential safety gear because the thing would be overloaded
6. People who don't know the difference between a passenger rated tyre and a commercial or 4x4 rated tyre
7. People who took the opportunity after rain to destroy fire trails and tear up river banks with irresponsible behavior and excessive speed
Off road (and that includes beaches) means maintaining or recovering your own mobility. It means having equipment to do it and knowing how to use it. It means having a gear set that copes with very difficult conditions. It means having ground clearance that provides approach, ramp-over and departure angles that will not leave you looking like a tortoise on a rock.
It also means being competent in all this without asking. Do not take a Jeep Patriot anywhere near a beach. If you do you are just asking one of us to bail you out. For my part, I'm sick of it and I just don't go anymore.
I am actually in favour of a 4x4 license and the need to have one before making the vehicle purchase. That would mean training and a competency level. We can only hope!
Regards,
White Pointer (aka: almost a grumpy old man)
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