Quick question for the breezers.
Looking at a multi purpose vehicle where a true 4wd isn't a realistic option for tight pokey produce deliveries etc
Was impressed by the 3rd gen liberties abilities off road and was wondering if anyone owns one of these ( or any subi with X-mode ) and how they travel through soft sometimes deep sand tracks to their local spot , I'm aware driver ability plays a big role but a capable car must help.
Thanks for any imput
Yes it's snow/ice but the diagonal test here seems somewhat convincing
Mate, i've had Patrols, Troopies, Navaras and Mitsubishi L200 and now i have a Subi Forester diesel. Actually looking back, they were all diesels.....hmmmm i think i have an addiction. The best was my troopy as Nerburger swears by. My needs changed so i bought the Subi and it actually rocks. The xmode works like a low range type of thing. I've had the subi in reasonably soft sand and it plowed through it with ease and the fuel economy is awesome. On an open road run i'll get 5.8 - 6.4 L/100. I know right ...it sound BS but it's true. So yeah great fuel economy, but remember that is the diesel. XV's don't come in diesel and i think Subaru are discontinuing the boxer diesel.
My niece said a friend of hers owned an XV said it was ok put completely crapped its pants when it towed a trailer with a couple of kayaks on it. So i think for running around without a trailer it should be fine. My Forester fits in all my windsurfing and kite gear inside. You won't be able to do that with the XV. something to think about.
If you don't want a full blown 4 x 4 the Subi is a pretty good first choice. Otherwise go the Troopy
Something else to consider is tire/wheel profile. Avoid 18" rims if you want to go in sand. If you need to let the tires down you won't get much spread or softness from low profile tires. So make sure you can get the highest tire profile you can.
Can't wait to see the Troopy fully Jak-t Nerdy - supa jealous ( probably buy 3 XV's for the same money )
Thx for the pointers Vince , the Forrester crossed my mind the new ones have X-mode 2 for when X-mode 1 gets bogged -ha .
At a price point though the XV's are great value , I measured a friends wifes XV and it has the same cabin length as my current KIA rio which is appalling but managable , still fit 2 boards 5 sails & passenger behind the driver.
primitive
It's interesting other car manufacturers are knocking out AWD now , definitely feel safer on the road
Have you considered a van ?
I heard the VW Transporter in 4motion, with diff lock can get pretty good shady parking spots next to grassy rigging areas. With one of these you might not have to park in full sun and carry your gear down the side of a mountainous sand dune.
It also means you don't have to park in the middle of the desert-of-lost-souls with the kites and get sand blasted.
Stealth grey is the go I heard. Hoping one day to get one myself.
The XV is OK on pretty firm level sand but start at the base of even a moderately sloped dune and accelerate and you're going no-where. It just doesn't have enough power. Over terrain where power is not an issue the X-mode is good but don't plan on any serious beach work or it could be a one way trip at best.
Select to expand quoteVince68 said..
On an open road run i'll get 5.8 - 6.4 L/100. I know right ...it sound BS but it's true. So yeah great fuel economy, but remember that is the diesel.
That fuel consumption doesn't seem great really.
My wife's XV petrol has averaged 6.9L for 11,000kms with mostly city driving, so I'd expect the same as yours for the XV on the open road ... Plus the XV had all the benefits of nothing to worry about with diesels.
All the "only a cruiser" and "only a patrol" crowd need to watch wind012's video hahaha love it.
Sand driving is about lack of weight, lots of momentum and bagged out tyres. (OK and skill..)
Muddies just dig you in, big vehicles sink (or can carry so much load that the driver isn't game to hit the section fast in case he breaks suspension on his decked-out Arab Taxi). Love to see the heroes with $150K of gear get shown up .........
Only issue with the XV I can see would be clearance. Drove past one today and it looked low.
The vw toureg with 4wd goes very capable off-road, stupid fuel economy on the v6 tdi with 8 speed auto, it's the same as the amorok ( new)
I looked at the Subaru but for the money I couldn't go past the vw, picked it up with 50.000 klm full vw history, as new condition for $30.888
^^^ they actually have pretty good clearance like 220mm which is same as the forrester and outback. Perhaps the one you had seen was pimped by the individual and lowered. For example, I once saw a 100 series Landcruiser fitted with 18 or 19" rims or bigger and low profile tyres. Pretty much rendered the vehicle a very expensive 4 x 4 useless.
Hey cauncy, those VW's also come with a V10, but not sure if they sell 'em in Aus. I think you can only get a V6 and V8 here.
Select to expand quoteVince68 said..
^^^ they actually have pretty good clearance like 220mm which is same as the forrester and outback. Perhaps the one you had seen was pimped by the individual and lowered. For example, I once saw a 100 series Landcruiser fitted with 18 or 19" rims or bigger and low profile tyres. Pretty much rendered the vehicle a very expensive 4 x 4 useless.
Not sure they do:
^sweet, cauncy
U spekith trixy carantoc , I have seen that exact van in some hard to reach locations.
yeah the subaru forums all seem to bag the XV's lack of testicles . Pretty sure the clearance is quoted 220 high , same as forrester.
Fozziezz have gained a cult following and for good reason , strange why they dropped the turbo , I just reckon the XV's look more dune buggy
. but not to be it seems
Here's some more subaru sausage fuel , can't see these cars making old bones
For the standard sand tracks around here 220 would not cut it. Most capable Subaru's have been lifted with bigger tyres like these:
Select to expand quotecauncy said..
The vw toureg with 4wd goes very capable off-road, stupid fuel economy on the v6 tdi with 8 speed auto, it's the same as the amorok ( new)
I looked at the Subaru but for the money I couldn't go past the vw, picked it up with 50.000 klm full vw history, as new condition for $30.888
The Subaru AWD system is better offroad than the VW 4motion system ..
Select to expand quoteVince68 said..
Hey cauncy, those VW's also come with a V10, but not sure if they sell 'em in Aus. I think you can only get a V6 and V8 here.
John Hughes had a V 10 recently with 100.000 on the clock for $20,000, was the older model though, They did a W12 very limited in Europe
shat on anything power wise but heavy on maintenance to keep it pristine, personally I won't touch any car unless complete main dealer history,
my toureg is 180 kw you can buy a chip that takes up to 225 but standard has tons for me, plus I don't like farkin around from what's engineered standard, I'm happy it's a stunning bus to drive
Select to expand quotehilly said..
For the standard sand tracks around here 220 would not cut it. Most capable Subaru's have been lifted with bigger tyres like these:
The only reason a Subaru with 220 clearance wouldn't cut it on those sandy tracks is because of all the brodozers with 280 clearance that have gone before . Ground clearance needs to be regulated at say 220 max. . That way everyone does their share and rakes a little of the crown back into the rut,
Of course back in the day when all these tracks were first travelled you didn't even need 4wd. Francis Birtles separates the men from the boys . His Bean car is in the National Museum. .en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Birtles
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..
Sand driving is about ..........
Sand driving is about bugger the environment, I am going to satisfy my ego and brag about it.
Ground clearance regulated ffs. 
Usual sb story it was so much better back in the day we walked over broken glass to school and did not get fed for days living in a cardboard box. Like an old people's home in here sometimes 
Select to expand quoteWcauncy said..Vince68 said..
Hey cauncy, those VW's also come with a V10, but not sure if they sell 'em in Aus. I think you can only get a V6 and V8 here.
John Hughes had a V 10 recently with 100.000 on the clock for $20,000, was the older model though, They did a W12 very limited in Europe
shat on anything power wise but heavy on maintenance to keep it pristine, personally I won't touch any car unless complete main dealer history,
my toureg is 180 kw you can buy a chip that takes up to 225 but standard has tons for me, plus I don't like farkin around from what's engineered standard, I'm happy it's a stunning bus to drive
lol "i wouldn't touch any car unless complete main dealer history" and the next sentence he owns VW.
Prefer Subies but reading this Troopy are indestructible
There was also a major crash that involved a car that had been travelling east on the Plenty Highway NT, carrying four people who had not been wearing seatbelts, and were thrown from the vehicle when it crashed, according to police.In Mataranka on Sunday, a troop carrier was stopped by police after it was spotted with a "large plume of black smoke" billowing out of its engine.PHOTO: The 'troopie' was billowing black smoke when it was pulled off the road near Mataranka. (Supplied: NT Police)The vehicle had no windscreens, only one side window, and after an inspection police discovered it had been a statutory write-off since 2004.
Select to expand quotehilly said..
Ground clearance regulated ffs.
Usual sb story it was so much better back in the day we walked over broken glass to school and did not get fed for days living in a cardboard box. Like an old people's home in here sometimes
Name one other legal motor sport that isn't regulated to level the playing field and keep costs down? Tell me this isn't just another sport. Pick the winners.
Whoa settle Gretel, Subie lovers I was not dissing Subies. I really like them
I am answering the original question "how they travel through soft sometimes deep sand tracks to their local spot?" and my point is 220mm would not cut in on "deep sand tracks" where I live. All the capable Subies you showcase are lifted, so in fact, you are supporting my point.
Select to expand quotehilly said..
All the capable Subies you showcase are lifted, so in fact, you are supporting my point.
Yep..... So are most recreational 4WD enthusiast units.....
Well the Forrester isn't an XV - that's for sure...and the Subaru AWD system is arguably more advanced than many dedicated 4WD systems....especially in the utes
Probably give 4Motion a miss unless you're just on the grass....
