Subject: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
17/12/2007 @ 15:26:52: antp: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
Range Rover and Range Rover Sport are quite different, despite the fact that they look similar. They do not share any body part for example. The Sport is made for the road rather than offroad, though that it still has better offroad capabilities than many SUVs.
17/12/2007 @ 22:16:54: CarChasesFanatic: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
Well all these moderns SUVs are not really meant to be great off road, we all know the Range Rovers are the best for offroad though, and i also find them very nice and luxury, though in this case i cant betrate my feelings and ill go for the Escalade :wink:
17/12/2007 @ 22:58:16: Neptune: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
I still wish the Ford Expedition had been listed – I would have voted for it ... because if I where stranded in the desert an had all those vehicles to choose from, the Expedition could pull my Travel Trailer –so at least I would have had a mobile home on wheels to live in. I would have Food, Water, a place to sleep, a bathroom and a TV ... Not bad to have whilst stranded in the desert ... :grin:
17/12/2007 @ 23:18:50: CarChasesFanatic: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
Pretty sure it could get stuck in the sand as easily as any of others
17/12/2007 @ 23:56:09: Neptune: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
I don’t know ... The test-drivers and editors at "Peterson’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine" gave the Expedition high marks for its off-road abilities (including sand, and sand dunes) One editor wrote that the Expedition started poorly at first (it acted like it wanted to bury itself in the sand) until the test-driver notice the "Advance-Trac" Traction Control System was still enabled. After the TSC was disabled the drivers noticed the Expedition's performance increased and was quite the sand runner.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6771/131050506zfordexpeditiocu7.th.jpg
17/12/2007 @ 23:59:55: CarChasesFanatic: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
Where was it tested?
18/12/2007 @ 00:22:05: Neptune: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
Within the Baja California desert area (near to where the Baja 1000 desert race is held)
18/12/2007 @ 00:27:15: CarChasesFanatic: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
Isnt there any chance where you could show us a video of you going offroad with your SUV?
18/12/2007 @ 01:00:03: Neptune: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
I don’t usually video tape myself while off-road (at least not the vehicle itself, I’m usually by myself – it’s kind of hard to tape yourself off-road if your alone :grin: ) but if I ever have someone else to film me while off-road, I would gladly post it (as long as I cannot be seen) I’m not a fan of posting myself on the internet, for security reasons.
18/12/2007 @ 01:02:37: CarChasesFanatic: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
I agree, better not to show on himself, i have a few videos i'd like to show at youtube but im not very confident about it :tongue:
18/12/2007 @ 09:26:20: 02Silverado4x4: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
I would never own any of those, or ever want to own any of those. I voted for the Lincoln Navigator just because I've driven one. A 1998 4x4 model. It was an enjoyable driving experience. The car handled very nicely for its size, and the V-8 gave it considerable speed. But then again, I'm used to my Tempo (Tempo ought to be the antonym of speed). While driving it, I couldn't help but try and justify such a massive lump of iron. It was extremely comfortable (but surprisingly cramped), it was a handsome car, very well poised and collected, the seats were very comfortable (best leather seats I've ever sat in) and the stereo was top notch. It wasn't until I pulled up to a Ford Aspire that I realized it was a uselessly gigantic vehicle, and there were much better, smaller cars that could do most of what the Navigator did..

I could see getting a Buick Enclave though. Its not massive (little bigger then your average MPV), has a six cylinder engine (that delivers enough performance and decent fuel efficiency), optional four wheel drive and is of unibody car-like construction. Its basically a hopped up Saturn Outlook, for the family's who enjoy the luxury and interior comfort features. Just like the Navigator is just and Expedition with some fancy toys and more classy looks.
18/12/2007 @ 22:54:07: Neptune: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
I don’t care for the Navigator anymore (I consider it as an abomination to the Expedition) I only like the Second Generation (2003-2006) version of it. Lincoln engineers have been constantly sabotaging it’s off-road & towing/hauling abilities since its inception.

The First Generation Navigator (1998-2002) was deceivingly good at going off-road and could tow your house off it’s foundation (that’s just a figure of speech) however its looks held it back. The extra body cladding (which the Expedition did not have) was very ungainly. Lincoln had to notch the side door cladding in such a way (which doesn’t look presentable) just so the doors could open and close. Lincoln also tried to integrate the running boards so they would look as if they were a part of the trucks design – which did not work ... it only made matters worse. The rear Liftgate also turned away some buyers because of how Lincoln added the black trim that wrapped around the rear window and rear window wiper assembly. Some even noticed the tacky addition of a black plastic Lincoln window valance (which can be seen attached toward the front of the rear panel quarter windows) ...

The Second Generation Navigator (2003-2006) was a vast improvement over the first generation in terms of overall design. The Navigator was put on a weight-loss diet (literally and figuratively) The Navigator did become lighter (along with the Expedition) and was blessed with more slender body cladding and a better approach to adding the running boards. Gone was the black window trim on rear Liftgate and also gone was the rear quarter panel window valance. All of this plus a well designed front fascia without quirky upper bumper trim made for a end result worthy of praise. The Navigator now had a tidier well thought out look. However, while the Navigator’s looks improved – it lost some of its off-road abilities. Lincoln had already been tampering with the first generation model ... they tried to make the on-road ride quality more soft and pleasant. But when the Second gen. Navigator acquired the All-New IRS (Independent Rear Suspension) the Lincoln engineers really went to town – making its ride quality really soft. As a result of that and lowering it’s ride height, the Navigator not only lost some of its off-road abilities, but it also lost some of its towing abilities as well.

The Third Generation Navigator (2007-Current) is an abomination to it’s counterpart the Expedition and the two Lincoln predecessors it replaces. The First gen. could go off-road really well. The Second gen. although it lost a lot some of it’s abilities – it could still out perform the Escalade. But this new Navigator is simply astonishing (and I mean that in a bad way) Lincoln has gone back to their strange ways of overusing chrome to the point where its just distasteful. The off-road abilities of the 2007-Onward Navigator are – well it doesn’t have any ... and towing capacities are still down because Lincoln still wants the Navigator to ride like the Town Car. I wish Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear would test the new 2007-2008 Navigator ... as he would find more sinister ways to describe it than I could.

In a way, I really feel sorry for the Navigator (all of this isn’t it’s fault, its just a vehicle) The fault lies with the Lincoln engineers and the consumers who kept complaining the Navigator’s ride quality wasn’t soft enough. There is a lot of potential in the Navigator (just look at what the Expedition has accomplished) its just that Lincoln keeps it held back. As I said earlier, the only Navigator I like is from the Second Generation as I feel like that was when the Navigator was in it’s prime. Unless Lincoln brings the old Navigator back – I see no reason to buy one.
22/04/2008 @ 00:59:09: cieraguy: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
I picked the Escalade. I like its style and power. plus its supposed to get a Hybrid model which means MPG's in the low 20's which is probably alot more that alot of those land yachts get.
23/04/2008 @ 23:52:01: 93_Montero: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
I think my 1993 Mitsubishi Montero has higher clearance and possibly more headroom than any of the SUVs listed (and it looks better!). I would definitely take the Mercedes G-Class over any others because of the same boxy tough stance. As many of you may know, I am into older SUVs like the FJ60 Toyota Land Cruiser, so I'd rather have one of those in mint condition than any of these listed.
24/04/2008 @ 06:20:05: IRT_BMT_IND: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
You can still buy an old Toyota Land Cruiser in Venezuela
http://www.toyota.com.ve/cars/new_cars/land_cruiser_70/index.asp
24/04/2008 @ 09:54:44: chris40: Poll: Upmarket SUVs
I'm with 93_Montero here; I voted for the G-Klasse for the same reason. It comes nearest to what I think a 4x4 ought to be about, which is best exemplified by the Land-Rover Defender or the FJ60 Land Cruiser.
Back