The comments (not the article, didn't read it, PopMech is for desperate airport reading only) remind me of a contest I once envisioned where I wanted to see if a Caprice (of the boxy or bathtubbed variety after the mid-80s) or a P71/Towncar could outlast modern "crossover" SUVs on trails. Sure, the departure angles are all terrible, and both driver and vehicle would need some LSD action, but I really do think they could outrun and outlast every RAV4, CR-V, Compass, Patriot, Nitro, Equinox, Ridgeline, Forester(maybe), XL7, Rodeo, Pathfinder(contemporary), Armada, Tahoe, Suburban, Sequioa, Rogue, Freelander(maybe), GLK, M-class, RX-class, bah the list just keeps going.
Somebody provide me with all these cars for testing.
A buddy in college had an old Datsun B210, IIRC. He paid $400 for it. We took it off road often, and usually got stuck. The getting stuck part was a combination of 2WD and our road selection. We typically would tackle trails that guys in nice 4WD vehicles would avoid, usually because they were very narrow and their trucks would get scratched.
We kept the following in the trunk to get us out of jams:
1. Scissor jack (which bent one time and became useless)
@Jo Schmo: @BigHarv: This belongs to a friend and former roomate of mine, it's pretty nice actually. It's an AWD Del Sol using bits from the CR-V and the AWD wagoback (or whatever it's called) Civic. The exhaust is using a Supertrap muffler. He's got some autocross vids up on the Tubes of You, dunno where he has more info on what's inside the thing.
@Potatosw✭tter: Dude I loved that though, friend of mine who lived "nearby" was off of King's Hill Road, up a dirt road that half the time required a chainsaw to get through. My house was pretty high falutin' for having, y'know, tarmac for the road/driveway.
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+
+
=
world domination.
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Somebody provide me with all these cars for testing.
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I see you put Tahoe on the list, it wouldn't suprise me if there was a 60%+ parts interchangability between that and a late 1990s Caprice.
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That advantage isn't ground clearance, it's the diameter of the tire as it approaches a ledge or rut, as well as the aired-down footprint.
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[www.mibv.com]
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Step 2. Pick up your Brute:
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1964 Corvair: Will not get stuck
1968 Volvo 122- loves the mud, and light enough to pull out easily.
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Article: [www.turbobricks.com]
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We kept the following in the trunk to get us out of jams:
1. Scissor jack (which bent one time and became useless)
2. Come-along
3. Approx. 15 ft. of roap
4. Bicycle pump
5. Our wits
Good times. Good times.
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walk into chrysler dealership..
Check box for either Dodge PowerWagon or Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.
Go wheeling.
when you break something, go bigger.
How hard is that?
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Step 2: ???
Step 3: Profit!
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Bonus Question of the Day
Dumbest 4X4 conversion car you've ever seen?
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[www.youtube.com]
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[forums.vwvortex.com]
Corrado Haldex/Syncro conversion. Although I think I want an engine swap first.
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@Skunky: Careful what you wish for. Getting to my next door neighbor is like a rally.
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Wait...
:-P
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I got the E-Class stuck, Ben is pictured coming to my rescue.
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Do I see a Jalopnik Off-Road in the future?
Let me check.
No, I don't.