Another useless SUV. Toyota Highlander..

wanderer4x4 · #11 04-03-2002, 03:20 PM

G- wagons have OK flex - not record setting, but it IS coil/ live axle. they come with full time 4x4, and three lockers though, so flex isnt 'as' much of an issue. the 500 series US models umm 'suck' - there's no diesel in the lineup. the 300series G wagons use the same gears, and have the mercedes 300D/TD/SD engine. - with the diesel powerband & reliability, they rock!

re: mog axles - you 'might' find there's a better alternative. the Volvo C303 uses portal axles ( like the mog) that are designed for a more normal leaf suspension / open driveshaft setup, and are based on Volvos 4 carrier v6/turbo sedan rear axle. the swiss army has decomissioned their 303...whole trucks are hard to get, but they're also selling off their entire spare parts supply. last I heard, deals are possible ( local guy is trying to source some for a Land Rover friend right now - reportedly ~$800 canadian per axle) 2:1 portal, 3.54 diff, cable lockers....might be worth looking into.

c.

#12 04-04-2002, 07:05 PM

It's to bad they don't import G wagons like those.

wanderer4x4 · #13 04-04-2002, 07:19 PM

you can always do what I did - build your own 'g wagon'. 8^D (ok, ok - its a bit more complicated than that)

As far as I know, the hardware underneath is all the same - a patient person should be able to find a yuppie modified ( ie smucked) G-wagon in a year or two, and retrofit the 300TD engine from a sedan to get this type of rig. Also there ARE a number of the 300D/TD series G-wagons that were brought in through private importers - cross your fingers, and 'maybe' the prices on some of those used ones will drop now that MB is importng them directly.

C

CodyZ71 · #14 04-17-2002, 05:56 PM

Hey people do take the M class off-road ! lol.
I found this site that these guys out in the south west desert take there m-classes off road had some pictures... Basically smalll small streams and wash board back roads. Nothing serious.

wanderer4x4 · #15 04-17-2002, 06:24 PM

cody - there's nothing really wrong with the equipment in the M class - the independent suspension's articulation isnt so hot, but they can make up for with the optinal lockers, and even the benz gas engines have a nice, relatively flat powerband ( not as good as their old straight 6's though)

the design problem seems to center around the loose nut they put behind the wheel. }8^D

Worse, the new-to-the-US $80,000 G class is likely to inherit the problem - with luck it'll be like the Rover discovery - first few years the housewives get them, then they realise they're a truck, and tons of good condition used ones come on the market for the rest of us to use.

c.

#16 05-10-2002, 02:20 AM

Why do you post this topic?! Who friggen cares. People like to drive cars on the road. They are not people who want to drive off road! Do you have to bash their cars! I do not.

#17 05-21-2002, 02:03 PM

Also another point is that these Toyota Highlanders cost in the $40,000 nieghborhood I believe, and if I owned one I don't think that I would take it off road in any kind of a situation were I would be likely to damage it.

#18 07-09-2002, 07:55 AM

All SUV's are pointless,....
Just stay in the mini-van where you belong
http://poseur.4x4.org/

CodyZ71 · #19 08-10-2002, 04:26 AM

Uhh the Tahoe Z71 cost $39K and I've seen plenty covered in mud and off roading. The damn hummer cost $80K and I've seen them submerged and rocker panel damage galore. Highlander is a sick excuse for a SUV, it should not be even classified as a SUV. It's a MINI-VAN on a Camry frame.
Hell even a recent car review of a Yukon Xl, Tahoe, Expedition and Seqoia gave the Tahoe number one in power and off roading, and the seqoia WORST for off roading due to its crappy traction control and taking 5 minutes to lock into low range. [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]