Land Rover Discovery LR4 test drive since 2009 SUV

Land Rover Discovery 4: Black Horse bathing

Discovery, which is in the editorial office on a long test, ran 25,000 km for the most part on flat roads for six months. But the manufacturer positions the car as a real rogue. We decided to check it.
Wanting to combine the useful with pleasant, went to the waterfall of Gremyachny (another name Sources of Sergius of Radonezh). It is located on the banks of the Vondigi River, which flows from Torbeeva Lake near the village of Glazvovo (Moscow Region, Sergiev Posad district). Rodniks beat right from the mountain here.
For most of the year, you can get to the place only on a real all-terrain vehicle, and at the time of the autumn-spring thaw in the mud even all-wheel drive UAZs, Urals and KamAZ are drowning.
But the snow came down, the earth has dried up a little, there is a chance to slip. We are going!
Get going only to giving up
Having set the task of driving a route on a standard car, they did not plan to cook discovery specially. Hi-jeki, spent tracks, winches, power bumpers and other auxiliary devices shallow immediately. Changing rubber (to all-terrain vehicles) also did not leave the standard continental-conkroskontakontak UHP 255/50R20. Even the pressure did not pull. But they were still insured: they threw a set of chains, a shovel, a couple of cables and rubber boots into the trunk.
Having moved off the asphalt, after 200 m we stumble upon the first obstacle to the mud bath with rolled ruts and slurry, in consistency like a children's curd, only black. And with a small lake in the middle. The pedestal scout sent forward gave the go -ahead to overcome. I cut down the lowering, I set the suspension an off -road position (the clearance has increased to 240 mm), Tererein Ripons translate into grass/gravel/snow (intended mainly to overcome slippery barriers) and try to slip. It wasn't there! The first meters of the disco take confidently, but gradually the pace falls, the wheels slip more and more. I already imagine how to dive into the mud to pick up the cable (well, the pads covering the towing eyes were removed in advance). Sharkal: Lend Rover treacherously freezes exactly in the middle of a puddle. The wheels instantly clogged with mud and turned into sliks. The almost 3 -ton mass played a role. We stand, smoke, wait for the help.
Chain drive
Fortunately, in about forty minutes, a UAZ appeared on the horizon, which attempts with the seventh-eight pulled us back on land. We decided to more not tempt fate and took out chains. With them, the disco is on the tractor. The same puddle was taken without much strain. The main thing is to remember that it is desirable to move the ringed without slipping, otherwise the car immediately buries, and deeply. Therefore, when I feel that I begin to dig, immediately the box in the neutral. It is useless to slow down even on the floor: the anti -lock system does not allow the wheels to immediately be blocked.

With proper dexterity, the chain is worn in just 10 minutes and radically improve the cross-country cross-country.
But, despite all the tricks, I again managed to sit down. Moreover, in a seemingly harmless area, a more or less even field with slightly moist soil. For some reason, I decided to go around another puddle. I tried to go through this site as slowly and careful as possible, but at some point Disco fell almost on the hub. Remembering what they taught at off -road courses, I try to go to roll up a small accelerated platform. When it became half a meter, I freeze at the rear extreme point, my left foot for the brake, I right-wing me to bring the engine speed up to 2000 (it is from this mark that the 3-liter diesel gives the maximum torque at 600 N.M), I abruptly throw the brake and give it to gas ! I fly a rolled corridor with lightning speed, and Landi continues to slowly crawl. I help him with sharp movements of the steering wheel from side to side. Three meters, two, one, one! UV, got out. On that day, such exercises had to be performed more than once, and such tactics justified itself every time.
SECRET WEAPON
Ahead of huge ruts, the depth of some above the knee. The fallen trees are scattered around. Only the most desperate can decide to go further. But we are just one of those. In time, they remembered a small trick: not all owners of the discount know that in addition to the three standard provisions of the air suspension, there are three more additional ones that cannot be selected independently. The first when the car cries at 20 mm at a speed of over 160 km/h (not our case), but two more in the so -called Mood exteid. When the machine begins to struggle with a belly and the system recognizes this, the land-rover automatically rises by about 35 mm (the electronics itself determines the height). If then press the brake and hold the suspension button for two to three seconds, this will add about 35 mm.
I return the suspension to the standard position, I run into a hill of loose soil, touching it with a bottom, disco, as expected, is slightly lifted. I move according to the above methodology to the second exteid of the Mood and only after that to the SUV suspension mode. The clearance becomes more than 300 mm! After the Terrein Ripons regulator, I choose stones/small stroke mode and on the way. Assistant of the descent from the HDC mountain was also useful here. As soon as the descent began, the brakes crushed: they alternately grab the wheels, preventing the car from accelerating.

In the upper position of the suspension, the clearance is 310 mm; 20-inch wheels seem toy.
Slowly they got to Doniza. Right on the course, a humpbacked bridge through the rivulet. Considerable angles of entry/congress and ramp helped here. The system of chambers of circular review (two in front, two on the sides and one more behind) also facilitated the task. On the screen, you can display the image from any, several or simultaneously from all. I realized that this is not only a toy, but also a really good assistant on off -road. Especially when there is no one to prompt.
Dear ecology
Having grinded the barrier, we plunge into the mud baths again, we dangle in the rut, the disco is strained, but stubbornly moves forward. The last 500700 m to the target leads to a primer slightly worse than the average. After previous tests, it seemed an autobahn. We are in place, we can fall to the source. Having reached the house, we state: there are no human and material losses. Unless the discovery is suppressed with mud on the very roof. But it was not possible to take a bath immediately in three places to wash the car flatly, and in two more they asked for a surcharge of half a standard sink! Discovery is the real conqueror of off -road and even on standard rubber is capable of much. And with chains on the wheels it cannot be stopped.
Off -road arsenal
Includes: adjustable air suspension (in the planting mode of the clearance is 135 mm, in the standard position 185, in an off -road 240 mm, and in some cases it can be increased to about 310 mm), the angles of entry/exit (in off -road mode) 36 , 2/29.6, the angle of longitudinal patency (ramp) 27.3. Add a steel frame here (in booklets they write integrated, which is embarrassing many, but it is full -fledged, just the body is planted below the usual), a constant all -wheel drive with a locking and (optionally) rear inter -cool differentials that lower the transmission with a ratio of 2.93: 1 and, 1 and, 1 and, 1 and, 1 and, 1 and, 1 and, 1 and, 1 and, 1 Of course, Terrein Ripons’s proprietary system.

Outside.
It has five modes: standard, grass/gravel/snow, dirt/track, sand and stones/small move. Depending on the type of coating, the electronics independently regulates the height of the suspension, the permissible slip, changes the sensitivity of the gas pedal and, if necessary, blocks differentials. The apologists of off -road driving complain of partial removal from driving, but it will be a great help.
An animated picture can be displayed to the central monitor, which clearly shows the work of the transmission (which transmission is selected, whether the reducing, whether differentials are blocked), the selected mode, the clutch of each wheel with the soil, the angle of rotation of the front, the articulation of the suspensions, etc.
If necessary, Discovery is ready to change your evening suit with a bike shirt and rubber boots.


 

Source: Behind Rupe