This is virtual off road duel between 2 legends in the history of 4 wheeling. After a closely contested match against the Defender 110, the victorious Wrangler Unlimited faces off with it’s rival from the east – The Toyota Land Cruiser 70 series Wagon. This is a design comparo of the 2 vehicle makes’ most [...]
Let’s begin with a little trivia about automotive giant Nissan. Back in 1959, when they were still known as Datsun, they produced the first compact pickup truck. Twenty years later, they introduced the first mini-truck with an extended cab exterior design which Nissan coined the “King Cab”. Soon thereafter, they developed the market’s very first [...]
The Best Ever Number 8 – Nissan Patrol Y60 and Y61 The Nissan Patrol first rolled out of the production line in 1951. Despite appearing late in the 4×4 market it has gained a loyal following. This SUV is available in Australia, New Zealand, Central America, South America, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the Middle [...]
This is a virtual off-road duel between 2 legends in the history of 4-wheeling. Pitted against each other are each make’s local current flagship models. Land Rover’s 2008 Defender 110 Station Wagon versus its Yankee counterpart, the 2008 Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. Our goal is to determine which 4×4 will perform better in [...]
Originally the car was a three-door design (with the “third door” being a horizontally split tailgate), and it came with a four-speed gearbox. A Fairey overdrive was available ex-works from 1973. A factory-built version with five doors arrived in 1981 due to market pressure; external coachbuilders had already found success with conversions. The gearbox was improved to a five-speed manual transmission with the option of a three-speed Chrysler Torqueflite automatic, subsequently superseded by a ZF four-speed which improved fuel economy and refinement but is generally regarded as not quite as strong as the Chrysler. It was soon after given a BorgWarner viscous coupling transfer box.
When you hear the letters GQ, the first thing that comes to your mind is the Nissan Patrol model rather than the men’s magazine. When you leave your mud caked 4×4 unwashed for a whole week just because you like seeing it that way. When you pass the time in the mall by going [...]
Someone thrusted the keys into this thunderstruck driver’s hands as I numbly marched towards the vehicle’s front door. I scraped and stomped my shoes on the ground to remove the mud and grime accumulated on the soles. I repeated the action unnecessarily a few more times. I was as hesitant to desecrate the pristine trailer queen with my muddy paws as I was to operate it. But I am never one to pass off opportunities like this.
To many a seasoned 4×4 aficionado, the joy of off-road driving is twofold. One is to drive through all obstacles that come your way without getting stuck. The second is to get unstuck.
It will be naïve for one to think that fundamental off-road driving skills and a properly prepared 4×4 will take you almost anywhere. Mother Nature and the equally dreaded Mister Murphy are perennially waiting in ambush to stop your 4wd dead in its tracks.
