Outback cripples Mercedes-Benz's toughest off-roaders - Page 2

GTP 290 · 07-08-2011, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrokedXT

A shock in a 4wd isn't a major component, it's a commonly carried spare on these sorts of trips.

So you're saying that suspension is not a major component of a car, let alone a 4wd? And if they couldn't get the sparesthat they could've continued on and finished the trip? Just because they're a commonly carried spare doesn't mean it's not a mojr part of the car.

Sorry but a major component of a car to me mean that if it's broken the car isn't able to operate safely. A minor component would be something like a stereo, panels, headlights etc the car can still drive safely if they were broken or missing. The fact that they HAD to stop the trip and replace the shocks to me says that the car could not make the trip as per factory and as such should not make any claims about making the full distance.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying any other car would be better. I'm just saying that the merc didn't make the trip as they were wanting to.

hy_boi · 07-08-2011, 10:49 PM

So, windscreen wiper rubbers? Indicator bulb? Can imagine the 100 point safety check you do every morning.

Good to see the new G wagons being put through their paces. And that merc are taking on board everything that's happening to them. Work gets a batch soon. Should be a nice bit of kit.

GTP 290 · 07-08-2011, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hy_boi

So, windscreen wiper rubbers? Indicator bulb? Can imagine the 100 point safety check you do every morning.

Would any of those things stop a car from being able to drive?

Scooter79rs · 07-08-2011, 11:38 PM

Shocks are part of the suspension which affects the handling of the car, when the handling is affect that sounds like a major issue for a car to me.

pauljh74 · 08-08-2011, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I wonder how the F150 SVT Raptor would have gone?

I don't think it would make it to the fuel stops in the outback

StrokedXT · 08-08-2011, 08:26 AM

Anyone who's done real off roading treats shocks as a rapidly consumed item, I've driven some insane tracks with a missing shock. They get destroyed in real off road situations especially on a trip such as this one.

If they had chasis cracking or control arms snapping then it's major a shock is not.

2011G6E · 08-08-2011, 08:50 AM

Having just stepped from the fourbie world (100 series Lancruiser) into our G6E, I think some people are missing the point.
Yes indeed...some components on a four wheel drive that a car driver would call "major and important and vital" like shockies and even sway bar linkages, are seen in some outback areas as virtually sacrificial parts, which, while they might break, aren't all that much of a hassle to have break on you.

Full kudos to Mercedes for throwing unmodified fourbies at the outback to see what will break first...as I said before, it used to be that all the major manufacturers shipped out their latest cars and drove them to destruction in the outback...the motoring magazines used to be full of scoop photo shots from way out the back of beyond where someone had spotted the new unreleased version of some car. I even seem to recall locals like Holden destroying the initial build VB Commodores in the outback to see what had to be modded, and I think Ford also committed some unnatural acts with the pre production XD Falcons out there too. Unless you hit a vehicle with something beyond it's limits, you won't know where to strengthen it for later use and abuse by customers.

On four wheel drive forums ther re is plenty of debate about the new Nissan Patrol coming soon, and how it will have independent suspension front and rear instead of live axles. This is causing great concern to the hard-core off roaders. However, Nissan said at the overseas launch in Saudi Arabia (their biggest market for Patrols apparently) that worldwide studies showed that less than 13% of four wheel drives ever get used "off road", so why massively and expensively over-engineer something to suit the whims of a tiny proportion of buyers? No car maker does that anymore, at least not those worried about the bottom line.

Mercedes only have to make the fourbie "tough enough" for the majority of buyers...and taking it over extreme terrain to make sure that what the average person throws at it is strong enough is pretty much all they have to do. The real hard core guys all know that any four wheel drive has to be modded to suit what they have in mind...I've seen plenty of brand new 200 series Landcruisers taken straight from the dealership to the four wheel drive accessory shop for all new suspension, bar work, and other goodies. Even with Landcruisers and Patrols, no one drives off blindly into the remote rough areas without modifications or they're asking for trouble...

mcnews · 08-08-2011, 09:39 AM

I just finished the 7000km APC Rally, which was for adventure-touring motorcycles (I rode a new Triumph 800XC and the field consisted largely of DR650s, KTM 690s, KTm Adventure, BMW GS etc.) but quite a few four wheel drives came along as support vehicles etc. I wouldn't have said it was a highly testing route but Hilux's lost front end bits and four wheel drives were doing shocks left right and centre.

GTP 290 · 08-08-2011, 06:47 PM

So working on the theroy of most of the people in this thread, the engine in a top fuel dragster is not a mojor component of the car because it gets destroyed and replaced regularly?

StrokedXT · 08-08-2011, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP 290

So working on the theroy of most of the people in this thread, the engine in a top fuel dragster is not a mojor component of the car because it gets destroyed and replaced regularly?

You obviously know little about Four Wheeling and you obviously are not going to acknowledge you are wrong so probably pointless continuing

GTP 290 · 08-08-2011, 07:16 PM

I know more about four wheeling than most people and to meet someone that tells me that shock absorbers are not important in a four wheel drive just makes me laugh.

StrokedXT · 08-08-2011, 07:27 PM

No one has said it's not important only that it's a throw away part and is a spare carried by anyone doing serious off roading.

GTP 290 · 08-08-2011, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrokedXT

No one has said it's not important only that it's a throw away part and is a spare carried by anyone doing serious off roading.

Just because it's a throw away item does not mean it's not a major part of the vehicle. Spares are carried to ensure the vehicle can reach it's final destination because they know that if they shocks break then they would not be able to continue. Correct?

Saying that it's not a major component would be like saying that if the shocks broke then the car could still be able to continue its journey. If it was not such a major part then why would people carry spares?

StrokedXT · 08-08-2011, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP 290

Just because it's a throw away item does not mean it's not a major part of the vehicle. Spares are carried to ensure the vehicle can reach it's final destination because they know that if they shocks break then they would not be able to continue. Correct?

Saying that it's not a major component would be like saying that if the shocks broke then the car could still be able to continue its journey. If it was not such a major part then why would people carry spares?

I'm into rock crawling Ive finished a few trips with a limiting strap in place of a busted, bent, or just buggered shock.

Franco Cozzo · 08-08-2011, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pauljh74

I don't think it would make it to the fuel stops in the outback

Jerry cans?

Road_Warrior · 08-08-2011, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Jerry cans?

Very tough for a petrol fourbie now (especially a big bastard V8 like the Raptor) to pull it off because Capricorn Roadhouse are no longer doing fuel drops along the Canning. Diesel FTW

You'd have to take a lot more jerry cans than you would have had to before to get you to one of the remote communities that sell petrol and diesel.