Andrew St.Pierre White

HUGE news to Toyota Land Cruiser Fans

2012-02-20T05:21:00.000-08:00

The rumours running wild about V8 Land Cruisers are rumoursno more! Via my top secret, under-cover spies infiltrating the deepestrecesses of Toyota SA's closed doors, reveals that not only is the V8 coming ,but two all–new models as well. The news broke during last week’s Toyota dealer sales conference that accompanyingthe Land Cruiser pick-up and 76 Wagon V8 diesels, will be a Cruiser double-cab.This startling news was only tempered slightly by the additional news that the Cruiser200 VX will be joined by a basic spec, GX unit. Don’t get too excited. It willnot be like it was with the 100, the GX having the heavy-duty chassis. It will just be a cheaper, simpler, lesselectronic and therefore more versatile VX. Will the Troopy V8 be coming? Nobody asked, because it’s such aslow seller, I guess, nobody cared. This will all probably happen aroundOctober.

It’s all great news – but not for anyone who just bought aLand Cruiser with the 4,2D – like me for example. Next week: Is the V8 all good news? Not necessarily.

What’s more fun? Camping? Or Being in a wild place where camping is the only alternative?

2012-02-14T02:09:00.002-08:00

Camping is a real chore. The bed is never as comfortable asthe one at home. The food is as good, sometimes better, but it’s a chore tomake given the lack of convenience. The chairs aren’t nearly as comfortable asmy ones at home. And if it rains, it’s horrible. And I hate sleeping in a ba

So why do I love it so?

For me, it’s where I wake up that makes all the difference.If you invited me to go camping at Vaal Dam or at the Blickiesfonteindorp Oord,then I would make any excuse to get out of it. I would rather clean the dog’sears. But a trip to the desert, preferably with as few people around aspossible, I am happy to undergo near torture for a few evenings and mornings ofthat.

I had my wheels rotated the other day and the man asked me ifmy Land Cruiser was just a “mall crawler”. I told him it was, but then he askedwhy I have nice red shock absorbers. We got talking. I wanted to ask thisquestion of him, but without giving away my motives. He had a very nicely equippedDefender 90 and an Echo trailer. He said proudly, “You wouldn’t believe me,when I tell you. Me and my wife. When we arrive at a campsite, just, and I’mnot lying, just 45 minutes, and everything is done and ready. I nearly trippedover the tyre iron. 45 minutes!!!!!.

On a good day, it takes me five. Yes, just five. Because I figure,it’s not about camping, and tents, and poles and stoves. It’s about being in a magicplace. I want to spend my time exploring, looking, feeling and living, instead offighting with sleeping bag pouches that are too small, and which pole fits where.

Am I bonkers? Tell me about you!

Buying a new car is mostly about emotion, not practicality. The G300 Pro..

2012-02-09T03:16:00.000-08:00

Proof of this comes in the form of the new Mercedes G300 Professional.Because nobody in their right minds would buy one, unless they were mentallydisturbed or OTT passionate about the G.

When it comes to the G, I admit, I am verging on the mentallyunstable. I loved both of those I owned and love this one. But consider this.What do you expect from a 4x4 wagon that requires parting with over R770 000? (Over US$100 000)

Airbags?

“Several of them I would hope.”

A sound system?

“Yes, with multiple speakers andBluetooth phone kit to begin with.”

What about leather?

“No question.“

Electric windows?

“Yes, stupid. What car doesn’thave them?”

What aboutcarpets?

“Is that a serious question?”

Actually, yes. Would you expectcarpets and sound insulation?

“Of course.”

Well I have news for you. Tick nothing for the G300 Pro. Fromthis list, all it comes with is a single airbag in the steering wheel. Andnothing else.

To wind up the windows you’ll need big biceps. The raisedair intake howls like a lost wolf on the prairie, and the twin single rearseats give about as much support as a tightrope in a storm. The interior islavish with plain painted steel and the centre console and armrest is madefrom, what looks like, parts of a railway girder bridge – and it doesn’t evenopen.

So, if I were to consider this G as a new purchase, havingremoved any emotion that I may have toward it, it wouldn’t even appear on theshort list of 4x4s I might consider. But put the emotion back, and it is acompelling choice.

You see, the G is like a Picasso. It’s nothing to look atuntil you understand it. It’s so ugly, it’s beautiful, a classic in the bestsense. Off road, there is no non-modified 4x4 that comes close. On road, mostthings are better, but when you put it into the category where it fits best(Land Rover Defender and Toyota 76 Wagon), it out-performs both of them by along, long way.

But then given the price, it had better.

Land Rover Defender replacement - a bit of a joke?

2012-01-24T02:28:00.000-08:00

I think that the Land Rover Defender ‘replacement’ is a bitof a joke. Surely the word ‘replacement’ means just that; that the new machinecan do what the old one could do? Or does it have some other meaning?

Most of the time when we see a concept vehicle, we getexcited about the prospect that the manufacturer may one day actually build it.But in this case, I dread this one. Any friend of the Land Rover has got to beconcerned that the icon of their brand is about to become yet another SUV.

All the well-meaning styling in the world isn’t going tochange the fact that you need a truck to do a truck’s job. Can you see a DC100carrying an expedition’s load through Malawi? Or help the Third Para Regiment plota minefield?

Let’s make it easier… How about a bail of hay to the farmernext door?

Or, even easier… How about sitting in city traffic with adriver who feels almost as if he/she’s on safari – something that very fewvehicles have ever managed to do successfully – something at which the Defender is a master?

Is running in a new engine really necessary?

2012-01-17T02:49:00.000-08:00

I was asked this question recently... In my opinion, new engines, if they are to last a long time and be economical, must not be run in, in the normal way. The only type of driving that should be avoided in the first 1000kms is a constant speed, I.e., a long run where the engine spins at the same rpm for long periods. In my experience, an engine that works hard from day one is the engine that uses less fuel, lasts longer and uses far less oil. Engines that are molly-coddled when new always use oil and are under-powered and often do not deliver power equal to spec. This is my experience through several used and many new vehicles I have owned.

Typical examples are my three Land Cruisers 4,2D engines. My first two I ran in for the first 3000 kms, avoiding full throttle and even warming them up. Then my current one. From day one it towed a trailer, foot flat, maximum revs and punished. Today this engine uses no oil at all (166 000kms) and produces more power than Toyota spec. It also uses 10% less fuel that the other two, even though the vehicle is heavier. It is quieter and a much nicer to drive than the others. Other than the way it began its life, nothing makes it different from the other two.

Another example is all Lycombing aircraft engines – large block, long stroke petrol motors – have large red labels on the crate: ‘NB. DO NOT RUN THIS ENGINE IN. USE MAXIMUM POWER FOR FIRST 25 HOURS. It’s because if they are run in, the rings never produce a good seal and a microscopic step is created in each cylinder wall at the point where the piston is at its highest position. But when the engine revs higher, the conrods stretch, and the rings pass this ‘lump’. The result is lost compression and all that goes with it.

A last example is racing car engines. They are NEVER run in. Their builders know that it has to be flat out from the first moment they run, otherwise they never perform properly.

If anything running in means the opposite of what is common perception. Work the engine normally from day-one, and it will perform better all its life. I am not suggesting abuse it, but demand full power often, vary the revs and power demands, and get it to operating temperature as fast as possible. And the kiss of death for any new motor, and even an old one, is to warm it up while at idle.
Your thoughts?

Hello All

2012-01-17T01:52:00.000-08:00

I suppose the right thing to do with a new blog (not that I know much about them) is to introduce myself - which is exactly what I am not going to do. Since I recon that almost all visitors will come here via my website (www.4xforum.com) or from some 4x4-related article somewhere, I figure, there is no point.

But the idea of this new blog may be worth mentioning.

I am going to make a weekly entry about something off-road, 4x4 or overlanmding related subject. And if I really feel like it, other things too. But this is where I get to vent my feelings and practice my hobby; the removal and dismantling of platitudes.
My first blog due in a few days - about myths of running in new engines.