VW Amorok - Navara - Ranger

[Hightower]

Do you really need a diff lock recovering boats from the slipway or are you thinking of other applications? My slipway is all mud and shingle and as bad as they come around these parts. My old kia used to climb the slip with about 1.5 tonnes off the back with no diff lock.

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by Hightower

Do you really need a diff lock recovering boats from the slipway or are you thinking of other applications? My slipway is all mud and shingle and as bad as they come around these parts. My old kia used to climb the slip with about 1.5 tonnes off the back with no diff lock.

+1 I can't see you needing it ether, or are you thinking of some off roading?

[The Black Pig]

I launch from the beech so all four wheels turning and pulling even when you turn is very reassuring and impressive

[Lee argyle]

Originally Posted by The Black Pig

I launch from the beech so all four wheels turning and pulling even when you turn is very reassuring and impressive

A vehicles 'Diff lock' is normally the central transfere box lock, with this engaged permanent drive is sent to the vehicles front and rear axles, then the axle differentials take over, with all 4 wheels driving until a wheel breaks traction and then the rule of least resistance takes over, an 'open' diff will power the side with least grip. Consequently locking a centre diff and then driving over testing ground conditions can just leave you with two wheel drive, one wheel at front and one rear. A rear axle diff lock does what it says on the tin, however few vehicles have this option, even fewer have lockable front and rear axles - this is the only option to give you true 4 wheel drive.
After saying all that the most sophisticated and modern traction enhancements won't mean #hit unless your running appropriate tyres

[John Kennett]

Unusually, the Amarok has a rear diff lock as a factory option which is pretty cool.

Some permanent "all wheel drive" cars don't even have a locking centre diff, so when it gets slippy they are effectively one wheel drive!

[Lee argyle]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Unusually, the Amarok has a rear diff lock as a factory option which is pretty cool.

Some permanent "all wheel drive" cars don't even have a locking centre diff, so when it gets slippy they are effectively one wheel drive!

Absolutely , so many people think a 4x4 is all 4 wheels..........................Not forgetting if a vehicle had all 4 wheels permanently locked together it would render the steering useless and crash on the first corner it tried to negotiate!

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by Lee argyle

Absolutely , so many people think a 4x4 is all 4 wheels..........................Not forgetting if a vehicle had all 4 wheels permanently locked together it would render the steering useless and crash on the first corner it tried to negotiate!

Not quite, but you do get very interesting steering side effects, epic tyre wear, unpleasant noises from the transmission and black marks on the road

None of the whiz-bang electronic traction controls are a patch on a proper diff lock, whatever the brochures say. They are good in light duty situations like snow and ice or a poncy dealer show track which lifts alternate wheels off the ground, but they rapidly overheat and pack up in proper heavy going.

[Lee argyle]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Not quite, but you do get very interesting steering side effects, epic tyre wear, unpleasant noises from the transmission and black marks on the road

None of the whiz-bang electronic traction controls are a patch on a proper diff lock, whatever the brochures say. They are good in light duty situations like snow and ice or a poncy dealer show track which lifts alternate wheels off the ground, but they rapidly overheat and pack up in proper heavy going.

Still stand by what I said, with all three diffs locked ( centre , front and back axles ) the wheels will all try to drive at a uniform speed( none of the open 'differentials' working). Having owned one or two 'challenge' motors running sets of ARBs in the axles, with them switched on and driving on Tarmac you have no steering, period. The same scenario on loose terrain the locked wheels will 'slip' allowing you some steering, you also experience lots of under steer , less so with just the rear locked. FYI, I've competed in winch challenges across the UK, trained and qualified as a BORDA offroad instructor and trained many, many hundreds of pupils, oh, and I currently own and run a independent 4x4 specailist workshop ( island 4x4 ) so................I've used diff lock/s once or twice

[BogMonster]

I spent 15 years in much the same line of business so I know how they work too

[Boats&Outboards]

Test drive today. First the Nav 2.5 auto 5 speed. Seemed ok if a bit lacking. Tried the Outlaw, which was an 8 speed auto. Hated it. Ok it was a year old but only had 1,000 miles. It was dreadful. Harsh ride, sounded like it was really working hard on the gears, this was with nothing on it too. The build quality was not very impressive either

We are booked into a test on the Amarok Highline tomorrow. Let's hope this one is an improvement.

Peter @ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ www.BoatsandOutboards4Sale.co.uk ~ 07930 421007

[mick]

Just get a Defender

[Boats&Outboards]

No thanks!

www.BoatsandOutboards4Sale.co.uk

[kerny]

Originally Posted by Boats&Outboards

No thanks!

www.BoatsandOutboards4Sale.co.uk

[Lee argyle]

Originally Posted by mick

Just get a Defender

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Absolutely

[cptsideways]

Or buy a Landcruiser, the last of the 4.2td's are lovely cars, you wont loose any money on one, will pull a house down with ease & have 3 difflocks as standard. They have an 8ton towing capacity in low range (off roads only of course according to the manual) & 3.5ton on road.

[SteveHall]

Originally Posted by Hightower

Do you really need a diff lock recovering boats from the slipway or are you thinking of other applications?

When I got stuck recovering on a beach the first thing I was asked was about my dif lock...

[Barrowboy]

....so does this story have a happy ending?

If the Amarok was chosen, any comments on the selection?

[Boats&Outboards]

Neither have been ordered as of yet. I'm playing hard ball with the dealers, so far not so good

www.BoatsandOutboards4Sale.co.uk

[Skipper1]

How did the test drive in the Amarok go? And was it an Automatic you tested?

[Boats&Outboards]

It was the 4 motion auto. Drove very well, it was a shame the car shut-off at rest wasn't active during the test but the hill start and other gadgets were impressive. It was quite lively too although at anything over 85 you felt like your were in a truck as it become unstable, or at least felt like it.

Overall I'd take this over any other in its class. The Ranger, Nav & L200 were nowhere close.

The rep reckons he'd given the car at cost and was making no margin at all on it, with the sale only going towards helping them hit targets and possibly getting future services. I felt we could have been given a bit more, which is why we didn't proceed.

Shame but were still looking

www.BoatsandOutboards4Sale.co.uk