Touareg compared to a Pajero DiD

[dmm_au]

I did a 4wd tag along trip close to Neerim, Victoria this weekend.
Some fairly steep rutted tracks, large rocks and a river crossing.
Now I was driving a landrover Defender with most of the off road gadgets, but there was a guy there with a brand new 2007 Pajero.

Now I wouldn't have thought a Touareg would have coped with what we did, but other than some electronic/user problems getting the Pajero into Centre Diff lock mode, the owner reported it coped well with everything.

I looked it up and the Paj has 225mm ground clearance, the Touareg has 237mm. Both vehicles have similar suspension and I expect wheel travel. Both have electronic traction control and commonly an auto gear box.

The Touareg has more power, more torque, and with decent tyres, I'd expect it could do everything the Pajero did.

Anyone care to comment?

[sumar]

I did a 4wd tag along trip close to Neerim, Victoria this weekend.
Some fairly steep rutted tracks, large rocks and a river crossing.
Now I was driving a landrover Defender with most of the off road gadgets, but there was a guy there with a brand new 2007 Pajero.

Now I wouldn't have thought a Touareg would have coped with what we did, but other than some electronic/user problems getting the Pajero into Centre Diff lock mode, the owner reported it coped well with everything.

I looked it up and the Paj has 225mm ground clearance, the Touareg has 237mm. Both vehicles have similar suspension and I expect wheel travel. Both have electronic traction control and commonly an auto gear box.

The Touareg has more power, more torque, and with decent tyres, I'd expect it could do everything the Pajero did.

Anyone care to comment?

Hi dmm_au,
I dont know where VW messures the ground cleareance, I only messured mine and I found the cleareance to be 195-200mm. That is at its lowest point on the rail next to the front wheel. The plastic bash plates lowest point is 200-205mm. I am driving at the moment a new courtesy V6 TDI with air suspension, on normal, the lowest point again is 195-200mm, on heigh, it is 245-250mm, on extra, heigh it is 280mm.
After my steel suspension lift and larger tyres (265/65/17) mein is at 245-250mm depending on air or load.
Markus

[Transporter]

Don't forget approach and daparture angles when comparing vehicles.

[benissatan]

there is no comparison mitsubishi=rubbish volkswagen better engineered ha ha that is all ha ah ah

[Transporter]

there is no comparison mitsubishi=rubbish volkswagen better engineered ha ha that is all ha ah ah

Different cars for different people, i wouldn't call Pajero rubish, remmember Pajero beat the Treg in Dakar race and won it many times.

[dmm_au]

Hi dmm_au,
I dont know where VW measures the ground clearance, I only measured mine and I found the clearance to be 195-200mm. That is at its lowest point on the rail next to the front wheel. The plastic bash plates lowest point is 200-205mm. Markus

That's rather disappointing, but I guess I'm comparing the published ground clearance rates of both vehicles. It seems likely the marketing people in both companies will be trying to justify the largest number possible.

I wonder what the definition of ground clearance is.

I would have though that if you drove over a log, with a diameter of 237mm, then once the wheels had cleared it, no part of the underside would touch the log. You real world measurements seem to contradict this.

This link basically suggest that a block of wood, in this case 237mm tall should fit under the vehicle. Surely if it doesn't it hasn't met it advertised specs.
http://www.answers.com/topic/ride-height?cat=health

As I have a vehicle on order, perhaps I'll take the opportunity to ask for a definition from VW.
I can't belive I'm the only one who would be upset to find this wasn't true. Perhaps FlipperDog or HarryD could check their newly delivered vehicles?

David

[bobzed57]

Don't believe the press. The clearance isn't all it's cracked up to be. I agree with Sumar on this one.

Having had to make up aluminium plates to replace missing plastic covers underneath I can vouch for the fact that there could be more clearance.

Lift kit, here I come.

Bob Z

[sumar]

http://www.answers.com/topic/ride-height?cat=health

As I have a vehicle on order, perhaps I'll take the opportunity to ask for a definition from VW.
I can't belive I'm the only one who would be upset to find this wasn't true. Perhaps FlipperDog or HarryD could check their newly delivered vehicles?

David

That was my understanding too and I would love to hear what there definition is.

[Flipper Dog]

Just had a look at the clearance and took out the tape measure. 238mm or there about.
That is standard 255/60 R17 wheels and tyres parked on my level concrete garage floor.
There is some plastic dressing around the general area but this is 5-10mm higher up into the vehicles body.
The part which is the lowest is a steel support bar running along the drivers and front passengers’ footwell.



Hope this helps.

Flipper Dog

Reference below:
Steel suspension. Measuring device a 300g spray can 234mm high. Was able to slide under vehicle at all points without making contact.

[sumar]

Just had a look at the clearance and took out the tape measure. 238mm or there about.
That is standard 255/60 R17 wheels and tyres parked on my level concrete garage floor.
There is some plastic dressing around the general area but this is 5-10mm higher up into the vehicles body.
The part which is the lowest is a steel support bar running along the drivers and front passengers’ footwell.



Hope this helps.

Flipper Dog

Strange, do you have air suspension or steel? Did you messure between the centre of the wheels. Can you drive across a block of wood say 235mm heigh?

Markus