So... what car do you guys drive when not flying?

[JohnM]

Need more rpm in petrol engine to spool up turbo than in diesel especially in low starting rpm Is what I’ve been told

That would seem to make sense.

Maybe that's why the sequential turbos work well. From what I understand, the first one is lower speed and pressure; the second faster and higher pressure. However the transition from one to the other occurs, it's imperceptible.

The whole combo works well for me. The Everest, while clearly no Rangie or Bentayga, meets all the objectives I laid out in these pages before I bought it last year.

It really is fit-for-purpose for my needs: a relaxed country cruiser, as near to a sedan as can be hoped for, on bitumen; a gun on dirt and off-road; superb fuel economy. For my needs, I struggle to fault it. I just need better tyres - or could that be better luck with tyres?

On our trip last week, the roads in Karijini NP are heavily corrugated in many parts. I was skipping along in the 75-85kph range really quite nicely. My brother was following us in his Pajero Sport. He got out complaining of bad axle-hop. I had no sign of it. We were both equivalently quite lightly loaded (2 pax, an Engel and luggage in the back) as we were staying in accommodation and not camping.

 

[Quickstatus]

bad axle-hop

IIRC both have similar weights and payload.

Will likely yield an answer if you can compare and contrast the chassis,suspension and rear axle of Everest vs Pajero

 

[JohnM]

IIRC both have similar weights and payload.

Will likely yield an answer if you can compare and contrast the chassis,suspension and rear axle of Everest vs Pajero

Sure, but I haven't delved into that and probably won't. It showed up and obviously pleased me, but not so my brother.

 

[JohnM]

Pertinent to recent discussion:

Opinion: How the LC300’s new high-tech diesel V6 improves on the outgoing V8

The Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series V6 diesel is a huge leap forward in sophistication from the V8

www.whichcar.com.au

 

[JohnM]

And also pertinent:

 

[jb747]

The only thing about putting on more revs at the situation of 60 changing to 70 speed limit on the slight uphill was not getting the speed right and it was notorious for speed cameras. A push on the right pedal too easily brought on the boost and with it a sharpish uptick in speed if it was held on boost.

Might be a good case for the use of S mode, as the engine would probably already be on boost. Having said that, there is a surprisingly large disparity in the way S modes are set up across car ranges, making some more useful than others. The S3 and the R32 had exactly the same gearbox, but VWs version of sport was useful day to day. Audi's just revved it's head off, and was pointless.

Both the Subi and Audi had paddles, but I could seldom be bothered using them. I reckon paddles are a bit of a gimmick.

Habit perhaps, but I would have trouble buying a car that wasn't fitted with them now. Five of our last six had them. I find that a lot of people don't have any idea out to use them, and even less know some of their features. For instance within the JLR range, holding the right paddle for a couple of seconds sends the gearbox back to either S or D automatic mode.

One thing that bugged me about the DSG in the Audi was the momentary, but noticeable, time lag for it to drop into 1st at a stop sign.

I think one of the failings of DSG gearboxes is that they have been sold as automatics, when they're really automated manuals. People reasonably expect them to behave like torque converter autos, but they can't. They are great in cars with a performance bent, but much less so in more normal vehicles. And gearboxes like the incredible, and very widely used, ZF 8 speed auto, really weaken the need for DSGs for most people.

 

[JessicaTam]

Habit perhaps, but I would have trouble buying a car that wasn't fitted with them now. Five of our last six had them. I find that a lot of people don't have any idea out to use them, and even less know some of their features. For instance within the JLR range, holding the right paddle for a couple of seconds sends the gearbox back to either S or D automatic mode.

I did like the paddles on my Triton. Handy to drop down a gear when the terrain got a bit gnarly.

 

[OZDUCK]

I did like the paddles on my Triton. Handy to drop down a gear when the terrain got a bit gnarly.

The paddles on my 2005 V6 Statesman are a waste of space. I have probably used the about 3 times.

 

[Quickstatus]

automated manuals. People reasonably expect them to behave like torque converter autos

They should not to be used for creep along driving - wears out the clutch. Need to depress the accelerator to indicate you want to move forward unlike torque converter autos. However other than that not much difference. You can leave it in D at a stop- the mechatronics will disconnect the drive shaft from the input shaft when foot brake is on.

VWs version of sport was useful day to day

The VW S mode is pretty good. Basically goes down a gear and holds it there slightly longer in the general case. The VW diesels are excellent in low rpm anyway. For example I can accelerate sedately while holding gear at 1500rpm

paddles

I use them in the DSG when going downhill because the VW mechatronics likes to use autoengine braking to maintain road speed often to 3000 rpm while I don’t. I’d rather use the brakes. (Except in high load, towing, long or steep downhill situations - I put these exceptions in otherwise a certain mod will ping me)

Using the paddles in a VW changes the mechatronics program to “M”. Not really manual but close. It will revert to D if it detects the gearing to be approaching rpm limits

 

[Quickstatus]

Pertinent to recent discussion:

Mr Toyota finally catching up to the Hot V technology that t Germans have been using for years - exhaust in the V of the V engine.

Temperatures will get hotter in that V area and it raises the issue of reliability in a vehicle that culturally is all about under tuned reliability than performance/sport (Gazoo is a terrible name)

I wonder if the intercooler will continue to sit on top of that V which just adds to the heat
….

The Everest, while clearly no Rangie or Bentayga, meets all the objectives I laid out in these pages before I bought it last year.

The only issue with the Blue oval company is customer service. Skeptical about that due to various experiences incl personal many years ago and friends.
Though none are superlative and you would always feel done over when leaving the premises of a car dealer.

 

[JohnM]

With the 'reveal' of the new Ford Ranger on Wednesday, and due for release by mid next year, a new Everest will follow. Details are still sketchy but it looks like a significant update.

With long wait times likely, I thought I'd get first dibs, so I placed a provisional order with who I bought my current Everest from in April last year.

The dealer already had a few provisional new-model Ranger orders and a guy who had a current Everest on order flipped it to a new model order, so I'm #2 on their list.

Sales manager says they have 20 Mustangs on order, along with a big backlog of a lot of other models.

Crazy times.

 

[cove]

Waiting for Godot when it comes to our June order this year for Toyota Camry Hybrids. Last two are now expected to get built in January and delivered in February for our Sydney office.

 

[tgh]

Saw the pre release spiel for the Everest.. should be good wheels..as yank tanks go….

 

[Simo]

Hopefully they have cured the reliability issues for the Ranger in the future model

 

[Quickstatus]

With the 'reveal' of the new Ford Ranger

A V6 would be acceptable. 4cyl in a ute never worked for me.

 

[JohnM]

A V6 would be acceptable. 4cyl in a ute never worked for me.

Understandable - especially for folks who tow.

The 2.0L Bi-turbo in the Everest hits the sweet spot for me. I - thankfully - seldom tow, and the performance and fuel economy unencumbered by such impedimenta are excellent. (Not to mention getting from point-to-point in minimal time... ).

The likely V6 is appealing, but my guess is that it will be only in the Ranger Raptor, where the 2.0L BT becomes counter-actively degraded by the extra kit compared with the models (eg. Wildtrak) ostensibly below it.

And, of course, the Amarok to come is going to be a VW in Ranger V6 guise.

If they were to offer it in the Everest, I suspect that it would have to be be some variant over and above the Sport or Titanium. I don't see that happening. Too small a market. Ranger is their killer category; Everest is still trying to get through the Prado ceiling while Ranger has well and truly cracked the (4WD) HiLux ceiling nationally (but not in WA - the mining companies presumably ensuring that).

In any event, both of those are off my list because of 20inch wheels and low-profile tyres. OK for the low-level Margaret River posers (Rangies & Cayennes are just sooo de rigeur down there... ) but they are not what one wants in places like the Gibb River Road, Rudall River NP or the Canning Stock Route...

 

[Quickstatus]

(but not in WA - the mining companies presumably ensuring that).

70series utes and poverty pack hilux
Anything with juiced up kit are not wanted

 

[Quickstatus]

Canning Stock Route...

Lots of people buy a vehicle on the basis of capability that they will never use but they might need it.

Eg:
This vehicle can do the CSR.
This vehicle can do 200kW at 6000 rpm.
Etc etc

 

[Pegasus]

New Great Wall Cannon getting good reviews

 

[jb747]

Using the paddles in a VW changes the mechatronics program to “M”. Not really manual but close. It will revert to D if it detects the gearing to be approaching rpm limits

Sort of. If you want manual, you need to push the gear selector sideways, and then you have 'manual', though it will still change up or down to protect the drivetrain.

If you are in D or S and use the paddles, then it goes to manual for 10 seconds, after which it changes back to where it was. There's a few provisos that can make it remain there for longer, but it will automatically switch back.

I found that the S position on the Audi/VW wasn't really to my liking, being a notch further back than D. I prefered the JLR system in which S is the sideways push. Interestingly, there is a setting in the Jag that removes automatic changes at the rev limits. I don't mind a bit of technology protecting me from myself.

The 2.0L Bi-turbo in the Everest hits the sweet spot for me. I - thankfully - seldom tow, and the performance and fuel economy unencumbered by such impedimenta are excellent. (Not to mention getting from point-to-point in minimal time... ).

The likely V6 is appealing, but my guess is that it will be only in the Ranger Raptor, where the 2.0L BT becomes counter-actively degraded by the extra kit compared with the models (eg. Wildtrak) ostensibly below it.

Just talking to a neighbour who has a Raptor. He's told the dealer to pencil him down for a V6 Ranger. I wonder if it's the same V6 we've seen in VW and Audi for years?