Finally got the chance to really see what the RRS is capable of in the dunes!

We had a great day: hooned around a bit, got stuck numerous times, tried out the ATPC a few times (some successful, others not), and only really needed one tow at a particularly soft spot where I beached the car and even extended height would not help.

It was a very hot day yesterday (34C), so the sand was extremely soft from 9am when we got going. Tyres were at 1.0 bar.

All in all, the supercharged is a great dune surfer

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

That looks fun!

What did the Defender drivers think of your car (apart from the inside being much cooler than theirs).

It was bucketloads of fun

Most of the Defenders had already arrived and were deflating tyres when I rocked up, and let's just say there were a lot of incredulous faces when I arrived.

There was also a lot of wincing when at one point I overdid it and ran into some bushes, which scratched part of the bonnet and window frames, but hell, I didn't buy this car to pamper it

But other than the road tyres and the sheer weight hampering me in the extremely soft sand, it went well, and some of the Defender drivers who'd never seen a modern LR offroad were suitably impressed - especially when I floored it and the exhaust mod made itself heard

I think that I'd done a bit better with AT tyres as opposed to road tyres.

What was strange is that the ATPC at some points would just refuse to work to pull me uphill, and the display would say 'ATPC only available for descent', but not sure if I was using it in/correctly.

The fuel consumption was also not that bad: we did around 30km, and the average consumption according to the car was 56L/100km - I filled up just before getting there and the fuel gauge dropped by 2 ticks.

It will definitely do better there in winter, when the rains have hardened the sand a bit. I will share the next outing as well.  --
2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear
2015 Range Rover Sport Supercharged V8 HSE Dynamic



Defender Puma Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zZ1en9
Discovery 4 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zXrtKO
Range Rover/Sport L320/L322/L494 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zc58JQ

Interesting comments about the tyres on the sand. I've read the opinion that aggressive tyres can be a hindrance in sand as they dig too much. A less aggressive tread can "float" and reduce the tendency to dig itself down to the axles. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Indeed, but in this case, with extremely soft sand due to the heat, something like the Pirelli ATR would have been a bit more helpful (I think). --
2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear
2015 Range Rover Sport Supercharged V8 HSE Dynamic



Defender Puma Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zZ1en9
Discovery 4 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zXrtKO
Range Rover/Sport L320/L322/L494 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zc58JQ

Ah, yes, a "soft" AT rather than a more knobbly one like the Duratrak would probably be helpful. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

It is so nice to see RRS being used as it was intended, it’s a pity that some of the driveway queens don’t get out to try even some gentle green laning, after all it was why the car was given such a comprehensive suite of offroad toys. You don’t buy the ability just to drive it on the highway. Only one of my Land Rovers out of 11 owned never went off the tar, the last Evoque as it was so unreliable I didn’t dare risk something failing in an embarrassing situation but my 1st Evoque went on a moderate difficult day out on the Scottish hills on day 3 of ownership and only 12 hours after having driven the length of the UK from London to the venue on the Scottish West Coast (and that was only 3 days after Evoque went on sale!). It was one of the first delivered to a private buyer but for sure it was the first privately owned one to go off-roading and it was very good at it even on 20” Conti Cross Contacts. Same with the first L322 FFRR I had, 3 weeks old and everyone thought I was mad but I didn’t take on stages where I knew I would damage it, I also had my Defender at the event for those stages! 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Last edited by Tim in Scotland on Tue Dec 18 2018 1:30pm. Edited 1 time in total

Couldn’t agree more Tim  2003 BMW M5 - 5 Litres of V8 Optimax Slurping Goodness in Carbon Black

2013 SDV6 HSE Black Edition- Orkney Grey with Ebony & Ivory. LR Facelift RAI, Genuine G4 Expedition Rack, 4x Warn SBD-160 Spotlights, Warn 9.5XPS Winch, Mantec Underbody Protection and Sump Guard, Full Easy Lift Suspension Module, LR Light Guards, Light Force HTX230 Hybrid spotlights, 18” Compomotive PD1881 on 265/65/18 BF Goodrich KO2, ARB fridge, TuffTrek awning 😎

Indeed!

One of my first outings:

 --
2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear
2015 Range Rover Sport Supercharged V8 HSE Dynamic



Defender Puma Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zZ1en9
Discovery 4 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zXrtKO
Range Rover/Sport L320/L322/L494 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zc58JQ

Maybe this summer I will attempt to take the Countryman on a drive like Mini shows a Countryman doing in the ads currently showing on TV in the UK, but I think its small ground clearance (a lot less than Evoque or Freelander2’s) will prove frustrating for me as I won’t be able to take it off any of the fire roads onto the special tracks we have for real playing in the woods. Maybe have to tow it on a trailer behind my Defender........ 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW