H
Houm_WA
Guest
I just completed (I mean like 3 hours ago) the LR Experience Driving School in Carmel, CA. It is run out of the Quail Lodge.
So, I don't want to just GUSH about the LR3 but it's hard not to. I never really imagined traversing the terrain that I did today. Conditions were not too bad in terms of grip as it was dry. The ground was moist but not wet. The trail had many areas of loose terrain. The most impressive thing was the LR3's ability to navigate uneven terrain. At times wheels would come off the ground and you really couldn't tell, that's how smooth it is. Here are highlights:
1. The "Bathtub" - This was basically a part of the trail that went down steeply, flattened out and came back up....it was basically shaped like a giant bathtub, as the name indicates. Going straitht into it would cause a bottoming out, so you had to take it on an angle. As you approach, the front driver's side wheel leaves the ground, and as your proceed, you teeter-totter onto that suspended wheel and your back passenger side wheel leaves the ground. It's quite a feeling.
2. The Sideslope- very similar to the tub, but you are just driving along on the trail and the sideslope gets so bad that your back passenger side tire leaves the ground (and I mean it's up there) and the ground is just outside your window. I seriously thought I was going to flip...especially when we hit some mud and started sliding. Of the whole day, this was the point that got my heart pumping.
3. The downhills - it is strange to just let go of the brake to go downhill, but that's what ya do (once you can see the bottom). HDC kicks ass. I went down some extremely steep hills, and they were rendered easy by the LR3.
4. The uphills - This was insane. I never could've imagined what this SUV could climb. Jesus....it just gobbles that **** up. One hill I had to HDC down in reverse and take another shot at, this time getting more momentum and jarring my steering wheel left to right as I proceeded. But the hill was amazing and the LR3 was even moreso. The second hill I had to hit this big ol' tree root really hard to clear it without losing momentum. The LR3 just went.
Overall, this was a tremendous experience. I will not forget it and now I have a feel for what this vehicle can REALLY do. I thought I fell in love with it after my last camping trip, but what I did was nothing compared to this. I took pictures, and will try to scan 'n post.
...who cares about all the silly faults, this thing is unstoppable. The LR3 rules.
So, I don't want to just GUSH about the LR3 but it's hard not to. I never really imagined traversing the terrain that I did today. Conditions were not too bad in terms of grip as it was dry. The ground was moist but not wet. The trail had many areas of loose terrain. The most impressive thing was the LR3's ability to navigate uneven terrain. At times wheels would come off the ground and you really couldn't tell, that's how smooth it is. Here are highlights:
1. The "Bathtub" - This was basically a part of the trail that went down steeply, flattened out and came back up....it was basically shaped like a giant bathtub, as the name indicates. Going straitht into it would cause a bottoming out, so you had to take it on an angle. As you approach, the front driver's side wheel leaves the ground, and as your proceed, you teeter-totter onto that suspended wheel and your back passenger side wheel leaves the ground. It's quite a feeling.
2. The Sideslope- very similar to the tub, but you are just driving along on the trail and the sideslope gets so bad that your back passenger side tire leaves the ground (and I mean it's up there) and the ground is just outside your window. I seriously thought I was going to flip...especially when we hit some mud and started sliding. Of the whole day, this was the point that got my heart pumping.
3. The downhills - it is strange to just let go of the brake to go downhill, but that's what ya do (once you can see the bottom). HDC kicks ass. I went down some extremely steep hills, and they were rendered easy by the LR3.
4. The uphills - This was insane. I never could've imagined what this SUV could climb. Jesus....it just gobbles that **** up. One hill I had to HDC down in reverse and take another shot at, this time getting more momentum and jarring my steering wheel left to right as I proceeded. But the hill was amazing and the LR3 was even moreso. The second hill I had to hit this big ol' tree root really hard to clear it without losing momentum. The LR3 just went.
Overall, this was a tremendous experience. I will not forget it and now I have a feel for what this vehicle can REALLY do. I thought I fell in love with it after my last camping trip, but what I did was nothing compared to this. I took pictures, and will try to scan 'n post.
...who cares about all the silly faults, this thing is unstoppable. The LR3 rules.
