SA Desert trip
Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2003 1:47 am
Just got back from a trip from Sale to Horshamto Mildura to Pinnaroo down the SA border and back through Horsham with some serious sand dune driving through the little and big deserts. it was mad. best fun i've had in ages actually - went with a four big-rig convoy. A few things I noticed about the feroza are as follows:
-The 1.6 sounds WILD at 6500 rpm.
-The 1.6 is not suitable for climbing big dunes - prob an issue with most manual petrol engines though
-The 1.6 is VERY frugal with fuel below 80kph - even in 4wd and in sand. I was AMAZED at the economy I got out of it.
-The Feroza is a great size machine for one-up or maybe two-up camping and touring. Depends on how many slabs you want to take.
-The on road performance with 38psi in 235/75/R15's was good and better than expected. However it had a fair thirst at over 100kph.
-I would really like a turbo diesel if I ever tackled serious sand again.
-I was dissapointned a TD navara, Bravo and Surf could get over hills in one go, when I would have to take 3 or 4 shots at it, and hen hit it at high speed - ie. redline in 3rd Low!\
-Looking forward to evening up the score once we do some mud driving in southern Vic, where the shorty fearoza always shines.
All up great fun, even having many beers "explode" due to the bumpy terrian. Hey, we just had to stop and drink em! Wouldn't want to be wasteful!
And it was great to roll up in the fearoza to work yesterday, with its coulour having changed from green to bright red dust/mud!! hope to show some photos soon
-The 1.6 sounds WILD at 6500 rpm.
-The 1.6 is not suitable for climbing big dunes - prob an issue with most manual petrol engines though
-The 1.6 is VERY frugal with fuel below 80kph - even in 4wd and in sand. I was AMAZED at the economy I got out of it.
-The Feroza is a great size machine for one-up or maybe two-up camping and touring. Depends on how many slabs you want to take.
-The on road performance with 38psi in 235/75/R15's was good and better than expected. However it had a fair thirst at over 100kph.
-I would really like a turbo diesel if I ever tackled serious sand again.
-I was dissapointned a TD navara, Bravo and Surf could get over hills in one go, when I would have to take 3 or 4 shots at it, and hen hit it at high speed - ie. redline in 3rd Low!\
-Looking forward to evening up the score once we do some mud driving in southern Vic, where the shorty fearoza always shines.
All up great fun, even having many beers "explode" due to the bumpy terrian. Hey, we just had to stop and drink em! Wouldn't want to be wasteful!
And it was great to roll up in the fearoza to work yesterday, with its coulour having changed from green to bright red dust/mud!! hope to show some photos soon