I can attest to the X doing quite well on sand. I drove mine 10 or 12 miles up and down the NC coast, some on hard pack by the Ocean, some on loose and large-grained sand towards the dunes, and she did great. :thumbup: I didn't get the secure feeling I get behind the wheel of my battle-weary '92 Pathfinder 4X4, but I know that will never get stuck in anything I will ever drive it into, and it was my first time with the X :D

Thanks for the nice words and pics, DS.

JV

I never said the X5 would beat the Cherokee off road. Read it again ;)

Cherokee sucks...go Land Rover!

I'd like to compare (in real off road or snow situation)the two sistems of traction of the x5: the older and the newer x drive. Has anyone tested both?

Message for DS: you say that your friends take a video for you: could you post it?
It would be very interesting for us!! :wow:

BillK, if we are talking about off-road prowess the X5 doesn't compare to any Jeep or Land Rover. We are talking about two completely different animals. Up until recently all Jeeps and Land Rovers use solid axles front and rear. These trucks are much more geared to off-roading than the X5. To be fair to the X5, it isn't intended to be an off-roader.

And just to clarify, Land Rover discontinued putting in a CDL (Center Diff Lock) in 1999 when they came out with the Series 2 Discovery. The reason that they discontinued it is that in the US, people would leave the diff locked on the street and they would destroy the transfer case. Also, the traction control in the Discovery 2 doesn't do anything to help out with front to rear slippage of the driveshafts, only side to side (wheel to wheel). Land Rover only discontinued the CDL here in the states.

While I love the X5, I know its limitations. It stays on the street. My Land Rover gets to see the dirt and rocks.

I don't think anyone is trying to compare the X5 to a Land Rover for off-road capability... but it is nice to see some first-hand evidence that our beloved X5's - which TROUNCE everything else on the road - can also hold their own in light-to-medium off-road duty... which is a lot more than some people credit it with!! :thumbup:

>Message for DS: you say that your friends take a video for you: could you post it?
> It would be very interesting for us!!
Yes I could cut a small section of video (this is where most of the pictures come from) but would need somewhere to post it - any ideas?

>Also, the traction control in the Discovery 2 doesn't do anything to help out with
>front to rear slippage of the driveshafts, only side to side
X-Drive takes care of this on the X5, performing the same function of a centre diff lock, but only when there is excess slippage between front and back (ie more than just the difference generated by turning a corner etc). As mentioned, i think the traction control is a bit soft for serious off road work, but I guess if it was more agressive then the brakes would be more likely to overheat.
If ground clearence is not a factor then I would say that the off road performance is very similar to my Pajero/Montero which has standard a manual locking centre diff, limited slip rear diff only, and low range.
First gear on the 6 speed auto is quite low and I think just as competent as low range, especially with the low revving diesel.
DS

I don't know if I would say suck...but it probably doesn't do as well as a vehicle whos sole original purpose was for off-road travel. All I can say is after driving in my friends Grand Cherokee...I'll take the X with 4 flat tires over the Jeep.

http://nwapa.org/mudfest/#Anchor-Model-Year-21683 <-- as usual when this question comes up, I point here :)

Amen, brother! :iagree: :D :woot: :cool: