Tuesday, Mar 15, 2016 at 13:49
I'm having a lot of trouble trying to get my mind around a 2.8L, 4 cyl diesel, being as capable as a 4.2L, 6 cyl diesel, for towing ability and for long term life.
Regardless of the technological advances and improvements in engine design, this line all the manufacturers are following - of ever-decreasing engine sizes - is not something that sits
well with me.
Call me a dinosaur, call me an old out-of-touch fart - but I still believe in the racers old adage that there's no substitute for cubic inches (or multiple litres).
As for the best 4WD - my middle nephew has traded his Cummins-powered Silverado on a petrol V8 Raptor.
He's owned most of the big "Yank Tanks" in the last few years, from the F350 through to the Raptor - and he's also chewed through Saharas and every model Landcruiser made - and he reckons the Raptor absolutely takes the cake, for the nicest handling, most driveable, most capable 4WD you could imagine. He's still got a Sahara for his wifes shopping trolley, of course! LOL
He has two bulldozers on full-time hire as primary fire-fighting dozers to DPAW - and he calls in up to around 20 more machines when a big fire is on.
He was on the front line with the recent big Waroona and Yarloop fires, and the Raptor was put to the
test, following freshly-cut fire-containment lines through the Darling Range. Some of those firebreaks are ROUGH!
He has to get into the dozers to do operator shift changeovers, because they work around the clock when a fire is on.
He reckons the Raptor has performed faultessly all through, and it's off-road credentials are superb.
I personally find it hard to believe, that Ford could actually produce something as good as he reckons the Raptor is - but apparently Ford have a dedicated dept setting up the best in off-road
suspension, wheels, brakes, and every other handling development imaginable - and they have put all their knowledge from all the desert racing that Ford have ever been involved in, into the Raptor.
The only gripes he's got is the thirst of the 6.2L V8 - and the purchase cost! ($170,000!). Fortunately, money is no real concern to him - he buys what he wants when he wants it! - and the huge fuel bill is just a great big tax deduction for him! LOL
Cheers, Ron.
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