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perello
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Joined: April 15, 2005
Posts: 829
Location: where social security comes for free
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Shamu63
Samba Member
Joined: August 04, 2006
Posts: 83
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 Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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| I wonder how the 181 would do against a vehicle with the same ground clearance? That seemed to be his only problem in the 2nd vid. Once his wheels spun he was going nowhere. Or a 181 with lift to match hers.... I'm thinking the 181 would win. |
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surfarii
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Joined: November 26, 2006
Posts: 307
Location: Hawaii
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:40 pm Post subject: |
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| I couldn't help notice how much bigger Sabine's smile is when she is playing in a Kubel. |
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TDodge7
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Joined: October 21, 2006
Posts: 283
Location: WV
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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| ha ha , so i wonder if the extra 30k was worth it for the land rover , it seemed to have a hard time beating the 2wd 181 at anything except that mud hole and it was much taller than the 181 . the only other win was that hill climb and the rover only made it one foot farther than the 181 did ! granted it was on street tires , but 2wd vs. 4wd ? c'mon , the thing gave that rover a run for it's money . |
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typesoneandtwo
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Joined: September 29, 2004
Posts: 659
Location: Cape Cod Mass. Bass River
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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My son and I watched this video and loved it. We're restoring a 181.
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Each day is precious. |
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Chris181
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Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 90
Location: French riviera
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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The Discovery had the technology but not the tires 
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Chris.
http://vwandco.wifeo.com/
Thing '73 IRS conversion
Eurovan VR6 LPG |
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Thingggg
Samba Member
Joined: June 30, 2004
Posts: 353
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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Anybody know German?
What was the point was it a Land Rover add? |
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Captain Spalding
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2005
Posts: 2519
Location: . . . in denial.
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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| bug-c wrote: |
| The Discovery had the technology but not the tires |
Exactly. Put a set of BFG Mud Terrains on that LR3 and it would have made the top of the hill no problem. While 4WD isn't essential to a hill climb like that, low gear range probably is. While the LR3 had traction issues, it looked like the Kübel just plain ran out of grunt.
Those vids are great fun. Thanks for posting them perello. I wonder if there is a way to save those videos to disk for posterity. Anybody know how? |
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npconnor
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Joined: February 13, 2007
Posts: 194
Location: Central Texas
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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If someone could put those videos up on file so I could watch them whenever I wanted...
But that was pretty sweet, I'd love to have some subtitles but we can't have everything, can we?
Thanks for sharing!
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Austin Air-coolers Gang |
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Shamu63
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Joined: August 04, 2006
Posts: 83
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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From Wikipedia
"DMAX focuses on men's hobbies, and its range of programmes is aimed at men looking for more than the current offer of sports and news programmes. DMAX involves a mix of adventure and discovery, cars and technology, popular science, DIY and travel and in a mindnumbing macho fashion. However, DMAX does not include football or erotic programmes."
D Motor - presented by Tim Schrick and Sabine Schmitz, who has to prove her own driving skill against an opponent on her local race track, the Nürburgring
http://www.dmax.de/emea/homepage.htm
Lets hope they translate or bring the show to the US. Sounds like a good concept. |
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perello
Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2005
Posts: 829
Location: where social security comes for free
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| Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:18 am Post subject: |
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IMHO the test was not intended to show "who is best" but more like "how big is the difference" after more of 30 years of R+D in all terrain vehicles...and I would say the difference is not huge 
To favor Ralf I can tell he used his 181 to cross the Sahara desert more than 3 times, having slightly bent the body in a desert collision. He also does not use LSD.
Leaving the tire debate apart, to me there is a difference in behaviour just because the vehicle weight.... |
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Ian Epperson
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Joined: January 12, 2005
Posts: 2262
Location: Alameda, CA
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Captain Spalding
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2005
Posts: 2519
Location: . . . in denial.
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| Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Ian Epperson wrote: |
| Here's the direct link to the video file . . . |
Thanks, Ian. |
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spaeth
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Joined: January 05, 2005
Posts: 355
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| Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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Oh c'mon guys. I am behind the Thing as much as you guys but if you took a Disco and a Thing with similar tires and both lifted to the max of a slightly modified lift kit, the Disco would walk all over the Thing. Straight up desert travel might be similar but as far as hill climbs or rock crawling there would be no way. I understand that the Thing does amazing for an old 2wd vehicle and can hang with 4wd in many instances there is no way it would out do a Disco. The other thing is you can get a used Disco 1 for about the same or less than a Thing. I just helped a friend look for a Disco a while ago and there were several lifted decked out older Discos for about $4000-$5000.
Now I am not saying a Disco would be more fun. To start with the top doesn't come off. Doing the same terrain with less power and less clearance can be a very fun challenge. I go to NW Mogfest pretty regularly and some stuff that is a blast in a Vanagon Syncro you hardly even notice in a Unimog.
I am not selling my Thing for a Disco any time soon but they sure are cool rigs and at the price you can get them for they are tempting. I would have to cut the top off and figure out how to get the maintenance costs to a reasonable level though.
just my thoughts,
Craig |
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Captain Spalding
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Joined: February 19, 2005
Posts: 2519
Location: . . . in denial.
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| Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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| spaeth wrote: |
| Oh c'mon guys. I am behind the Thing as much as you guys but if you took a Disco and a Thing with similar tires and both lifted to the max of a slightly modified lift kit, the Disco would walk all over the Thing. |
You are correct, sir. In addition to my Thing, I have one of these. My wife has a Disco II.
I can tell you that there is no comparison between the capabilities of a Defender and a Thing.
If you want to go get squirrely at the local dunes/OHV area, Things are loads of fun. If you want to get somewhere more remote, you have to get more serious. There are several attributes common to the most capable off road vehicles:
Low gear range.
Solid axles (coil-over suspension is a plus, for articulation)
Yes, I'll say it - four wheel drive.
High ground clearance.
Differential locks (Did I say limited slip? Uh, no. Locking.)
I love my Thing more than my Defender. But off road, I'll take the Defender.
As an aside, it is impossible, with todays aftermarket offerings, to modify an LR3 (a.k.a. Disco 3) like the one in the video, to compete with its predecessors.
| spaeth wrote: |
| I am not selling my Thing for a Disco any time soon but they sure are cool rigs and at the price you can get them for they are tempting. I would have to cut the top off and figure out how to get the maintenance costs to a reasonable level though. |
I wouldn't be in too much of a rush to cut the top off. It has it's uses.
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spaeth
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Joined: January 05, 2005
Posts: 355
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| Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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I will try this image post. This is my alternative to my Thing. 16" Syncro DoKa rear lockers, 30.6" tires on factory 16" rims. It get's me anywhere I have needed to go. I have just been getting into off roading and have been taking it slowly. I was just finishing up building the rack for the tent, which is why it was not powder coated yet.
Your Defender 90 is gorgeous. I love those.
Craig |
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npconnor
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Joined: February 13, 2007
Posts: 194
Location: Central Texas
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| Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:09 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks a lot, now I can watch them whenever I want!
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Austin Air-coolers Gang |
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surfarii
Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2006
Posts: 307
Location: Hawaii
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| Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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Captain you spoil yourself and I like your style. I would love to have a defender 90 too but I learned 1 toy at a time keeps mama happy.
and we all know when mama's happy everyone is happy
Melikalikimaka to all of you
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Captain Spalding
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2005
Posts: 2519
Location: . . . in denial.
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| Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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| surfarii wrote: |
| . . . I learned 1 toy at a time keeps mama happy. . . |
Toy? No. Tool.
Toy = optional
Tool = necessary
That's my story and I'm sticking to it . . .
(I married my wife because she's smart enough to see through all my B.S. but kind enough to pretend that she doesn't sometimes. I count my blessings every day.)
Merry Merry everyone. |
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Pierre G
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Joined: April 28, 2007
Posts: 1771
Location: New Caledonia
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| Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| the only other win was that hill climb and the rover only made it one foot farther than the 181 did ! |
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| To favor Ralf I can tell he used his 181 to cross the Sahara desert more than 3 times, having slightly bent the body in a desert collision. He also does not use LSD. |
Now I would only add that a stock '73 or earlier 181 with swingaxle, RGB and LSD would have certainly beaten that disco in the hill climb. But that mud hole is too tough for a 181/Thing unless highly modified. It's true that actual 4WD vehicles can beat our 181/Things in many cases. But amazingly, these old VW's can surprise a lot of off roaders too. I had several classic Range Rover, a defender, I currently own a CJ7. They all have low range, 4X4, some have diff locks. I often bring them and my VW's to a local MX (motocross) field and test their capabilities. My buggy and my 181 can do some stuff that my CJ cannot(and the LR's couldn't either), due to their weight and/or lenght. But it's true that they can't cross rivers or mud holes like the Jeep and other 4x4 do.
One other thing is : I can't understand why these german guys use the term of Kubelwagen so often. It is not a kubelwagen. While I was in France, many VW people was using this word too to designate a 181, as well as "variant" for all type3's (variant is the squareback). This is sort of aggravating.
Pierre
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1976 181/Thing, 1967 fastback, 1973 squareback, 1964 microbus, 1967 Double Cab, 1969 westfalia (currently under resto), 1972 LM1C dune buggy, 1974 jean's bug, 1974 1303 (super beetle, currently under reassembly after new paint). |
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