Post Reply 
 
Thread Rating:
  • 0 Votes - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Off road in China
pugracer
 

Posts: 130
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Hong Kong
Post: #1
Off road in China

During the Christmas holiday, I took my Evoque to a long trip in China from Hong Kong to the border of Vietnam. I was in a group of 16 Land Rovers - Defender, Disco and FFRR (including one from 1971). Mine was the only Evoque in the convoy. It was a very interesting trip to see the rural China, look across the border seeing Vietnam villages, and drive thru some unpaved highways.
   
One of the highlights was a visit to the Land Rover Experience Centre in Guangdong. I took a course there on a Disco and a FFRR. I wanted to use my Evoque but was advised that it didn't have enough ground clearance for some of the terrains. Nevertheless, it was my first real off roading. I was very excited. The Terrain Response system proved to be really capable.

I thought the day was interesting enough but then I was told the group will have a drive thru a bamboo jungle at night. I sensed there may be some risk for the Evoque, the way they asked whether I wanted to join. Since I went all the way there, I thought why not? When I got to the beginning of the trial, I though 'Oh shxt!'. The grass was so deep in some spots that I couldn't even see the car in front, not to say the trial. I had all my lights on and I still couldn't see well enough. The most challenging thing for Evoque is the ground clearance. I had to avoid deep ruts or be very careful going thru them when they couldn't be avoid. At the end, it was a tense but really fun 90 min ride thru the jungle. A few people driving Defenders were amazed by Evoque's capability.

I have cut a short video but it was really dark so there wasn't much to see... Embarrassed




BTW, I've a plan to bring my Evoque to UK in summer. There LR Club here is planning a special event with UK as one of the stop. I may see some of you there.

[Image: 116845.png]
Range Rover Evoque - Pure, 5-Door, Si4, Auto, Fuji White/Cirrus
Lotus Elise
Peugeot 206 GTi
(This post was last modified: 04-01-2013 04:49pm by pugracer.)
04-01-2013 04:48pm
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Stadt Panzer
 

Posts: 814
Joined: Jan 2012
Location: Germany
Post: #2
Off road in China

Well done, wife would have killed me!!

Somewhere in the North Sea.
04-01-2013 05:49pm
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
slee18
 

Posts: 462
Joined: Nov 2011
Location: CA
Post: #3
RE: Off road in China

Doesn't sound like you had to get winched out! Pretty capable in my book. I bet if you had a spotter you would have no problems with the bigger ruts.

12 Evoque Si4 (US) Galway Green Prestige ivory expresso interior
05-01-2013 05:50am
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
XFullFatTim
Bat wielding forum enforcer

Posts: 9,295
Joined: Oct 2010
Location: Somewhere between here and there.
Post: #4
RE: Off road in China

The trick with both Freelander and Evoque is to try to straddle ruts if possible and drive offset from the track. The great thing with Evoque and Freelander is that when the going gets soft and you have the right tyres both cars can seriously embarrass their bigger brothers that are a bit portly and weighty, even with their low range gears.

The drive from HK to Vietnam seems to be quite a popular one as I remember some of the RRS boys in the early days of RRS doing the same run in their Supercharged RRS's. well done for having a go. Unfortunately I cannot view the video as YouTube is blocked in our satellite system.

A Pangea Green New Defender 110 First Edition is now sitting on my drive alongside British Racing Green Electric Mini Cooper SE Level 3. After 21 years in my hands my TDI300 90 was handed on to the next custodian on 15 July 2022.
(This post was last modified: 05-01-2013 09:55am by XFullFatTim.)
05-01-2013 09:53am
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
pugracer
 

Posts: 130
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Hong Kong
Post: #5
RE: Off road in China

(04-01-2013 05:49pm)Stadt Panzer Wrote:  Well done, wife would have killed me!!
Wife was in the car and she was between worrying and enjoying... Laughing

(05-01-2013 09:53am)XFullFatTim Wrote:  The trick with both Freelander and Evoque is to try to straddle ruts if possible and drive offset from the track. The great thing with Evoque and Freelander is that when the going gets soft and you have the right tyres both cars can seriously embarrass their bigger brothers that are a bit portly and weighty, even with their low range gears.

The drive from HK to Vietnam seems to be quite a popular one as I remember some of the RRS boys in the early days of RRS doing the same run in their Supercharged RRS's. well done for having a go. Unfortunately I cannot view the video as YouTube is blocked in our satellite system.

That was the tip I got as well. I tried to straddle the ruts but it wasn't always possible with bamboos on both side. I had only road tires on. When it dropped into some of the deep ruts, it was very difficult to climb back up some slippery ridge. I could have the steering in full lock and it still inched ahead following the ruts.

I'm sure the drive to Vietnam was more interesting back then. China is doing an excellent job with infrastructure. There were a lot of new and smooth highways till we got close to the border.

[Image: 116845.png]
Range Rover Evoque - Pure, 5-Door, Si4, Auto, Fuji White/Cirrus
Lotus Elise
Peugeot 206 GTi
05-01-2013 10:19am
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
MrH
 

Posts: 9
Joined: Dec 2011
Location: Home
Post: #6
RE: Off road in China

Looks like a really nice trail - well done for persevering with the bRR, although I have a D4 I've driven the bRR several time on and off road and am always impressed at the way it behaves no matter what you throw at it.
30-06-2013 03:57pm
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Crimdog
 

Posts: 62
Joined: Apr 2013
Location: Australia
Post: #7
RE: Off road in China

Pug you can definitely vote yes in my offroad poll Wink nice work. Tough to climb rut walls once your in there hey, just have to find the right spot. Did you have high beams and fogs on? Looks like just normal lights.
30-06-2013 11:47pm
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
pugracer
 

Posts: 130
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Hong Kong
Post: #8
RE: Off road in China

I turned on every light I could turn on but it was still very dark!

[Image: 116845.png]
Range Rover Evoque - Pure, 5-Door, Si4, Auto, Fuji White/Cirrus
Lotus Elise
Peugeot 206 GTi
03-07-2013 05:17pm
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 


Forum Jump:


User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)
babyRR is an independent web site and not affiliated with Land Rover