Hardening a Scorpio for 4x4 abuse

[DirtyDan]

I need a vehicle for use in the Himalayas, the Manali-Leh road, Lahaul-Spiti, etc. At the top of my short list is Scorpio mainly because of its engine and 4x4 capabilities. (All that glitzy voice warning stuff and carpets and electric windows makes me cringe but Force won't sell Gurkhas.)

The problem is the Scorpio looks a little fragile to me. I can take off the front bumper with the air dams and have someone fabricate a tubular front bumper that will not impede an approach angle. I can get somebody to fabricate some skid plates for the oil pan and maybe some other things (If you are a Scorpio owner please post your advice on what things). But the thing that worries me most is that rear multy-link suspension with the torsion bars and radius arms hanging down. I can see rocks snapping them off like they were pencils. This alone may change my mind about the purchase. I need advice on what tyres to buy and what to do to harden this thing up. I have not booked it yet, I have not bought it yet. I am not really asking what car to buy. My questions are technical but they may influence my purchase.

[govigov]

you can higher the GC off the vehicle by changing the tyres, you can go in for those huge tyres that can offer you good GC.

[tifosikrishna]

dan, checkup with our distinguished bhpian sideways aka farhan. he won raid de himalayas (Report - Raid-De-Himalaya 2006. Now with pictures) in a scorpio and should be able to provide you with all inputs you need.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by DirtyDan

(All that glitzy voice warning stuff and carpets and electric windows makes me cringe but Force won't sell Gurkhas.)

The first deliveries of Gurkha are starting this week, so you can still try.

[iraghava]

Dan, like Tifosi said your best bet is to contact fellow member Sideways as he had won last year's Raid-de-Himalaya in one.

[DirtyDan]

Gov, Tif, Sam, Ira,

Thanks for your input. Big tires will probably happen. Actually it was Sideway's post that I read a couple weeks ago that made me reconsider the Scorpio. Then I test drove a 4x2 Scorpion at Chandigarh last week. I will PM him and GTO in a day or 2 after I see what this thread turns up.

D.D.

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by DirtyDan

All that glitzy voice warning stuff and carpets and electric windows makes me cringe but Force won't sell Gurkhas.)

4X4 is offered only as DX2:
a) 7 seater config only (ie 2 jump seats at back, no bench).
b) Power windows and rear screen wash/wiper.
c) Central locking, without remote.
d) Second row bench fixed, not longitudinally adjustable.
e) No voice warnings of any sort.
f) No ski-rack.
g) No rear screen defogger.
h) No step at rear. Instead there is a very sturdy 'tow-hook (ball-type)'.
i) All claddings and bumpers natural finish black.
j) Only 4 colours offered - Black, Soft Beige, Apple Red and one more (I forget).
This was the package a year ago. Things might have changed now.
As far as I am concerned, I would rather have had a rear screen defogger and no power windows. There was, however, no choice.
It would be good to increase the tyre profile to 75 instead of 70, with the stock 235 R16 tubeless tyres. This would give better ground clearance.
Your idea about the front bumper sounds good.
Side steps perhaps should also be removed.

[Sparkie]

Originally Posted by anupmathur

4X4 is offered only as DX2:
a) 7 seater config only (ie 2 jump seats at back, no bench).
b) Power windows and rear screen wash/wiper.
c) Central locking, without remote.
d) Second row bench fixed, not longitudinally adjustable.
e) No voice warnings of any sort.
f) No ski-rack.
g) No rear screen defogger.
h) No step at rear. Instead there is a very sturdy 'tow-hook (ball-type)'.
i) All claddings and bumpers natural finish black.
j) Only 4 colours offered - Black, Soft Beige, Apple Red and one more (I forget).
This was the package a year ago. Things might have changed now.
As far as I am concerned, I would rather have had a rear screen defogger and no power windows. There was, however, no choice.
It would be good to increase the tyre profile to 75 instead of 70, with the stock 235 R16 tubeless tyres. This would give better ground clearance.
Your idea about the front bumper sounds good.
Side steps perhaps should also be removed.

Yeah that was a year ago. The last I heard was that, the DX2 4x4 has been replaced by the SLX 4x4.