[sumannandy]

Here is a completely different perspective. In at least 2 occasions, I feel that it would have been real difficult to come out without 4wd. Both inside Bangalore city. I own a 4x4 TCIC safari with a bull bar, which increases the turning radius. In the first instance, I had to take 90 degrees left to a steep incline to come out of the parking lot. The incline was close to 40-50 degrees (higher for the second instance). The car just could not climb the slope from standstill (I had to come to a standstill after taking the turn). However, when I engaged 4L 1st, the car came out easily.

In another instance, I used 4H on a beach. It definitely makes the car more stable.

Now if I have to climb a steep incline (road or parking), I simply put it to 4L 1st and the car moves easily without any half clutch.

So I would say a 4wd is definitely better in such instances.

[.anshuman]

Originally Posted by sumannandy

The incline was close to 40-50 degrees (higher for the second instance).

40-50 degree incline(and even higher in second instance!) at the parking lot, you sure about this? How would cars like Nano/other cars driven by learners or ladies climb this out in a public parking?

[sumannandy]

You need to experience this to believe this. I am not sure who on earth could create a design like that. On top of that the 'roof' of the place where you turn from immediately before the incline is so low that my safari roof rails scrapped cement and I had to back up. This is a hotel in Richmond road.

Normally they have valet parking I guess but I make sure whenever I go to a hotel I park myself.

For small cars they would have an edge as they could gain momentum before turning. Because of huge turning radius of my car, and the height of the roof, that is not possible for me and I have to start from stand-still.

[Guna]

Originally Posted by sumannandy

You need to experience this to believe this. I am not sure who on earth could create a design like that.

Even a 20 degree incline feels like lot more then what it is in reality. 45 degree is highly unlikely and most cars will face issues with approach/departure angles and not just with the lugging power to climb it.
Another question is, is it safe to use 4L on a concrete surface (I know Safari has rear LSD so it must be fine)

[sumannandy]

Well, it could be little lesser, but my car usually climbs slopes upto 35 degrees on its own without requiring 4L. Whatever it was, it was scary. Anybody going to the hotel in Richmond Road Bangalore would be advised to check the parking lot first (it is the first hotel on your left if you take a left on RichMond Road while travelling from Forum).

It was a straight climb, so I guess it was safe to use 4L even if it was concrete.

[shankar.balan]

What is the tyre size on the old Forester? Is it possible at all that it may be the same as the stock ones on the new Yeti?
Guna - maybe you can help answer this?
Thanks!

Originally Posted by Animesh

Talking about Forester, I see this every day just outside the building that I live in. And how many times have I thought of leaving my business card with a message ("Would you be interested to sell this to me?") on the windshield of this car. This one has absolutely no estate-kinda-looks and those bumper-claddings topped with fog lights and wheels give it a pretty aggressive stance.
Attachment 896193

[predatorwheelz]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

What is the tyre size on the old Forester? Is it possible at all that it may be the same as the stock ones on the new Yeti?
Guna - maybe you can help answer this?
Thanks!

The Forester came with a very odd size as stock - 205/70 R15. The Yeti comes with 215/60 R16. Why do you ask?

[shankar.balan]

I saw that pic of the old forester with some mean and purposeful looking tyres on it. I have a Yeti whose OEM tyres are not that tough - they are more for highway/ road driving than for off road or bad roads. And it is very tough to get a replacement set of tougher tyres in the same size spec as the Yeti OEM ones. I thought perhaps the Forester may have come with a similar spec and thats why I wanted to know.

If I remember right the Fusion came with 195/65 or 70 / 15 spec tyres which are also not useful in my case.

I still have plenty of life in my tyres as they are only 4 months old now but there is no harm in doing ones research earlier rather than later.

Originally Posted by predatorwheelz

The Forester came with a very odd size as stock - 205/70 R15. The Yeti comes with 215/60 R16. Why do you ask?

[Guna]

Originally Posted by predatorwheelz

The Forester came with a very odd size as stock - 205/70 R15. The Yeti comes with 215/60 R16. Why do you ask?

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

I saw that pic of the old forester with some mean and purposeful looking tyres on it.

The owner may have upgraded to 215/70/ R15. (Even the stock doesn't look under tired on Forester.).

[shankar.balan]

The Yeti tyres are ok as of now. No need to change.
Maybe later.
But I am doing the research well in advance!

Originally Posted by Guna

The owner may have upgraded to 215/70/ R15. (Even the stock doesn't look under tired on Forester.).

[D4d-maniac]

I did some kind of "off roading" in my Fortuner today. The road was totally dug up and littered with man holes about 150mm high. I had absolute confidence that i would manage to cross that road. Friends said that such a road would be impossible to manoeuvre. I would say that having 4wd and high ground clearance does give you great confidence in such a situation.

[manjith_pm]

In the market for a Fortuner, unable to decide between 4x4 or 4x2 AT. Truth be told, looking at the Fortuner for its looks. We have been using the INNOVA and also a Crysta for a long time and never really felt the need for an AWD or 4x4 but still the price difference amongst the two is very teasing, it’s the preventive maintenance and cost of regular use that are bothering me. Please advice.

[roy_libran]

Originally Posted by manjith_pm

In the market for a Fortuner, unable to decide between 4x4 or 4x2 AT...... it’s the preventive maintenance and cost of regular use that are bothering me. Please advice.

Fairly generic point of view here:
1. Preventive maintenance for the 4wd specific additional components will not really be a material factor given a typical ownership term of around 10 years, if you stick to the service schedule, and you don't grossly abuse the vehicle. It's only beyond that when you might need to invest in preventive maintenance.
2. Reactive maintenance may be required for the additional components if you subject it to regular and heavy abuse, but it's not easy to abuse a Toyota.
3. A heavy ladder frame SUV is significantly handicapped without a 4wd, so the additional money is very well worth it.

[manjith_pm]

Originally Posted by roy_libran

Fairly generic point of view here:

3. A heavy ladder frame SUV is significantly handicapped without a 4wd, so the additional money is very well worth it.

Thank you Roy_libran. It would be Lovely if the owner of the Current generation Fortuner with 4x2 AT could reflect on this or any other Ladder on Frame SUV owners using the 4x2 version.

[vigneshkumar31]

Originally Posted by manjith_pm

Thank you Roy_libran. It would be Lovely if the owner of the Current generation Fortuner with 4x2 AT could reflect on this or any other Ladder on Frame SUV owners using the 4x2 version.

I am in the 7th year with my 4x2 Safari Storme, and have been all around the country with it. I have literally moved the household over 3 city transfers and the Safari has been my loyal companion over many a family trips.

Looking for an upgrade, the only two requirements for my next car are 4x4 and AT. So much so that, if my Storme was a 4wd AT, I would not even look for a change and flog it further. Here are my comments quoted from my SUV shoot out for my next upgrade hunt.

Originally Posted by vigneshkumar31

There has been enough debate within the forum and without it, regarding the relevance of offroad prowess or more specifically 4x4 provision in these premium SUVs. Naysayers argue - How many of the owners actually go off road? Why can't hardcore off-roaders pick a Gurkha or a Thar instead of wrecking a 40 lakh asset? Well, I beg to differ. In my fantastic utopian garage I would have a hot hatch for zipping around town, a performance sedan with a vRS badge, a basic, tough as nails off-roader with park benches for seats, and a comfortable large family tourer that seats 5 adults even after a child seat is installed. But I can't get afford the cash, space or time for all of them. The premium SUV has to be the one car do all for me. I agree I'm not in the habit of driving around looking to arm wrestle gnarly rocks for fun on what is simply a moving 2BHK, but if during travels, I get mischievous or adventurous or both, or if I am faced with situations that 4x4 capability would inspire confidence, then there's no point regretting going for 4x2 and saving few lakhs, a lesson learnt the hard way with 7 years on a 2WD safari. If its an SUV, it has to be 4x4. Having said that, a jack of all trades large family SUV might not necessarily need dedicated hardcore offroad kit to handle the above said minor misadventures and hence AWD would be an acceptable compromise if one looks to balance on-road behaviour where the car would spend most of its life with limited off the road capability. Settling for a 4x2 Fortuner? If you can get over body type, take a long hard look at the equally capable, better loaded Innova instead, sitting on the same platform, costing much lesser.

Premium/ luxury vehicles and go anywhere capabilities are not any more mutually exclusive. The best proof of this argument comes from a few segments above, where the pure luxe brands belting out the Urus' Levante's of the world. The best cheeky explanation for embracing the market's shift to SUVs ,was given by Rolls Royce in their Cullinan description as 'last mile connectivity' Not to be mistaken for an e-rikshaw we might take from the metro station, this SUV capability, is apparently for its highly affluent clientele to be able to traverse the last mile of tough trails, to eventually reach that exotic ski resort/ or a shooting spot in the middle of the desert, after plying on smooth tarmac all day for most of its life. While I am not planning to sign any movies or shoot in exotic locations, there's no doubt that simple family adventures can be all the more exciting with a little added confidence in turning all 4 wheels.

In our shootout, three ladder frames stand out as clearly capable, go anywhere off-roaders. The ISUZU again offers the most information about its offroad prowess, and is not afraid to advertise it right in the brochure. Approach, departure angles and ground clearance are the highest for the MU-X. A tough steel bash plate protects everything under the belly, inviting you to do something silly.

The idiot proof Terrain Management System in the Ford and the 'King of Offroad' Sigma 4 in the Fortuner should be more than enough for most owners to attack everyday adventures even in complete stock form.

.