Congratulations

[Halliwell Jones Chester]

Congratulations @DaveB you've hit 1,000!!!

 

[Stu_Barnes]

And you win……..absolutely nothing.

 

[DaveB]

I have had hours of pleasure and interacted with some truly nice people who I would love to meet up with one day.
I take my wins where I can get them these days.
I arrived in Perth 5 hours ago and managed to get 4 hours sleep.
It is now 5 am
Off to drive the Grenadier tomorrow.
Another win!!!

 

[bigleonski]

I have had hours of pleasure and interacted with some truly nice people who I would love to meet up with one day.
I take my wins where I can get them these days.
I arrived in Perth 5 hours ago and managed to get 4 hours sleep.
It is now 5 am
Off to drive the Grenadier tomorrow.
Another win!!!

Write up required now please

 

[DaveB]

Just spoke to the guys as they were heading out for dinner.
Asked them if I could hammer it around the tar circuit tomorrow and they laughed and said hell yeah.
And on the dirt and. Sand.

 

[bigleonski]

Just spoke to the guys as they were heading out for dinner.
Asked them if I could hammer it around the tar circuit tomorrow and they laughed and said hell yeah.
And on the dirt and. Sand.

and………..
I expected a youtube video and detailed write up by now??!!??

 

[emax]

He's still drunk.

 

[Red pepper]

Come on!, come on!, DaveB, you know we are waiting.....

 

[Davman]

He is probably waiting in line to drive it as we speak.

 

[Red pepper]

Or,.... He could take it for the real test drive around Australia..

 

[DaveB]

What a fantastic afternoon.
3 hours at the Grenadier drive in Perth.
One of the other drivers let me jump in the back seat for a couple of laps.
I had some trouble getting in as I am old overweight and two titanium knees but then plenty of room.
Comfortable but no side support so rocked around a bit.
The track has had 3 days of use so picked up a lot of deep ruts and deep sand
Later I got into the drivers seat and completely different. Seats are really supportive so no swaying around.
Started on tar as per video below then onto grass fairly easy
Then moved into deeply rutted sand in high centre diff locked.
Deep loose sand to follow and even with full road pressures it had no problem, fair bit of squirming but never looked like losing traction.
It was raining fairly heavy at this stage but no problem over some reasonably steep short hills
Then moved into low/locked and nothing could possibly stop it.
1st gear it crawled up a steep blind hill with a concrete pipe across the top like it wasn’t even there.
I think this would have been very easy early in the week but now had a fair bit of wear and tear.
We then came back across the grass, crossing straight across the deeply rutted track that we had previously been on with ease.
Justin Hocevar was in the passenger seat and he told me to pick the steepest part of the grass berm in front and stop at the bottom of it.
It was way over bonnet height, at least 45 degrees, covered in wet grass and it was raining.
Straight up and over and down the other side.
Back onto the tar and through a serious of twists and turns that due to the rain I took at around 60-70kmh
A little body roll but pretty good for a 3 tonne beast with supple off-road suspension.
Main straight had a small chicane but I managed to get up to 93 kmh
Justin said now smash the brakes.
KO2 tyres but it still pulled up in a hurry and totally under control. No squirming or direction change.
Hazards came on to alert other drivers
Extremely impressive
The 4 guys from Ineos were just fantastic, they are clearly enjoying what they are doing and are desperately waiting for their company cars to arrive.

 

[ECrider]

Do we think DaveB is now in some OJ Simpson esque police chase as he has jettisoned his co-driver and hopes to evade with the PT02 Any real time helicopter footage on ABC?

 

[ECrider]

bugger

 

[bigleonski]

Comparison to say Patrol or 200 Series DaveB (only if tou have driven them) or not enough drive time?
How big are they?

 

[DaveB]

I offered to drive it back to the hotel for them

 

[Davman]

Come Back Dave.
Bring the car back, we need it for our drive.

 

[DaveB]

Comparison to say Patrol or 200 Series DaveB (only if tou have driven them) or not enough drive time?

Totally different vehicle to either.
This feels like you are in a military vehicle but very refined as well.
Those two are more SUV like compared to this and I don’t mean that in a negative way to them.
I found that everything was close at hand as the centre consul is fairly high and busy.
Unbelievably good view out

 

[DaveB]

Diesel is very quiet and has so much power and torque
Low locked first gear is exceptional
I put the window down in between rain storms and many people wouldn’t pick it as a diesel

 

[bigleonski]

So I suppose what I’m asking is on the daily commute or 1000km big first day touring what are they like to live with - more like a cruiser or a GU patrol.

Last question I promise, and I’ll stop sounding like an excited school girl now. And I know that’s a hard answer after a 10 minute drive on the blacktop.

 

[DaveB]

Redarc are testing a trailer control in this vehicle so it can be offered as an option or after market accessory
Front number plate is locked in place and you have to pull our a tab on each end to swing it up
This vehicle was flown out so all devices impacted by pressure, such as airbags, tyre monitoring etc had to be disabled/removed so lots of bings one bongs
Inverter planned for second release next year but will add to cost
Front bumper all steel for Australia
No tabs or holes in bull bar for mounting lights or antenna
DPF is mounted very high so no risk of grass catching alight
Driving lights are LED and Justin said they are very good and would be enough for many people.
White is most popular but just ahead of Donny grey
Trialmaster way in front and very few opted for Utility or basic wagon
Front doors open wide but rear doors a bit small
Window sill armrests are fantastic.
I had absolutely no problem with the foot rest and as the wheel telescopes as well as up down movement there was no problem at all
I am 178cm tall or 5’ 10”