Seeking Off-Road Enlightenment In An LR4

"Andrew T. Maness" (theroadlessdriven) 03/31/2015 at 13:00 • Filed to: Land Rover, Off-Roading, California, Andrew Maness, The Road Less Driven, LR4, Oppo

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This was my third time doing the Land Rover Experience but the first time in California. To simply say that the course in Carmel is different than the one in Vermont would be the understatement of the century. Of course you expect the environment to appear different but the trail systems are totally unique as well. Many people I've talked to about the Land Rover driving schools seem to be under the impression that they're all relatively the same in terms of how they challenge the driver and vehicle. A 45 degree tilt here, a steep descent there maybe a mud pit or two and that's it. While those things are staples of these courses, they're hardly what defines them and are just the very tip of the iceberg.

The course in Carmel is located on the beautiful grounds of the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , which I can't recommend enough whether you want to go to the school or just want to play golf and relax. The whole place was recently renovated and my room was the kind of accommodation one would expect to be extended to high profile automotive personalities who own Land Rovers and Ferraris, not us common folk with high mileage Audis.

Hard as it was to leave the comforts of the Kapua Suite, I had job to do and that job was to drive a Land Rover of my choosing on a 80+ acre off-road course. Given that I had already wheeled a Range Rover Sport and wasn't particularly interested in the Evoque, I opted for a recently delivered 2015 LR4. I've ridden in a number of these but had never had the chance to drive one and I wasn't let down. The supercharged 3.0L V6 puts out 340 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, more than enough to help you outrun Tusken Raiders on the dunes of Tatooine. This vehicle was also equipped with a winch which I used as a camera mounting point and a luggage rack that I also used as a camera mounting point. In more serious conditions I'm told a winch can save your ass and a luggage rack is a place you can stick your kids when they won't shut up.

The trails are a mix of deep rutted hill climbs and descents, hairpin turns, an abandoned rock quarry and beautiful stretches of canopy provided by Coast Live Oak. There are areas where you can relax and enjoy the scenery as well as all the creature comforts one would expect to find in a 2015 Land Rover. Personally I was enjoyed the Heavy Duty Package which nets you a two-speed transfer case 4WD system vs. the standard single speed Torsen system, an active locking rear-diff and a full size spare tire, which thankfully we did not need to use.

For me this round of driving was all about vehicle awareness given the added height from the luggage rack and the low hanging branches of the trees. California had just gotten some much needed rain the days before I went up, which meant the wading pools were at a good level and there was a good amount of muddy ruts to get through. I hadn't previously had a chance to do any type of water crossing, so as simple as it was, that was a highlight for me. Also executing some particularly tight turns at the crest of a few different hills stood out as personal achievement. I went in feeling confident in my ability to do exactly what an instructor tells me and left feeling like I can now anticipate what they will say. I'm by no means an off-road expert but the LR4 damn sure made me feel like one and ain't that what it's all about?

Cheers,

-Andrew

Andrew Maness writes about cars because he has one and also has a computer. He's been known to drunkenly tweet as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and upload photos to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . He also has a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and thinks talking about himself in the 3rd person is really weird but knows it's necessary if he wants to be taken seriously as an automotive journalist.

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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Andrew T. Maness 03/31/2015 at 13:05

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I'm by no means an off-road expert but the LR4 damn sure made me feel like one and ain't that what it's all about?

Well, maybe. Those of us who like primitive offroaders like them because they make us feel like we should be wearing a bush hat and asking for the guide to hand us a battered old Mauser in case a lion attacks.

Jonathan Harper > Andrew T. Maness 03/31/2015 at 13:08

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Nice video!

Andrew T. Maness > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 03/31/2015 at 18:15

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I would love to drive one of these but until they get em at the schools it remains a dream.

Andrew T. Maness > Jonathan Harper 03/31/2015 at 18:15

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Thanks man! Are you going to be at NYIAS tomorrow and Thursday?

Jonathan Harper > Andrew T. Maness 03/31/2015 at 19:23

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Yep I think I'll be around both days.

Andrew T. Maness > Jonathan Harper 04/01/2015 at 14:03

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shoot me an email with your number. theroadlessdriven@gmail.com

HammerheadFistpunch > Andrew T. Maness 04/22/2015 at 13:38

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That they even sell an LR4 without a 2 speed transfer case or full size spare makes me sad in my baboon heart.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > HammerheadFistpunch 04/22/2015 at 14:01

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It’s a case of bean counters being allowed to dictate on how cars are made. 1 speed transfer case is cheaper.

Bean counters, they ruin everything.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Andrew T. Maness 04/22/2015 at 14:02

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Pity you don’t live on the east coast, my dad and I are going to try out the ARB lockers we installed in the 88”. It’s going to give mountain goats a run for their money.

HammerheadFistpunch > Andrew T. Maness 04/22/2015 at 14:03

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Do you mind if I ask a question that may seem offensive but to which I mean no offense? (assuming consent) So...have you actually ever traveled truly off road where you have to depend on your vehicle?

Again, no offense but the Land Rover Experience is about as true to the core of adventure travel as splash mountain is true to the core of the southern US states.

What I mean is that there is a certain effect to the Land Rover experience that is carefully calculated to be pushed into the background; that is that for all the challenge and mud and slopes and trees...at the end of the day there is a physical and psychological safety net built in on account of it being a closed coursed carefully crafted to give the sensation of danger without any actual risk. Its like a rollercoaster where you are “thrilled” but only with the simulation of danger knowing deep down you know that, baring some unlikely failure of a safety system, you will return completely unharmed at the end.

However, I will admit that it can ignite a fire for some people and start them down the journey to experiencing adventure travel and the true to the core experience of being self sustained.

Sorry for the life story, to sum up: have you had the opportunity to be out for real yet? If not I highly recommend it.

HammerheadFistpunch > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 04/22/2015 at 14:04

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Why do we even need so many beans anyway?

Andrew T. Maness > HammerheadFistpunch 04/22/2015 at 22:32

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Haha, I love the (assuming consent) line, that pretty much sums up the whole damn internet.

You are of course 100% correct and I know that the whole experience is carefully crafted to give folks in a very different social strata than myself a certain feeling, one of danger and adventure like you said.

I grew up in rural Southern Vermont, I’ve always like poking around the wilderness be it on foot, mountain bike, quad, dirtbike, lawnmower or in a vehicle. Point is my fire doesn’t need igniting, it’s has been burning for a long time. What I don’t often get to do is tool around in a luxury off road vehicle, Range Rovers (despite all their issues) will always be cool in my eyes because they always seemed so out of reach.

I have not gone on a multiple day or week off road adventure where I fully dependent on the car, I would absolutely like to and as soon as the opportunity presents itself, I’ll do it in a heartbeat. For the time being my personal vehicle interests are of the on road variety, though through the magic of press vehicle loans I hope to get my hands on something I can get out in the wilds of the Southwest with sometime in the near future.

HammerheadFistpunch > Andrew T. Maness 04/22/2015 at 22:36

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too bad you aren’t in grand junction in a few weeks, there is a wagon train of Toyotas headed out from there to Moab soon myself included with a recently opened seat.

Andrew T. Maness > HammerheadFistpunch 04/22/2015 at 22:38

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hooooo boy, that sounds tempting!

HammerheadFistpunch > Andrew T. Maness 04/22/2015 at 22:41

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one of our stops