Learn off-roading without even going outside

Here's a good place to learn some basic 4WD techniques without leaving the computer. The Jeep Channel on YouTube has heaps of stuff to do with the American brand, much of it pretty commercial, but scroll down the playlists on the right to Off-Road Tips and there's a series of short videos illustrating how to tackle various track conditions. It's a bit politically correct and experienced off-roaders may want to quibble about some points, but if I were starting out I'd have been glad I spent 15 minutes looking at the videos. Although Jeeps are used to demonstrate the techniques, there's nothing Jeep-specific about the advice.

Growing accustomed to its face

The Musso: have its lines mellowed with age?

When it first arrived in New Zealand I thought the SsangYong Musso was one of the most godawful-looking vehicles on- or off the road. Even stranger than its lines was that its designer, the well known British vehicle stylist Ken Greenley, had excellent credentials. Surely he should have known better. It further amazed me that the thing won several styling awards; what a bunch of idiots – or were they? Fast-forward to now and the Musso's wacky lines don't bother me any more – they seem to have blended quite nicely into the 21st century. Perhaps the design was simply well ahead of its time and nowadays many vehicles incorporate aspects of the Musso's pioneering lines. I guess it might be an automotive version of the cliche, "you're not getting older, you're getting better." Or at least, to borrow from the musical, "we've grown accustomed to your face."  For trivia collectors, the Musso went into production in 1993 and was built in Korea, Russia, Vietnam and Iran.

The world's best-ever TV commerical

One of Toyota's most famous TV advertisements was the 'bugger' ad that brought the word out of the dunny and into the mainstream. This was in the post-Crumpy era (see post below). If you were visiting another planet, or not born when it appeared, click the video below and enjoy. And for those who remember it well, it's always worth another look! The award winning commercial was done by Saatchi & Saatchi and appeared in January 1999 on TV and in cinemas. 

Give my regards to Boris, mate

My new profile page pic.

According to statistics supplied to those of us on this vast blog network, 4wdNewz has in its first two months gained a bit of a following overseas, predominantly the US and Canada (I'm guessing guys Googling 'Jeep' and finding it in the 534 million (true!) results). But the site also seems to have attracted interest in Russia!  So I'm thinking of pasting a picture of Crumpy (right) into my profile in case they're gorgeous would-be Russian brides looking for a rugged, outdoorsy and good keen Kiwi! здравствуйте to you all.

Spring is just around the corner

Forwarded to 4wdNewz by our friends at NZ Petrolhead, the magazine with a sense of humour! 

And now for the good news

AA Insurance has issued a list of the 10 most stolen cars based on its 2007 to 2010 statistics. There's no direct link to four-wheel-driving here but I couldn't resist, upon perusing the list, to offer the opinion that being stolen is the best thing that could happen to some of them. From most-stolen downwards, they are: Nissan Silvia, Honda Torneo (similar to the Accord), Nissan Skyline, Subaru Impreza, Subaru Forester, Subaru Legacy, Nissan Presea, Honda Prelude, Honda Integra, and the Nissan Cefiro.

You read it here first …

The chrome Mazda-supplied bling on the nose costs $1155 installed and the sports bar thing on the deck (shown below) costs $1370.

… unless you've been poking around the internet or talking to a Mazda* dealer in the know. I've been driving the current Mazda BT-50, in its last year before the appearance of a new model. But that's not the item. I have it on good authority that the newcomer will head the torque race that has been taking place among the Japanese ute manufacturers, beating the Nissan Navara ST-X's 450Nm by some 30Nm.

High point of the BT-50, as ever, is its lovely 2953cc intercooled turbo-diesel that produces 115kW at 3200rpm and 380Nm of torque at only 1800rpm. That 380Nm seemed perfectly fine to me, on- or off-road, and I sort-of wonder whether the promised extra torque isn't being dialled-up at the request of the marketing department, rather than customer demand.

A big fix in the substantially revised next model will, I understand, be significantly improved rear seat space and comfort, in which some of its rivals now do better. For more on the black BT-50, drive carefully to the shop and buy the October issue of Top Gear New Zealand.

* … or a Ford dealer, since the BT-50 and Ranger are quite, um, similar. Ford is unveiling the Ranger in an event preceding the Sydney Motor Show in October. 4wdNewz will be among the assembled horde. Update: Mazda announced on Oct 4 that the BT-50 will also debut at the Sydney show.

A rose by any of its names

It has to have one of the longest lists of aliases of any 4WD ever, but this Isuzu mid-size wagon is a pretty sweet vehicle, by whichever name it's known. My list of identities for the vehicle, which I think is fairly complete, includes Bighorn, Trooper, Caribe, Acura SLX, Monterey, Jackaroo and Horizon. It's been badged as an Isuzu, a Chevrolet, Subaru, Honda, Opel, Vauxhall and, of course, as a Holden.

The thing about this vehicle is that while it's not outstanding at any one thing, it does everything well, making it a really competent, reliable and durable off-road tourer. For example, the 1993 Bighorn Irmscher in the photo came to New Zealand in 1998 with 88,000km on the clock and has now topped 325,000km! It's the second of three versions. The first, from 1981 to 1991, was angular, tough as nails, somewhat clumsy and hugely underpowered in diesel form. The second and similar third generation, made from 1992 to 2005, were way better, thanks in part to styling and ergonomic input from Opel. Its 3.0 litre diesel was a sweet unit and the V6 was okay, too, if you liked supporting the petrochemical industry.

Some of the keener off-roaders who wanted one of these trucks chose the shorter two-door version that had the advantages of being lighter and more agile.

Wikipedia has a useful history of the type here, and here's an international Isuzu club.