Finally, proof that the Jeep is bulletproof

"Yup, seems to work okay."

Well, sort-of. The close relative of Wrangler, the J8, has been awarded ballistic protection certification. The factory says it's due to a new body panel manufacturing technique that uses hot-forming steel to create a protective shell. Don't ask for details, I'm just parroting the press information. The J8 is sold to military, government and private security operations that require the kind of vehicle that can drive through a hail of small-arms fire without getting perforated. But sorry, not in New Zealand.

Another way to spend money off-roading

The Kyosho Rock Force is set up for serious off-roading ...

... while this one's more of an off-road racer, but is still pretty good in the serious stuff.

A colleague recently brought along two wonderful toys on a 4WD trip and I was sort-of hooked. His RC models, particularly the Kyosho Rock Force (top photo), have everything it takes for hard off-roading with the great advantage that, if you roll or smash into a tree, you simply pick it up and start all over again! Wish I could do that with the Jeep. The worm-geared Kyosho is an amazing low-ratio crawler and has all kinds of heavy-duty stuff that are hallmarks of a good RC kit. Neither of these models is cheap, and they have to be built up – but that also allows lots of opportunity to do mods if you know what you're doing.

Hint: Don't lend to young boys or you'll never get them back! Well, most older boys, too, if it comes to that.

Shorty and sweet

Keep an eye out for the October issue of 4x4 Australia, which has a major comparison of short wheelbase 4WDs, the Jeep Wrangler Sport, Land Rover Defender 90, Suzuki Jimny and the short Toyota Prado that doesn't come to New Zealand.