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BerraXer Profile
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Date Registered: 07-2012
TOTAL POSTS: 18
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Diesel Xtrail Auto-offroad performance


My fellow Xer's. I have an 08 ST manual Xtrail. Its a great car and I have managed to convert many a friend over as I have nothing but praise for the car. I am thinking about upgrading to a 4wd with low range as I am enjoying the offroading but need to be cautious about the tracks I adventure down. All of my friends have proper 4wd's too. Unfortunately it means something other than an Xtrail. So far I have found the models of 4wd out there are a compromise on finish and ride when compared to the xtrail. Also price is an issue. So far im looking at a grand vitara but again a big compromise on space and finish.
But Then.
I took a dealers demo TS Xtrail diesel automatic for a drive. Wow what a revelation. That thing flys. I tested it on a little incline track that has a moderate rut and is covered with gravel. Just with moderate acceleration it crawled up with only the slightest wheel skip. My Xtrail on the same track with Yokohama Geo ATS skips quite a bit more as I need to use more momentum to get over the rut otherwise I stall. So I have been calculated that the diesel automatic produces about 1:32 ratio in first at very low rev if you calculate the lock up torque from the auto transmition.
So long story short. Im keen to hear how you all find the offroad performance with the diesel auto. Have you been able to keep up with the 4wd crew and how do you find the ratio for negotiating the more technical tracks. Have been found wanting of a low range or is it simply not an issue....

Cheers Mike
20/Jun/2013, 11:03 am Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message Blog
 
jalalski Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re:


Hi Mike,

THIS thread might have some helpful information as well.

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20/Jun/2013, 12:09 pm Link to this post Send Private Message MSN Blog
 
Exywarrior Profile
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Date Registered: 10-2011
Location: Darwin, NT
TOTAL POSTS: 325
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Re:


I own a Diesel Auto TL Exy and have taken her off the road several times, on rocky mountain roads in the Brindabellas (near Canberra) and extensive off-road time to the South-East of Pinjarra in WA and in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National PArk in WA.
In these trips I have taken the car up and down very steep grades. In particular, the climb and descent from Mt Coree in the Brindies was a big test on the power needed in the climb and the Hill Descent performance on the descent. Thanks mainly to the Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS) I have never bogged the car.
I have found the car to be terrific. On the steeper slopes I lock up into 1st gear and use hill descent control. As a result I hardly need to touch the brake.
I've never taken the car through creek crossings (don't have the guts just yet!).
Thus far though, my wife and I have had a ball in the car and just because it's an auto has in no way affected the performance of the car off-road.
In my view, the main limitation of the Diesel auto is the 1350kg towing capacity limit. This is mostly a limitation of the gearbox, not the engine, so I'm told.
Hope this helps.

Last edited by Exywarrior, 20/Jun/2013, 1:59 pm


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Mark T
2011 Series 4 T31 TL Auto - Twilight, factory towbar, factory mats, tinting, Cooper CS5s, cathodic protection, paint protection, yada yada...and no Provent
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20/Jun/2013, 1:48 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message Blog
 
BerraXer Profile
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Date Registered: 07-2012
TOTAL POSTS: 18
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Re: Diesel Xtrail Auto-offroad performance


Exy, cheers. I am also in Canberra. Mount Coree is a great drive. Just love the HDC on the down slope. I have read and agree to the theory that the turbo diesel Auto is the best combination for a 4wd. Especially the novice as it gives so much more control especially on climbs. How do you find the crawl ability with the auto. Have you found it easy to get over obstacles from a standing position without speeding up to much on the crest.
20/Jun/2013, 1:58 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message Blog
 
Exywarrior Profile
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Date Registered: 10-2011
Location: Darwin, NT
TOTAL POSTS: 325
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Re: Diesel Xtrail Auto-offroad performance


Yes, the torque from the Diesel for crawling is terrific. I've never run out of puff going up hills and I don't have to push the engine particularly hard either. To keep the revs up I'll generally use a lock-up gear (either 1st or 2nd) to stop the engine from changing up and revving too low.
Given you know Mt Coree, then I can tell you the diesel auto absolutely ate the climb up the hill and we never had any issues.
Over in WA, I've had the car in some pretty deep ruts and no problems.
One thing you will find with the auto is on the highway in Australia it spends a lot of time in 5th gear vice 6th, as 6th doesn't engage until around 112-115kmh. It's important to let the gearbox do its thing on highways so it keeps the revs up high enough to keep the EGT high and assist in keeping the diesel particulate filter from sooting up. I estimate I spend 90% of my highway driving around Canberra in 5th gear, only getting to 6th on the Hume Hwy to Sydney once we hit the 110kmh limit.

Last edited by Exywarrior, 20/Jun/2013, 2:07 pm


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Mark T
2011 Series 4 T31 TL Auto - Twilight, factory towbar, factory mats, tinting, Cooper CS5s, cathodic protection, paint protection, yada yada...and no Provent
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20/Jun/2013, 2:04 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message Blog
 
BerraXer Profile
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Date Registered: 07-2012
TOTAL POSTS: 18
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Re: Diesel Xtrail Auto-offroad performance


excellent that's good news. My ST went up mount coree quite well to. Actually out-performed a diesel forrester. There have been a couple of moments however where I have had to go at an obstacle a little faster than I would like. This was mainly to prevent stalling and of course the ratios.
Looking at the auto gear ratios the 5th gear is an overdrive anyway so as you say its no problem to sit in 5th a lot of the time.
Interestingly enough I test drove a diesel grand vitara at lunch. I found it didn't handle the same section of track as well as the TS Xtrail or even my X trail. Even when it was in low range. More wheel spin than what I was expecting. The TS X trail seemed to be much smother at it also...more sure footed...
20/Jun/2013, 3:04 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message Blog
 
Exywarrior Profile
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Date Registered: 10-2011
Location: Darwin, NT
TOTAL POSTS: 325
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Re:


That's why the test drive guys have often called the X-Trail the best in its class off-road.

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Mark T
2011 Series 4 T31 TL Auto - Twilight, factory towbar, factory mats, tinting, Cooper CS5s, cathodic protection, paint protection, yada yada...and no Provent
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20/Jun/2013, 3:17 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message Blog
 
konazz Profile
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Date Registered: 08-2012
Location: Canberra, ACT
TOTAL POSTS: 479
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Re:


I;ve been up Mt Corree (went a few weeks ago) many times and darn that last section is getting rough. Albeit, normally i use oversize tyres, I've done it previously in the Dunlops H/T tyres, and it was ok... this time on the HT's was a struggle.

Berra - what do you mainly drive... is the exxy your main commuter car?

We spend a ridiculous amount of time on the road, driving to and from sydney most weekends, so we needed something comfy.

After doing a 4WD course, i sometimes wish I had gotten a 4WD with LR. Its all about trade-offs - the x-trail can pretty much do ANYTHING but for the most rutted or steepest things... but i now know the limits of the vehicle. Stuff like Flea Creek and Webbs Ridge Rd need care, but are doable. But the Powerline track up devil's peak near Mt Coree picnic area is getting to the limit of the car (I got there, but did stall after I lost momentum).

If you're doing a bit of 4WD'ing... then maybe look at a Mitsu Challenger or a V6 Grand Vitara.

Have a look at the events section of the site, as I'm posting 3/4 day trip near canberra. SHould be muddy, but fairly easy.

Autos are awesome for crawling, but don't have the same rate of compression braking that a manual diesel or petrol have. I'd love to see how well the autos handle mt coree, as I need to be in 1st on my manual - which sends a lot of torque to the wheels... sometimes too much

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Michael K
2012 X-Trail Series IV Diesel TS
Member X-2600 (C)
Mods: Pedders Lift Kit, Bash Plates, 16" X-trail Steel Rims, 235/70/16 A/T Tyres, Heavy Duty shock absorbers
24/Jun/2013, 8:18 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message Blog
 
Exywarrior Profile
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Date Registered: 10-2011
Location: Darwin, NT
TOTAL POSTS: 325
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Re: Re:


quote:

konazz wrote:
Autos are awesome for crawling, but don't have the same rate of compression braking that a manual diesel or petrol have. I'd love to see how well the autos handle mt coree, as I need to be in 1st on my manual - which sends a lot of torque to the wheels... sometimes too much



I've taken my auto TL up Mt Coree - photos in the trip reports section.

You're right in that the auto doesn't have the same engine braking ability but in lockup 1st gear it still holds pretty well. I do, however rely heavily on the braking induced by using Hill Descent Control and additional braking on the way down the hill. Needless to say the brakes got fairly hot but never to the point where you could smell them!

I have yet to find a hill my auto TL couldn't climb. And this is all on the stock Dunlop 7000s.



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Mark T
2011 Series 4 T31 TL Auto - Twilight, factory towbar, factory mats, tinting, Cooper CS5s, cathodic protection, paint protection, yada yada...and no Provent
X-2099
25/Jun/2013, 1:12 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message Blog
 
BerraXer Profile
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Date Registered: 07-2012
TOTAL POSTS: 18
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Re: Diesel Xtrail Auto-offroad performance


thanks for the feedback guys. Its been a while since i went up Mount Coree. I found it very easy in my X trail also. To my my surprise we outdid the Forrester that was along with us.

I've been doing alot of research lately and have come to the conclusion that the Common Rail Diesel maintenance costs and fuel issues when compared to petrol exceed the limits im comfortable with. For the time being i'll stick with the X trail until such time as i can move on. I've driven a new vitara sport and its an awesome drive. A little slower than the Xtrail but its a great package and the low range works quite well. The next alternative would be the petrol Prado but the running costs are greater. However still less than diesel.
27/Jun/2013, 11:36 pm Link to this post Send Email PM   Send Private Message Blog
 


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