Mid life crisis Cali Swamper!

[JuanVecino2023]

Can’t argue on old Walter’s knowledge but, seriously? Fried egg headlights? It’s no 917!
Grim interior.

996.2 had no fried egg sir!

In C4S, GT3 and especially Turbo guise with the Mezger engine it us a thing of beauty.

 

[wildslammer22]

Anyone has the Falken Wildpeak AT3W 235/65 R17? If so what is the pressure you use for the standard road setup on front/back empty/full? The consumption went up to 11.5 L/100km from around 9L/100km (thats probably to be expected)

This is where you went wrong, you should have started with a set of KO2's and then you would have seen the fuel consumption improve with the Falkens!

I’m on 46/48 psi for road use but I’m on 18” rims and my van is pushing 3 tons.

 

[sidepod]

996.2 had no fried egg sir!

In C4S, GT3 and especially Turbo guise with the Mezger engine it us a thing of beauty.

Hmmm? Can’t argue on the Metzger.
997 is a much nicer unit.
Almost pulled the trigger on a 4s earlier this year.
Note to self - stop dicking about!!

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510036866959?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios-app

It obviously needs a roof tent and a detachable side mounted shower tent and chemical loo

 

[JuanVecino2023]

It obviously needs a roof tent and a detachable side mounted shower tent and chemical loo

Axe, lumberjack shirt and top-knot optional extras

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Axe, lumberjack shirt and top-knot optional extras

Anything with an approach angle while off-road will likely destroy that vehicle or require recovery. So a support vehicle that is actually suitable for off-road with a winch would be essential.


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[SanderR72]

Anything with an approach angle while off-road will likely destroy that vehicle or require recovery. So a support vehicle that is actually suitable for off-road with a winch would be essential.


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Maybe not if you go for this one:
Porsche Singer ACS

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Maybe not if you go for this one:
Porsche Singer ACS

That is awesome, but I think the post was referring to the ID Buzz not having the chops as a support vehicle.

I did mean it tongue in cheek. I don’t think anyone is taking an EV in the Sahara just yet.

 

[SanderR72]

I don’t think anyone is taking an EV in the Sahara just yet.

There is enough sun for the solar panel however, maybe even too hot.

 

[sidepod]

That is awesome, but I think the post was referring to the ID Buzz not having the chops as a support vehicle.

I did mean it tongue in cheek. I don’t think anyone is taking an EV in the Sahara just yet.

Listening to a good old IC lump screaming it’s nuts off makes you wonder what is inside the heads of EV owners?

 

[FivetonesCali]

You don’t like electrification, we get it. Yawn.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Listening to a good old IC lump screaming it’s nuts off makes you wonder what is inside the heads of EV owners?

Test drive an Alpine A290

Might give you pause for thought.

 

[Corradobrit]

buy a 996?
There’s a sentence I’ll never use!!

You, me both. I visited the Porsche Museum in Zuffenhausen last week and seeing all the history of Porsche under one roof merely confirmed what a faux pas the 996 was in 1999

 

[mr pg]

You, me both. I visited the Porsche Museum in Zuffenhausen last week and seeing all the history of Porsche under one roof merely confirmed what a faux pas the 996 was in 1999

View attachment 141442


View attachment 141443

In which way?

 

[Corradobrit]

In which way?

In virtually every way, including but not limited to body contours, interior, front end. They will never be classics.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

In virtually every way, including but not limited to body contours, interior, front end. They will never be classics.

Fundamentally disagree on this.

People said the same about the 964.

I suppose only history will answer that statement though.

 

[MisterTea]

You’ll have many more tire options with 17 inch wheels. 18’s with 255 width will feel much more planted with spirited mountain driving and cornering and you can get higher load rating tires.

I loved my 17’s with Falkens but with my van weighing in at max 3.5 tonnes I went back to 18’s with Delta 4x4 Loder AT #1 tires with a 118T load rating. These weren’t available when I first bought the van. These are outstanding tires but not available in 17. If you check YouTube you’ll see many heavier vans going with these now, with one guy swapping them out for another set after 100K KM’s!!! They are slightly louder than Falkens, but significantly quieter than BFG’s. And with a great AT tread pattern and strengthened sidewalls (after all designed by Delta 4x4 in Germany).


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So i found 18” lower profile tyres very poor. Maybe it’s the tyre chosen that was at fault, I’d started her on Conti Sport contact M&S. then went over to Michelin CrossClimate M&S - both were 255x45 18”. Gave up in the nasty wallowing feel of these conventional lower profiles and went bigger, now on Yokohama Geolander G015 235/65 17” and they transformed the van. Rides nicer, corners way better. Thinking it’s as much the slightly stiffer sidewalls, but equally the feeling was the 255-45 profile wasn’t up to the job of modern imperfect roads where higher profiles definitely soften the impact. Extra bonus was wheels filling arches so much better.

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

So i found 18” lower profile tyres very poor. Maybe it’s the tyre chosen that was at fault, I’d started her on Conti Sport contact M&S. then went over to Michelin CrossClimate M&S - both were 255x45 18”. Gave up in the nasty wallowing feel of these conventional lower profiles and went bigger, now on Yokohama Geolander G015 235/65 17” and they transformed the van. Rides nicer, corners way better. Thinking it’s as much the slightly stiffer sidewalls, but equally the feeling was the 255-45 profile wasn’t up to the job of modern imperfect roads where higher profiles definitely soften the impact. Extra bonus was wheels filling arches so much better. View attachment 141485

More sidewall will nearly always give you a better ride. But every Tyre is constructed differently. Some have single ply, some double ply and some triple ply sidewall. That, combined with the load rating (in my case 118T on the Delta 4x4 Loder AT’s) makes each Tyre unique. With a 118 load rating these Tyres can handle max 5.5 bars of air pressure for full load. I’m fully loaded at 3.5 ton van so easily get away with airing them down to 3 bar. This gives a very comfortable ride on the 18’s, and with a high roof van a much more stable stance with lower profile tyres in the twisties. And off-road they’ve handled amazingly well too!

I had the Falken Wildpeak 17’s and those are outstanding tyres. In my case though they felt a little wobbly in the corners at speak due to the softer and higher sidewall with a lower load rating of 108.


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[smurfo]

Not to mention the Falken Wildpeaks are one of the best tyres for normal road use according to this test. I never considered that A/T tyres could be a hazard on normal road and increase the braking distance so significantly, so glad that the Falkens were a relatively good pick - thanks to you all suggesting them.

 

[Badabu]

Not to mention the Falken Wildpeaks are one of the best tyres for normal road use according to this test. I never considered that A/T tyres could be a hazard on normal road and increase the braking distance so significantly, so glad that the Falkens were a relatively good pick - thanks to you all suggesting them.

I’m eyeing AT tires to buy after the winter, but these tests really make me question if an all-season tire would be a more reasonable decision. Apart from durability, it seems better in all segments. And let’s be real, as much as I wish I could just drive the gravel, in the end it’s probably 80% asphalt and 20% gravel.
But the looks though…
Any all-season users here?

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

I’m eyeing AT tires to buy after the winter, but these tests really make me question if an all-season tire would be a more reasonable decision. Apart from durability, it seems better in all segments. And let’s be real, as much as I wish I could just drive the gravel, in the end it’s probably 80% asphalt and 20% gravel.
But the looks though…
Any all-season users here?

The Falken Wildpeaks are all season with triple mountain peak rating. And your use case is exactly what they are designed for. Whisper quiet on the asphalt and very capable off road.

 

[wildslammer22]

I’m eyeing AT tires to buy after the winter, but these tests really make me question if an all-season tire would be a more reasonable decision. Apart from durability, it seems better in all segments. And let’s be real, as much as I wish I could just drive the gravel, in the end it’s probably 80% asphalt and 20% gravel.
But the looks though…
Any all-season users here?

IMO it really depends on how you like to drive. My Cali is a daily driver but I’m always aware that a loaded 3t+ camper needs to be driven with a bit more caution than a ‘normal’ car in terms of braking distances etc no matter what rubber you have on the wheels. So in my use case of driving well within the limits of the van (most of the time!) the extra capability off road, in snow and the greatly improved durability is a good compromise over reduced wet weather braking. I suspect a set of Falken Wildpeaks will match or out perform any all season tyre after 10k miles of wear anyway.

 

[smurfo]

IMO it really depends on how you like to drive. My Cali is a daily driver but I’m always aware that a loaded 3t+ camper needs to be driven with a bit more caution than a ‘normal’ car in terms of braking distances etc no matter what rubber you have on the wheels. So in my use case of driving well within the limits of the van (most of the time!) the extra capability off road, in snow and the greatly improved durability is a good compromise over reduced wet weather braking. I suspect a set of Falken Wildpeaks will match or out perform any all season tyre after 10k miles of wear anyway.

I second this. I had normal summer tyres, then pierced 3 out of 4 offroad, changed to all season and now I am on Falkens and they are as quiet as the all season and stick to the road nicely. The braking in wet is where I felt a little difference, but I am fine with the extra caution that I need to exercise while driving, honestly since I had (my only ever) accident with brake distance in snowy weather on my old T4, I always keep more distance then necessary My use case is also 80/20 so I think you will be satisfired with your choice if you go Falkens. The fuel consumption went up by 2L only which is peanuts.

I’m eyeing AT tires to buy after the winter, but these tests really make me question if an all-season tire would be a more reasonable decision. Apart from durability, it seems better in all segments. And let’s be real, as much as I wish I could just drive the gravel, in the end it’s probably 80% asphalt and 20% gravel.
But the looks though…
Any all-season users here?