4 Wheels Good: Season 5, Ep. 21

Men and Motors

In this episode of 4 Wheels Good, Chris Goffey gets to drive every boy (or girl) racer's dream machine - the Porsche 911.  Later in the show Richard Hammond drives the Suzuki Jimny and attempts a world record at caravan towing while Ginny Buckley is in America for the Jeep Jamboree USA where she takes part in driving the Rubicon Trail.  Don't forget to subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell so you never miss a video!  ------------------ Enjoyed this video? Don't forget to LIKE and SHARE the video and get involved with our community by leaving a COMMENT below the video!   Check out what else our channel has to offer and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to Men & Motors for more classic car and motorbike content! Why not? It is free after all!  Our website: http://menandmotors.com/  ---- Social Media ----  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/menandmotors/ Instagram: @menandmotorstv Twitter: @menandmotorstv  If you have any questions, e-mail us at talk@menandmotors.com  © Men and Motors - One Media iP 2023

Transcript

00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:03 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:07 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:10 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:14 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:43 Now, what you're about to see is another one of those things

00:45 that could only happen in America.

00:48 Having a fascination for this kind of impassable terrain,

00:52 land that looks like it comes from another planet,

00:54 it's quite one thing.

00:55 Deciding that the kicks you're going to drive straight over

00:59 it is another.

01:01 But that's exactly what a group of Jeep enthusiasts

01:03 decided 45 years ago.

01:05 They saw this impassable terrain as a challenge,

01:08 and they felt sure that their hardy Willys Jeeps could cross

01:10 it no problems.

01:12 They created the very first Jeepers Jamboree,

01:15 a rather curious affair in which Jeep owners pay

01:18 for the privilege of hammering their own vehicles over rocks,

01:21 through mud, and along terrifying passes in this Jeep

01:25 utopia known as Rubicon Springs.

01:28 And there is absolutely no shortage of Jeepers wanting to

01:31 take up that challenge.

01:33 What started off as a fairly modest affair with just a few

01:35 vehicles has now grown into a huge event, attracting people

01:39 from all over the world.

01:41 Jamboree entry now is so popular that it's decided via

01:44 a kind of lottery system.

01:46 And guess who's managed to bag a winning ticket?

01:48 [MUSIC PLAYING]

02:18 Of course, you can't take part in the biggest and the baddest

02:21 Jeep Jamboree without having your very own Jeep to drive in.

02:25 And this one is mine.

02:26 It's going to get me through the next couple of days,

02:28 hopefully.

02:29 It's a four-liter Jeep Wrangler.

02:31 And it's just like the ones that you'll find cruising down

02:33 the good old King's Road.

02:35 There are no special modifications on

02:37 this vehicle at all.

02:38 In fact, the president of Chrysler is adamant that any

02:41 vehicle that Chrysler produced bearing the Jeep badge has to

02:44 be capable of completing the Rubicon Springs challenge.

02:48 Rubicon Trail in one piece.

02:51 Now, about that Rubicon Trail, off-road trails are rated

02:54 from 1 to 10.

02:55 1 is, yes, the easiest.

02:57 And there are plenty of those.

02:59 But there is only 1 10.

03:01 And it's the Rubicon here in California.

03:03 It may only be 22 miles long.

03:05 But it's 22 miles that takes people to places roads just

03:09 don't want them to go to.

03:12 Now, I've been warned that this path is a boulder-infested,

03:14 differential-smashing, kidney-bruising,

03:16 wheel-bending path to nowhere.

03:19 In short, it's a Jeep heaven.

03:21 And I've always been a girl who's game.

03:23 So here goes.

03:25 The trail has all the perfect ingredients.

03:27 You never know what's around the corner.

03:29 There's breathtaking scenery.

03:31 And it certainly challenges your driving skills.

03:33 A comforting thought as I approach the first tricky bit

03:39 of the day is my trusty copy of Mark A. Smith's guide to

03:42 save common sense off-road driving.

03:45 What I want to know is, was the common sense in driving

03:47 through all of this lot instead of around it?

03:50 Still, I've been assured by the expert that there's a

03:51 simple technique to rock driving.

03:53 You need low gearing, a supple suspension, nerves of steel,

03:57 and a very understanding bank manager.

03:59 If you were one of these people that thought to get

04:12 excited behind the wheel, what you need is speed.

04:15 Forget it.

04:17 This is absolutely thrilling.

04:19 But speed has got no place here.

04:21 You want the lowest gear possible.

04:23 You chug along with just the occasional delicate touch on

04:26 the accelerator.

04:27 And you never, ever use the clutch, no matter how

04:31 tempting it is.

04:32 [MUSIC PLAYING]

04:45 I've just finished my first day on the Rubicon Trail.

04:48 We've been driving for 13 hours.

04:50 I'm absolutely exhausted.

04:52 And I don't think I've been this dirty since

04:54 I was about seven.

04:56 Still, never mind, because I've got a night in a tent and a

04:59 bath in an icy cold lake to look forward to.

05:02 Some girls get all the luck, don't they?

05:05 The Rubicon Trail is renowned for the beauty and the

05:08 toughness of its terrain.

05:09 But it's also just as renowned for the huge party that takes

05:12 place every year over at the Rubicon Springs camping spot.

05:16 And as the event has grown over the years into a huge

05:19 production, so has the supporting cast.

05:22 Hi, I'm Whitey McKnight.

05:24 And I'm running the bar at the Rubicon Springs campground bar.

05:29 And jeeps get in here normally about four or five in the

05:34 afternoon.

05:34 And we have a band that comes and plays.

05:36 What do you think's special about the Rubicon Trail?

05:42 I believe it's the most difficult trail.

05:44 And it's nine hours to go nine miles.

05:47 Once people get here, they treat them like gold.

05:49 They feed them really well.

05:51 And the cocktails are pretty adequate.

05:55 And are the beers cold?

05:56 The beers are cold.

05:57 This is the coldest beer--

05:59 this side of Lake Tahoe.

06:00 What's your job on the trail?

06:02 Because you have a special job, don't you?

06:03 Trail guide or rock roller.

06:05 Today, I'm just walking along, getting rock stacked in so

06:09 everybody can make it through.

06:11 And what do you do with all the tricky points?

06:13 Do you guide people through?

06:14 We try to keep them on top of the rocks.

06:17 Have you ever had anybody that didn't stay

06:19 on top of the rocks?

06:20 Oh, yeah.

06:21 Now and then.

06:22 Go on, tell us.

06:23 What's the worst--

06:25 who's the worst driver you've ever had?

06:27 Can you remember?

06:28 Oh, we've had some doozies, that's for sure.

06:31 But I'm not going to name any names.

06:33 OK?

06:34 Has anybody ever rolled a Jeep?

06:36 Oh, yeah.

06:36 It does happen.

06:37 But that's why we basically put an emphasis on safety.

06:44 That's why we want everybody to wear their

06:45 safety belts or whatever.

06:47 If something does happen, that safety belt will work.

06:57 As you settle your aching bones down by the campfire

07:00 with half a cow to chew on and, of course, the obligatory

07:03 bottle of beer, it's the perfect time to unwind and

07:06 listen to the day's tall tales.

07:08 And believe me, there are plenty of those.

07:10 [MUSIC PLAYING]

07:34 Just when you find it's all over and you're winding down

07:37 on the final stretch comes the toughest part of the trail,

07:40 Cadillac Hill.

07:42 [MUSIC PLAYING]

08:12 Well, this is it.

08:13 We've reached the end of the Rubicon Trail.

08:16 And it is so beautiful here.

08:18 I can't believe we've just driven through that valley.

08:21 It's only 10 miles long, but it's taken us a day and a

08:24 half to travel through it.

08:26 And I tell you, it's not for the faint-hearted.

08:28 [MUSIC PLAYING]

08:37 OK.

08:38 True confessions of a motoring writer time.

08:41 I've never really liked the Porsche 911.

08:44 Now, before you reel back in amazement, let me put that in

08:46 context.

08:47 I drove my first Carrera RS Lightweight in 1972.

08:51 And I've driven most models since then, often at speed,

08:54 often on racetracks.

08:56 I haven't liked the cramped interiors.

08:58 I didn't like the heating.

08:59 I didn't like the way you couldn't see the speedometer

09:02 through your hand on the steering wheel, funnily enough.

09:04 I didn't like the way the steering wheel was set up.

09:07 Funnily enough, I didn't like the howling rasp from behind

09:10 your left ear.

09:11 And I didn't like the fact that at night, heading for a

09:14 strange roundabout, you got that sweaty palm feel that you

09:17 were never quite sure whether the front wheels were going to

09:20 lock up or the rear end was going to overtake you.

09:23 In short, in unskilled hands, the car was sheer dangerous.

09:28 This is the new 911.

09:30 And it's something completely different.

09:33 And I've changed my opinion.

09:36 While it's still unmistakably a Porsche 911 in looks, under

09:40 the skin it's very different.

09:41 The chassis is now the Boxster.

09:43 The engine is still in the back, but it's water cooled.

09:46 As far as the handling goes, well, they seem to have tamed

09:49 the beast.

09:51 [CAR ENGINE]

10:05 Now, I don't usually like bringing cars to test tracks

10:07 to demonstrate their road handling.

10:09 I think it's a totally false environment.

10:11 And it gives you a wrong feeling about the car and

10:14 tempts you to go a lot faster than you ever would on the

10:16 public road.

10:17 That said, I think it's a good car.

10:19 And I'm going to demonstrate the changes in 911 handling

10:24 while I prefer to be well off the public road.

10:27 Now, let's just speed up a little bit round here.

10:32 Let me show you what I mean.

10:33 We've turned in sharp, building up the speed, front

10:36 tires scrabbling for grip, the car still under steering,

10:39 still very stable, and away.

10:44 Now, if you'd lifted off in that situation in the old 911,

10:48 well, the back would have snapped round on you with

10:50 great ferocity.

10:51 And you would have been very lucky, indeed, to have caught

10:53 it, especially on a wet, greasy road.

10:56 [CAR ENGINE]

11:03 So with the obligatory macho games on the racetrack out of

11:07 the way, let's get down to the realities of life on the road

11:11 with the new 911.

11:13 In the first place, well, it's almost 70,000 quids worth of

11:17 two-seater with the usual Porsche useless children's

11:21 seats in the back.

11:22 But of course, they fold down for extra luggage space.

11:27 Completely redesigned and repackaged interior, a speedo

11:30 you can actually see from the wheel with a repeater in the

11:33 middle of the rev counter.

11:35 Porsche 911 pedals were always a nightmare.

11:38 The company insisted on hinging them from the floor,

11:41 so they were stiff and difficult to operate.

11:44 And they made the car quite jerky to drive, unless you

11:47 were really used to it.

11:48 Now they're pendulum pedals hung from the top, and they're

11:52 much easier to operate.

11:53 Without being in any way sexist about it, Porsche also

11:57 say they make the 911 much easier for women to drive.

12:01 Out the back, the 3.4-liter six is now water

12:05 instead of air-cooled.

12:07 And the new six-speed gearbox, well, that slices through the

12:10 gate with an ease and precision that's a joy,

12:13 compared to the old car, where you used to get quite severe

12:16 driveline shunts if you got the gear

12:18 change even slightly wrong.

12:22 Make no mistake, though, they may have tamed the handling,

12:24 but this is still a very fast car.

12:26 173 miles an hour flat out, they tell me, and 0 to 60 in

12:31 around 4 and 1/2 seconds.

12:33 And that's seriously quick by any standards.

12:37 This 911 gets decent ventilation for a change,

12:40 sensible heater controls, and the sort of toys you'd expect

12:44 for your 70,000 quid--

12:46 in-car navigation, climate control, and the sort of

12:49 in-car CD system you'd expect.

12:53 Above all, it's still an immensely durable, robust,

12:57 well-built car, capable of traveling very long distances

13:02 in all sorts of weathers.

13:03 Porsche owners have come to expect literally hundreds of

13:07 thousands of miles of reliable service from their cars, and I

13:11 can't see this one being any exception.

13:14 911 owners always used to boast that their cars were true

13:26 driver's machines, but I never used to believe them.

13:30 I always thought there were only a handful of truly gifted

13:33 drivers who could control a 911 at or near its limits of

13:37 adhesion, especially on wet roads, and especially if a

13:40 sudden emergency arose.

13:43 This new 911 is much safer and much easier to drive fast on

13:48 the public road, and I think that's a very, very good idea.

13:52 Caravans, curse of the holiday motorist, chugging down the

14:03 motorway usually to a breast, holding up a trail of motorists

14:06 and lorry drivers alike.

14:09 Well, maybe not in this case.

14:11 Motoring journalist Mark Walton has teamed up with

14:14 Chrysler Jeep to take on the speed record

14:17 for towing a caravan.

14:19 But how did this amazing record attempt come about?

14:22 Brian Rees of Chrysler.

14:24 This crazy man called Mark Walton phoned us up and said,

14:26 would we try and break the land speed record for towing a

14:28 caravan?

14:29 So we're going to have a damn good go at it.

14:30 Got lovely weather for it today.

14:32 And 126 miles an hour is the target.

14:35 Doesn't sound that much, but it's got to be a normal

14:36 caravan.

14:37 There can't be any aerodynamic changes, and we can't take

14:40 everything out.

14:40 The caravan's got the cooker and the fridge in there still.

14:43 126 the target.

14:44 We reckon we might get about 130 today with the Vipron,

14:46 because it's one hell of a powerful car.

14:48 And we've got good weather for it.

14:50 So that's the plan.

14:51 And what sort of speed do you think you'll achieve?

14:53 Viper would normally do the best part of

14:55 180 miles an hour.

14:56 But we've put the caravan on the back, and it's like a big

14:58 parachute and air brake on the back almost.

15:00 And we'll probably get stuck at about 130 there, I think.

15:04 So let's meet our intrepid pilot.

15:06 Mark, what are the major things you'll need to keep an

15:08 eye on during the run?

15:10 The main thing is just basically no really strong

15:13 crosswinds, because obviously we don't want the caravan

15:15 sliding around.

15:16 And not having any rain is another advantage, obviously.

15:19 There's actually balloon flooding around over there,

15:21 which is giving us a lot of confidence as well, because

15:23 balloons don't usually go off in windy weather either.

15:25 So it's looking good.

15:27 So with the onboard radar transmitter set up, Mark heads

15:30 out for the first run.

15:33 How does the man from Abbey Caravans feel about their

15:36 precious mobile home, losing a trusty Volvo estate, which

15:40 normally becomes a standard feature?

15:42 It's into unknown territory for us.

15:44 We're a little bit concerned at what the

15:47 stability would be like.

15:48 Yes, one must bear in mind that we're not looking at

15:51 advanced aerodynamics, because caravans are only legally

15:53 allowed to be towed at 60 miles an hour.

15:56 Although not allowed to make major modifications to the car

15:59 in the rules, the team will even try a new air filter in

16:02 search of extra speed.

16:05 We get to about 115, just like that.

16:09 Dead easy, no problem.

16:10 And then all of a sudden, counting the miles, 116, 117.

16:15 We stopped again.

16:17 So drastic action is called for.

16:20 Believing that heat buildup under the bonnet could be a

16:22 source of some lost performance, the team try a

16:25 few runs with the bonnet slightly open.

16:28 The record currently stands at 126.77.

16:32 So we need 0.8.

16:33 So we need 0.1 a mile an hour faster.

16:36 I mean, I think we're so close now, absolutely every

16:39 millimeter of difference could get us 0.1.

16:42 The team sets out for one last run.

16:44 If they don't succeed this time, they'll call the whole

16:47 attempt off.

16:48 That actually felt like the best run.

16:57 But at the end, I just glanced down at the rev counter.

17:02 And normally, it's just about 5,100 RPM.

17:04 And that time, I just glanced down, and I thought, blimey,

17:07 that's about 5,200, 5,300.

17:09 And it's just a tiny, tiny fraction.

17:11 And the engine note was just ever so slightly higher.

17:14 And I thought, well, if that's not it, then that's it.

17:16 We're gone.

17:17 We're gone.

17:18 One mile an hour over.

17:19 So congratulations to the team.

17:21 They've just proven how fast a caravan could go.

17:24 [MUSIC PLAYING]

17:49 Jimny.

17:50 Jimny Cricket.

17:51 Wasn't that the name of some squeaky voice caravan?

17:53 A squeaky voice critter in a schmaltzy Walt Disney thing?

17:57 I don't know.

17:57 Anyway, in this context, Jimny is the name of Suzuki's

18:00 even tiny off-roader.

18:02 Also a squeaky voice, weak critter.

18:04 That's unfair, really.

18:05 I mean, a 16-valve, 1.3-liter little engine is hardly likely

18:08 to sound fruity and deep-chested, is it?

18:11 At least it manages to chirp out about a 79 BHP, which

18:13 isn't bad, especially in a car weighing no more than a

18:16 packet of fags.

18:18 Trouble is, it's not much bigger than a

18:19 packet of fags, either.

18:20 Small is definitely what it's about here.

18:23 And once you've got over that, well, it's not too bad.

18:26 Some people buy their 4x4s for the commanding driving

18:29 position, others for the sheer bulk, the

18:31 sheer presence of them.

18:32 Well, when I say others, I mean men who were bullied at

18:34 school and neurotic women who seemed to confuse the school

18:36 run with Vietnam.

18:37 But this is not one of those 4x4s.

18:41 This doesn't so much loom up menacingly behind in your rear

18:44 view mirror when you're sat in traffic as it sneaks up, taps

18:46 you on the shoulder, and says, excuse me, in a squeaky

18:48 little voice.

18:49 It certainly isn't a frightening vehicle.

18:51 In fact, if you were to look in your rear view mirror,

18:52 you might just catch a view of the top of the head of the

18:55 person driving it, and that's about it.

18:57 Unless you're going to work on a go-kart, of course.

18:59 Really, to get into this thing, you've got to be

19:01 smiling before you even climb on board, smiling before you

19:04 drive it.

19:04 And the fact that it looks so friendly helps there.

19:07 So does this.

19:07 I learned this trick in a car park yesterday.

19:09 Watch.

19:10 Boom!

19:11 Unusually, I'm going to tell you the price of

19:14 this car early on.

19:15 And that's because I reckon it's essential when you're

19:17 assessing it as a purchase.

19:19 And the reason is all Suzuki Jimny's come as standard with

19:22 power-assisted steering, electric front windows,

19:24 electric door mirrors, twin airbags, side impact bars.

19:27 In fact, there's hardly anything you can really buy

19:29 and spend your money on to add onto this as an optional

19:32 extra.

19:32 And so the price for these things, well, that's the

19:34 really good news.

19:35 For the manual gearbox version, it's

19:37 9,995 pounds on the road.

19:39 And for this, the automatic, 10,870.

19:44 Now that's super mini territory.

19:45 [MUSIC PLAYING]

20:05 So comparing this with its competition, what can the

20:08 super minis do that it can't?

20:09 Well, you might say parking.

20:10 In fact, it's a cinch in this.

20:12 The turning circle is amazing.

20:14 Driving is usually a good point in the super minis, just

20:16 as it is in this.

20:17 In fact, it's immense fun.

20:18 Agreed, it does roll a little bit when it corners.

20:21 And I can't say that I forgot entirely those disastrous

20:23 toppling incidents of some of the earlier Suzuki Jeeps.

20:26 But actually, they've sorted this so that the rear end will

20:29 come round.

20:29 And it's far more likely to swap ends before ever it'll

20:32 roll over, which I'm sure is a kind of comfort somewhere.

20:36 Super minis are also economical, of course.

20:38 Well, you can expect this to return over 34 miles per

20:41 gallon average.

20:42 1.3 16 valve, you'd expect it to be pretty good for that.

20:45 So in fact, there's very little boot space.

20:47 Perfectly reasonable.

20:48 It's small, but then it's a small car.

20:50 And even car makers have to obey the laws of physics.

20:53 Looking at it another way, then, what can this do that

20:56 the super minis can't?

20:57 Well, I'll tell you.

20:58 We've got a lever down here, and it can do this.

21:01 We're just changing to four-wheel drive.

21:03 It's even got a low transfer box.

21:05 So if the going gets really bumpy, your little Suzuki

21:08 Jimny can keep going.

21:10 Now, you do that in a super mini.

21:11 I don't think so.

21:14 I don't imagine it's going to pose a real threat to

21:16 Land Rovers, Land Cruisers, and four-tracks.

21:19 But remember, Suzuki have been making mini Leisure 4

21:21 befores now for 30 years, with the SJ, Samurai, and Vitara to

21:25 their name, so they should have got the

21:26 hang of it by now.

21:27 David Hull is a stable manager and uses a variety of

21:30 vehicles in his day-to-day work.

21:33 I'm a stable manager here.

21:34 I do the day-to-day running of the yard, care of the horses.

21:37 I usually use a quad bike for most of my daily chores.

21:41 I don't use anything as grand as this.

21:44 On the other hand, I quite often use a Range Rover,

21:47 towing horsebox, dead shows.

21:49 It's not a bad little toy, really.

21:53 It's not going to pull many huge loads, but it's not a bad

21:57 little toy.

21:59 Another good thing about this little baby, it's got plenty

22:01 of leg room.

22:01 I'm six foot, and I've got plenty of stretchy room here.

22:05 Well, it might be a bit of a lightweight, and it might have

22:07 somewhat excessive noise at motorway speeds.

22:10 But it feels well put together.

22:11 Most of it's made from galvanized steel, so it should

22:13 last forever anyway.

22:14 If you're looking for a budget for before for 10 grand, you

22:18 might want to consider buying second hand and getting

22:20 something perhaps a little more substantial.

22:22 But if you're in the market for a second car or just for a

22:25 small car that's got ample room in the back, that looks a

22:28 little bit different, and that also means come the winter

22:30 snows, you certainly will not be stuck, then I'd say this

22:34 has got to be on your list.

22:36 I know it would be on mine.

22:37 [MUSIC PLAYING]

23:07 [MUSIC PLAYING]

23:28 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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