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If you are considering a Land Rover vehicle upon graduation, understand that these vehicles are primarily designed and built for off-road use, and secondarily built for on-road use. Land Rovers have long been known for their legendary off-road capability. It makes sense, then, that almost 40% of Land Rover owners take their vehicles off road, about two to 20 times more than the average sport-utility vehicles (SUV) owner, depending on what numbers you believe. Another interesting point--Land Rover claims that of all the world's population that has seen a motor vehicle, 40% saw a Land Rover first. Pretty cool.
Also, given its off-road heritage, the car is almost over-built for on-road use. For example, it has a fully boxed steel frame with a steel inner body cage, making the car rock solid. The engine's radiator and the brakes are enormous, and the windshield fluid reservoir is the biggest one I've ever seen (you use up plenty of fluid when washing mud off your windshield).
But for all the off-road prowess, the Discovery does not sacrifice comfort and convenience. It comes equipped with a powerful stereo (with a big subwoofer integrated into the rear door), power everything, alarm, remote keyless entry, cruise control, A/C, tilt wheel, available CD player, etc. Anything you want, and almost all of it as standard features. It also rides as smooth and almost as quiet as a luxury car.
Our Discovery XD was equipped with a 182-horsepower, 4.0-liter, V8 motor, with automatic transmission, full-time four-wheel drive, four-wheel all-terrain anti-lock disc brakes, dual airbags, and a wonderful suspension, particularly for off-road use.
Speaking of off-road use, this is where the Discovery really separates itself from its competition--other SUV's such as the Explorer, 4Runner, etc. Driving this truck 50 to 60 mph on a dirt road is almost like driving a Rolls on Interstate 5. Well, not exactly, but I could not believe how smooth it was. Driving it hard on a dirt road around turns and bends was even more impressive as the full-time all-wheel drive provides grip and pulls you confidently through turns.
The Discovery continues to impress when you get into more serious four-wheeling (or "wheelin'" if you want to speak the lingo). The torquey V8 engine, long travel suspension, side-to-side body movement, low center of gravity, and the almost one foot of ground clearance (at the axle; 8.1 inches at the differential and 14.4 inches at the frame) all contribute to allow this vehicle to do things other SUV's can't do.
For example, picture a rugged dirt road ahead of you with a two-foot deep trench that diagonally crosses the road. Now before crossing the trench, notice the road topography is such that the left side of the road drops down into the trench and then rises up coming out of it, while the right side of the road stays level (because you haven't reached the diagonally crossing trench yet) and then drops down into the trench. As you can envision, when you traverse the road, your left front tire drops into the trench while the right front stays where it is, and you suddenly see the horizon at a serious angle. If you keep going, the left front tire starts to climb upward out of the trench while the right front starts to descend into the trench.
And don't forget your back tires are now experiencing the same thing the fronts just went through. So the right rear stays level while the left rear goes down (into the trench) while the right front goes down (falling into the trench) while the left front goes up (coming out of the trench). As you can tell, it would be quite a peculiar crossing. So how does the Discovery handle it? Well, you basically just drive over all of it, just as I described. When you are half way through the exercise, you can get out of the car (don't forget to put it in park and set the brake) and see that there is about one foot of space between the top of the left front tire and the wheel well, but you only see the lower half of the left rear tire because the rest of it is crammed up inside its own wheel well. (Sorry, but I forgot to get a picture of this.) Basically, the ability of the suspension to go up and down independently like this and allow you to crawl over obstacles and through dips and such is called articulation. It's one of the neat wheelin' terms I learned. And the Discovery, with its long-travl suspension, performs wonderfully.
In addition, the Discovery can also safely go through 20 inches of water, drive sideways on inclines almost 40%, and drive up a 45% hill. It is truly an incredible vehicle, and if you are in the market for a sport-utility and plan on frequently using it off-road, then the Discovery is really the only logical choice. Other SUV's off-road cabilities just don't compare. There simply isn't enough room in this article to tell you everything about how well the car is built and how capable it is off-road. Believe me when I tell you that it is.
The Discovery starts at around $32,000 and goes up to around $40,000, depending on trim levels and options, which include items such as leather interior, heated seats, automatic transmission, six CD changer, roof rack and driving lights, for example. It also comes with a three year/42,000 mile comprehensive warranty and 24 hour roadside assistance.
So visit your nearest Land Rover dealer and see them on the web at www.landrover.com.
They have one of the better automotive web sites I've seen (use the enhanced
version). There is a wealth of information on Land Rover's heritage, durability,
performance, and more. There's an especially cool feature where you can
outfit the Rover of your choice with various options to see what it looks
like. No matter which Land Rover you purchase, you can periodically attend
dealer off-road events to learn about off-road driving or attend the Land
Rover driving school in Vermont for a more challenging and exhilarating
off-road experience. Then you and your new Land Rover will be ready to
traverse the world. Just remember to tread lightly.
Before it gets too late and you come up with a million reasons why you shouldn't go out, try hitting a few of the clubs around Ann Arbor and catch a band or two. I highly recommend seeing Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise at The Blind Pig Saturday, September 13. The band is kinda rocky-funky. You'll be sure to have a good time.
Thursday, September 11
Carl Michael Quartet
Mellow jazz ensemble from Detroit. U-M Hospital Courtyard. Free. 12-1
p.m.
Dick Gaughan
A founding member of the Boys of the Lough. Veteran Scottish singer-songwriter
whose 1980 LP, Handful of Earth, was voted best folk LP of the 80's by
the English Folk Roots magazine. The Ark. Tickets $12.50 (members, students,
& seniors, $11.50) at the door only. 8 p.m.
Domestic Problems
Kalamazoo band. Troll for trout also plays. The Blind Pig.
Merrie Amsterburg
Rising singer-songwriter from Boston whose recently released debut
CD, Seasons of Rain, has gotten lots of critical acclaim, provoking comparisons
to Aimee Mann and Tori Amos. Gypsy Café. $5 at the door only. 9:30
p.m.-midnight.
Maschina
Fun, bizarre covers and originals. Cross Street.
Chris Zito
Heard every morning on the "Johnny in the Morning" show on the Planet,
96.3FM in Detroit. Mainstreet Comedy. $7. 8:30 p.m.
Friday, September 12
RFD Boys
Bluegrass, Appalachian swing. The Ark. 8 p.m.
"Parisian Soiree"
Area instrumentalists and vocalists team up to perform works by Ravel,
Poulenc, Wiell, and Porter. Kerrytown Concert House. $30, $20, $15 in advance
at 769-2999. 8 p.m.
Baked Potato
Jam-based originals and retro covers. CD release party. Also with Deep
Space Six. The Blind Pig
Poignant Plecostomus
Unique Ann Arbor quintet playing progressive funk-jazz-rock instrumentals.
Led by violinist. $3. Gypsy Café. 9:30 p.m.
Firebird Balalaika Ensemble
Russian and Eastern European music on traditional instruments. Free.
Espresso Royale, Main Street. 9-11p.m.
Mustard Plug
Ska from nationally touring band. Cross Street.
South Normal
Modern rock originals. Theo's. 10:30 p.m.
Cool & Company
Oldies, classic rock and doo-wop. Free. T.C.'s Speakeasy.
Chris Zito
Heard every morning on the "Johnny in the Morning" show on the Planet,
96.3FM in Detroit. Mainstreet Comedy. $7. 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 13
Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise
Blues band led by singer-guitarist Bradley, a heralded Detroit blues
veteran. Opening act is Big Black. The Blind Pig. Tickets $10 in advance
at the Michigan Union Ticket Office and all other Ticketmaster outlets;
$12 at the door. To charge by phone, call (248) 645-6666; for information,
call 996-8555.10:30 p.m. (doors open at 9 p.m.).
Thornetta Davis
Detroit soul diva. $13.50 at door. The Ark. 8 p.m.
"Parisian Soiree"
Area instrumentalists and vocalists team up to perform works by Ravel,
Poulenc, Wiell, and Porter. Kerrytown Concert House. $30, $20, $15 in advance
at 769-2999. 8 p.m.
Peter Madcat Ruth
Rare solo performance by this local world-renowned harmonica wiz. Blends
folk, blues, jazz, and rock 'n' roll. Gypsy Café. 9:30 p.m., $4
at the door only.
Randy Napoleon
Jazz standards and originals from local quartet. Free. Espresso Royale,
Main Street. 8-10 p.m.
Knee Deep Shag
Funky rock originals from Kalamazoo band. Cross Street.
The Element
Funk band with horn section. Theo's. 10:30 p.m.
Cool & Company
Oldies, classic rock and doo-wop. Free. T.C.'s Speakeasy.
Chris Zito
Heard every morning on the "Johnny in the Morning" show on the Planet,
96.3FM in Detroit. Mainstreet Comedy. $7. 8:30 p.m.
Source: Current Entertainment Monthly
Arbor Brewing Company 116 E. Washington; 213-1393
The Ark 316 S. Main St.; 761-1451
Ashley's 338 S. State St.; 996-9191
Blind Pig 206-208 S. First St.; 996-8555
Café Zola 112 W. Washington; 769-2020
Cross Street Station 511 Cross St., Ypsilanti; 485-5050
Gypsy Café 214 N. 4th Ave.; 994-3940
Kerrytown Concert House 415 N. 4th Ave.: 769-2999
Michigan Theater 603 E. Liberty; 994-4801
Rick's 611 Church St.; 996-8310
T.C.'s Speakeasy 207 W. Michigan Ave.; 483-447
Theo's 705 W. Cross St., Ypsilanti; 485-6720