Seems a few people may have been duped. It also raises the question of modifying the vehicle from original spec.
From what I can read (an understand) is that a vehicle classified as a MA, is restricted in the mods, tyres and suspension/body lifts as it is classified as a passenger car only. A car classified as a MC is also a passenger car but with 4WD and also meets other requirements such as approach, departure and ramp over angles, as well as ground clearance. The Ford whilst it would (I think) meets these requirements, Ford did not bother with getting MC classification. It seems a few aftermarket manufacturers have got wind of this and are now not pursuing aftermarket gear for the vehicle as they may become part of litigation. Others like ISUZU have MA class for their 2wd variants and MC class for the 4WD ones. So if you did buy your Ford or are indeed thinking about getting one, best make sure that in its stock form it will do all you want. If not and you modify, best to check that you will be covered by your insurance company and also make sure you dont come across some enthusiastic Police, who will put you off the road.
It seems so petty, but I just wonder what Ford were thinking when they released the vehicle. They said it was in competition with the Prado, Discovery Sport, and Pajero Sport, all of which have MC classification. Some on other forums are contacting Ford, and I understand there is a Ford Everest Forum if you want more information and want to join the group in getting numbers to get Ford to fix thing up.
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David Irvine
Tugs: 2016 Discovery 4./2017 Toyota 76 GLX Auto Wagon. Van: New Age Manta Ray Deluxe
I've owned 4WD's since early '60's.
for one reason only..
Towing my caravans.... and a little 4wd. Mainly at work.
If I wanted to go "bush". I'd use my dirt bikes.
Large/small 4wd's. ALL butcher the sh-t out of the land,
spinning wheels.ripping the ground with massive tyres and sliding around
A bike. 2 tyres. only one driving. Very little damage in comparison to.
Plus a lot more "you and the land."
4wd's are perfect for towing. providing you select the right one for your van.
Stronger. heavier. better gearing. All a plus. plus.
I wonder. Just HOW MANY of us. really buy our 4wd's for 4wding??.
Not many I would think.
These MA and MC toys, are just that. toys. will/could never be, true 4wd's.
no matter how much you put into them.
Specially those bloody Jeep things. A misnomer. if ever I saw one.
that little 2 seater with a tray. is the nearest they ever came to being one.
Most on here don't want or need a 4wd.
All most want is a strong. heavy. powerful van tug,
with reasonable economy..and reliablity.
Patrol. Troopy. Range Rover. Land rover. Mitzi. and a coupla utes.
Both Isuzu..
I've owned 4WD's since early '60's. for one reason only.. Towing my caravans.... and a little 4wd. Mainly at work.
If I wanted to go "bush". I'd use my dirt bikes. Large/small 4wd's. ALL butcher the sh-t out of the land, spinning wheels.ripping the ground with massive tyres and sliding around
A bike. 2 tyres. only one driving. Very little damage in comparison to. Plus a lot more "you and the land." 4wd's are perfect for towing. providing you select the right one for your van. Stronger. heavier. better gearing. All a plus. plus. I wonder. Just HOW MANY of us. really buy our 4wd's for 4wding??. Not many I would think.
These MA and MC toys, are just that. toys. will/could never be, true 4wd's. no matter how much you put into them. Specially those bloody Jeep things. A misnomer. if ever I saw one. that little 2 seater with a tray. is the nearest they ever came to being one.
Most on here don't want or need a 4wd. All most want is a strong. heavy. powerful van tug, with reasonable economy..and reliablity. Patrol. Troopy. Range Rover. Land rover. Mitzi. and a coupla utes. Both Isuzu..
(and now the fun starts)
Mack ... You're far too old to be riding dirt bikes & your body is like mine well past it too.
You need a cushy modern 4WD if you are going bush.
Seriously .. You are right about many of us not requiring a 4WD. Just need a good strong & heavy powerful tug.
I rode till I was 48. and a car collected me at lights.
Hmm. That was my last time in the saddle. 27 broken bones. Broken neck. full R/H rib cage caved in
right shoulder bones and arm ripped away from skeleton (I have the 3d X Rays.)
only one lung now. Oh Leg broken in 7 places too.
Apart from that. Fine. just lotsa whingin' on bad days.
We all have fun growing up in life hey.
That was one of mine. A loooooong time ago.
And I still miss the bikes, not that I'd ever ride one again.
Just a lot of good memory's.
I rode till I was 48. and a car collected me at lights.
Hmm. That was my last time in the saddle. 27 broken bones. Broken neck. full R/H rib cage caved in right shoulder bones and arm ripped away from skeleton (I have the 3d X Rays.) only one lung now. Oh Leg broken in 7 places too.
Apart from that. Fine. just lotsa whingin' on bad days. We all have fun growing up in life hey. That was one of mine. A loooooong time ago. And I still miss the bikes, not that I'd ever ride one again. Just a lot of good memory's.
The last time I rode was in 1976.
I had a tiny Kawasaki that I used to ride 10km to work.
On the way home one afternoon I had too much power on (if that's possible on the coughin Kawasaki) as I went round a corner and skidded in some gravel..... Off the road into the grass verge.
Thankfully only gravel rashes.
From that time on it was only used by drunken BBQ guests to race around my back paddock to entertain other guests.
I left it propped up under a tree down the back when I later sold the property.
As far as I know, pretty much all 4x4 Utes are all classed as commercial vehicles, with category NA (not applicable) on the compliance plate. Thus they're not category MC either. Does this mean that they can't be modded either? Plenty of them out there are & thousands of them have been engineered &/or put over the pits with all kinds of mods, no issues whatsoever about them not being category MC! Heaps of after market goodies for all of them, even Great Wall Utes!
I think the report is a storm in a tea cup!
I don't own a Ford, I own a 4x4 Nissan dual cab - category N/A.
I have a few Subaru's. Not that I use them as a tug . But if I want too . It will go anywhere I want . I'm not into real rough terrain these days . I pull an early Impreza on A frame . Most 4WD is about suspension travel . Most the small tugs don't have the travel ., Can be modified quite easy though . 100's of kits out there ..
NONE of thesse modern toys are "real" 4wd's.
Just All wheel drives with lots of bull**** advertising.
Fine for dirt roads and towing weights inside their limits.
The most important thing I find about them. Is they higher off ground than Di's Honda sedan.
And a heck of a lot easier to get in and out of than that.
Plus a bit better grip on boat ramps with boat on back. With 4 wheels driving.
Macka ya don't know what you are talking about , plenty of modern 4x4's getting around the Highcountry without any problems . I did every track in my previous Hilux a 06 D4D a couple of Air Lockers made all the difference , I went everywhere the mates went in their Patrols and Cruisers , ground clearance was my main problem but I still managed , it would have to be what you call a modern model
My current vehicle a Isuzu Dmax , well it's a different story ,
-- Edited by JackoFJR on Thursday 3rd of November 2016 09:45:51 PM
most of the so called worst of todays 4x4 tracks are the original tracks that followed horse tracks, then horse and buggy and low and behold, then by 2 wheel drive with skinny wheels and tyres
cheers
blaze
Depends what tracks you are talking about , a lot of the tracks in the Highcountry were originally Bullock Dray Tracks or just people on foot , most have been realigned several times , especially since the bushfires in the last few years , there is not many that I would call real difficult in dry weather , if it's wet it can be a whole different story .
There is plenty that a 2wd vehicle could never negotiate not then not now .
Heck yes . A few years ago we where way out west . And a Falcon Station wagon pulled up . Funny how all the 4WD guys laughed ., Higher springs and good tyres ., plus the nut behind the wheel knew what he was doing !!
I am not getting into the legalities, but rather saying that as the Everest is classified as a MA it is NOT a 4WD.. This quote is copied directly from the legislation.
PASSENGER CAR (MA)
"A passenger vehicle, not being an off-road passenger vehicle or a forward-control passenger vehicle, having up to 9 seating positions, including that of the driver." So the clasification is quite specific it is NOT a 4WD. I wonder will the 4 x 4 magazines now retract their award?
Utes dont have an off road category as the NA category is specifically for the weight of goods it can carry, not its drive train configuration. I just reported this as some people are now finding that there are quite detailed specifics in relation to tyes/suspension etc that apply to passenger vehiclesonly and as such going away from the manufacturers specifications can render the car unroadworthy and also could be subject to refusal of insurance cover.
The same restrictions do not apply (or rather the legislation is non commital) on saying anything about modifications to tyes and suspension etc with a NA category vehicle.
I was away with a Ford Territory on the weekend and it did all that my car did other than in deep rutted tracks it got "belly up". Mind you it had bigger tyres and also ones with a low speed rating than original.
In regards to other comments here about new cars not being "real" 4Wds. I am unsure what you mean. Most old ie pre 1980 vehicles sold as 4Wd's are really only 2WD. lift up a front wheel and a back wheel and see how far they go! the newer "proper" 4WD's at least use traction control to lock a wheel so they lock a diff and therefore do not get hung up. Otherwise you need diff locks front and rear to make a car a true 4WD. I have owned a number of 4WD's and until the most recent (a Discovery 4) I thought they were very capable and comfortable. All i can say is this new car has taken my experience to another level. So far it is far more comfortable and its ability to climb up and down the most difficult tracks in the Vic High counrty. A few with older 4WDs sat in mine just to see what it was like and all said what an amazing vehicle. Straight out of the box with no mods done.
Also I have seen a VW do the Simpson desert. So its not about a 4WD is the only thing that can go outback!. But if the weather changes or the raod conditions change thats where you need the 4wd capability, both in gearing suspension and ground clearance. Passenger cars just do not give to the same level.
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David Irvine
Tugs: 2016 Discovery 4./2017 Toyota 76 GLX Auto Wagon. Van: New Age Manta Ray Deluxe
It is a ford and they still cannot make a reliable 4x4 or vehicle for that matter if it has a blue oval its like Jeeps very suspect
