BATTLE CRUISERS

THE TEAM AT TOUGH DOG 4WD SUSPENSION HAND US THE KEYS TO THEIR 200 AND 300 SERIES LANDCRUISERS, TO SEE HOW THEY COMPARE OFFROAD

- EVAN SPENCE

IT CAN be a weird old gig this 4x4 journo game, some days you're wading through press releases about cosmetic updates to 10-year-old vehicles, other days you're being whisked around the country attending launch events driving the latest and greatest in off-road machines. While bipolar in nature, it's also the best job in the world as far as I'm concerned, especially after receiving the phone call for this article you are reading right now.

Simon Vella, the tech guru from four-wheel drive suspension company Tough Dog 4WD Suspension, called out of the blue one day.

"Ev, I've got a new 300 Series we've just finished fitting an upgraded suspension on, and we've got a 200 Series with some fruit on it ... would you be keen to take them both for a spin; we'd love to get your feedback?"

Naturally, the only logical option was to say yes and, before I knew it, we'd arranged to meet at the excellent Mountain High Pies in Wentworth Falls for a morning pie and a bit of a chat, before heading out to the proven offroad testing grounds of Lithgow and its surroundings. The aim of the game was to drive both vehicles on road, on fast dirt and through technical terrain, to see how both the 200 Series and 300 Series fared. Plus, I'd get my first chance to drive a new 300 Series fitted with aftermarket suspension.