Adventures in the Inland Sea

[Dani K.]

An unbelievable experience. This week-end was one of the best I ever had. Who would have thought that the XC70 could compete with the big boys in the sand dunes. Check it out yourself:

Doing 205 Km/h on the highway to get there :) .
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4627.JPG

Deflating the tires. I guess the following pictures will prove that this is not a debatable issue anymore ;) and that the air pressure needs to go down. The desert experts I was with recommend getting it down to 15 psi (normally 30 when on the road)
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4634.JPG

Starting to move behind the big boys. Will the XC make it??
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4635.JPG

Lots of sand, but the weather was great.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4638.JPG

Still keeping up.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4658.JPG

No problem in going over this one.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4646.JPG

And that one.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4647.JPG

Making sure everyone is catching up.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4649.JPG

Off we go again. The XC is very comfortable on the dunes.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4663.JPG



http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4666.JPG

Trying to go down one of the highest dunes.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSC01811.JPG

A close-up picture so you would get a feel of this gigantic dune.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4673.JPG

Impressive isn't it?
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4674.JPG

:cool:
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSC01815.JPG

Got stuck, but mainly due to my inexperienced driving. The trick is to keep moving and not to stop at the tip of the dune. (But I had to take some pictures for this site:p ).
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4676.JPG

After pulling me out, it's time now to go down the dune.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4679.JPG


http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4681.JPG




http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSC01816.JPG


http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSC01817.JPG


http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4685.JPG

Did it:) . Incredible, unbelievable. Malarrimo Enduro is for beginners. This is the real stuff:cool: :cool: :cool: .
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSC01818.JPG

Continuing the journey towards the camping site.

http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4671.JPG

The inland sea.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4703.JPG

Overlooking the camping site.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4710.JPG

Ready to go down?
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4712.JPG

Going, going, gone. Is that steep or not.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4713.JPG

Now for the XC.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4715.JPG

http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4717.JPG

http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSC01840.JPG

http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4719.JPG



I had to climb back on the top of the dune to get a picture of the camp.

http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4740.JPG

We had a great swim.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4837.JPG


http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4833.JPG

Anymore proof that the XC can go anywhere? Check this out.;)
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4826.JPG


http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4791.JPG

On the way back, I got stuck again. Here again it was entirely my fault as I went up on the wrong side of the dune.:o
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4844.JPG

I'm actually standing and looking at the car. Almost 90 Degree inclination.:eek:

http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4845~0.JPG

Had to reverse the car all the way back in order to go over the dune again.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4846.JPG

Mission accomplished. Time to head back.
http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF4850.JPG

I have posted more pictures in the photos section. Check them out. (http://www.volvoxc.com/volvo_photo_gallery/thumbnails.php?album=268)

[vtie]

Fantastic story!!!
And, the XC70 looks much better than the other cars, is much more comfortable, and can go much faster... :D

Thanks for sharing!

[Dani K.]

vtie you are absolutely right about the comfortable ride. I have done this trip several times in different cars (Toyota Landcruiser, Nissan Pathfinder, Mitsubishi Pajero...). I can tell you that with such cars my head was bumping on the roof all the way to the inland sea. But with the XC70 it is a different story. It is like riding in a Rolls.

You should have seen the look on everyone's face when they saw the XC70 there. They could not believe that this car is capable of such things.

[birddog]

:eek: :eek: :eek: This is madness! Are you mad? Are you taking any passengers? WOW! What a rush that must have been, I mean I still park out in left field in the parking lots b/c I don't want anything to happen to her....and my XC is over 4 years old! Your's is new and you're pushing her to limits I'll bet Volvo hasn't! You should send them your pics.

Thanks for the great desktop pics! :cool:

[ifnt420]

Great photos!! I enjoyed every single one of them.
And sounds like a great time too. :D

I'm already looking forward to your next offroad expedition.

[Art]

Awesome photos Dani K!! Truly spectacular shots of the dunes! :cool:

Reminds me of some scenes taken right out of the Paris-Dakar rally. :D

[pico de luuks]

:D Really impressive! What tires do you use? The STRs or something with a more aggresive tread?

[SYS]

Very nice!! Now, don't forget to re-inflate the tires!! :D

[hrudu]

Dany,
Very impressive pics. My question is did you climb up the same highest dune
in order to go home or did you guys take an other trail to avoid climbing up dunes. Anyway I am glad I bought the same car.

Thanks for the pics

[Dani K.]

I'm very happy you liked the pictures. Yes this was a great adventure and I can still feel the thrills. In particular when you are going down that dune, (and no we did not go up the dune on the way back, we used another road, but I know that and I have seen some cars doing it).
And yes I inflated the tires once back on the road, no worries;) .
The tires I use are the same tires that came with the car. I did not change a thing. The car has almost 2200 Kms now, and you know where I drove most of them ;).

I remember the debate we had at the beginning of the trip when we where deflating the tires. Everyone thought I was going to park the car and go in someone else's car. I guess I proved them wrong. Volvo should be so proud that they build a car like that.

I had people asking me if the XC90 could do it, being heavier. I believe that if the XC70 could do it, the XC90 surely can.

[RedXC]

You must had a heck of a fun day!!! I wish I can try that. Im trying to find a off-road dirt trail in the bay area where i can try out the XC. Nice photos!!! :D

[gary]

Truly impressive pictures...WOW! :) Thanks for sharing them.

[bobigski]

Beautiful pictures. Yes Volvo shold see them.Impressive performance of an AWD XC70. I have a 90 AWD :)

[Sasquatch]

I have to wonder how the bearings and other metal on metal areas will stand the test of time with sand in there.

Looks like fun though.

[XCS]

:D :D Dani K.
As usual you have taken us on a great trip. I wish I had as much courage as you. It was nice to see the XC matched up against the other manufacturer’s machines. I think we can all get a better idea of just how capable our cars really are.
:D Great Pictures!

Sasquatch,
I do wonder about the longevity of parts under those conditions, but I don’t believe the Volvo will fare any worse than the others. And from what I’ve seen of the cost for parts on my son’s Toyota FourRunner, I’m not sure it will be that much more expensive.

[Sasquatch]

:...

Sasquatch,
I do wonder about the longevity of parts under those conditions, but I don’t believe the Volvo will fare any worse than the others. And from what I’ve seen of the cost for parts on my son’s Toyota FourRunner, I’m not sure it will be that much more expensive.

Good points. The only thing is that the Volvo is closer to the ground, and has narrower tires, thus could get stuff in more places (driveshafts, brakes, bearings, ...) more easily.

Cool stuff.

[XC-Fan]

Hi Dani K., thx for the pics!! I enjoyed it very much :-) Am I allowed to copy some pics for my privat XC Homepage? I would also like to translate your description of that tour into German.

I have added a card of Katar. Could you please paint a point in that map to show us, were the tour took place? Is it the inland sea at the border to saudia?

Thanks a lot! Ragards
Torsten - the www.xc-fan.de (and I could only drive my XC70 in special offroad terrains. But believe me, this is danger enough for a XC70. Pics from all the defectiv parts will follow ;-))

[kayaking]

Dani, I'd bet that you may be the first on this site to go out and purchase the new XC70-AT. But then again, it seems your standard XC70 performed admirably!! Totally amazing expedition! Very impressive photo's. Thanks for posting. Wish I was there!

[Dani K.]

Hi Dani K., thx for the pics!! I enjoyed it very much :-) Am I allowed to copy some pics for my privat XC Homepage? I would also like to translate your description of that tour into German.

Sure thing XC-Fan. You can post the pictures on your website, which is great by the way. I only wish I could speak german. And Happy Birthday by the way.[thumbup]


I have added a card of Katar. Could you please paint a point in that map to show us, were the tour took place? Is it the inland sea at the border to saudia?

The arrow on the map shows where we were. It's a fourty minute drive from Doha to Messaieed. That's where we deflated the tyres. From Messaieed onwords to the point on the arrow, it's all desert and it takes about 50 minutes to get there. You can see Saudi Arabia from there.



Thanks a lot! Ragards
Torsten - the www.xc-fan.de (http://www.xc-fan.de/) (and I could only drive my XC70 in special offroad terrains. But believe me, this is danger enough for a XC70. Pics from all the defectiv parts will follow ;-))

Make sure you post those pictures. The XC is great and I had no problems resulting from going up the dunes. I believe the effect is similar to driving in the snow due to the salt and all of that.


Dani, I'd bet that you may be the first on this site to go out and purchase the new XC70-AT. But then again, it seems your standard XC70 performed admirably!! Totally amazing expedition! Very impressive photo's. Thanks for posting. Wish I was there!

Well kayaking I'm not sure if I'm the first one with a 2006 MY. Anyone else out there? I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures.

[littlewaywelt]

Very, very cool pics and what a great trip that must have been.

As far as off road goes, this (no disrespect at all intended) isn't that great a deal. This would be a trail rating of 2 on the 1-5 scale. It's only a test of the traction control and awd system which are obviously very good. Sand and snow are not challenging aspects of offroad driving (articulation, clearance, approach & departure angles, etc).

...all that said this is one very very capable car...moreso than most would ever guess.

How did the tow eyelet fare?