body panel thickness?

[toddjb122]

Just curious on this one...

...it is apparent when anyone gets in the LR for the first time (passengers and such) that this is a solidly built car. The doors have a reassuring <thud> when closed due to the weight & heavy gasketting, and the car body just feels thicker! It does not depress like an aluminum can when you press on it like many other cars.

Any idea how the body panel thickness compares to other cars? It is definitely thicker.


I thought of this as I have a parking lot body ding which appeared very close to the edge of one of my doors. It is a good ding and since the metal seems so thick I'm hoping the dent place can pop it out easily.

 

[macrover]

I know that the body panels are galvanized on each side to prevent corrosion but I have not heard whether they are actually thicker. I suspect the galvanizing process would add some thickness to the panel structure albeit small.

Reference from LR web site for LR3 - Double-sided zinc-coated steel & aluminum alloy outer-body panels

 

[toddjb122]

The dent came out fine. The dent guy said "I like working with British metal." (guess it was the thickness and/or had a better memory or something for him to massage out the dent)

 

[PaulLR3]

There is a difference among manufacturers although nobody knows what it is. I have driven Audis for years and they use thicker panels that resist dents and dings better. (Not to mention their amazing paint quality) I used to drive Accords in the 80's and they always had lots of dings and dents including dents in the hoods from road debris. A neighbor had an Acura TL & Audi A6 parked outside during a hail storm. The Audi was perfect but the Acura was covered in hundreds of dents on the hood, roof and trunk. Clearly the thicker panels resisted the hail dents.

 

[Houm_WA]

The only SUV I know of that specifically states having thicker sheet metal is the MB G500.

 

[toddjb122]

I didn't know what it was so I googled it. I see them driving around once in a while. Man these things are ugly...

I think if they actually toned this down a bit (make it more jeep like and less Mercedes like in terms of paint and trim)...it would actually be cool looking. But, when you try to make a box shiny and fancy it doesn't work. LR learned this with their high end RR vehicles...they improve the lines of the vehicle, at the sake of some utility, to make the more appealing to the $70+K audience.

 

[nwoods]

Well, opinions vary on the appeal of the Gwagon, but it comes with lockable front, center, and rear differentials. It is a very capable off road vehicle, once you strip off the front air dam and side skirts.

 

[Houm_WA]

Yeah, and the AMG version of it comes with 469 HP !!

 

[toddjb122]

Well, opinions vary on the appeal of the Gwagon, but it comes with lockable front, center, and rear differentials. It is a very capable off road vehicle, once you strip off the front air dam and side skirts.

how does it compare to the lr3(off road)?

 

[nwoods]

how does it compare to the lr3(off road)?

With modification, it can be significantly better than the LR3, but to get there, you have to make a lot of basic cosmetic body modifications, and a lift kit, larger tires, etc... your typical live axle traditional 4x4 modifications, not unlike a Range Rover Classic or Disco.

What the Gwagon has going for it is a tremendous driveline, whereas the LR3's strengths are in it's versatility afforded by it's suspension and electronic systems.

Completely stock though, the GWagon's low ground clearance and therefore poor approach/departure and breakover angles, really hinder their abilities.