Carrera GT

Of course all suspension tends to push down a wheel until it reaches full droop. The trick is to have a system intervene and push down enough on the laden wheel on that axle pair. In other words, if the right front is fully drooped and off the ground or at least not finding traction, how much can the suspension "push down" on the left front to redistribute the center of mass along that virtual "axle" to the point that the vitual axle is "straight" (like a "fixed beam" or "live axle" suspension) and perhaps bring the right front back down to terra firma. As long as the rear suspension is cooperating in this balancing act (and not just causing the car to pivot and rock across diagonals or just end up with all four corners at full extension) then you've got the best shot of keeping the car with weight distributed as evenly as possible to all four wheels.

You might be tempted to want a "spider" like setting where all four corners remain at full extension, but the off-roading game is about suspension articulation and compliance -- the ability of the suspension to allow the wheels to travel through their full range of motion without disturbing the balance of the car. Rather like the way Peugeot created marvelously smooth-riding road cars circa the 405 and 505.

I've never even thought to sit in an LR3. I imagine it has all the smarts of the LR2 (which I find all but unstoppable) but even the LR2 is a bit small for us, so the LR3 is like an off-road Miata. I find the Cayenne just a bit too limited in rear seat space and cargo space. Mine doesn't have a sunroof, so front seat headroom is ample. But we'll likely take advantage of the "Great Depression of 2010" discounting and go back to a Range Rover. And everyone complaining about Cayenne quality and reliability, I dare you to own a Range Rover, then you'll think the Cayenne is impeccable by comparison. : ) God helps us all on resale value of these cars. Where's my bailout?!