The Desert Test Run
I took the Leopard 5 out to the Eastern Province dunes yesterday and covered roughly 160km of soft sand terrain. The car has the standard 5-damper setup from the dealership (without hydraulics), and I had tire pressure set at 15psi.
Stock suspension just doesn't work for off-road use, period.
Suspension Issues
The dampers have unnatural looseness to them. I couldn't push past 50km/h because even minor bumps would cause the car to bounce violently and bottom out. On low speeds too, it just keeps hopping around.
What Actually Works for Off-Road
After this test, it's clear: if you want a Leopard 5 for off-road driving, you've got two real options. Either go for the dealership's hydraulic-equipped version (haven't tried it myself, but people rave about it), or install a solid aftermarket off-road suspension. Option three? Break your car on the dunes with standard dealership dampers.
Stock suspension just doesn't work for off-road use, period.
Daily Driving
For city driving and everyday use, honestly, it falls flat.
