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Any tips come out of all this for improving off road cars at all?

Box stock and unlubricated was not the way to go with the Ranger, which came home last - but it was different.  

However, the Touareg didn't fair much better even though it HAD seen some lube 

I think you may have been unlucky with the motor in the Touareg Doug. It coped with the obstacles and twisty bits just fine on my track but was noticeably slower with less acceleration than the others in a straight line. SCX motors are highly variable at the best of times and you seem to have got one near the bottom end of their performance range.

The Ranger was probably a bit handicapped by its longer wheelbase and extra weight compared to the others.

Mm. Thanks for that. A good excuse to fall back on for the Touareg and as for the Ranger - 'accepted'. I wanted to run something different and paid the price - but my choice and good to see it there anyway.