The M151A2 had a very smooth cross country ride with it's independent suspension. The only cross country vehicle that was smoother (that I have found) would be the Humvwee. It was a true M-series vehicle so had good commonality between the other M series like the M38 family, the APCs, the deuce etc. They were simple to work on, had good highway speed, and a modern engine. As with most vehicles though, the good highway speed = a little poorer performance when you wanted to climb a hill. It was hard to compete against the 5.38 gearing of the Willys Jeeps. The I***s on the other hand, you could lock in 3 of the 4 wheels, but it would then bog down on flat ground if there was loose sand or snow and you were towing a trailer. They were geared towards highway use it would seem.
The M151A2 had it's weaknesses, as do all vehicles. The U joints had to be greased, and there were 12 of them. The bearings had to be set properly. The rear suspension mounting points were prone to wear, causing the vehicle to be a little unstable if the problem wasn't detected. The transmission/transfer case were a little weak.
Of the 30 that I bought back in the day, only 4 of them had their engines replaced in service. The other 26 were still on their original motors. Then again, they only served for about 11-12 years, whereas the earlier CDN 2 Jeeps were nearing 20 years of service.
I know the above comparison doesn't mention the I***s much....too early in the morning to start down that road.
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