Ideal Car for 4x4 Off Roading


Thread Starter #1
Joined
Jul 14, 2015
Messages
6
Likes
0
Location
New Delhi
Warning : This post may be long and boring haha but informative for me.
I have a XUV 500 W8 (AWD) model and recently took it to Landor for a trip.
My brother drove a 4x4 Fortuner.
The drive to Landor is not particularly tricky however I felt that the AWD in the XUV 500 repeatedly gave way where I was having to compensate by mildly clutch drive whereas the other car was doing this easily.
Places where i was on the 1st gear is where the fortuner was on its 3rd.
I am open to saying that I may not be well versed with driving mountains so i was bad at it but that may not be completely the reason.
Now I want to look into off roading more seriously as a recreational sport so question is do I stick with the XUV 500 AWD which i dont want to do as it means really beating that car and spares arent that cheap or buying a new car.
IF it is buying a new car which one would that be for a starter/ novice.
There are so many reviews on the net but TAI is so much more specialised with guys who get what I am asking.
Thanks in Advance Guys.
 
Joined
Aug 6, 2011
Messages
6,206
Likes
4,220
Location
Meerut, U. P.
@Pawah:
I can very well understand what you have written and thats the only reason I always tell people arguing XUV vs Fortuner to go and drive both and then come back for discussion.

The vehicle you must buy IMO is nothing but the Mahindra Thar. Having driven one I can say that it loves difficult terrain and the engine is nothing short of the demon under the Fortuners' hood. Low buying cost, low maintenance costs, bare basic vehicle with least possible electronics to go kaput, modifications friendly, an engine that has loads loads of torque and believe me, show it a hilly road and it unleashes itself. Hence it has to be Thar.

Else..

Mahindra Scorpio 4WD, with the new engine e and gearbox the Scorpio is second to none.
 
Joined
Feb 7, 2014
Messages
1,032
Likes
426
Location
Delhi
Hello Pawah,

Welcome to the forums, this is one of the reasons I love TAI: the more I explore the threads, the more places I feel relevant!

I haven't personally tried out an XUV yet, so I will refrain from commenting on it's ability. However, I can confess that the Fortuner is rather incapable on the toughest off road sections.

I have spent quite a few years in parts of the world where we would go off-road quite frequently (almost daily, even to get around congestion) along with occasional long journeys of much tougher terrain. At the time, I had a Nissan X-Trail, but got the chance to try out numerous SUV's due to their commonality.

I would rank the Fortuner as one of the worst I've ever driven, along with the 3rd Gen. Pajero. While their performance is fair (but not great) on the road and manageable on slightly rough roads, when it comes to real off-roading neither gets very far. This mainly comes down to their long wheelbase and s
 
Last edited:
Joined
Mar 30, 2011
Messages
905
Likes
1,232
Location
Bengaluru
+1 on what TSIVipul and Viru said. Longer wheelbase AND wide-body are not good for the uncertain and unpaved hilly terrains. A Thar would be ideal for mountain dwellers and those who frequent their Estates up there, but not necessary for the occasional visitor. Even there, a Bolero / Scorpio would fit the bill 80-90% times. When it comes to landscape that does not break the Axle, the Fortuner wins hands down while offering lots of comfort to passengers. It is for a reason that Fortuner ride is the costliest in "SAM Sand Dunes".
 
Joined
Oct 23, 2013
Messages
1,143
Likes
865
Location
Bangalore
Pawah,Welcome to the forum.Rest assured,you will get good help from the forum.
Coming to off roading there are different types of terrain you have to face.Gravel, Dry Dirt, Grasslands,Sand,Mud, Shallow Water are some of them. If you look in to this you can understand that XUV nor Fortuner can really bite these terrains. By off-roading ,you must not wreak your drive.So suggest you to get the Thar,which Vipul had advised and start building it proper as an off road sports vehicle.
 
Thread Starter #6
Joined
Jul 14, 2015
Messages
6
Likes
0
Location
New Delhi
Thank You everyone for the inputs.
The more I read the more I am convinced that taking the XUV seems to be an expensive mistake waiting to happen.
Ive got feedback to go with the Thar and some people even said Force Gurkha.
I am not very sure how they rack up and frankly not much is said of concrete on the web.
Can you guys help out.
 
Thread Starter #8
Joined
Jul 14, 2015
Messages
6
Likes
0
Location
New Delhi
@ Generalmax. Haha thanks for confusing me further. However three interesting points came up here.
1. Vehicle roll - that is a problem with the XUV also. Is it as bad for the Thar compared to Gurkha
2. Defogger - the new Thar being launched this year is getting some facelift. I wonder if this is there. If not, has the defogger not being present been an issue. This is best answered by you guys since you do off road and have traversed various weather conditions
3. Def Lock - the Thar doesnt have one as I can read. For off roading how helpful is the def lock of the Gurkha when you compare it to the drivability of the Thar or is it something that is not missed.
 
Joined
Nov 21, 2014
Messages
688
Likes
570
Location
Tamilnadu
I would suggest you to buy the Thar for its comfortable highway cruising and its off-road capability but then the Force Gurkha has a lot of mid end torque in each gear which makes it a more successful vehicle in the most slippery conditions or steep inclines and can cross rivers with the snorkel which comes factory fitted.

But apart from the above vehicles you can also try buying a New Gypsy when your main objective is to enjoy off-roading and the petrol machine makes each and every paths more easier for its owner without any effort. Being in New Delhi you can even get a TD of it.
 
Joined
Feb 7, 2014
Messages
1,032
Likes
426
Location
Delhi
2. Defogger - the new Thar being launched this year is getting some facelift. I wonder if this is there. If not, has the defogger not being present been an issue. This is best answered by you guys since you do off road and have traversed various weather conditions
3. Def Lock - the Thar doesnt have one as I can read. For off roading how helpful is the def lock of the Gurkha when you compare it to the drivability of the Thar or is it something that is not missed.
I'd say front and rear defogger is a necessity both off- and on-road! I'd be surprised if it didn't come with at least a Front defogger.

Differential Locks may not always be necessary as some vehicles use electronic systems, a LSD or simply a tighter differential setup to get around this. Definitely worth testing them both off-road to get a feel for how they manage their torque in slippery conditions.
 
Joined
Oct 8, 2011
Messages
1,558
Likes
457
Location
Bangalore
2. Defogger - the new Thar being launched this year is getting some facelift. I wonder if this is there. If not, has the defogger not being present been an issue. This is best answered by you guys since you do off road and have traversed various weather conditions
3. Def Lock - the Thar doesnt have one as I can read. For off roading how helpful is the def lock of the Gurkha when you compare it to the drivability of the Thar or is it something that is not missed.
Well dont bang your head too much about a defogger i have been on some challenging terrain in insane weather although a passenger luckily,keep a cloth & wipe the glass,its part of the experience,if you use ac with windows up you wont feel much need for defogger.
The terrain you mostly venture to doesn't seem very challenging & just think if you really need another car by spending lakhs,the max you will loose out during the course of 20,000 kms is a clutch set.

But as member "nmm mithra" has pointed out the Gypsy is worth a look as you can mod it for more things in future depending on the intensity of your hobby.Buying a decent one used also is a realistic choice.
I have explored the 4wd/AWD market as i am in need of one from quite some time & have decided to buy(for now) a Scorpio Getaway 4wd as soon as i can come up with the Vitamin M.

As member "Viru" said, locking differential wont always be necessary,but as i had explored the fact of going for one in case i bought a used Fortuner or any vehicle where after market option would be available i will post a product video of ARB Airlocker which is an after market option. But you wont need it unless your driving over rocks or roads with one feet deep ridges going through them.
Essentially when wheel is in the air or one wheel is in slippery conditions you will loose power being put down on the road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwJEU7p9U2Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvOgneVbVnE

Also if you want to stick to your XUV 500 or buy anyother i suggest you go for an oil sump guard.
 
Joined
Feb 7, 2014
Messages
1,032
Likes
426
Location
Delhi
Well dont bang your head too much about a defogger i have been on some challenging terrain in insane weather although a passenger luckily,keep a cloth & wipe the glass,its part of the experience,if you use ac with windows up you wont feel much need for defogger.

Also if you want to stick to your XUV 500 or buy anyother i suggest you go for an oil sump guard.
Well, the point about using the AC to disperse condensation is true and keeping a cloth on hand is an option. However, I wouldn't recommend the latter as it requires you to distract yourself physically and mentally from the situation at hand, which can be very dangerous in some situations. Often, you think that it's just a few seconds, but it can make a huge difference, especially if you attempt to abruptly regain control. We nearly dropped our X-Trail into a ditch once due to a similar situation when someone started playing with the defogger settings, steaming up the windscreen!

I'm so glad you mentioned the sump guard, I can't believe we overlooked that. Good underbody protection is definitely a must-have off road!

OT: I love Engineering Explained, his videos are brilliant!
 
Thread Starter #13
Joined
Jul 14, 2015
Messages
6
Likes
0
Location
New Delhi
So guys the new Thar got launched yesterday.
Major overhaul inside and rear dif lock added.
What are your thoughts.
 
Joined
Aug 6, 2011
Messages
6,206
Likes
4,220
Location
Meerut, U. P.
So guys the new Thar got launched yesterday.
Major overhaul inside and rear dif lock added.
What are your thoughts.
Just like Scorpio, Mahindra again addressed everything that customers complained for.
In other words, it sounds way better than before now. Go for it![:)]
 
Thread Starter #15
Joined
Jul 14, 2015
Messages
6
Likes
0
Location
New Delhi
Question is can the Thar be an everyday car.
A video on youtube says yes maybe. But now with these developments what are the thoughts.
Secondly is it possible to get a type of top put which can be removed when not in Delhis heat and put back when back in town which still makes the compartment cool when AC on.
 

Top Bottom