Coming Soon the Tata Safari GX - Pearl White


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So it finally begins, a story spanning over 10 years (Sanjay Leela Bhansali eat your heart out, a longer story than you can come up with)

It all started many many years ago when I saw the now Iconic Tata Safari. It was like WOW that’s a lovely machine. Wanted to own one from the day I saw it. In 2002, I decided to purchase my 4th. Vehicle and the safari was on the list. Everyone I talked to said only one thing, its not a first vehicle but a second one as it has too many niggles/problems. Well ended up buying an Accent CRDI instead at that time.

Off and on saw a safari on the roads and was like someday I will buy one. Then in 2007 a colleague bought one and that’s when I drove it for the first time. How I loved it. Went for a test drive in 2008 when the 2.2 VTT Dicor came. First reaction was, looks like TATA has finally got it right. But then again, life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans. So it wasn’t bought then. In the meanwhile started hearing about niggles and issues with the vehicle and well put it on the back burner while I got myself another car.

Come 2011, a colleague of mine bought the Safari and brought it to Chandigarh for registration. Drove it for 2 days and decided that’s what I’m gonna buy, niggles or otherwise.

Fast forward to July 2012 – decided to buy a new vehicle.

Requirements:
1. Should seat 5 – 6 people.
2. Should have good ground clearance.
3. Should be decently powerful.
4. Should be good for offroading.
5. Should be good to carry decent amount of weight (business requirement.)
6. Should be comfortable and easy to drive.
7. Should be a diesel (clock 3K – 4K Kms every month)
8. Budget fixed at 12.00 lacs OTR

Looking at the requirements above, sedans were out in the first go.

So vehicles considered
1. Toyota Innova
2. Renault Duster
3. Tata Safari
4. Mahindra Scorpio
5. Mahindra Xylo
6. Mahindra XUV 500
7. After its Launch – The TATA Safari Storme
8. Mahindra Quanto

The shortlisting process:

1. The Toyota Innova – a very nice vehicle, proven, niggle free. In my budget I can’t have one with the rear Ac installed. Have had the misfortune of travelling in an innova without rear Ac and goodness it was misery. Would never subject anyone to that ever. Also I didn’t want to look like I was driving a taxi.
2. Renault Duster – test drove the Duster (my brother did buy the Woodland Brown Color). For me it was not the kind of vehicle I was looking for. I found it too cramped and I was rubbing elbows with the co-driver. Even my kids (aged 3 and 11) weren’t so happy with it.
3. TATA Safari – Had already driven it and had loved it, but now I decided to really check it out as a personal ownership vehicle. Loved it, kids loved it, mother loved it, wife loved it – but more on the safari testing later.
4. Mahindra Scorpio: Have had the pleasure of being given one for about 2 years (from the company). Very unstable at high speeds. Tested it at 140 on the greater Noida expressway. Peppy engine but too damn uncomfortable on bad roads. Too much body roll. A colleague almost toppled it once.
5. Mahindra Xylo – Friend owns it. Drove it for 3 Kms. Never want to drive it again. Not my cup of tea.
6. Mahindra XUV 500 – Went to the Showroom to see it. Loved its come hither look at me looks. Sat in it. Blown away by the gizmos installed. But wait a minute, am I buying gizmos or a vehicle? So a serious look at the vehicle from an ownership point of view. First up, seating, comfortable. Seats 5-6 yes. Space to carry stuff in the vehicle – with third row up – nope. Driving position – I like to have a higher seating position. When I took the seat to that position – surprise surprise – the space between the roof of the vehicle and the top of my head – exactly 2 fingers. Every speed breaker is gonna result in me banging my head on the roof in case of a lil jump. Plastics – cheap. Feeling while in the driving seat – cramped (again feeling not actually so.) Front fenders of the vehicle are made of plastic – the bumper kind. Think a two wheeler driven carelessly scratches it up. If small no problem just paint it over, but if deep, then no option but to replace. I’m the replace kinda guy so …

7. TATA Safari Storme – Didn’t like the looks of the vehicle when I saw it first in the pics. Then saw it and drove it pre – launch. Was wonderful to drive but found its seats to be a lil hard and just that bit uncomfortable (the leather ones). This is of the pre lunch vehicles. Also had an issue with the seats which I’ll talk about later. Come launch, went to see the vehicle, again, no problems there except what I’d noticed earlier. Took the Test drive vehicle out for a spin. Loved it but steering and seat issues remained. More on that later.
8. Mahindra Quanto – saw it, sat in it, drove it, (Btw the SA who was in the car during the test drive was hanging on to the rear roof handle during the entire test drive even though I’m a sedate driver) end of matter – the less said the better.

So finally vehicles shortlisted were the TATA Safari or the Storme.
Just to put a timeline to this process, started in July 2012 and has ended now.

After test driving the safari for the first time in July, I started looking up all the threads I could find on it. Since I had heard soo much about this vehicle in terms of niggles etc that I wanted to be sure of what I was getting into. To my utter surprise, almost everything has been taken care of and now it’s an almost niggle free vehicle. But I now do know what I will be facing over the ownership period. Was so paranoid about it that went to the extent of speaking to a whole lot of current safari owners. Everyone had praise for it. The day finally came when I informed my extended family of my decision (read In-laws).

The reaction there was like – how did you come to the conclusion that you could buy a safari? Don’t you know how bad a vehicle it is? The pressure to not buy the vehicle was amazingly high. Taken for test driving the innova again (to satisfy the concerned). Budget constraint explained. Didn’t cut any ice with them. (This all happened over a period of 3 months from aug onwards)

IMHO anyone who doesnt own one has an opinion that says bad bad bad. Everyone who owns one says good good good. So went with the owners take rather than non-owners take. Extended family notwithstanding. They still aren’t happy. Oh well you can’t satisfy everyone and be happy yourself too.

Now coming to the real testing of the vehicle:
Drove it on the usual metal roads, was very good. Took it out on the highway, felt well planted even at 145 (Chandigarh Pinjore highway). Then took it to where I’m planning to start my farms. Into the fields, into the river (no roads just drive through the river), into the fields and it performed very well. Now just to update, when I do there, I tend to take my brother-in-laws fortunner. It’s an effortless drive for that vehicle, and I did struggle with the 4X2 Safari. Overall I have loved it for all that I could do with it. Would I go in for a 4X4 nope cos I don’t have a requirement for that.

Coming to the Storme, I have loved this vehicle. My only issue with it has been the seats. As some of you who have been following the storme would have noticed, there has been a lot of talk about the seating position. Well I am one of those people who have a serious issue with it. First of all I’d like to say that I give a serious completion to thunder thighs sridevi. That has been my bane. Whenever I release the clutch in the storme, my thigh touches the steering wheel, not just touches but rather goes seriously into it so much that I have to move it sideways to get my foot off the clutch. Apart from this one issue, I would buy the storme without thinking twice.

So finally The TATA Safari GX Pearl White it is. Booked today. Will pick it up hopefully by the month end when Vit M is fully in stock. Not going in for Finance.

The offer: Ex-showroom – Rs. 11,00,000.00

Includes:
1. Insurance (Bumper to Bumper DEB)
2. Rs. 10,000.00 worth of accessories.
3. Extended warranty.
4. Logistics charges.
5. Temp registration charges.

Saga Begins soon.
 
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Arvi ,
Congrats buddy [clap]

Hope you have wonderful time with the safari .

And please keep updated the report , and yes we want many pics of the safari .

Btw any name decided for your safari ?
 
Thread Starter #5
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Arvi ,
Congrats buddy [clap]

Hope you have wonderful time with the safari .

And please keep updated the report , and yes we want many pics of the safari .

Btw any name decided for your safari ?
Thanks everyone
Nope not yet decided on a name for the safari
Hopefully soon
Dealership experience coming in next post

Cheers
Arvi
 
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Congrats for fulfilling your long pending desire, wish you get your dream vehicle soon in your hand!
 
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Congrats Arvi. I am glad you took the decision to go forward with the current safari. So finally which dealer did you book it with?
Gm88 what about you did you finally got a chance to drive the storme ? If yes please post your views on the storme thread .

Arvi why the delivery late in this month ?
 
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Dealership experiences (plural as i was with multiple dealers for test drives etc)

Dealer No 1: Speed Motors (TATA dealer): They have a small dealership which has basically been upgraded from Ace etc to passenger vehicles. The Staff is very courteous, but it takes them time to understand that there is a customer in the showroom. They readily offered a Test drive. The condition of the test dive vehicle was not so good. The Safari Vx seemed to have multiple issues, Sounds coming from the ABS while braking (pretty audible), also they were testing push button start for it and there were wires all over the foot well. One thing i did notice on which my wife and my mother commented - Its not that comfortable. One thing seemed peculiar, they allow test drive only on a predefined route approx 3 km long and on well made roads, so no actual test of he vehicles capabilities. Did take it into a construction zoe to see its handling on bricks and stones but thats about it.

Dealership no 2.: Pioneer Toyota - For the Innova. I a very large dealership. very prompt in their recognition of customer presence. The SA came to us while we were standing next to the Innova with a brochure in hand. Immediately offered us a test drive as he explained the features. Was very aware of the product he was selling and its pricing. As the model i could have purchased was outside my budget, so didnt test drive it. [:D] also one of my brother -in-law has one and i have driven it quite a few times so it wasnt a big deal not test driving it. Overall a pleasant experience.

Dealer No 3 Swami Automobiles (Mahindra)- You could go there, spend 2 hours in the showroom and no-one would ask you what would you like to see. You could go sit in a vehicle and look it over and no one would come and talk to you. I finally got someone to come and talk to when i asked the reception lady (and these were my exact words) " is there any vehicle for sale here?" Then it was Sir, which vehicle are you looking for. After the SA came into the pic, it seems like they have a set protocol wherein they specifically ask you "sir shall we start the Demo?" and then it starts with gizmos and features like a well memorized script. Brochure provided, prices discussed and we're on our way. Were we offered a test drive - nope, did we want one - nope so no biggie there. Second visit to the same showroom with my Brother-in-law, asked for a test drive, vehicle present, no one to take you on it so came back without one. third time around finally got the test drive. Again they have predefined routes and they didnt even let me take it into the construction zone. Just made excuses. Later went to see the quanto ad this time were offered a test drive very quickly and again predefined routes and no soft roading allowed. Construction zone was a big no no.

Dealer No 4: PMG automobiles - Renault Duster: as my brother had booked the vehicle pre launch, we were offered the test drive with prior information. Arrived there and got a good test drive of the vehicle. My brother faced multiple issues with regards to the purchase of his vehicle which was delivered over a month and a half late and was charged extra at the time of billing. Also made to pay before PDI. Overall i would rate it as amongst the worst dealerships that i have ever been to or heard of.

Dealer No 5; Joshi Autozone (TATA): Went there just to do a comparison of discounts offered by the dealers and to see if i could get anything more from them. Was pleasantly surprised by their eagerness to make a sale.The customer is valued there for the business he brings. They offered a test drive and said take it anywhere, it wont let you down. I made them put their money where their mouth was. Took it to the farm area where i go with the fortunner. They have been endless in their patience with the extended family who took 5 or 6 test drives and bashed them everytime. I felt really bad once when they did that. But the SA has been a thorough professional in taking it all in his stride. They offered test drives, organised stock yard visits, even allowed test drive of the proposed vehicle to be bought. put up with endless queries about the storme. Allowed me to literally drive the storme like a stark raving madman on the roads. Took me out for a drive while i enjoyed the back seat comfort of the storme. Overall a very fine experience, and the SA is a very fine asset of the company. His name - Sachin. Hope his bosses read this and give him a nice raise. he really deserves it. I did say this when i came back from the farm area - i wont be buying this car from joshi but from sachin because of all the efforts he took and the pleasant experience he made. And yes only the Vehicle at Speed motors was uncomfortable. All others have been very comfortable.

So yes the beast is coming from Joshi Auto Zone in Chandigarh.
Cheers
Arvi
 
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Thread Starter #11
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Gm88 what about you did you finally got a chance to drive the storme ? If yes please post your views on the storme thread .

Arvi why the delivery late in this month ?
Vit M under collection.
Basically calling in the credit line extended to various customers for this.
Cheers
Arvi
 
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Gm88 what about you did you finally got a chance to drive the storme ? If yes please post your views on the storme thread .

Arvi why the delivery late in this month ?
No for that matter of fact i haven't test driven the Storme as yet as i was a little caught up with work plus i am side by side preparing for my upcoming exam too.[anger]
One of my cousin recently bought an XUV500 W8 and got to drive that for a good 50kms and felt it was really nice to drive. Now i'll be able to compare it better whenever i get time for the test drive of the Storme.
But i am really surprised with TATA motors as they didn't launch it nation-wide at once. I am yet to see a Storme on road here in Chandigarh even after 1 month of its launch here and even the SE keeps calling me and says he can deliver the car within a week or maximum 10 days. So i don't think its doing all that well here and its better that TATA motors launches it nationwide and see if the sales do actually jump up. We are in no hurry for the vehicle as even my Dad is also extremely busy for the next couple of months, plus by then i hope we shall have 1 -2 ownership reviews also on TAI. So will take the final decision after that.
But yes the test drive is long due. I shall take out time for that soon and will give my feedback on the Storme thread.[:)]
 
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One Question to all
The date on the transit insurance and form alongwith the insurance is 27th feb 2012
i.e date of despatch from pune
any suggestions, comments views or forewarnings
Cheers
Arvi
 

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