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This is an effort to compile a detailed account of the buying and usage experience of my Tata SAFARI STORME EX 4X2. It is a late start after nearly 55 days of purchase and please don’t be annoyed if the progress is also as slow. I would probably answer any queries in specific immediately though but lethargic me will probably not make up for the late start .
THE DECISION MAKING
Well the start of my buying and ownership experience will be slightly different as the decision making process as to which car to buy was within a very few options. There were no dusters, scorpio, innvova, used pajero’s or fortuners considered. Even after owning Tata vehicles for the last 11 years starting from the sierra- graduating to a safari tcic and then the safari3.0 versions (all used ones though) I still had my decision making process left with my heart and so safari it had to be, and the choice was between
a) used safari dicor 2.2vtt vx 4x4
b) new safari dicor 2.2vtt vx 4x4
c) new storme ex
d) new storme vx 4x4
Honestly I still had the fancy for the used safari dicor 3.0 vx which I bought 3years back, but then a browse through the Sunday classifieds for a used car for my sister sowed the seed of urge for a change of car. It was an advertisement for the sale of a safari dicor 2.2vtt vx 4x4 used for 8000kms in 14 months that was the root of this post here . The first look blew me over as it was nothing short of a new car, but as it usually happens with a used safari I undervalued it and started bargaining for 9.5 lakhs. The owner an intelligent gentleman stood his ground asking for 10.25 and I missed buying it as it was picked up by someone else . This intensified the urge in me for a change of car and I started convincing myself with reasons like my safari 3.0 vx completing 40000km after coming to me and all.
After a lot of contemplation over a period of 2 months and a test drive of the storme I made up my mind to go for a new storme and the decision to be made was between the storme ex or storme vx 4x4. Vx it had to be only for the 4x4. Depreciation of the Tata vehicles sort of tilted the balance towards ex and then the new ex came home on the evening of 6th July not before a lot of unwarranted issues and disappointments because of the dealer. The problems with the dealer started from the second day after booking the storme and I had to literally deal with multiple issues on a daily basis till the date of delivery of my storme. The actual process of delivery of the vehicle was a memorable one for which I would forgive all that I had to put up with till that day. Memorable for a dream turning into reality and the genuine effort of all the staff at the dealership to make it a special occasion for me.
Moving onto the actual process went to Detroit motors( test drive arranged by them), Malik motors, Tejaswini motors and Concorde motors L.B.Nagar befor booking and finally shortlisted Detroit motors and Concorde motors L.B.Nagar. Concorde motors L.B.Nagar actually got the deal but for me it was a regrettable decision but as I said earlier chose to trade off all the issues with them for the delivery day.
THE START OF A NEW RELATION AND THE INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
As it generally happens this new relation also started with a puja and meeting friends and relatives . At the time of delivery I bought a 4 piece mats set from the dealer. I also added a beige coloured pvc mat cut to custom size for the storme for additional carpet protection two days later. No other accessories added as yet but planning for an amplifier and sub soon. It was a sober start to the usage completely within city for the first one month during which I managed only 710 kms before giving it for the first service at Concorde uppal . The initial usage experience was very satisfying .The storme is remarkably different in many aspects to my safari3.0 dicor vx.
Not that the safari dicor3.0 vx is inferior in any way but to sum it up the storme held on to the character of the older safari’s well and was also refreshingly new .I did feel the noticeable pro’s and con’s vis a vis each other like lesser NVH levels in storme or the better seat comfort in the older one but both of them deserve respect individually for what they are. On the whole I sum up the impression at the end of the first month as satisfying. I guess it would have been good or maybe even excellent but for the first service.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST SERVICE
I had three complaints made at the time of first service given as under
1. Brake dragging rear wheels heating up.
2. A/c leaking flow from feet position in all settings of the vent control.
3. Stereo remote working erratically
The service advisor noted down them well and gave me an approximate delivery time of 3.00pm which was adhered to but the status of the vehicle was as mentioned below.
1. Brake dragging - hand brake loosened problem solved.
2. A/c leaking from feet position – problem persists.
3. Stereo remote working erratically problem persists.
4. Vehicle odo shows usage of 20kms.
5. Windshield wiper cap missing.
6. Interior left as they were.
Disappointed with the above complained about them to the S.A. who surprised me with his answers. He said all Storme’s leak A/c through feet position to a certain extent and my vehicle was not abnormal. Regarding the stereo he wasn’t aware that the service centre had to do anything with it and wanted me to manage with it.
A small conversation later he understood I was not going to buy his answers and offered to check these complaints once again and wanted me to wait for a while. Being preoccupied with some other tasks left the service station asking him to call me back with an update . He did call me back after an hour saying he will need 3-4 days to completely open the a/c blower and rectify which I did not have as a goa trip was planned 2 days later and so had to take it back the next day as it was albeit after expressing displeasure at not even attempting to be transparent with respect to the complaints with the vehicle.
Fast forward to the first long drive 2 days later. Goa!!!! why not start a travelogue also….sure! but probably after making some progress on this thread. Will surely do hang on till then.
Would prefer to start with a few pictures.
pic 1- first look even before we reached the dealer. it actually reached the showroom travelling the route we did to reach the dealer
pic 2- me formally taking the delivery from the sales advisor
pic 3- the side view(agreed could have been a better shot)
pic 4- siblings
pic 5- siblings smiling for a pose
pic 6- family shot
more to follow.
THE DECISION MAKING
Well the start of my buying and ownership experience will be slightly different as the decision making process as to which car to buy was within a very few options. There were no dusters, scorpio, innvova, used pajero’s or fortuners considered. Even after owning Tata vehicles for the last 11 years starting from the sierra- graduating to a safari tcic and then the safari3.0 versions (all used ones though) I still had my decision making process left with my heart and so safari it had to be, and the choice was between
a) used safari dicor 2.2vtt vx 4x4
b) new safari dicor 2.2vtt vx 4x4
c) new storme ex
d) new storme vx 4x4
Honestly I still had the fancy for the used safari dicor 3.0 vx which I bought 3years back, but then a browse through the Sunday classifieds for a used car for my sister sowed the seed of urge for a change of car. It was an advertisement for the sale of a safari dicor 2.2vtt vx 4x4 used for 8000kms in 14 months that was the root of this post here . The first look blew me over as it was nothing short of a new car, but as it usually happens with a used safari I undervalued it and started bargaining for 9.5 lakhs. The owner an intelligent gentleman stood his ground asking for 10.25 and I missed buying it as it was picked up by someone else . This intensified the urge in me for a change of car and I started convincing myself with reasons like my safari 3.0 vx completing 40000km after coming to me and all.
After a lot of contemplation over a period of 2 months and a test drive of the storme I made up my mind to go for a new storme and the decision to be made was between the storme ex or storme vx 4x4. Vx it had to be only for the 4x4. Depreciation of the Tata vehicles sort of tilted the balance towards ex and then the new ex came home on the evening of 6th July not before a lot of unwarranted issues and disappointments because of the dealer. The problems with the dealer started from the second day after booking the storme and I had to literally deal with multiple issues on a daily basis till the date of delivery of my storme. The actual process of delivery of the vehicle was a memorable one for which I would forgive all that I had to put up with till that day. Memorable for a dream turning into reality and the genuine effort of all the staff at the dealership to make it a special occasion for me.
Moving onto the actual process went to Detroit motors( test drive arranged by them), Malik motors, Tejaswini motors and Concorde motors L.B.Nagar befor booking and finally shortlisted Detroit motors and Concorde motors L.B.Nagar. Concorde motors L.B.Nagar actually got the deal but for me it was a regrettable decision but as I said earlier chose to trade off all the issues with them for the delivery day.
THE START OF A NEW RELATION AND THE INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
As it generally happens this new relation also started with a puja and meeting friends and relatives . At the time of delivery I bought a 4 piece mats set from the dealer. I also added a beige coloured pvc mat cut to custom size for the storme for additional carpet protection two days later. No other accessories added as yet but planning for an amplifier and sub soon. It was a sober start to the usage completely within city for the first one month during which I managed only 710 kms before giving it for the first service at Concorde uppal . The initial usage experience was very satisfying .The storme is remarkably different in many aspects to my safari3.0 dicor vx.
Not that the safari dicor3.0 vx is inferior in any way but to sum it up the storme held on to the character of the older safari’s well and was also refreshingly new .I did feel the noticeable pro’s and con’s vis a vis each other like lesser NVH levels in storme or the better seat comfort in the older one but both of them deserve respect individually for what they are. On the whole I sum up the impression at the end of the first month as satisfying. I guess it would have been good or maybe even excellent but for the first service.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST SERVICE
I had three complaints made at the time of first service given as under
1. Brake dragging rear wheels heating up.
2. A/c leaking flow from feet position in all settings of the vent control.
3. Stereo remote working erratically
The service advisor noted down them well and gave me an approximate delivery time of 3.00pm which was adhered to but the status of the vehicle was as mentioned below.
1. Brake dragging - hand brake loosened problem solved.
2. A/c leaking from feet position – problem persists.
3. Stereo remote working erratically problem persists.
4. Vehicle odo shows usage of 20kms.
5. Windshield wiper cap missing.
6. Interior left as they were.
Disappointed with the above complained about them to the S.A. who surprised me with his answers. He said all Storme’s leak A/c through feet position to a certain extent and my vehicle was not abnormal. Regarding the stereo he wasn’t aware that the service centre had to do anything with it and wanted me to manage with it.
A small conversation later he understood I was not going to buy his answers and offered to check these complaints once again and wanted me to wait for a while. Being preoccupied with some other tasks left the service station asking him to call me back with an update . He did call me back after an hour saying he will need 3-4 days to completely open the a/c blower and rectify which I did not have as a goa trip was planned 2 days later and so had to take it back the next day as it was albeit after expressing displeasure at not even attempting to be transparent with respect to the complaints with the vehicle.
Fast forward to the first long drive 2 days later. Goa!!!! why not start a travelogue also….sure! but probably after making some progress on this thread. Will surely do hang on till then.
Would prefer to start with a few pictures.
pic 1- first look even before we reached the dealer. it actually reached the showroom travelling the route we did to reach the dealer
pic 2- me formally taking the delivery from the sales advisor
pic 3- the side view(agreed could have been a better shot)
pic 4- siblings
pic 5- siblings smiling for a pose
pic 6- family shot
more to follow.
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