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#1
It was a dream to own a safari at some point of time in my life. I bought my first car, a used Maruti 800 in 2006, I used it for almost a year and upgraded to brand new Indica Turbo DLX in June 2007. When I was ready to go for safari, a web search revealed Merlin which was under development. This is the time I got introduced to TAI by Google. Since then, I was a silent follower of most of the Merlin and Storme threads in this forum.
I was not happy with the dash design when TATA launched Storme in 2012. I was expecting a well-integrated decent dash for a 14 Lac range SUV. Since TATA had collected feedback from some of their existing and prospective customers in early 2012 (much before the launch) and dash design was one of the major concern highlighted by many, somehow I thought a refreshed version with new dash design is on the way and decided to wait for that. Another reason for the wait was for the initial niggles if any to settle down.
When they released the explorer edition with the two din music system, I realized that TATA is not serious about the feedbacks. I lost my patience and decided to take the plunge.
Test Drive:
I had driven Storme immediately after the launch and again few months later. Even though I am a Safari admirer I wanted to check what the competition is offering, mainly on ride comfort and drivability. Discussed with wife, her comment was- Whatever it is finally you buy the safari, so why waste time? I somehow convinced her to spend a Saturday with me for a back-to-back test drive of XUV, Innova and finally the Storme in the same track. Later on took the storme for a long drive about 30 to 40 KM through the NICE road and Bannerghatta road.
I had never driven any of these vehicles before (other than Storme test drives). Hence my test drive observations may not be matured enough for others to take as a reference.
Highlights:
I got convinced myself that Storme offers best ride. I felt it is even comfortable than Innova. The sad part now is that I am not happy with the ride quality of my Storme.
On the drivability, XUV and Storme are comparable. I didn’t see much difference in power and refinement. I felt Innova engine is comparatively noisy.
The seating position in Storme is commanding, competitions no match. The smile I saw on my wife’s face when we sat in the storme was not there with other cars. It’s an elephant ride.
The variant:
Even though LX being most value for money option, I settled on EX trim mainly for the rear AC and rear wiper. I really wanted the airbags, however didn’t had the budget to go for VX.
Color:
I wanted to see the Storme in each color physically before I decide on the color. Since there were not many Stormes spotted on Bangalore roads on those days, I approached Concorde and Prerana (they are the nearest TATA’s to my place) and requested them to inform me when they have different colors in their stock. No good response from them even after me does follow-up calls. Sent a mail to KHT motors the next available option, to my surprise got connected with sales head of KHT. He invited me to visit their showroom on the next weekend. They arranged me a ride from their showroom to their stock yard in their test drive Storme VX urban bronze. They had a black, silver and white Storme in their stock, getting ready for delivery. I got an opportunity to see them side by side. It was a tough decision to make, Storme looked good in all the colors. Finally shortlisted black and silver, final selection still pending.
Dealership:
Overall a nice dealership experience throughout the buying process. All I can say about the sales head of KHT is that he is very good at selling his products. He has lot of patience in answering a prospective customer’s questions, be it a stupid question. He even arranged a conference call with TATA technical team to answer some of my queries. I ended-up in cutting the cheque on the spot and booked a Silver EX in 3rd week of Sep. He gave me one more day to decide on the color incase if I wanted to change. Didn’t get sleep on that night, me and wife spent time till 2AM looking at storme pictures. Finally concluded that Storme looks best in silver and decided to stick with that.
Delivery:
It was weekday in the first week of Oct 2013, auspicious day to take the delivery . Took a day off from work and went alone to the showroom. Some goof-up in the paperwork delayed the delivery which was initially scheduled before 12PM to after 3 PM. Other than this there were no unpleasant events on the D day.
Bought gold AMC for 4 years/50K km @ Rs38,764 and extended warranty @ Rs7000
What I don’t like:
Ride quality of my Storme. It is bouncy on bad roads
What I like in my Storme:
I like everything other than his bad boy stance on the bad roads
Elegant look and road presence
Commanding seating position and overall visibility
Fun to drive. Decent handling
Interior material quality and space
Easy to find him in a parking lot. Just look around and you will see the tall boy, only few of them
What I am missing in my EX:
A well-integrated center console with a 2 Din system.
Driver and co-driver airbags
Issues/Niggles:
Hard suspension:
One of my great expectations from the Storme was superior ride comfort, but I am totally disappointed now. It offers excellent ride on good roads, uneven tarmac (ups and downs of the road or be it a hump). However ride is pretty bad and bumpy on the broken tarmac and potholes. It looks like the suspension is not absorbing the sudden shocks and transferring it to the cabin.
Recently I crosschecked the ride with rekharam’s Storme and I could feel the difference, my Storme has stiff suspension. TASS says no issues with the suspension and the ride is normal, this is during the first service. The challenge I am facing at TAS is that I am not able to find out that kind of bad roads in Bangalore to recreate the issue. I guess now I need to take this up with TATA.
I seriously hope TAS will resolve this issue during second service or this will resolve on its own after few K km of running as suggested by Storme911.
Rattling:
Rear door is not well built and feels flimsy compared to the other doors. You can feel this when you close the doors. It looks like TATA has done aggressive value engineering on this guy when they removed the spare wheel, hence the result is same old rattling.
I had a squeaking noise coming out from the driver seat only for a day. This never appeared again.
Minor rattling’s from rear doors, front seat belt height adjusters and jump seat area. Need to fix them during 5K service
Other than this, it has been a pleasant ownership experience so far.
I was not happy with the dash design when TATA launched Storme in 2012. I was expecting a well-integrated decent dash for a 14 Lac range SUV. Since TATA had collected feedback from some of their existing and prospective customers in early 2012 (much before the launch) and dash design was one of the major concern highlighted by many, somehow I thought a refreshed version with new dash design is on the way and decided to wait for that. Another reason for the wait was for the initial niggles if any to settle down.
When they released the explorer edition with the two din music system, I realized that TATA is not serious about the feedbacks. I lost my patience and decided to take the plunge.
Test Drive:
I had driven Storme immediately after the launch and again few months later. Even though I am a Safari admirer I wanted to check what the competition is offering, mainly on ride comfort and drivability. Discussed with wife, her comment was- Whatever it is finally you buy the safari, so why waste time? I somehow convinced her to spend a Saturday with me for a back-to-back test drive of XUV, Innova and finally the Storme in the same track. Later on took the storme for a long drive about 30 to 40 KM through the NICE road and Bannerghatta road.
I had never driven any of these vehicles before (other than Storme test drives). Hence my test drive observations may not be matured enough for others to take as a reference.
Highlights:
I got convinced myself that Storme offers best ride. I felt it is even comfortable than Innova. The sad part now is that I am not happy with the ride quality of my Storme.
On the drivability, XUV and Storme are comparable. I didn’t see much difference in power and refinement. I felt Innova engine is comparatively noisy.
The seating position in Storme is commanding, competitions no match. The smile I saw on my wife’s face when we sat in the storme was not there with other cars. It’s an elephant ride.
The variant:
Even though LX being most value for money option, I settled on EX trim mainly for the rear AC and rear wiper. I really wanted the airbags, however didn’t had the budget to go for VX.
Color:
I wanted to see the Storme in each color physically before I decide on the color. Since there were not many Stormes spotted on Bangalore roads on those days, I approached Concorde and Prerana (they are the nearest TATA’s to my place) and requested them to inform me when they have different colors in their stock. No good response from them even after me does follow-up calls. Sent a mail to KHT motors the next available option, to my surprise got connected with sales head of KHT. He invited me to visit their showroom on the next weekend. They arranged me a ride from their showroom to their stock yard in their test drive Storme VX urban bronze. They had a black, silver and white Storme in their stock, getting ready for delivery. I got an opportunity to see them side by side. It was a tough decision to make, Storme looked good in all the colors. Finally shortlisted black and silver, final selection still pending.
Dealership:
Overall a nice dealership experience throughout the buying process. All I can say about the sales head of KHT is that he is very good at selling his products. He has lot of patience in answering a prospective customer’s questions, be it a stupid question. He even arranged a conference call with TATA technical team to answer some of my queries. I ended-up in cutting the cheque on the spot and booked a Silver EX in 3rd week of Sep. He gave me one more day to decide on the color incase if I wanted to change. Didn’t get sleep on that night, me and wife spent time till 2AM looking at storme pictures. Finally concluded that Storme looks best in silver and decided to stick with that.
Delivery:
It was weekday in the first week of Oct 2013, auspicious day to take the delivery . Took a day off from work and went alone to the showroom. Some goof-up in the paperwork delayed the delivery which was initially scheduled before 12PM to after 3 PM. Other than this there were no unpleasant events on the D day.
Bought gold AMC for 4 years/50K km @ Rs38,764 and extended warranty @ Rs7000
What I don’t like:
Ride quality of my Storme. It is bouncy on bad roads
What I like in my Storme:
I like everything other than his bad boy stance on the bad roads
Elegant look and road presence
Commanding seating position and overall visibility
Fun to drive. Decent handling
Interior material quality and space
Easy to find him in a parking lot. Just look around and you will see the tall boy, only few of them
What I am missing in my EX:
A well-integrated center console with a 2 Din system.
Driver and co-driver airbags
Issues/Niggles:
Hard suspension:
One of my great expectations from the Storme was superior ride comfort, but I am totally disappointed now. It offers excellent ride on good roads, uneven tarmac (ups and downs of the road or be it a hump). However ride is pretty bad and bumpy on the broken tarmac and potholes. It looks like the suspension is not absorbing the sudden shocks and transferring it to the cabin.
Recently I crosschecked the ride with rekharam’s Storme and I could feel the difference, my Storme has stiff suspension. TASS says no issues with the suspension and the ride is normal, this is during the first service. The challenge I am facing at TAS is that I am not able to find out that kind of bad roads in Bangalore to recreate the issue. I guess now I need to take this up with TATA.
I seriously hope TAS will resolve this issue during second service or this will resolve on its own after few K km of running as suggested by Storme911.
Rattling:
Rear door is not well built and feels flimsy compared to the other doors. You can feel this when you close the doors. It looks like TATA has done aggressive value engineering on this guy when they removed the spare wheel, hence the result is same old rattling.
I had a squeaking noise coming out from the driver seat only for a day. This never appeared again.
Minor rattling’s from rear doors, front seat belt height adjusters and jump seat area. Need to fix them during 5K service
Other than this, it has been a pleasant ownership experience so far.
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