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#1
Prologue
A decade spent reading travelogues of Tanveer & his "White Elephant" (on Team-Bhp) down the mountains and uncharted terrains of northern India gives you that itch to have the opportunity to mount the elephant and let it roam free. So the first thing you do when you come back to homeland is decide to make your own road. Deep within... I knew I was looking at only 1 option and it was the VX 4X4 avatar of beast (you know what I am talking about). But slapping 16 big ones without looking at anything else is a terrorizing idea. What if you repent; and this is where I started looking at options (head at work knowing full well Heart has already made the decision).
I considered these following :
1) Tata Safari VX (not yet decided on 4X4 OR 4X2)
2) XUV 500 W11
3) Scorpio S11
4) Hyundai Creta
5) Jeep Compass
So started from bottom to have the final option at end :). Called Jeep, does not have a showroom in town, they told me to reach out to nearest town where there is a dealer. Jeep corporate team never called me back. I felt relieved as I did my part but I wasn't willing to go that extra mile for something which doesn't click in first go. End of the matter !
The road therefrom leads to Hyundai showroom. The sales manager seems contented with his sales performance; perhaps thinks we will follow up with him for everything. There was no demo vehicle available; his staff will get back. Entire experience gave a feel as if Hyundai is doing a favor to us by "blessing" us with Creta. I NEVER buy anything if I have to get in a queue to buy it... this is by principal. Chapter closed !
Next pit-stop was Mahindra showroom; took the better half with me and she rejected Scorpio right away after looking at XUV. No test ride required for Scorpio; took one for XUV. Wife likes XUV, puts it in shortlist seems convinced that its a good idea to go for it. I find it okay but it does not gives me the feel of "Elephant" that you experience with legendary Safari DICOR. Anyways; I am quiet and waiting for next Pit-stop. Mahindra guys will follow up with me later (2 months after I made the purchase).
This is going to be the moment truth... a long awaited one. Lady at Tata showroom reception gave us a curious look as if asking what product I am looking for and the moment I uttered Safari... I was greeted with curtsy and asked to wait for right salesperson. The sales rep pops out in 10 mins; very curious but says there is no Vehicle to show; leave apart demo vehicle. Sad... we discuss the pricing, availability and other items but enthusiasm does off ! I am sad! The rep now asks me to consider Hexa which is right there is his showroom in front of us but I am not keen; maybe the heartbreak closes myself for everything now. Sales-rep now literally requests me to take a test ride of Hexa even if I am not keen. I accept his offer.
Test Ride & Final Decision
We "Climb" inside the cabin and first thing both of us realize is the space (in contrast to XUV cabin we recently took a test ride of). Next was the premium feel followed up with the way Hexa grabs hold of the road (on contrast of XUV which feels completely un-planted). Hmm... this is something. Sales rep pointed various creature comforts, Audio etc and now this started to seem like a ferocious competitor. Few more test rides follows in coming days; along with a test ride of Safari Storme (now just for the sake of doing it) and the better half announced it is going to be HEXA ... I concur !
Here it comes home:
A decade spent reading travelogues of Tanveer & his "White Elephant" (on Team-Bhp) down the mountains and uncharted terrains of northern India gives you that itch to have the opportunity to mount the elephant and let it roam free. So the first thing you do when you come back to homeland is decide to make your own road. Deep within... I knew I was looking at only 1 option and it was the VX 4X4 avatar of beast (you know what I am talking about). But slapping 16 big ones without looking at anything else is a terrorizing idea. What if you repent; and this is where I started looking at options (head at work knowing full well Heart has already made the decision).
I considered these following :
1) Tata Safari VX (not yet decided on 4X4 OR 4X2)
2) XUV 500 W11
3) Scorpio S11
4) Hyundai Creta
5) Jeep Compass
So started from bottom to have the final option at end :). Called Jeep, does not have a showroom in town, they told me to reach out to nearest town where there is a dealer. Jeep corporate team never called me back. I felt relieved as I did my part but I wasn't willing to go that extra mile for something which doesn't click in first go. End of the matter !
The road therefrom leads to Hyundai showroom. The sales manager seems contented with his sales performance; perhaps thinks we will follow up with him for everything. There was no demo vehicle available; his staff will get back. Entire experience gave a feel as if Hyundai is doing a favor to us by "blessing" us with Creta. I NEVER buy anything if I have to get in a queue to buy it... this is by principal. Chapter closed !
Next pit-stop was Mahindra showroom; took the better half with me and she rejected Scorpio right away after looking at XUV. No test ride required for Scorpio; took one for XUV. Wife likes XUV, puts it in shortlist seems convinced that its a good idea to go for it. I find it okay but it does not gives me the feel of "Elephant" that you experience with legendary Safari DICOR. Anyways; I am quiet and waiting for next Pit-stop. Mahindra guys will follow up with me later (2 months after I made the purchase).
This is going to be the moment truth... a long awaited one. Lady at Tata showroom reception gave us a curious look as if asking what product I am looking for and the moment I uttered Safari... I was greeted with curtsy and asked to wait for right salesperson. The sales rep pops out in 10 mins; very curious but says there is no Vehicle to show; leave apart demo vehicle. Sad... we discuss the pricing, availability and other items but enthusiasm does off ! I am sad! The rep now asks me to consider Hexa which is right there is his showroom in front of us but I am not keen; maybe the heartbreak closes myself for everything now. Sales-rep now literally requests me to take a test ride of Hexa even if I am not keen. I accept his offer.
Test Ride & Final Decision
We "Climb" inside the cabin and first thing both of us realize is the space (in contrast to XUV cabin we recently took a test ride of). Next was the premium feel followed up with the way Hexa grabs hold of the road (on contrast of XUV which feels completely un-planted). Hmm... this is something. Sales rep pointed various creature comforts, Audio etc and now this started to seem like a ferocious competitor. Few more test rides follows in coming days; along with a test ride of Safari Storme (now just for the sake of doing it) and the better half announced it is going to be HEXA ... I concur !
Here it comes home:
