Quote:
Originally Posted by tsk1979 The first question you need to ask is why you need a 4x4.
Lets take the cases.
1. I need a weekend vehicle for OTRs only
Ans . Get a jeep built. Cheaper and you can customize things. Its a weekend OTR ride, so no problems reliability
2. I need a 4x4 for touring, and very rare OTR
Ans. Buy a SUV with 4x4, or something like Tata 3.0 double cab truck
3. I need a 4x4 for touring and some normal OTRs
Ans. Buy a Thar, customize it with HT and stuff
4. I need a 4x4 for touring and extreme OTRs
Ans. Buy the Gurkha.
3/4 are a bit debatable. |
Absolutely; Bang On tks1979
I have been an avid reader on various automobile forums for over 5 years and had followed the Force Gurkha online & offline for around 2 years during (2010-12) in my search for a vehicle suitable for needs defined above in Case 3; attended some OTRs with different off-roading Groups, had loads of discussions with some good off-roaders on various options available in the market; It is during those days; I remember my chat with Rahul Roy who being a Force Gurkha owner gave a very valuable account of his experiences over the years. Rahul also shared thoughts on his First Test Drive of the Mahindra Thar with Mr. Dhabhar Behram who by then had probably clocked over a Lakh kilometres testing that very vehicle.
In the meantime; a friend of mine had joined Force Motors at a very senior position and the Gurkha re-launch seemed just round the corner; the New Gurkha 4x4x4 was showcased but it never made to Showrooms in Delhi NCR even till date. Add to that; last year during these days; even the Maruti Gypsy went out of production and I was told that no new vehicle could be made available for the next 3-4 months.
I had always loved the Rocky Beige Thar ever since I first saw it in 2011 during a road trip to Ooty but the subsequent Test Drives, Crude Interiors and lack of Creature Comforts for long tours had put me off. Spent a lot of time on both online & offline research; exploring various other options with people from the Industry; the exercise was time consuming but very helpful with loads of valuable inputs from a lot of people on various aspects of Jeeping, Mods / Enhancements, Rebuilds etc. Finally; for lack of any good & reliable option in the market at that juncture specially for my needs; I decided to buy the Thar CRDe and customize it gradually.
Now, after 14000 kms & one year in my Rocky Beige Thar (a mix of long road trips - 4000 kms Raid de Himalaya, 3000 kms Desert Storm, couple of 1000 Kms Family Trips in Hills & Snow, lots of City Driving & some OTRs); last evening; a friend of mine sent me pictures of some cool looking Force Gurkhas in Red Colour; specially modded for RFC Goa. The attraction was instant and I immediately went online for more info. Comparisons started on various parameters such as Technical Specs, Dealerships, Price, Reviews etc and I got thinking........???
I once again started with defining my needs that I wanted my 4x4 to fulfill; I even tried to tweak the needs a bit so that I could somehow justify the Change from Thar to Gurkha;
Factory fitted Hardtop with Comfy Seats, Spacious Cabin, Front & Rear Difflocks, Factory-fitted Snorkel, Mercedes Engine, Alloys etc.
I also reflected upon my eventful & time-consuming journey over the last one year with the Thar;
a) Change of Seats (Bigger Comfy Seats with Armrests from Innova & front-facing, floor-mounted Rear Twin-Seater from Qualis)
b) Noise, Heat & Dust Insulation
c) Change of Bumpers
d) Power Windows & Central Locking
e) Alloys
f) Chassis, Brake Booster & Canopy Replacements (Under Warranty)
After 24 hrs of Introspection and a reasonably good show by Team Gurkha on the 1st day of RFC, Goa; I am still unable to justify the Replacement because The Thar offers a much better "Ownership Package" vs The Gurkha;
1. Iconic Jeep Appeal (Sure-shot Head Turner)
2. Compact Dimensions (very handy in City, Hills & OTRs)
3. Nippy Engine with awesome Pick-up & higher Top Speed
4. Smaller Turning Radius
5. Powerful AC
6. Easy Availability of Mods / Accessories & Spares throughout the Country
7. Mahindra Dealership Network
Points 1 to 6 may be Subjective in a lot of cases but the biggest comforting factor for me over the last one year has been the Post Sales Experience with Mahindra Dealerships; they have messed up big time on couple of occasions; there are huge gaps on Product-specific Training at Shop-floor level and yes; they are nowhere close to my Delightful Experiences as a Consumer with Honda and Maruti Suzuki but the Best Part at Mahindra is that they admit to their short-comings and are willing to rectify / compensate their Customers in the best possible manner. I have even been gifted a complimentary Extended Warranty for the 2nd Year as a Compensation for all the Teething Troubles.
People at Mahindra Dealerships are gradually learning to adapt to the fact that dealing with this product segment entails a lot of Personal Involvement and even though a lot of Thars may not be used as The Primary / Sole Family Vehicle; it is definitely loved & cared for as a Boys' Toy.
This transition of a mindset in a Large Organization is a very lengthy & time consuming process; have personally experienced this with Tata Motors as a Safari Owner for over 10 years. So, in spite of the Force Gurkha looking like an attractive option; can't afford another "Risk" in the light of their slow progress in the Past on various fronts; hoping that someday Force Motors will be able to infuse reasonable confidence in the Market.