[Roshun]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Going off-road = body damage?

Doc,
Right in your backyard, there's a nice place to exercise the 4x4. The Rajokri forest area - get in from D-block church road, drive past the farm houses, go through the jungle area, there are lots of trails leading to a mud road, and get out just after Spinal Injuries hospital, a round trip of 15 km, with lots of scrub jungle, slush (when it rains) and abandoned stone quarries. There are a few thorny bushes, but nothing to worry about. What you have to worry about are landmines (of human, bovine and porcine origin). Yuck!
This Sunday I'm at the Airtel marathon, else would have loved to have driven with you on this tiny trail.

Otherwise, we'll catch up at the SUV trail blazing next week.

WRT body damage off road - the steps and mudflaps will take a beating on some trails like Manesar, where there are some mean tree stumps. But you can be more careful. Scratches not that much of an issue (anyway, my model has unpainted cladding). Nothing that a good coat of Eagle One Nano wax or similar product won't take care of.

Cheers,

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by rkbharat

Sir what is the latest on beast, no drive plans, you can not sit quite like that

Hmmm... soon!

Originally Posted by Roshun

I towed a fellow Scorpio... a distance of 52 kilometers!

Yes, I read about that. But in the back of beyond, you were risking your own clutch too. Just my opinion - the Scorpio clutch is not designed to tow almost 2 tonnes for such a long haul.

Originally Posted by wmanu

Congratulation on your new Hawk. A 4x4 mHawk, much awaited SUV for me, a real competitor for Safari 4x4.

Do you felt any difference in handling mHawk 4x4? Did you get a chance to engage 4H/4L? Was there any difference in fuel efficiency?

By the way, sorry about the OVRM, its all part of life. Keep driving.

Get a bull guard and a pair of Hella lights, your Hawk will Rock!

Thanks, manu. There you go, dragging the Safari into the picture! Must we compare?

Handling - coming out of a sedan, an SUV feels a lot more unstable in handling. Vis-a-vis the old 2.6 CRDe 2WD Scorpio, I can say this one feels more planted on the road. No dramatic driving yet!

About the bullguard and lights - where I park the car, an extra six inches would make it more difficult to slot the vehicle in. As it is, if someone wants to check his driving skills in confined spaces, come over to my place and try to park where I do - just don't bang my neighbours' cars, they sure are a bunch!

Originally Posted by bblost

NO.

But the probability of dents and knocks does increase.
Sharp thorns can easily rip the paint of one side.

Up to about 30 inches all around, the car has plastic cladding protecting the metalwork - scratches on this should be easily touched up. In fact I have a genius of a painter who gives me 99% shade match for repaints!

Originally Posted by Roshun

Doc,
Right in your backyard, there's a nice place to exercise the 4x4. The Rajokri forest area - get in from D-block church road, drive past the farm houses, go through the jungle area, there are lots of trails leading to a mud road, and get out just after Spinal Injuries hospital, a round trip of 15 km, with lots of scrub jungle, slush (when it rains) and abandoned stone quarries. There are a few thorny bushes, but nothing to worry about. What you have to worry about are landmines (of human, bovine and porcine origin). Yuck!

I did that, but only for a short stretch...

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

I also took the car for a drive for about 2-3 km over some dirt tracks between Rangpuri and Ghitorni, totally unmapped territory there. Switched on 4WD though it was not really 4WD terrain, and me and my daughter had some fun. No pics though.

Originally Posted by tsk1979

So when is she coming for the SUV trail blazing?

Not he, not she, but IT is coming on the 8th - with my wife and daughter on board. Aren't you?

Originally Posted by Roshun

Otherwise, we'll catch up at the SUV trail blazing next week.

Looking forward to it...

[Roshun]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Hmmm... soon!

Yes, I read about that. But in the back of beyond, you were risking your own clutch too. Just my opinion - the Scorpio clutch is not designed to tow almost 2 tonnes for such a long haul.

Yup, the thought of clutch wear did cross my mind. But at 70,000 km at that point the clutch was still biting well, but had become hard. I had anyway decided to change it (under warranty - as a retrofit was due) as soon as I got back. And so I didn't mind. I came back and changed the whole assembly even though there was a good bit of life in the old plates. I still have them sitting around in the garage (need to figure out what to do with so many old parts now).

Cheers,

[gd1418]

I would love to. PM me the details please...

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Welcome to the pocket-friendly motorized ORVM! Why don't you change over to the same on your Scorpio? I can put you in touch with the spare parts guy!

When there is an emergency, you don't bother/think about these issues.

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Hmmm... soon!

Yes, I read about that. But in the back of beyond, you were risking your own clutch too. Just my opinion - the Scorpio clutch is not designed to tow almost 2 tonnes for such a long haul.

[ACM]

Originally Posted by Yeldo

Wow, Congrats on the purchase, and that too a 4WD M-Hawk Scorpio!

Well, that's exactly what one should do. I did the same when some tempo driver did the same thing to my Astra some years back and a biker to my Laura a few months ago! Got the full money in the first case, recovered Rs. 2,100 in the second, as the chap was having only 2,500 with him. Gave 100 to the cop on duty at the spot who helped me to squeeze the chap, so in the end I got only 2000 bucks

Got only Rs. 1000 from a biker who killed my Laura side view mirror. (Inspite of holding on to his license and empty purse with ID cards for 2 days.)
He was so poor, could not get more from him. It is always those who are better off that have to pay.

[suman]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Going off-road = body damage?

Originally Posted by Roshun

WRT body damage off road - the steps and mudflaps will take a beating on some trails like Manesar, where there are some mean tree stumps. But you can be more careful. Scratches not that much of an issue (anyway, my model has unpainted cladding). Nothing that a good coat of Eagle One Nano wax or similar product won't take care of.

Or, you could get the sides "laminated" - for more details, please attend the next NCR "meat".

[tsk1979]

There actually exists such a product, and was reviews by Andrew white
4XFORUM.COM - The Comprehensive 4X4 Information Portal[_id]=341
Its a paint protection film by 3M and is called VPS off road
Homepage

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by wmanu

Was there any difference in fuel efficiency?

Newest figures: 532.1 km, 42.53 L regular diesel, FE=12.51 km/l.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by suman

Or, you could get the sides "laminated" - for more details, please attend the next NCR "meat".

Originally Posted by tsk1979

There actually exists such a product, and was reviews by Andrew white
4XFORUM.COM - The Comprehensive 4X4 Information Portal[_id]=341
Its a paint protection film by 3M and is called VPS off road
Homepage

Happy to report no paint damage on the trailblazing outing. What looked like scratches all over went away with a simple soap & water wash.

[4x4addict]

When you get a chance, could you please give us a photo of the front differentials and torsion bar suspension set up. I am just curious as I have never seen a 4x4 scorpio close by.

[Mpower]

Nice pics. Are you doing anything about the walrus tooth?

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Newest figures: 532.1 km, 42.53 L regular diesel, FE=12.51 km/l.

Thats phenominal for a 2 ton flying brick !!!

[SS-Traveller]

Can do. Give me a day or two. Should've told me yesterday, I'd have got sudev to shoot with a flash when he took this pic.

Originally Posted by Mpower

Nice pics. Are you doing anything about the walrus tooth?

Nope - you don't expect anything else on a dentist's car, do you?

Originally Posted by Mpower

Thats phenominal for a 2 ton flying brick !!!

At the last top-up it returned 13.2 km/l, now that the aircon is used hardly 30% of the time.

[anupmathur]

DocSS, congrats!
Better late than....
I did miss this thread!

[architect]

Saw these photos on trailblazing page on facebook, and instinctively knew it was your "tailed" hawk! So my hunch was correct.

Good to know that the Scorp 4X4 being put to good use. I think I am going to attend the next meet as passenger, if any friendly TBHP-ian gives me a lift

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by adzegeek

100 kgs to be precise - 2510 Kg for 2wd, and 2610 Kgs for 4 wd.

Wonder why is it 130 kgs for the Safari 4x4 - more by 30%!!!