[R_R]

Demand for the GV has definitely gone up! I guess we can thank Maruti for making this wonderful vehicle such a rare one too. Used GV prices were low for a while because its petrol, a Maruti, did'nt have the pricier image of the Honda, Nissan, Mitsu etc. but I think with the increasing demand, prices might go north a bit.

Have been driven around for two days now in the GV, and its just spectacular. Ok, Ok, my basis for comparison are our two Indicas, but still a few surprises. One, it definitely feels like an SUV; higher seating feel than what I had expected, considering the GV is not tall (though nowhere near the Safari, of course). And despite the fact that the Indicas I am used to don't have very low seats either. Two, as expected, soaks up the road very well, and terrific seats. Three, unlike some other cars, you feel as if you are sitting well inside the vehicle, maybe because the side windows are higher. The effect is that you feel far more safe and secure, ensconed I guess, though without much loss in visibility around (rear visibility is worse than small cars, obviously, but not too bad either). Four, wife reports great maneuverability; no difficulty driving in the city or in bad traffic. Five, very quiet inside the cabin, have to get used to the petrol engine. Finally, very competent ICE, though it might not satisfy the aficionados.

Since no servicing required immediately (last servicing was barely three months and 1k km back), am planning to have the car detailed, though not completely decided. Feel the need to pamper her somehow!

[sudev]

Get a two point reversing sensor installed. Two points since the four point one tends to be triggered by the spare wheel housing itself!

This along with the biggish out side mirrors are more than adequate for reversing. A bit of acquired trick but once mastered the rear window pane is no longer a bother and also is very handy with boot space filled up.

[Ricky_63]

Originally Posted by R_R

Demand for the GV has definitely gone up! I guess we can thank Maruti for making this wonderful vehicle such a rare one too. Used GV prices were low for a while because its petrol, a Maruti, did'nt have the pricier image of the Honda, Nissan, Mitsu etc. but I think with the increasing demand, prices might go north a bit.

Have been driven around for two days now in the GV, and its just spectacular. Ok, Ok, my basis for comparison are our two Indicas, but still a few surprises. One, it definitely feels like an SUV; higher seating feel than what I had expected, considering the GV is not tall (though nowhere near the Safari, of course). And despite the fact that the Indicas I am used to don't have very low seats either. Two, as expected, soaks up the road very well, and terrific seats. Three, unlike some other cars, you feel as if you are sitting well inside the vehicle, maybe because the side windows are higher. The effect is that you feel far more safe and secure, ensconed I guess, though without much loss in visibility around (rear visibility is worse than small cars, obviously, but not too bad either). Four, wife reports great maneuverability; no difficulty driving in the city or in bad traffic. Five, very quiet inside the cabin, have to get used to the petrol engine. Finally, very competent ICE, though it might not satisfy the aficionados.

Since no servicing required immediately (last servicing was barely three months and 1k km back), am planning to have the car detailed, though not completely decided. Feel the need to pamper her somehow!

@R_R

I can see that you are totally enjoying the vehicle. Glad to see that !!

Demand for the GV went up the moment you put down the advance payment

Last service was at 19400 kms I think it was more recent, not 3 months. I can check the bill & let you know.

P.S. I am already missing the GV - don't ask me why though !!



Cheers

[Praveen1]

Congrats. Its a VFM buy. BTW pls post interior pics as well.
I guess its too early to ask. What is the mileage in City & highway?

[R_R]

Ricky had already posted some interior pics on his thread. But I will post some too later.

Too early for fuel mileage figures, though the dashboard indicator is now showing 9kmpl. But this is mostly short rides within the city too, with full ac. Am still getting used to the vehicle, so this should improve.

Best,
R_R

[sudev]

The in dash figures are quite accurate. The best average you can get is by keeping the vehicle steady @2700~3000rpm on a long highway.
With manual this has been returning in excess of 12kmpl. But for normal city drive getting 8.5~9kmpl with manual too. For A/T this is quite good.

[Ricky_63]

Originally Posted by sudev

The in dash figures are quite accurate. The best average you can get is by keeping the vehicle steady @2700~3000rpm on a long highway.
With manual this has been returning in excess of 12kmpl. But for normal city drive getting 8.5~9kmpl with manual too. For A/T this is quite good.

It's a manual Sirji. The best I got was 9.8 kmpl (without A/c) Highway for 11.8 kmpl with speed not exceeding 120 kmph

[Samurai]

Two days back I reset the average meter while on Mysore-Bangalore road. For about 30 minutes I decided to drive very sober. Guess what was the average I managed to get... 15.4kmpl!!! Then I hit Mandya traffic signals and it dropped to 14.5kmpl. After that I got bored of FE driving and starting flooring the pedal and got the FE down to 12kmpl. Then I entered Coorg and it dropped further down to 10.5kmpl and remained so for the rest of the trip to Manipal where it showed exactly 10kmpl.

[sudev]

With Delhi NCR driving and traffic normally I am getting 8.5~9kmpl BUT wow never ever I have got anything beyond 13kmpl with mostest soberest driving ;-)

BTW I was reading something on another thread regarding Logan and how if you keep the multi function display button pressed and then switch on the ignition (not start) it enters in to diagnostic / menu mode and more information is available.

So today I kept the reset button of fuel average gauge pressed and switched on the ignition. After that I was able to toggle the output on fuel average from MPG to Lt/100kms to kms/lt. So right now I have set it to litres/100km.

[R_R]

Originally Posted by sudev

So today I kept the reset button of fuel average gauge pressed and switched on the ignition. After that I was able to toggle the output on fuel average from MPG to Lt/100kms to kms/lt. So right now I have set it to litres/100km.

I thought you should be able to do this even otherwise by toggling through the options. Remember reading about it in the mnual, but will check and provide details.

The GV had its first workshop visit. I had noticed some ratting, actually more like rustling noise, from the AC vents. It was more pronounced when I turned right (?!?). I thought maybe a leaf or paper or something brushing against the fan. Anyway, since it was still under warranty, thought I would check it out. Went to Competent (Gurgaon) and they found water accumulating from the AC. Initially they said the AC needs servicing etc. But when they finally put it on the lift, it was just that the AC water drain had been blocked with mud and, apparently, some insect had decided it was good real estate (location, location, location)! Anyway they cleaned it out. Bill was just labour: Rs. 600.

Whew! For a while there I was beginning to get worried.

Next week, I will have to get to that pesky brake squeal.

[sureshkishore]

Looking forward for your updates on the car!

I am on the look out for a pre-owned GV. So am doing all the necessary research on TBHP about ownership experiences.

Expecting valuable info about the car from your side, in addition to the exhaustive reports of Sudev and Samurai.

[Ricky_63]

Hey R_R where did you vanish ?? Are you too engrossed enjoying your Vitara to visit the forum or what ?

Hope she is serving you well.





Cheers

[R_R]

My apologies to all!! Been planning to update the thread for quite sometime but always think I need to block a decent amount of time to write a detailed report, and of course that never happens!

Anyway, here's a brief summary report:

The GV is doing terrific except for some rattling noises, but I suspect that that's because I mostly drive by myself. When I have at least two or more passengers, I notice the rattling is less. The rattling has reduced after a recent service (my first!) but still noticeable on rough roads.

Love driving it; I recall some GV owners complained about lack of power but I think it has plenty (at least by my standards but I don't drive fast too often). Only problem is that I don't get to drive it often enough; a bit too expensive to drive everyday to work in it (office is 20+ kms away), though I try and take it in at least twice a week.

But its beeen a really busy year for me; so I haven't travelled as much as I would have liked too or planned too. In addition, my bad back was troubling for several months too, which also limited travel. But I took one wonderful trip to Shimla: decided to explore an alternate route back and loved it. That's what's so great about the GV. We decided we could risk travelling on roads off the beaten path (for us, this is mainly anything outside the NH system, not really in the wilds!!).

Also took a nightmare trip to Jaipur and Jodhpur a week back. NH-8 and all other roads we took seemed to be mostly under construction. We took NH-65 and some SH is Rajasthan and Haryana on the way back, but it took about 14 hrs, including about two hours sitting outside Gurgaon in a horrendous truck-jam at about 9pm after a very long drive.

Incidentally NH-65 from Nagaur to Fatehpur has to be seen to be believed; mostly one lane (yes, one lane!) and sometimes not even that. And the absolutely worst stretch has to be SH-13 between Chidawa and Singhana in Rajasthan: 30 kms of second-gear 20kmph driving over the most horrible road I have ever driven on, and raining to boot! But being in a GV made all of us feel really safe.

Finally, mileage kya hai? I am managing roughly about 9-9.5 kmpl in the city now and 10.0-11.0 this last drive to Jodhpur. But mostly, I suspect because of northern winter: windows up and no a/c (mostly). But still pretty good given the size of the car. Also I am a sedate driver (though I did hit 120 on a few short stretches on the Jodhpur trip recently, fastest I've ever driven in India!!).

Will update more soon. And a few photos too . . .

R_R

[R_R]

A few photos, most with the GV:

1. On the road from Shimla to Kufri
2. Somewhere on SH-4 (Haryana) just before Barara, on way back from Shimla
3. Roadside tea on the way back from Shimla
4. Near Amber fort, Jaipur
5. A lake near Jodhpur (forgetting the name now)

Will have some more, maybe over the weekend.
R_R

[Ricky_63]

WOW nice to see that you have finally taken the drives that you wanted to !! Not so nice to know that your back is troubling you too..hope that gets better.

Do post some more pics from your travels in the GV. How did she drive from Simla to Kufri ?? I am pretty sure you never had to use 4L or did you ?

I can understand the nightmare of getting caught in a traffic jam after a long highway drive.

Nice to know that you are enjoying the GV, so what I said was right was it not ? She is in good nick, eh ?

All the best, & hope to see more of the GV stories on the forum. Nice to see the Team Bhp sticker on the rear quarter glass still intact



Cheers