[ssh1979]

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

General,

Let me take the liberty to post in your thread about the Leh trip.

Fortuner/Yeti/Bigfoot - all welcome, as long as we have interesting company and the vehicle can manage it realistically. The more girls the better - seems I have the only female Fortuner in this forum. However, you know what they say about Shakti/Kali etc. etc....not to mention one Mr. Kipling ("For the female of the species is more deadly than the male"...)

Seriously, if we have between 3-10 vehicles (all types), the trip will be more enjoyable.

Nilanjan, where can I find more details about your plan for the march to the final frontier? Would you welcome my beast, the Endeavour 4x4 into the battalion? He's male BTW and named Rocky

[nilanjanray]

Originally Posted by ssh1979

Nilanjan, where can I find more details about your plan for the march to the final frontier? Would you welcome my beast, the Endeavour 4x4 into the battalion? He's male BTW and named Rocky

Yes sir!

The plan is (still) in my head and in my heart . I am thinking of early - mid September 2012.

Will need to start detailing things out pretty soon. So many days of leave and being away from the house will need to be carefully managed. Not really worried about the drive (just need adequate exercise to become fit and be well rested the week before). Plan is to drive fast till the mountains and then take it nice and slow and enjoy.

@ Guderian: your pics of South Mumbai are making me feel nostalgic.

[ssh1979]

Requesting pardon for hijacking your thread, General. I'll stop with this.

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

Yes sir!

The plan is (still) in my head and in my heart . I am thinking of early - mid September 2012.

Will need to start detailing things out pretty soon. So many days of leave and being away from the house will need to be carefully managed. Not really worried about the drive (just need adequate exercise to become fit and be well rested the week before). Plan is to drive fast till the mountains and then take it nice and slow and enjoy.

@ Guderian: your pics of South Mumbai are making me feel nostalgic.

I'll be putting first word tonight to family about the likely timeframe of Sep '12. Word to office will be put after my week long anniversay vacation which is coming up Dec '11 end

[Guderian]

Originally Posted by Monaro CV8

Hail Generale!

Looks like you've been visiting a lot of temples lately, got a special prayer going on?

Wanted to ask you about this bit. How would you compare that feeling with your ex ? ( arh..hm, the Scorpio, I meant to say)

IMO, these are jap designs, with light frame, lighter doors. Though they are equally good - crash testing wise.
Lets say, if one would expect Octavia like heavy doors, imagine the weight of the (already heavy) Fortuner..

Hi Monaro,
Good to see you again !
Hmmm...that temple bit - what do you expect being in the function that I am and with the recession looming ?!! Quite a few sins being committed. Yes ?

Well about the comparison with the Scorpio - have written quite a few points in the earlier pages. However to reiterate - the older Scorpios (mine was a pioneer CRDe 2005 vintage) had some real tough skin with the armour plates being able to withstand great abuse. And mind you my vehicle was really put to some real tough tests on the streets of Mumbai - including a brush off with a JCB and a roof battle with a low awning of a shop in a narrow street and outside Mumbai. And the plates proved their capabilities time and again. But then that was the old breed. I am told the current lot of Scorpios have much thinner plates.
Well to my mind a thicker or if not thicker then design-wise a little better 'dent proof skin' would have been great on the Fortuner.
Right now the plates on the Fortuner reminds me of what is called in the south, a great culinary delight though, Pappadoms !

Originally Posted by Kool_Kid

I really loved your style of writing and have rated the thread 5 stars

Hi Kool_Kid,
Many thanks for the warm words and errr...the 'cool' rating ! Thanks for being around.

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

@ Guderian: your pics of South Mumbai are making me feel nostalgic.

Hi Nils,
Glad you liked it.
But my favourite snap from that glorious Sunday got lopped off. Presenting it again.


Try an plan a driving trip to Mumbai - we could then organise a heritage drive round Mumbai in the Fortuners spread over a day/ couple of days. I am sure a few more Fortuners from Pune and Mumbai would join the posse. Besides of course the other 'friendlies' !

Originally Posted by ssh1979

Requesting pardon for hijacking your thread, General. I'll stop with this.

Hi ssh1979,
Oh don't worry - carry on my friend ! There is no hijacking of this thread - just a melting pot of thoughts, ideas and observations.
Incidentally how are you liking your Endeavour ? Do share some thoughts here too.
Rocky, your black Endeavour, is a real gem I guess in both departments - looks and performance.

[Monaro CV8]

The results of the Cougar Motorsport organized "Desert Dash" are out.

Reference

It was quite surprising to see the Fortuner come up in the top 3 (2nd ranking).

Leaves a sense of pride, considering that the Fortuner has shown its capabilities, ahead of its closest rivals.


pic courtsey : Nilanjan's Post

[AlphaKilo]

Hail General!

AK reporting. Was on a recce mission, so went underground. I guess I havent missed much over here at the base. So new year/christmas upgrades for the Fleet Admiral?

[Guderian]

Originally Posted by Monaro CV8

The results of the Cougar Motorsport organized "Desert Dash" are out.


It was quite surprising to see the Fortuner come up in the top 3 (2nd ranking).

Leaves a sense of pride, considering that the Fortuner has shown its capabilities, ahead of its closest rivals.

Hi Monaro,
Thanks for sharing the information.
No doubt it does warm the cockles of ones heart reading the piece, however I would be wary of taking the Fortuner out for a very serious round of OTR. Primarily because of its weight and the size. In heavy slush I guess it would be a wallowing hippo ! Mild OTR or a little beyond that would be fine.
Even in sand/desert conditions I would be rather careful - wouldn't take into deep sand areas.
Would have been great if it came with proper front and rear manually activated differential locks - like the Gurkha. Not that it would take away the problems of its weight and size - but would have certainly helped.
Well then also the fact that would hate damaging good ol' Admiral on a very hard trail. Nothing like a light weight INR 2 Lakh jeep for that !

Having stated all the above (and much to the annoyance of other Fortuner owners !) - wouldn't really take away from the Fortuner its innate capabilities though !

Originally Posted by AlphaKilo

Hail General!

AK reporting. Was on a recce mission, so went underground. I guess I havent missed much over here at the base. So new year/christmas upgrades for the Fleet Admiral?

Hey AK come in...
Of course you missed 2 roll calls and 5 bada-khanas at the base !
Hmmm...upgrades nothing in the offing seriously - but a few things in mind for the next year, if all goes well. Thoughts of Aluminium skid plates/reverse camera/tail pipe adornment etc seems to be doing the rounds of the fast diminishing grey cells.

[nilanjanray]

I would be wary of hard turns with the Fortuner on sand tracks. But the Fortuner is great in dune climbing stuff, from what I have read.

One has to fight as per the strengths and weakness of a vehicle. The Me109 was great at climbing and diving. The Spitfires were great at turning fights. Aces were successful with both.

The Fortuner is more of a Me109, I feel.

[Guderian]

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

I would be wary of hard turns with the Fortuner on sand tracks. But the Fortuner is great in dune climbing stuff, from what I have read.

One has to fight as per the strengths and weakness of a vehicle. The Me109 was great at climbing and diving. The Spitfires were great at turning fights. Aces were successful with both.

The Fortuner is more of a Me109, I feel.

Ahh...while on that subject though OT - I prefer the P-51 Mustang ! The best fighter of WWII ! Had everything in it - the range, the punch, the staying power/armour and of course the ability to come out tops in any dogfight thanks to its prowess of supreme maneuverability.

Wish the Fortuner was like the P-51.
It almost is but for the armour.

[nilanjanray]

Originally Posted by Guderian

Ahh...while on that subject though OT - I prefer the P-51 Mustang ! The best fighter of WWII ! Had everything in it - the range, the punch, the staying power/armour and of course the ability to come out tops in any dogfight thanks to its prowess of supreme maneuverability.

Wish the Fortuner was like the P-51.
It almost is but for the armour.

Mustang would be the Prado IMO. Some South African ones have a 180 L fuel tank I read. The main strength of Mustang was the staying power - long enough legs to escort the bombers.

Do note what plane the greatest ace in the world flew. He brought down quite a few Mustangs over Romania, I believe.

I have his biography :-)

OT: What about the FW 190? Gives the Mustang a run for its money, I think.

Guderian: imagine arguing about the merits and demerits of these aircrafts in front of a large campfire somewhere in the high Himalayas in Sep 2012!

[sudev]

Originally Posted by Monaro CV8

It was quite surprising to see the Fortuner come up in the top 3 (2nd ranking).....Leaves a sense of pride, considering that the Fortuner has shown its capabilities, ahead of its closest rivals.

This was a TSD format event which means that very little is dependent on vehicle or even driver. It is more of navigation challenge and calculations that go with it.
If I were to believe the post event talks with few of the competitors the XUV would have won but for missing a Time Control, due to bunch of trees obstructing their vision, incurring penalties which pushed them down the order.

Taking Fortuner off in to sand tracks. Been there done that. The weight does come in to play but loads of torque means it is able to take lots of punishment.

[Guderian]

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

Guderian: imagine arguing about the merits and demerits of these aircrafts in front of a large campfire somewhere in the high Himalayas in Sep 2012!

Hi Nils,
You are talking about Eric Hartmann of Luftwaffe I presume. But then he was purely a tactics 'Bubi' ! Though some fantastic tactics. No doubt the Me/Bf109s helped him great deal.
But nothing like the P-51s. (Yes we'll discuss this around the campfire - as alluringly put by you - in Leh, YoL 2012.). Never thought much of the Focke Wulf really though it was better than the Me109 in lift etc and much better than the early Spitfires in all departments except in turning.
But then let's leave all these points for discussion at the icy heights. Before we are slammed for OT discussions !
Incidentally those 180L Prado tanks must be extension tanks - right ? Can the Fortuner be fitted with those ?

Originally Posted by sudev

Taking Fortuner off in to sand tracks. Been there done that. The weight does come in to play but loads of torque means it is able to take lots of punishment.

Hi Sir,
Glad to see you here !
Had read with great interest the thread/s about your excursions with the Fortuner.
What would your experience be with the Fortuner in heavy slush ?

[Guderian]

Sunday Slammer...

It had to be here - right ?
What ?
Tell you that later.

First a few snaps from the Sunday sortie.

Today found that the coolant over the period of time had slipped down to the 'F' level. The factory filled level was at the pen mark shown in the snap.
Luckily had a bottle of coolant since March this year when I had picked it up before the Bangalore/ Chickmagalur chukker. Never opened it - today I did and topped the reservoir till the pen mark.



Suggestion to Fortuner owners try and do a engine bay check every week, if not every week then at least once a month and check the coolant/brake oil/engine oil/PS oil levels. All easily checkable with clean, clear visibility and markings.
So that you'll never be caught with 'your' fluids low and perhaps pants down on a dark, deserted road.

Since I was opening it for the first time -was rather impressed with the quality and design of the coolant reservoir cap though it is made of high density plastic. The design has a notch to prevent it from unscrewing itself due to vibrations or relying on spring loaded pressure to remain in place as in the case with metal caps on radiators ( remember there is no radiator cap on the Fortuner). And also to screw it tight but only upto a particular level and not over-tighten the cap . Neat.


Another accessory we never look at - because it is lowly and we generally crush it below our feet.
Checked out the rubber mats and found that despite all the heavy grinding it is in fine fettle. Thick as ever and retaining its thickness and suppleness after all these KMs. Again good quality. Now these are not the original mats of the Fortuner. Those were supposed to be the fabric ones - which are a mother mighty pain to clean and maintain - besides being frightfully expensive. These are the Innova mats, which are serving me really well.
Suggestion to future Fortuner owners - try and go in for the rubber mats (as advised by Nilanjan eons ago !) -they're much better.



And as usual what tickles me pink is the Toyota stamping/s !


Of course manufacturing outsourced by Toyota to...


And the ultimate muscle stamping on the Laterals:


And so that was that.


Now wait a minute...what had to be here ?
On this thread you mean ? This silly post ? Stooping to new lows of floor mats ?

My 1001st post on Team BHP ! Hurrah.

But of course it took me almost 5 years to reach here ! But well worth every word on the long & 'perilous' journey.

Aloha.

[bluevolt]

Originally Posted by Guderian

Now wait a minute...what had to be here ?
On this thread you mean ? This silly post ? Stooping to new lows of floor mats ?

My 1001st post on Team BHP ! Hurrah.

But of course it took me almost 5 years to reach here ! But well worth every word on the long & 'perilous' journey.

Aloha.

Let me be the first one to congratulate you for attaining the "SENIORSHIP". It is once in a life time moment. One can become "DISTINGUISHED BHPIan" many times but "Senior BHPian" only one time.

I should say that this is the most comprehensive ownership thread on team-bhp.

Wishing you many miles of happy driving and keep posting!

[nilanjanray]

As you said, the rubber mats are far better if you go to places where you might be getting yourself or the vehicle dirty (not for the mall roaders though).

Congratulations on the landmark.

I have a couple of bottles of that coolant and one bottle of engine oil lying in my vehicle since the MP run. Hope I never have to use them.