[magikrider]

I read in a post above that Mahindra has stopped taking bookings for the AWD variant completely! never knew that it wasn't an option on the second rounds of bookings! hope they finally start accepting bookings of AWD variant when they finally re-open the bookings sometime in june. but does this also mean that people who had booked the AWD variant in the first round still haven't received it yet?! and that its not advisable to book an AWD variant if you want your car in the next six months from the date of booking?

also can someone please please tell that has there been any improvement in the gearbox, electronics, overall fit and finish of the car since it was launched? I test drove the car when it was launched and found the gearbox a bit of a problem then so. and also heard there are many complains about failing electronics. it would be really appreciated.

[Zappo]

Prices for XUV have changed a lot since its launch. However I am not sure whether it costs as high if you do your homework well. As recent as 20 days back in Hyderabad it costed me 14.75 lakhs without insurance. I took the insurance from HDFC Ergo on my own. With 25% NCB transfer coupled with good negotiation the insurance costed me another 21800 change. That's still less than 15 lakhs. However, it was minus any accessory or registration commissions in it. You typically pay another 10k in terms of essential accessories and about 2.5k for registration. That's a touch over 15 lakhs on road for a fully functional W8 FWD. at least that's how it is in Hyderabad. Could not be very different in other cities if you do your homework well.

PS: I forgot to add; the dealer quote for insurance for me was something like 51800 (don't remember the exact amount, but was close to that).

[HotChillyPepper]

Originally Posted by Zappo

Prices for XUV have changed a lot since its launch. However I am not sure whether it costs as high if you do your homework well. As recent as 20 days back in Hyderabad it costed me 14.75 lakhs without insurance. I took the insurance from HDFC Ergo on my own. With 25% NCB transfer coupled with good negotiation the insurance costed me another 21800 change. That's still less than 15 lakhs. However, it was minus any accessory or registration commissions in it. You typically pay another 10k in terms of essential accessories and about 2.5k for registration. That's a touch over 15 lakhs on road for a fully functional W8 FWD. at least that's how it is in Hyderabad. Could not be very different in other cities if you do your homework well.

Here is the recent price in Bangalore:
BASIC PRICE MAHINDRA XUV500 1155428.00
VAT 14% 161760.00
ROAD TAX & HANDLING CHARGES 255053.00
INSURANCE 51740.00

With dealer quoted insurance ON ROAD PRICE is 1623981.00

Reducing insurance the total cost will come to 15,72241. With B2B comprehensive insurance from Future Generali for 43,810 RS the total on road is 16,16051 RS for me at Bangalore.

Originally Posted by magikrider

also can someone please please tell that has there been any improvement in the gearbox, electronics, overall fit and finish of the car since it was launched? I test drove the car when it was launched and found the gearbox a bit of a problem then so. and also heard there are many complains about failing electronics. it would be really appreciated.

Gear engagement is a leap forward on new vehicles coming now. The 2 vehicles I test drove one was from first batch and the second one was feb manufactured. The gear engagement is much better in later. But still there is a lot of scope for improvement here.

As per what we hear from the owners on the niggles thread electronics improved after software updates etc. Though still stands as the weakest spot of XUV.

Fit and finish remain same. I couldn't see any visible difference in new vehicles.

[SDP]

Originally Posted by Zappo

Prices for XUV have changed a lot since its launch. However I am not sure whether it costs as high if you do your homework well. As recent as 20 days back in Hyderabad it costed me 14.75 lakhs without insurance. I took the insurance from HDFC Ergo on my own. With 25% NCB transfer coupled with good negotiation the insurance costed me another 21800 change. That's still less than 15 lakhs. However, it was minus any accessory or registration commissions in it. You typically pay another 10k in terms of essential accessories and about 2.5k for registration. That's a touch over 15 lakhs on road for a fully functional W8 FWD. at least that's how it is in Hyderabad. Could not be very different in other cities if you do your homework well.

PS: I forgot to add; the dealer quote for insurance for me was something like 51800 (don't remember the exact amount, but was close to that).

Zappo, congratulations for the new acquisition! Now we can have some genuine expert comments about the XUV's reliability and niggles.

15lakh for W8 FWD? Was this by any chance before the 70K INR increase in the XUV base price?
If the OTR price = base cost + registration + insurance, can you share the base-cost and registration please? (I believe, Octroi - if any - gets included in the base cost).

[Zappo]

Originally Posted by SDP

Zappo, congratulations for the new acquisition! Now we can have some genuine expert comments about the XUV's reliability and niggles.

15lakh for W8 FWD? Was this by any chance before the 70K INR increase in the XUV base price?
If the OTR price = base cost + registration + insurance, can you share the base-cost and registration please? (I believe, Octroi - if any - gets included in the base cost).

Thanks SDP.

I have not seen any show stoppers as yet. Yeah, a few things that I am yet to sort out still continue to fox me. Don't know if they are niggles really. The headlight stalk operation still ties me up in knots. I am yet to work out a fix pattern for when the headlight comes up on its own while shutting down the car (engine off/locking the car). Does it need to be in auto or do the follow me homes come up even when the switch position is in off? Does it come up when the engine is shut off or when the car is locked? All these are showing varied responses at different times as yet to which I have not yet managed to ascribe a fix pattern. The dealer insists that the lights are working absolutely fine and thats their default behavior!

When does the Voice command operation works? Does it not work when audio is on? I have at least not been able to find a way out as yet.

I suspect all these have answers that I need to figure out. However, having said that, there are a few small issues that I will have to deal with.

1. The right turn indicator does not self cancel so easily. It requires a good full turn of the steering and then some more before the indicator cancels out on straightening of the steering. Left turn indicator though meets the expectation.
2. I realized late in the day that many other XUVs have a mild reverse horn preinstalled which does not work in my car. This needs to be checked and rectified.
3. And then the brakes The mother of all issues that everyone faces. It works fine thank you. However, it sometimes, only some times mind you, at very low speeds make a grating noise. At most other times though there is no noise. Not sure why this moody behavior. It's much difficult to rectify such issues!

About the price, I got it just about 20 days back. So definitely must be after all the price hikes. I can take a look at the breakup (need to collect the final invoice). However, as far as I remember, the car was priced at 12.94 lakhs and there was a small donation of 188000 or so that the local mai-baap collected from me in the name of registration. Ok, actually, the car was not exactly 14.75. I think it was another 10k on top of it, now that I think about it. It had all those regular addons that dealers put in (underbody, handlings etc). But thats about it.

[rohitbagai]

Originally Posted by Zappo

Thanks SDP.

I have not seen any show stoppers as yet. Yeah, a few things that I am yet to sort out still continue to fox me. Don't know if they are niggles really. The headlight stalk operation still ties me up in knots. I am yet to work out a fix pattern for when the headlight comes up on its own while shutting down the car (engine off/locking the car). Does it need to be in auto or do the follow me homes come up even when the switch position is in off? Does it come up when the engine is shut off or when the car is locked? All these are showing varied responses at different times as yet to which I have not yet managed to ascribe a fix pattern. The dealer insists that the lights are working absolutely fine and thats their default behavior !

The follow me home works when the sensors sense it's dark outside, it works even if the stalk is on off position because it's a follow me home light and it should work irrespective of the physical position of the switch (subject to certain condition as ambient light outside etc.)
I don't remember exactly but I guess it comes up as soon as we take the keys off and open the driver side door.

[mkumar79]

Originally Posted by Zappo

The headlight stalk operation still ties me up in knots. I am yet to work out a fix pattern for when the headlight comes up on its own while shutting down the car (engine off/locking the car). Does it need to be in auto or do the follow me homes come up even when the switch position is in off? Does it come up when the engine is shut off or when the car is locked? All these are showing varied responses at different times as yet to which I have not yet managed to ascribe a fix pattern. The dealer insists that the lights are working absolutely fine and thats their default behavior!

Originally Posted by Zappo

This what I figured out with time - Puddle Lamps and Follow me Home come up
- when it knows that it is dark using its light sensor if the headlight is set to AUTO
- or when I tell it that it is dark by setting the headlight to ON

They go off after 30 secs or immediately when I press Lock again on the remote (which I do all the time to satisfy well-wisher parking attendants).

When does the Voice command operation works? Does it not work when audio is on? I have at least not been able to find a way out as yet.


Definitely works with Audio on. You need to press and hold the button for 3 seconds.

[SDP]

Originally Posted by SDP

Just a quick data point about the price of XUV:

Place : Ex-Thane (outside Octroi limit)

Then
Date : 1-Oct-2011
Basic Cost : 11,87,608
Insurance : 45,214
Registration : 95,659 i.e. 8% of basic cost
-----------------------------
Total : 13,28,480


Now
Date : 11-May-2012
Basic Cost : 12,96,270
Insurance : 50,080
Registration : 1,56,202 12% of basic cost
-----------------------------
Total : 15,02,552

1. Basic cost itself has gone up by 1.09L (~9%)
...
3. Registration costs up by a whooping 60 thousand Rs.
4. Overall in about 7 months, the on-road cost has gone up by 1.75L! Its 15 Lakh+ vehicle now!
...
The registration cost increase could be a Maharashtra state specific phenomenon.

I faintly remember hearing something about 2% increase in the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Tax (Road Tax). Assuming the registration cost to the base on which the 2% would be calculated, I had imagined that the overall difference in the car's price would be 3-4 thousand.

That mental calculation was not matching with the numbers when I got the quote recently. So did some lookup on the news and found the following link:
Petrol, diesel cars to cost more as road tax goes up - The Times of India
Reproducing the relevant portion of the news article below:

While those buying petrol cars will now have to pay 2% more on road tax, the amount will be 4% more for diesel vehicles. ...
In the past, there was only one chart for all cars and jeeps: a 7% tax for those costing up to Rs 10 lakh, 8% tax for those worth Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and 9% tax on vehicles worth more than Rs 20 lakh. But now, the levy has been increased separately for petrol and diesel car.

So for the XUV (which is a diesel vehicle in the 10+ lakh bracket), the road tax has gone from 8% of the basic cost to 12%. That is 50% increase! That's an addition of another ~50,000 Rs to the OTR cost of the vehicle.

Now the 'lottery' in Feb actually makes sense. Those who won the 'lottery' and got the vehicle before May, paid ~1.75 lakh less as compared to today's price.

[anandtheleo]

Originally Posted by Zappo

Thanks SDP.

The headlight stalk operation still ties me up in knots. I am yet to work out a fix pattern for when the headlight comes up on its own while shutting down the car (engine off/locking the car). Does it need to be in auto or do the follow me homes come up even when the switch position is in off? Does it come up when the engine is shut off or when the car is locked? All these are showing varied responses at different times as yet to which I have not yet managed to ascribe a fix pattern. The dealer insists that the lights are working absolutely fine and thats their default behavior!

I too figured it out recently after almost 6 months of ownership.
The follow-me-home headlight works when you switch off the engine and take out the key WITH the doors closed. If you open the driver door and then switch off the engine the follow-me does not work. This is how it works in my XUV. Do try this out and see if its the same in your vehicle too.

[naveenchhillar]

Originally Posted by reevester

Kickass pics!

But why is there a biker sticker on the back of your car???

Thanks Reevester,
Because I belong to a biking club based out in Delhi NCR.
You can chk some biking pictures as well in other albums. Am sure you will gonna relish them a LOT.

Thanks again !!

P.S. Uploaded a new picture today as well

[Zappo]

Originally Posted by rohitbagai

The follow me home works when the sensors sense it's dark outside, it works even if the stalk is on off position because it's a follow me home light and it should work irrespective of the physical position of the switch (subject to certain condition as ambient light outside etc.)
I don't remember exactly but I guess it comes up as soon as we take the keys off and open the driver side door.

Originally Posted by anandtheleo

I too figured it out recently after almost 6 months of ownership.
The follow-me-home headlight works when you switch off the engine and take out the key WITH the doors closed. If you open the driver door and then switch off the engine the follow-me does not work. This is how it works in my XUV. Do try this out and see if its the same in your vehicle too.

From yours and mkumar's reply I get contradictory messages. My idea was follow me home probably should not work if the stock was in off position. However, even if that is not so the behavior is not always consistent. I am not sure whether the sensor detects enough light in covered spaces not to turn on the lights at all times. Will watch more minutely.

Another worry is with battery drain. With insane number of gizmos like auto start-stop, follow me home and the likes I have a feeling that it may cause too much battery drain. Auto start stop is one feature that I prefer keeping off for most parts. Otherwise in regular city driving every 2 minutes the car stops and then starts again. Ideally I will also like to switch off the follow me home and followme to the car feature unless I am parked in an unknown and dark place. It hardly make sense otherwise for the headlights to come on for a minute on battery every time. I have though figured out a workaround to this. The moment follow me home lights come on I unlock once again and then lock back. The light goes away immediately.

Originally Posted by mkumar79

When does the Voice command operation works? Does it not work when audio is on? I have at least not been able to find a way out as yet.


Definitely works with Audio on. You need to press and hold the button for 3 seconds.

Will try holding the button to check whether it works. Basically wanted to find out if it can search my address book if I speak out the name.


By the way guys, did your car come equipped with a reversing horn? Mine did not. Or at least it does not work. But looks like it did for at least another xuv that I saw.

[rohitbagai]

Originally Posted by Zappo

From yours and mkumar's reply I get contradictory messages.

Basically we both mean same but I was doubtful of the timing of the exact point. Both of us essentially mean that follow me light gets activated when we take off the keys and then open the door. He clarified further that if we open the door before taking off the keys it won't activate.
Yes the method you have figured out is the official way to deactivating it as is mentioned in the owners manual too.
EDIT: actually you don't need to lock and then unlock and then lock again. As soon as the light activate you can press unlock to deactivate and the lock the car the way you normally do. Same is the case when you come back and unlock the car and lights gets activated, you can deactivate by again pressing unlock.
I also feel that there are advance battery management techniques deployed in the car. As you can see as soon as we switch on the headlight the instrument cluster lights get dim. Also there is a wattage adjuster for it placed near the beam adjuster.
I have driven the car for around 13000 km and still I get deceived by how quite the engine is. A few times when under an impression that engine got stalled I have even fired the selfstart only to find out that engine is already alive. What happens usually is that we hear a creaking sound of the starter motor but in the case of XUV nothing happens as the ECM do not direct current to the starter motor as it is aware that engine is already alive. There was one instance when the XUV was testing for a week or so, when I unlocked the car the cabin light did not autolit. As soon as I cranked the engine every thing started working normally. I came to know that day that the car went in standby/hibernation mode. So all in all there are many battery management techniques that the car is using to ensure better battery life. The start/stop function is not new and it was even provided in scorpios and I read somewhere that they have taken enough precaution of the wiring as well as the starter motor and the battery to last long atleast as long as the ones without this feature.

[anandtheleo]

Originally Posted by Zappo

The moment follow me home lights come on I unlock once again and then lock back. The light goes away immediately.



Will try holding the button to check whether it works. Basically wanted to find out if it can search my address book if I speak out the name.


By the way guys, did your car come equipped with a reversing horn? Mine did not. Or at least it does not work. But looks like it did for at least another xuv that I saw.

1)The follow-me home light works even if the light stalk is in OFF position. The ambient brightness plays a factor in it coming on or not. If there is enough light on the sensor say, like a bright tube-light overhead the parking area if its lit in the night parking place the follow-me light does not come on.

Also you don't have to 'unlock' & then press 'lock' (again) to switch of the light. Once the follow-me light is on, its enough that you press 'lock' again for it to go off.

2)The voice command button does not work with the 'Phonebook' it has limited functionality, it can be used to toggle between Radio-CD-Ipod-Bluetooth audio and to change Radio channels.

3)There is no inbuilt reverse horn in the XUV, mine does not have one. And I have not heard it on other XUV's when I had gone to the A** for service and saw them being moved around with no reverse horn chiming.

[SDP]

Originally Posted by SDP

Even I got a call today and the CPD is 1st June!
..

The call I got was from the dealer and he is still maintaining that I would get a call about the CPD from Mahindra. Its been a month since booking and still no customer promised date yet

Anybody else from 3rd round of booking is facing this issue?

I am going to wait till Friday and escalate again to customer-care.

[raj_5004]

Originally Posted by Zappo

I realized late in the day that many other XUVs have a mild reverse horn preinstalled which does not work in my car. This needs to be checked and rectified.

Originally Posted by anandtheleo

3)There is no inbuilt reverse horn in the XUV, mine does not have one. And I have not heard it on other XUV's when I had gone to the A** for service and saw them being moved around with no reverse horn chiming.

The XUV does not have a reverse horn. But I remember that the XUV's reverse sensor chime is quite loud and can be heard outside.

So what Zappo heard could have been the reverse sensors and not a reverse horn.