It's a HEXA 4X4 XT - BUT - So, how it finally went down was like this:
Pajero Sport - Worries about Maintenance support and pricing.
Fortuner 4X4 - All in the market from previous gen were 1L + kms if genuine plus it surely is not a comfortable ride.
Safari Storme 4X4 - Not available, plus previous gen.
Compass 4X4 - Not ladder frame, too many reports of issues.
Thar LX HT AT Diesel- Available a dime a dozen but, too small, inconvenient for pets, Impractical.
Final 3 were ISUZU VCross 4X4 2018, Force Gurkha NEW 2022 or HEXA 4X4 XT 2017-2020
Force Gurkha tugged at the heart but while better than the Thar in practicality for my purpose, it is finally a 3 door and low on power, so the highway route till the rough road section starts may be a bit boring.
Isuzu V-Cross again was a worry from maintenance point of view considering the dealer network and the recent drop in sales. It did tick all boxes, but I didn't find a vehicle that was in acceptable condition in the period in which I searched.
Hexa 4X4 XT are exceedingly rare. You just keep finding AT variants in the XT trim, which was extremely popular, but I needed an AWD or 4X4.
Just when I gave up, I found a 34kms run white coloured 2017 model at a decent price.
This was for my sister's company and for when she travels to the location, so comfort was important. The vehicle was externally in immaculate condition except for fog lights that had a bit of moisture. All 4 Tires were new but was a Yokohama while 3 were MRF.
So, it was finalized, (test driven for a few kms, rode comfortably did not pull to any side and gave no error codes) and bought as it was driven for just 34k kms.
But..
To verify the condition further, I got it checked out at TATA Motors Wasan Service center in Chembur. They certified that except for a crack in the Exhaust pipe, there was nothing else in need of urgent repairs. I got the exhaust pipe repair cost further reduced and bought the vehicle for my sister. (Though I would be the one driving it for/ with her when going to the location in concern.)
Relying on this checking performed by Wasan Motors Chembur was a BIG MISTAKE on my part. More on that in a separate Thread.
Hope the logic used to arrive at the decision helps others in buying their vehicle when the criteria match. Though going for TATA was not really the best decision that I took.
Last edited by ACM : 30th September 2022 at 13:14.
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