Safari in the urban jungle?

enygma · 3rd July 2007, 13:29

Currently am looking for a upgrade (if I can call that) from my Gypsy and the typical sedans somehow do not excite me any more. Went to the TATA dealership to look at the Fiat Adventure and came back more confused.
The question is why not Safari? I have read through most of the ownership reports on Safari and know what to expect. The simple question is how practical is Safari for city driving. Noida and NCR may be fine but how about other cities?

I expect 80% city driving, self driven. Comfort is now a criteria for me - hence the preference towards Safari and Adventure. Fusion would not do.

This might turn out to be the only vehicle in the house for some time till a certain hot hatch reaches Indian shores - hence this question. The family would be maximum 3 adults and a kid.

Thanks.

rajismine · 3rd July 2007, 14:33

Hey Dear,

Safari is rough to drive in the city initially. But trust me, it gets better and better with time. Moreover you also get used to it

. It is not so refined but still an amazing vehicle and gives you a lot of pride and substance. Dont even think twice. Go ahead and buy a safari. And welcome to the club in advance.

Regards

Rajeev

hmishra83 · 3rd July 2007, 14:34

To upgrade from a Gypsy (King or not) to a vecicle which is not a Safari would be difficult and painful! Though, you dont need that much space, you have already been driving a car/jeep and IMHO should go in for the DICOR. Comfort is optimum. The number of people buying DICORs is going up everyday (including loads of Team-BHPians).
I believe the DICOR is quite manouverable and in terms of performance it is definitely better than the 2.0 model. You can expect some issues a.k.a. niggling issues and should be fine with them. For more details, you can refer the countless threads that we have on the forum.
As for the adventure, it sure is a great car. In case you go in for it, you may strike a good deal too (moneywise). But then again, I wouldn't compare these two cars. One is an apple, the other is an orange. Its a different story that I love both of these fruits

enygma · 3rd July 2007, 16:53

Apples and Oranges? Hmm
Maybe should get both and gift the Adventure to the wifey.

But where is the moolah

My question was more towards driveability and gear changing in city traffic. The turning radius and other stuff, I think, with my King experience, I should be able to handle.

But moving to diesel and the thought of bumper to bumber traffic is what is stopping me from going with my heart.

Godfather · 4th July 2007, 07:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by enygma

My question was more towards driveability and gear changing in city traffic. The turning radius and other stuff, I think, with my King experience, I should be able to handle.

But moving to diesel and the thought of bumper to bumber traffic is what is stopping me from going with my heart.

Welcome to the Safari Owners Club in Advance..

1. driveability and gear changing in city traffic.You will get used to it..
This is going to be a pain to turn the vehicle around and find parking.. But once you get the hang of it, it will be a breeze.

2. Bumper to Bumper traffic is every where.. does this mean that we dont buy a car that we like??

Godfather

CrAzY dRiVeR · 4th July 2007, 08:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godfather

2. Bumper to Bumper traffic is every where.. does this mean that we dont buy a car that we like??

Upgrading from the gypsy, sure you would get used to the Safari.

Adventure is a good car, but don't think it is a match the sheer presence and comfort of the safari.

Godfather · 4th July 2007, 08:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Upgrading from the gypsy, sure you would get used to the Safari.

I upgraded from an Esteem to a Safari.. It took me close to 2 weeks to get used to the sheer size, and even now 6 months down the line i make mistakes in judgment.(have started another thread on that where i bumped into one of the managers cars where i work

)

Godfather

enygma · 4th July 2007, 11:09

Thanks for all the encourgement, guys.

@Godfather - I read that thread. It was hilarious. I was already mentioning the required for a "cleaner" to one of my friends, as suggested in that thread !!

enygma · 3rd August 2007, 17:38

Update from my side. Took a couple of test drives of the Safari. The comfort was awesome. However, the clutch travel and the gear were not that comforting. Otherwise, it is a great cruiser.

So went back to the drawing boards and then figured out that one of the better looking sedans (IMHO) has become dieseled. Took a magnum drive of it and got hooked to it. Another drive through real bad traffic proved that turbo lag is not that bad. About to put my money on the magnum.

It was great fun testing the Safari, the adventure, the magnum and the cedia in the last couple of months. In the end, the sheer practicality of the Magnum won over the Cedia. Considering that Gypsy King was being used as my only family vehicle, i guess my age has got to do a lot with this practical decision !!

Have to say that Magnum v/s Cedia was a very very close one.
The Safari dream lives one - i hear a newer engine is in the works.

Thanks a lot everyone for making this forum informative. A special thanks to all the Safari club guys here - hoping to be a member of the beast club sometime in the future.

Thanks especially to Rudra and BUSA for showing the Optra way of life and the possibility of a Peted Magnum.

hondadude · 3rd August 2007, 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by enygma

Update from my side. Took a couple of test drives of the Safari. The comfort was awesome. However, the clutch travel and the gear were not that comforting. Otherwise, it is a great cruiser.

I agree. Clutch travel is the only reason I haven't bought a Safari. I don't know how people use that clutch in bumper to bumper traffic. If only Safari came with an Auto transmission ...sigh!

THE-U- · 5th August 2007, 08:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by hondadude

I agree. Clutch travel is the only reason I haven't bought a Safari. I don't know how people use that clutch in bumper to bumper traffic. If only Safari came with an Auto transmission ...sigh!

I got used to the Safari clutch travel pretty quickly. I learnt to change from neutral to first efficiently in stop and go traffic. It was a chore only for a day or two, after that it was a breeze.

CrAzY dRiVeR · 5th August 2007, 08:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by enygma

The Safari dream lives one - i hear a newer engine is in the works.

Make sure you get over the dream. Cause you wouldn't want to feel something missing everytime you see a Safari.

Quote:

Originally Posted by enygma

Thanks especially to Rudra and BUSA for showing the Optra way of life and the possibility of a Peted Magnum.

Congrats!
Peted Magnum! Now thats some thinking! Wonder what the figures would come to be. (specially that monstrous torque)

Steeroid · 5th August 2007, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Peted Magnum! Now thats some thinking! Wonder what the figures would come to be. (specially that monstrous torque)

Cant be very different from Tadu's Peted Elantra, I would imagine.

suman · 6th August 2007, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by enygma

But moving to diesel and the thought of bumper to bumber traffic is what is stopping me from going with my heart.

Don't worry too much about it! I do it every day - from Gurgaon Phase V to Okhla Phase III, that's around 28 kms each way. It ambles along & discourages most others from coming in its path, you need to get used to it initially.

Now I'm so comfortable, I wouldn't trade places in rush hour traffic

EDIT: Oops, sorry, I see that you're planning to go with the Magnum. Good luck but as Steer says, don't feel bad every time you see a Safari though.......

Steeroid · 6th August 2007, 14:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by suman

but as Steer says, don't feel bad every time you see a Safari though.......

Correction: Crazy Driver said that, not me!

3rd July 2007, 13:29	#1
enygma BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore - The SpeedBreak City Posts: 36 Thanked: 13 Times	Safari in the urban jungle? Currently am looking for a upgrade (if I can call that) from my Gypsy and the typical sedans somehow do not excite me any more. Went to the TATA dealership to look at the Fiat Adventure and came back more confused. The question is why not Safari? I have read through most of the ownership reports on Safari and know what to expect. The simple question is how practical is Safari for city driving. Noida and NCR may be fine but how about other cities? I expect 80% city driving, self driven. Comfort is now a criteria for me - hence the preference towards Safari and Adventure. Fusion would not do. This might turn out to be the only vehicle in the house for some time till a certain hot hatch reaches Indian shores - hence this question. The family would be maximum 3 adults and a kid. Thanks.
	() Thanks

3rd July 2007, 14:33	#2
rajismine BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 539 Thanked: 281 Times View My Garage	Hey Dear, Safari is rough to drive in the city initially. But trust me, it gets better and better with time. Moreover you also get used to it. It is not so refined but still an amazing vehicle and gives you a lot of pride and substance. Dont even think twice. Go ahead and buy a safari. And welcome to the club in advance. Regards Rajeev
	() Thanks

3rd July 2007, 14:34	#3
hmishra83 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York City & New Delhi Posts: 222 Thanked: 2 Times View My Garage	To upgrade from a Gypsy (King or not) to a vecicle which is not a Safari would be difficult and painful! Though, you dont need that much space, you have already been driving a car/jeep and IMHO should go in for the DICOR. Comfort is optimum. The number of people buying DICORs is going up everyday (including loads of Team-BHPians). I believe the DICOR is quite manouverable and in terms of performance it is definitely better than the 2.0 model. You can expect some issues a.k.a. niggling issues and should be fine with them. For more details, you can refer the countless threads that we have on the forum. As for the adventure, it sure is a great car. In case you go in for it, you may strike a good deal too (moneywise). But then again, I wouldn't compare these two cars. One is an apple, the other is an orange. Its a different story that I love both of these fruits
	() Thanks

3rd July 2007, 16:53	#4
enygma BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore - The SpeedBreak City Posts: 36 Thanked: 13 Times	Apples and Oranges? Hmm Maybe should get both and gift the Adventure to the wifey. But where is the moolah My question was more towards driveability and gear changing in city traffic. The turning radius and other stuff, I think, with my King experience, I should be able to handle. But moving to diesel and the thought of bumper to bumber traffic is what is stopping me from going with my heart.
	() Thanks

4th July 2007, 11:09	#8
enygma BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore - The SpeedBreak City Posts: 36 Thanked: 13 Times	Thanks for all the encourgement, guys. @Godfather - I read that thread. It was hilarious. I was already mentioning the required for a "cleaner" to one of my friends, as suggested in that thread !!
	() Thanks

3rd August 2007, 17:38	#9
enygma BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore - The SpeedBreak City Posts: 36 Thanked: 13 Times	Back to a Sedan. Update from my side. Took a couple of test drives of the Safari. The comfort was awesome. However, the clutch travel and the gear were not that comforting. Otherwise, it is a great cruiser. So went back to the drawing boards and then figured out that one of the better looking sedans (IMHO) has become dieseled. Took a magnum drive of it and got hooked to it. Another drive through real bad traffic proved that turbo lag is not that bad. About to put my money on the magnum. It was great fun testing the Safari, the adventure, the magnum and the cedia in the last couple of months. In the end, the sheer practicality of the Magnum won over the Cedia. Considering that Gypsy King was being used as my only family vehicle, i guess my age has got to do a lot with this practical decision !! Have to say that Magnum v/s Cedia was a very very close one. The Safari dream lives one - i hear a newer engine is in the works. Thanks a lot everyone for making this forum informative. A special thanks to all the Safari club guys here - hoping to be a member of the beast club sometime in the future. Thanks especially to Rudra and BUSA for showing the Optra way of life and the possibility of a Peted Magnum.
	() Thanks