Team-BHP - Tata Safari Storme : Test Drive and Review. More pics: pg 47

Quote:

Originally Posted by diwa (Post 2936869)

I think TATA made a blunder by having variants Lx,Ex,Vx for Storme and dropping the Gx.

Instead if they had variants Ex,Gx,Vx, then people wouldn't be complaining about the price comparing with existing Safari Lx price.

Yep they should have started with EX and gone on to GX and VX. Totally agree. But on the +ve side now we do know that the lowest (price) and barest (feature set) we may expect the Safari to go to in the short and mid term is LX.

Hi all.
Took TD of the Storme at Tata Motors,South Ex,Delhi today.

The things I absolutely loved :-:thumbs up
*Good all round, confidence inspiring, field of view with almost nil blind spots.
*Commanding high seating position
* Induction of the Urban Bronze colour (the brown in all the poster pics, just love that colour for the SUV)
*Crisp braking
*Metal fenders above cladding on the front,sides and not just fiber.
*Performance looks delicious at least on paper with 140,320 numbers.
*Unbelievably tight turning radius
*Reminds me of the historic unchallenged Safari I loved and loathed, growing up.
*Switch on fly proper 4X4 with 4H and 4L

Things I wish were betterplease:
)Interior quality.
)Seat flexibility: Found wanting, even after the middle row folded (only left seat folds down and lifts up)
)Steering still looks loyal to the Tata family.I miss steering mounted controls and a plusher feel sorely
)Instrument cluster and center console looks dated and not living up to the price tag.
)still paranoid of TATA A.S.service

The Top end variant with 4x4 was quoted at 13.66 lacs ex showroom NCR

TML seems to be aggressively marketing this as a true blue adventurer vehicle and not just another softroader as is evident from the screaming THE REAL SUV tagline and possible target customers in their mind is pretty clear after one sees the videos posted a few posts earlier.

With the Storme marching into the XUV price segment IMHO the only thing that flips the scales in favour of Storme is perhaps its offroader avatar against the AWD soft roading Mahindra. For most if us who cannot afford a second car just for recreational offroading besides a daily use car,the wait for that juicy middle path car which you can drive to work everyday and take it anywhere (and I mean anywhere) on weekend or holiday has been long and disappointing.

The Storme does tick the right boxes for someone fitting above description.While I dont see Storme upsetting the XUV overall but will definitely find some takers for the above reason. And if they are true to their commitment of giving 4x4 on order to the lower end variant also, it will be music to our ears.

ACI now has the Storme review online

http://www.autocarindia.com/Review/2...est-drive.aspx

Most of the things in the review are as expected :). Quoting the summery

Quote:

The Safari Storme, then, comes across as a quantum leap ahead of the previous Safari. It’s well-equipped, refined, better built and comprehensively updated. And with prices starting from Rs 9.9 lakh for the base 4x2 model and going to Rs 13.7 lakh for the fully loaded 4x4 option, it’s great value for money. Also, as a long-distance cruiser, nothing can quite beat it for the money. The only grouse is that, even after 14 years, Tata hasn’t got around to changing the ageing body completely.

To be frank, i still love the way old safari looks, and thats how Pajero looks after decades of upgrades and how much has range rover changed in terms of basic design ?

Does anyone knows the Lx comes with Body coloured bumpers and cladding ?
if its not body coloured, then Tata is doing a big mistake and they them selves are demoting it

Because earlier Safari with unpainted bumper and claddings looks uglier than Scorpio with unpainted bumper.

Safaris Plastic cladding looks cheaper than Scorpios...Not just looks, but its really cheaper in Quality as well as design

Again success comes from Marketing strategy. Almost 80% in this forum may be a Safari enthusiast but when it comes to own one - Max 15% will buy!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lukeskywalker (Post 2937401)

No visible changes are to be seen as per Ndevdath who drove it recently. But a proper TD report is certainly needed.

Certainly Hari, GTO's review is indeed much awaited :)

But i doubt it will vary much from yours...

Quote:

Originally Posted by arunrajk81 (Post 2937476)

Dont u think you need to change your statement :D

Here's my 6 year old beast as on date.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PAVAN KADAM (Post 2937536)

Dont u think you need to change your statement :D

Here's my 6 year old beast as on date.

I totally concur.
I feel, with each iteration, the safari has lost some character
The TCIC was a true gem.
Then they created the 3 liter and took away double barrel headlamps
Then came the 2.2, and they got rid of that lovely red color. I was hoping for funky colors like yellow, red etc., in 2.2!

Finally now the storme. The front end looks nice, with projectors and a more mature face, and the rear looks like added from another vehicle. Removal of spare wheel has made the rear look like a van.

Safari had an iconic profile, and cult looks, and tata has messed with those!

Has everyone missed Page 47 of this thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by parrys (Post 2931559)

Mod Note : This photo preview has been released on 17th October 2012.

Attachment 999859

Engine: The Safari Storme is powered by the same 2.2L Dicor engine, but in a different state of tune and re-badged as the Varicor. It's a DOHC 16-valve unit with 138 BHP (@ 4,000 rpm) and 320 Nm of torque (@ 1,700 rpm). Gearbox is the G-76 Mark II. Claimed 0-100 kph in 15 seconds. ARAI rating is 14 kpl for the 4x2 and 13.2 kpl for the 4x4.

Attachment 999918

High Points:

Lighter and stronger ladder frame with Hydro-Form technology, same as the Tata Aria. The Safari Storme still weighs 2,000 kilos for the base variant though.
Redesigned front and rear end. Side profile more or less retains the characteristics of the old Safari.
L x W x H = 4655 x 1965 x 1922. Wheelbase runs 2650 mm in length while the ground clearance is 200 mm.
The Storme gets ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels, standard on all variants.
'Shift-on-the-fly' 4WD selection.
The Storme loses the tail-gate mounted spare wheel.
There is no plan to bring out a completely new Safari in the near future.
A daily production rate of approximately 100 cars.
The Storme will sell side-by-side with the older generation Safari.

Attachment 1001681

Just called up each and every TATA dealer in Kerala and all of them said "It has not been launched in Kerala, Saar! " I asked every one of them, " Is Kerala a part of Pakistan or what?" I told them it has been launched 2 days back and they just said it may take another 2 to 6 weeks to reach Kerala.

TATA clearly is still in the stone age. Mahindra, Renault still continues to rule the market in Kerala and TATA behaves like they are not bothered. Nice attitude TATA. Keep it up!

Completely disagree, its all about your preference there are so many like me who prefer grey cladding.

Even if you dont like, you can get the cladding painted for 5-10k...

Quote:

Originally Posted by arunrajk81 (Post 2937476)

Hi,

I want to buy the LX as it fits in my budget. Now when i compare LX with EX, the extra features in EX are :
Roof mounted Rear AC, Master light switch with fog controls,Arm rest for driver and co-driver, Rear wiper, Front fog, Rear fog lamps, B-pillar styling tape.

Now, of all these, i will miss Roof mounted Rear AC and Arm rest for driver and co-driver. Can thsese be installed from outside?
As long as these can be accessorized, i do not have a problem. But, if not, then i will have to go for EX?
Please suggest. Thanks in advance. :)