The big black brute truck comes home!!!! ( Safari 2.2 VTT EX ) After selling my lancer almost 2 years back i wanted to purchase a new car.My search for a new car took a long time.I test drove every car under 15 lakhs but i couldnt justify spending my money on any of them.The lancer had spoilt me and the only cars i could shortlist were
1)Mitsubishi Cedia:
This car seemed to be the winner among the cars i shortlisted.Excellent car!But the EMI + (petrol = expensive fuel) made me dump this car.
2)Optra Magnum:
Powerhouse on wheels,diesel and soft suspension , but nothing else.For me a car is more than just a good engine.Handling was bad and my lack of confidence on GM made me hold back.
3)Honda civic:
Excellent car,bad suspension,poor fuel efficiency.Reject!!
4)Tata Safari : Tata safari is not the best handler, does not boast of top notch quality like the toyota,huge size etc.But a couple of test drives made me fall in love with this beast.I was initially very skeptical about tata quality.But the Safari experience was mind blowing.The prefect recipe for Indian roads.Now here are the Pros
1)Comfort:The prime objective of buying a family vehicle.I would like my family to enjoy the ride while i enjoy driving it.
2)Fuel efficiency:This is important because i am buying a new car with already high EMIs and would not like to spend almost the same amount on fuel.
3)Looks: When i spend money on a car i want it to be good looker.
4)Fun factor: This is very subjective.While i have enjoyed driving a low slung car for years.The fun starts at the corners and ends where the bad roads begin.This is where the Safari fun starts.I am sure our government will keep that fun going for a long time looking at the present state of roads.
5)Size:Bigger is better according to me.
6)Price:I had a maximum budget of 9 lakhs.
That was when my friend told me that RF motors kerala had a December 2008 model black Safari 2.2 VTT EX for sale.Bargained hard and here is the deal 1 lakh discount + 6500 extended warranty + teflon coating + insurance discounts.
Total price on the road in kerala = 8.75 lakhs including extended warranty.
I paid a meager booking amount of Rs 5000.The vehicle was inspected well.Applied loan with a governement bank.Meanwhile i asked my friend also a safari owner to test drive the vehicle.He was quite happy with the vehicle.He was planning to find some faults and reduce the pricing a little more,but could not find a fault apart from a small squeak in really bad roads.No rattling,smooth gear shift, no oil leaks,good power delivery and all electronics working perfect.Last saturday i came to cochin and signed the loan document.By the time the DD was ready it was 11:45.I had to reach the showroom in the next 15 minutes.Me and dad were in our santro and finally reached the showroom by 12:15.I scrambled out of the car,ran to the showroom manager and gave the DD and suggested i would drive the car to the R.T.O along with them.I was impressed with the car.After the tax was paid and R.T.O inspection was done, we drove back to the showroom.The following was a long wait.The time was 2:00 and the manager told me the vehicle will be delivered by 3 PM.My dad left for home.I had a quick lunch from a small hotel nearby and came back.I waited impatiently walking up and down the showroom,changing my position from one couch to another.By 5:30 i was out of my senses.I was counting every second on a clock in the showroom.Meanwhile i got the oppurtunity to test drive a Xenon.
Summary:
1)More responsive than safari
2)Better gear shift quality
3)Good interior design with bad quality materials
4)Ride in front seats was pretty ok.
5)Did not find the vehicle difficult to handle.
6)Poor rear seats
By 6:00 the car was ready.The delivery manager explained the vehicle documents and position of car jack etc.I got into driver seat and drove straight to Galaxy an ICE installer in cochin.I wanted to get the damping done and reduce engine noise and extract better sound from the stock system.
Things done
1)Foam based accoustic sealing for all 4 doors to reduce engine noise and vibrations in door pads.
2)Dynamat Xtreme to improve stock ice quality on all 4 doors.Rear door was not done as i did not have a subwoofer yet.
Effect:
1)Engine noise come down drastically.Around 2200 RPM and 5th gear the cabin goes completely silent.Engine NVH leves much better than a diesel innova.
2)Stock Ice now atleast sounds like a basic ice setup in a stock car.Sounds tighter
Future upgrades:
1)4 channel amp
2)front components to JBL or infinity(if i get better deal)
3)Subwoofer which provides decent punch without un-natural thumping.In short i want the sub to retrieve the lower frequencies i am losing out due to the stock speakers.
In my next post i will write about the drive to bangalore.Reclaiming my life and
loving the truck much more than when i got it.
Last edited by freewheelburnin : 28th July 2009 at 11:31.
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