Aug 20, 2009 01:25 PM
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Off Roading was never in my Horizon as a driver although I would have more than half a million Kms in driving experience accross India. Long distances from Mumbai to Goa, Delhi to Calcutta, Around Karanataka and many such trips over time and ofcourse the daily dose from office to home.
It was only last winter when I got my hands on a Pajero on an off road track that I realised how much fun this is. And to my amazement I got the car stuck in sand unable to move forward or backward. This was a total blow on all my driving experience.
There were Gypsy's moving like rabbits accross the river sand and here what I thought was the allmighty Pajero wasnt budging. I tried all gear combinations and tried but to no result. Finally my uncle an experienced off roader came to my rescue and got us all of the car and with the help of the local villagers we pushed the sand away from the tyres and in a minute the Pajero was out and speeding accross the river side the same way as the gypsy's.
Being an automobile freak this little incidence made me want to learn all there was to learn about 4 wheeling around different terrains and the search for a car began.
I had a stretched budget of about 18 L and so far my choices were very different.. Skoda laura Automatic, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord were some of the luxury cars shortlisted. With Family these were the best choices calling on comfort, style and drive.
But now I was quite inclined to go in for a 4wd machine and hence the choices were again the Pajero, Ford endeavour, Scorpio, Tata safari or an old land cruiser prado that were in my budget.
After much pondering, reading and watching you tube videos that I finally went and booked the 3 litre endeavour (Thunder Plus).
I had tested the car earlier but when I was driving my own monster out of the showroom with my dad it was a first timer feeling of sitting on a powerful monster tuck that would just break away and eat everything in its path.
The first drive from Jallandhar to Delhi was better than what I had initially experienced in comfortable road cars. This baby with its pep and comfortable front seats was so much fun on the highway that I didnt miss my little sedans any more.
A week later my family including my young 2 year old son, his help, my wife and me were off on a trip to Corbett bang in the middle of Monsoons.
We were joined by a friend who had recently acquired his Auotomatic Laura and off we were.
The Endeavour carried everything from my sons bycycle to his toy basket and all of us had the luxury of carrying our own suitcases and everything you could think of and yet the Endy kind off looked back and said 'is that it or do you want to try and fit the santro in the back space'. awesome feeling of space.
My kid watched his fav Tom and Jerry's on the DVD player and didnt trouble us once over the long 8 hour Journey and we happily put the DVD on silent and listened to our collection of music on a pleasant sounding 6 CD changer audio system.
The fun began when we registered our Endy to enter the forest at Corbett. It was pouring rain and the two families including two kids, two helps, a guide and the four of us settled into the endeavour and enetered the forest roads.
Barely a Kilometre away there was a huge Jam with about 30 Gypsy's waiting and ready to turn back as there was a speeding river (monsoon time) which was scarily in everyones way. As we moved forward there were some drivers who warned us that if we got stuck they would not help us.
I had no experience at all but the thrill of crossing that river just seemed so exciting. I checked the water with my friend and it was about Knee deep with a powerful current. We had kids and families loaded so the decision was tough untill one of the gypsy drivers told us to go for it.
We sat got the car on 4wd low and went in slowly. The only thought in my mind was that if the car struggled at all I would pull backwith my rear tyres. What happenned next was History for us. The Car just went in and water splashed all over the windscreen and the next moment we were out on the other side of the river with a crowd of more than 50 people who were watching from their Jeeps clapping away. Ofcourse now they all followed us.
Then there was no looking back. As a first time off roader I tried everything along the forest. from ditches to climbs, waterbeds, slush and you name it. This baby would say no to nothing in a fully loaded car. What more was that our backs yet had no stress owing to the fantastic suspension. We all remembered our older gypsy experiences when after about 30 mins the backs would give way.
This car doesnt really need an experienced off road Driver!!! to take it anywhere. It has a strong will and heart of its own.
Post that the road trips continue and we have been from mountains to sand bashing in Rajasthan. The Endy was the best possible choice for us and continues to drive me to work or anywhere I want.
Next month we are looking to 4wd tracks in Leh and hope to set off on a journey I am sure I would love to write about.
Cheers and for those considering to own one of these machines, read the review!!!
