Includes detailed comparison with Scorpio and Innova.
Check out the photos of my SUV: -
https://img454.imageshack.us/img454/3103/safari6qe.jpg
https://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9722/safari3fourth0fo.jpg
https://img281.imageshack.us/img281/8929/safariback3xd.jpg
https://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9550/safarifront0fy.jpg
https://img82.imageshack.us/img82/958/safariside2nf.jpg
https://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5379/bolero7xy.jpg
Our Safari DiCOR LX was delivered on 18th February 2006. We bought it at the old price. After recent price revision the LX model is available for approx. Rs. 60,000 less. I am afraid that the car will be more common now.
Sure, like many guys have said in their reviews, it is not a perfect car, it has its shortcomings, But nothing is seriously wrong.
I would like to point out that we bought the LX version for 8.3 lakh (on-road, Nagpur) and after adding less than 1 lakh; it is almost similar to the VX version, which costs around 14lakh (check the revised prices).
Here is the list of modifications/accessories we have carried out/fitted so far:
1) Bumpers, cladding, Mirrors, spare wheel cover and trim above quarter glass painted to body color: - Cost 15000
2) The front grill fitted with chrome trim from VX version (PLANNED)
3) Kenwood 4-speaker system with VCD/MP3 and a single roof mounted LCD screen: - Total 13000/-
4) Garware sun control film:- 700/- and V-kool for front windshield:- 5000/-
5) Art leather seat covers: - 4800/- (made to order. Stanley leather seat covers will cost you around 20-35 thousand rupees. Maybe I’ll have them in my next car)
6) Parking sensors (much more practical and useful than the camera on VX): - 6000/-
7) Fog lamps: - 900/- (including installation) and other necessary bits like running boards (very useful for ladies), mud flaps.
We also want to fit protruding alloy wheels but there was not much choice available in Nagpur, so we’ve decided to look for them in Hyderabad or Pune. They will cost around 20-30 thousand rupees.
One thing that disappointed us was the air conditioning system. We had a Mahindra Bolero whose AC was rated among the top 5 by OVERDRIVE magazine in a test which included cars like Merc and Accord. So compared to Bolero, Safari’s AC takes a lot of time to cool the huge cabin. Also the glass area is very large so heat rejecting films like V-kool or Garware are a good idea. The power and acceleration are more than enough for our roads.
So far both my dad and I have found the car easy to drive and comfortable for our 6-feet frames, I think even a 6 1/2 feet tall driver can find comfortable position because the seat can be moved back.
We make at least two trips in a year from Nagpur to Kolhapur, covering the distance of 1100kms in about 22hrs non-stop (in Bolero). I am looking forward to doing this journey with our new Safari soon, I am sure it'll be lot more comfortable and fast. Our Bolero has logged 70000kms in 5 years (average 14000kms/yr) so you can imagine how much we travel. The car is NOT used for daily office/college runs.
I recommend this SUV only to those who were born as exclusive edition and for whom comfort and class are as important as the performance and exclusivity.
And all those regular production guys among you can always go for Scorpio, Innova and Tavera.
One member (waytogo) questioned me about my comments on Innova:
I have mentioned Innova only because it is an UV and falls in the same price range.
INNOVA:
There is not much to compare between the two. The Safari is an SUV and Innova is a Minivan.
A minivan is supposed to be practical, easy to drive, low on running cost and basically meant for women with half dozen kids. Of course, in India the Innova is perceived as a luxury vehicle. But still it is good only for big families, ours is a family of three. So, all those extra seats in Innova are useless for us.
You might argue that Safari has seven seats too. But I’d like to tell you that it is comfortable only for four passengers. The middle seat in second row is too hard on arse and the folding seats in the last row are very uncomfortable and meant for rare use. Safari was not designed to be a people mover. While in Innova, all seats are designed for regular use.
On the other hand, SUVs are considered big and brash in USA and Europe. Which is somewhat correct, considering the excellent road network in their countries these people don’t really NEED SUVs. But in India if we leave the metropolitan cities aside, the roads in most parts are still not good, so SUVs make a lot of sense for our driving conditions and are substitutes for luxury sedans.
SCORPIO:
The new updated Scorpio is a good-looking SUV.
During the test-drive, I found Scorpio very cramped on inside and the seating arrangement and comfort level was not much better than the Bolero, which we owned for five years. I have also read in auto magazines that Scorpio’s handling gets dangerous at high speeds and they have not managed to sort it out even on the new model. It won’t matter much to those who primarily use the vehicle for city runs but for highway cruisers like us who mostly drive above 100kmph, this issue is serious.
Scorpio maybe faster than Safari by a few kmph but it is not really comfortable for long distance cruising. So when you are traveling on an average road you’ll have to drive the Scorpio at lower speed to save yourself a few dislocated joints (even though it can go faster). But in Safari you can enjoy the drive at speeds of up to 120kmph on average roads.
I agree that is has got flashy styling. But below those bulbous panels, the basic shape is very boxy. It is not much different to Sumo, Qualis and Bolero. Also the view from rear quarter is not very pleasing.
I was expecting the Scorpio’s AC to be as good as Bolero’s but was let down by its average performance.
One more issue with the Scorpio is the image. I am from a semi-urban town near Nagpur and even in such a small place there are many Scorpio’s, 90% of them are used as taxis. I don’t know about other regions but at least here Scorpio has replaced Tata Sumo and Qualis as the universal "car for hire" (BHAADE KI GAADI)
It is not uncommon to see 15-20 people crammed inside a Scorpio during mating (read wedding) season. Seems even the village folks love to arrive in style. Again, this won’t matter much to those living in cities. But it has made a very negative (desi) image of Scorpio in my mind.
I’ve got lot more to say but I am running out of word limit.
Planned reviews: Gypsy, Bolero, Land Rover
