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satie · 28th February 2007, 00:19

Hello,

After lurking on the forums for a little while I have finally decided to post. I am newbie here so if I violate any rules in my post please let me know.

I am planning to buy a 4WD in the next month or so. I have been away from the driving scene (in India) for about 7 years and dont really have enough knowledge to make an informed decision. The only car I have used for off-roading in the past is the Maruti Gypsy King 4x4. With the car market heating up recently, I am wondering what other options are available.
I am looking for 4WD vehicles only as a 2WD will just not cut it for me. I have been stuck in landslides, with rocks hurtling down from cliffs, in Garwahl; a dry river bed at dusk in Corbett National Park; and had my engine flooded in 2 feet of water in a 2WD. And I dont want those experiences again.

I am looking for a car in the Rs. 5-8 lacs range. I need functionality and not looks. Something that can easily be fixed, if need be, anywhere in the country. I would probably drive an average of 2500km a month mostly on state and national highways, and in the forest (I am a semi-professional wildlife photographer). Ideally, I would like to be able to commute comfortably to work (in NOIDA) in it, but that is not an absolute requirement. I will be the only person driving it. And as I will be driving it for long distances/hours, driver comfort is important. I dont need a lot of room inside. I will mostly have a big bag/case of camera equipment, a couple of sleeping bags, a tent, supplies, etc. And one passenger most of the times. If the vehicle meets all my needs, I plan to keep it for a long time unless a better alternative comes out. Resale value, although important, is not as important as the other things I mentioned.

If anyone here has good experience travelling to remote areas frequently on not-so hospitable terrain, please make your recommendations. Personal experience with a vehicle counts more than technical specs to me.

Thanks.

28th February 2007, 00:19	#1 (permalink)
satie Newbie Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Reston, Virginia (soon to be Delhi) Posts: 3	Recommendations for a 4WD Hello, After lurking on the forums for a little while I have finally decided to post. I am newbie here so if I violate any rules in my post please let me know. I am planning to buy a 4WD in the next month or so. I have been away from the driving scene (in India) for about 7 years and dont really have enough knowledge to make an informed decision. The only car I have used for off-roading in the past is the Maruti Gypsy King 4x4. With the car market heating up recently, I am wondering what other options are available. I am looking for 4WD vehicles only as a 2WD will just not cut it for me. I have been stuck in landslides, with rocks hurtling down from cliffs, in Garwahl; a dry river bed at dusk in Corbett National Park; and had my engine flooded in 2 feet of water in a 2WD. And I dont want those experiences again. I am looking for a car in the Rs. 5-8 lacs range. I need functionality and not looks. Something that can easily be fixed, if need be, anywhere in the country. I would probably drive an average of 2500km a month mostly on state and national highways, and in the forest (I am a semi-professional wildlife photographer). Ideally, I would like to be able to commute comfortably to work (in NOIDA) in it, but that is not an absolute requirement. I will be the only person driving it. And as I will be driving it for long distances/hours, driver comfort is important. I dont need a lot of room inside. I will mostly have a big bag/case of camera equipment, a couple of sleeping bags, a tent, supplies, etc. And one passenger most of the times. If the vehicle meets all my needs, I plan to keep it for a long time unless a better alternative comes out. Resale value, although important, is not as important as the other things I mentioned. If anyone here has good experience travelling to remote areas frequently on not-so hospitable terrain, please make your recommendations. Personal experience with a vehicle counts more than technical specs to me. Thanks.