Trax Gurkha Test Drive on Horrible roads and Off-road too

[4x4addict]

Guys,

I had posted in the other thread that I did speak to some people in Force motors. They have changed the name to Black Beauty and the new vehicle has just gotten ARAI approval to sell the product. He said that they should start taking orders in a few weeks. So maybe it is possible that we maybe able to order it in a month or so.

I have always thought that Indian companies lack the hunger the increase Market Share and compete. They have survived so long in the socialist monopolistic environment that they find it hard to adapt in a competitive market. They only reason most Indian car companies/products survive is because of the 110% import duty on foreign cars.

Unfortunately as a consumer in India in the market for a niche 4x4 we don't have much choice. So, as much as I would like to complain about force motors, I am glad that I can get a vehicle that can mostly handle the Rubicon trail without any major mods from an Indian manufacturer.

[lurker]

Originally Posted by DirtyDan

Frankly, I think it is a work of art. To me, it is beautiful. I would buy one in an instant but Force does not want to sell it, it seems. Why don't they push Gurkha? Why the long delivery delay? Is there really no demand for it?

I agree with you thoughts completely and unreservedly. Samurai's excellent report has convinced me that this is the beauty I was looking for all my life. lol

but no kidding, this vehicle has a certain personality, that I can even sense from just looking at the pictures. What to speak of meeting one face-to-face.

Can somebody alert the marketing dept at Force to this thread ... or rather not as that could be risky and they could use that excuse to mark up the prices on this even further.

Only thing missing from Samurai's report was a pic of the enjun bay. It would have wonderful to see what lay inside.

[lurker]

Originally Posted by Mpower

Well, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

This beholder is bowled over ... this is my Rambha.

[Eddy]

Good Lord... Didn't even know that a car called Gurkha existed. And a company called Force India that makes cars -->
Eddy enlightened hua

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Good Lord... Didn't even know that a car called Gurkha existed.

It's because you are a car-dude and not a 4X4-dude!
Anyone with a love for 4X4 would have known about the Trax T&C, Gurkha, Judo etc..

[phamilyman]

anup saab

are you now regretting your decision for the 4x4 scorpio? heard from a mumbai gypsy friend that manual 4x4 is superior to the on-the-fly scorpio stuff, which needs revving to engage!

and fwiw, I saw a 4x4 scorp in kargil that completely entrenched itself while trying to cross an oblique mound of sand - the kind left behind when dozers push rubble obliquely off the edge of the hill!

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

are you now regretting your decision for the 4x4 scorpio? heard from a mumbai gypsy friend that manual 4x4 is superior to the on-the-fly scorpio stuff, which needs revving to engage!

Not really. Don't forget I used a Gypsy for 8 years.
As for the revving bit to engage 4X4, I don't know what you are talking about. You simply press down the clutch and flick the switch, and it's done.
I was under no delusion what I was going in for when buying a Scorpio - no diff locks (neither did the Gypsy have them), very heavy vehicle (this is a huge handicap compared to the Gypsy), not really enough GC, etc..

However, as I have mentioned elsewhere, I am NOT an offroading freak. I'm just an acute mountain lover and one who travels with family.

A 'soft-roader' has done me well all these years, allowing great freedom to go where you please. There have been occasions where I've turned back because I could see that the terrain ahead was beyond the capabilities of my machine. I have never taken it as a challenge to conquer such conditions, because we are a family that love holidaying in the mountains (and are NOT compulsive off-roaders).

I did seriously toy with the idea of going in for a Town & Country, or a Judo. But, for all the shortcomings so well highlighted in this thread, I stayed away.

BTW, I even TDed the 'civilian Jonga' that was being offered by the Jabalpore Ordnance Factory. Not at all acceptable.

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

and fwiw, I saw a 4x4 scorp in kargil that completely entrenched itself while trying to cross an oblique mound of sand - the kind left behind when dozers push rubble obliquely off the edge of the hill!

The answer to this one I had already posted on another forum:


Here's some more ammo: in our part of the himalayas, a narrower track is anyday better than a wide track like the scorpio. that is still not the main reason why i would prefer a gypsy. the MAIN reason is, and this will come as a surprise to most of you, the way a gypsy treads softly, as opposed to "heavily" for ANY other SUV available in india! In most situations in OUR himalayas, you can get by even with an OMNI! Why?? Because it is sosooo light. Similarly, the gypsy very often 'glides' over bad terrain when all the heavier ones are actually sinking THEMSELVES in because of their OWN weight, and therefore requiring 4WD ablilty or external assistance.
and when it comes to having to take a diagonal manoeuvre on inclines, my scorpio actually tells me clearly that it is going to give up on grip/traction, which BTW my gypsy NEVER did, even tho it was a hard-top.
I wish what i am expressing only as my "feel" can be evaluated more quantitatively by someone.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by anupmathur

It's because you are a car-dude and not a 4X4-dude!
Anyone with a love for 4X4 would have known about the Trax T&C, Gurkha, Judo etc..

Bang On !!!

I haven't heard of the other two either

[Venkatesh.C]

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

Often, very often I feel that they have a good product in hand and taken special care to ruin it.

Rudraji, you seem to have an uncanny knack of writing not more than 5 words and yet creating maximum impact.
Well said.

[Victa_OR_Bolero]

Thank you Samurai for TD of the vertiable new Trax Gurkha. Looks good (am not comparing it with any others - it looks good on its own) looks good in black. I have one gripe though .. why dont they make this with a 5 door version .. i mean the LWB - the judo 4X4 - i would love it to have easy ingress / egress from the back seat.. do they make this in the LWB like the judo with the same diff locks / air snorkel etc. I WISH they would......

[rrnsss]

yes they make it in 2750 mm wheel base with 5 doors. it is called gamma 4x4 . it has everything that the 2400 mm gurkha has.


ram

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by rrnsss

yes they make it in 2750 mm wheel base with 5 doors. it is called gamma 4x4 . it has everything that the 2400 mm gurkha has.
ram

But no snorkel, no diff locks, and no AC/PS/BS-III engine.

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by anupmathur

The answer to this one I had already posted on another forum:


Here's some more ammo: in our part of the himalayas, a narrower track is anyday better than a wide track like the scorpio. that is still not the main reason why i would prefer a gypsy. the MAIN reason is, and this will come as a surprise to most of you, the way a gypsy treads softly, as opposed to "heavily" for ANY other SUV available in india! In most situations in OUR himalayas, you can get by even with an OMNI! Why?? Because it is sosooo light. Similarly, the gypsy very often 'glides' over bad terrain when all the heavier ones are actually sinking THEMSELVES in because of their OWN weight, and therefore requiring 4WD ablilty or external assistance.
and when it comes to having to take a diagonal manoeuvre on inclines, my scorpio actually tells me clearly that it is going to give up on grip/traction, which BTW my gypsy NEVER did, even tho it was a hard-top.
I wish what i am expressing only as my "feel" can be evaluated more quantitatively by someone.

You have said it perfectly man. Lot of folks disregard the weight factor while offroading. I try and carry minimum stuff in the Classic whenever i venture out for some serious stuff.

[rrnsss]

samurai > actually you can get it with a/c , p/s and diff locks. Yes no snorkel. You are right.

But with a BSIII there is so much electronics below the snorkel line, the snorkel is a moot point. The electronics will short out long before the engine starts taking water.