Bolero Invader 4x4 : Ownership review

[sangi]

BOLERO INVADER 4 WD : A more comprehensive feedback!

Purchased on-28 july 2008, Booked on 25 feb 2008,delivery time !!! months (for 4WD),I was out on a mountaineering expedition end May-early July,so neither interested nor in communication,but was not ready till end May, so that makes it 3 months at least.

Purchased At-Kolhapur,Maharashtra.Cheaper there than B'lore,but regn is a problem in cities due emission norms,so you need to produce an 'agricultural, address outside city/octroi limits).B'lore on road priceMarch 2008-522657+Road tax 63242+Ins22311+regn4000=612210(-50000).I lost out because between feb,when i booked and july when i took delivery,ther was a jump of nearly 50000, my fault, since I was enjoying myself in the middle of nowhere

Cost:
Invoice-Rs5,54295/-.
Regn-Rs41,300/-.
Ins-Rs23,185/-.
Total-Rs6,18,780/-
Discount-Rs50,000/-
On road-Rs5, 68,780/-(hope the maths is correct!!)
Colour-white(why?because the sky is so high and...!!Lesser absorption of heat, looks like an official/government vehicle,etc,etc.Actually,when i was booking,the dealer told me that white was readily available and no other colour was available,but had I known that i was to wait for 5 months,....)

Kerb Weight(for Dirty Dan) 1695, GVW 2350(for MDI TC 4WD).

For Vinod Nookala(and all those interested) .Steering Effort on Hard Surfaces.Responsive steering,not hard at all(except at the extremes of the turning circle),all this ONLY after the Lambda hubs fitted.Prior to this,it was like working on a bullworker!Nicely positioned and big steering wheel and high seat;sometimes feel its better than the Scorpio.

Highway pickup and TopSpeed. Pick up OK,she is not a dragster,but not a bullock cart also!You dont feel(very)let down while overtaking,if you are getting what i am trying to say.Topspeed I've hit is 120,but starts vibrating/shudderring slightly over 110.

Gears.5+1,smooth,lever comfortably placed(am a tall person!).

NVH.Vibration-minimal,(while idling),later on, nix.

Noise.Slight,while idling(nothing close to the other M&M'Jeeps'),but the beauty is,once you are in 4th/5th,esp at higher speeds,over 70,with the windows rolled up,she's cruising with just no noise/vibration.

OTR. Length,width, GC cant remember offhand(can you believe its not in the manual!!).Width, same as Bolero,GC, as a 4 WD(leafs in front should be 185 or over;is not 210 like the gypsy,but definitely more than the boleros I see(maybe the 16" tyres? Anyways, she's good.Adequately short and powered with a high ride, I dont have a problem.One would have wished for the 97 B HP storm engine,but then....Anyways, I have always been the one to believe that power,GC,tyres,etc are no match for a good 'eye'/assessment for the track/gound and safe and good driving-basically assessment for GC,slush,gradient and how much torque,which gear,etc to use.I find it pointless to engage 4X4 once you are stuck;it should have been there earlier,apart,obviously,when the s... really hits the ceiling(because.I believe,either one was sleeping,doping,yapping or just too full of himself or his vehicle/tyres/GC,etc,etc/Anyways...back to business.

Mileage. Varies from 12.8 to 14.6(she's done 14000,so should improve further I guess).Best is 14-14.6 at speeds NOT over 95,after that there is a sudden drop to anywhere in the range of 12.8 to 14-all this with my style of driving ;should vary from person to person and vehicle to vehicle.She dosen't behave well with the lady of the house- whatever she does, not over 13!! MCP??

Mods/Glitches.Body Squeak-Nice music and I dont want to forget that I am in a M&M!!Am thinking of superimposing pieces of oil engine belts(like the ones they have on 'atta chakki'engines/oilengines in the fields) along with the OEM rubber bushes.Had tried it on the old Commander 650DI and it worked for years.

Glove Box. Can you believe it came without a lock?And then one fine day, it just dropped open and would'nt stay closed.Warranty period replacement and then a locksmith to instal a lock.

Cabin Light.Gave up a week back. Warranty period?Thinking of replacing with a diode/white light one.

Tarpaulin mod.Good design and material,easy and fast to remove and fit but am planning to modify to open in either/all of the below:
Open only both sidewalls.
Open only top.
Open all three.
Survey done,quote is Rs2500/-, 2 days.

Safe Deposit Vault.Being an 'open, vehicle, no security of stuff inside.planning to get a MS/GI/SS box made with a lock ,under the right hand rear seat,all along its length,41"(the left has a little box for the jack already.Quote for Rs 2000/-,2 days(MS,as it can be painted to match interiors,others are costlier,but no rusting. Invariably,tradeoffs!).

Tow hook. Unlike the other Jeeps/M&Ms.no cross member connecting the two long members of the chassis at the tail end.So have to get one welded and/or bolted,footstep shifted(lest one stub his toe while climbing in at night) number plate shifted,etc,etc and then fit the hook.Quote Rs 2000-7000/-!!! 3 days.

Headlights.upgraded from stock 55W to 85 W.Powerful enough.As usual,the great headlamp levelling system does not work.But the chart in the manual is very,very impressive!!!

Tyres.185/85/16 Apollo amazer XL.I am AMAZED how M&M can put these on a 4WD.Anyways I need advice on upgrade. Have gone through ALL the threads,but figures confuse me.Without changing ratios(I guess),I think 215/75/15 or 235/75/15 should fit,but what effect will 15" versus 16" have .Do I lose GC?? GURUS pls advise.Need one tyre for everything-crosscountry,highway,suit or rather be very easy on the wallet,etc! Tall order!??

Highway and OTR. If it is only dvr and co dvr, 200-300kms(and you can bear non AC and non PS ),she's good on the highway-good speed(90-100),good road holding,no bumps,no noise, road presence,etc. But have yet to sit to sit behind and check out the ride quality, With todays generation of 'soft' kids, I dont think she qualifies as a 'family' car;as a second/third vehicle,for the price,she's GOOD. I told you guys I'm not computer/net savvy-its taken the whole evening to type this.Hope you folks enjoy it and do excuse goof ups.

Regards and goodnight.

[vinod_nookala]

Originally Posted by sangi

Tyres.185/85/16 Apollo amazer XL.I am AMAZED how M&M can put these on a 4WD.Anyways I need advice on upgrade. Have gone through ALL the threads,but figures confuse me.Without changing ratios(I guess),I think 215/75/15 or 235/75/15 should fit,but what effect will 15" versus 16" have .Do I lose GC?? GURUS pls advise.Need one tyre for everything-crosscountry,highway,suit or rather be very easy on the wallet,etc! Tall order!?? Highway and OTR. If it is only dvr and co dvr, 200-300kms(and you can bear non AC and non PS ),she's good on the highway-good speed(90-100),good road holding,no bumps,no noise, road presence,etc.

Hey sangi,
Thanks for a good ownership report!! Great to know that it is capable of 120 kmph!! Regarding tyres refer the thread 4x4 tyres and rims. I think you should go for 16 inch for GC issues with not more than 215-235 width. The effect on non power assisted steering is too much for much broader tyres. If budget is your constraint go for bridgestone HT, this is a dual purpose tyre else BF good rich is the best!!!
p.s- Are you fixing up A/C?

[DirtyDan]

Originally Posted by sangi

Kerb Weight(for Dirty Dan) 1695, GVW 2350(for MDI TC 4WD).
.Mileage. Varies from 12.8 to 14.6,,,.Best is 14-14.6 at speeds NOT over 95,Mods/Glitches.Body Squeak-Nice music and I dont want to forget that I am in a M&M!!....Tarpaulin mod.Good design and material,easy and fast to remove and fit Tow hook. Unlike the other Jeeps/M&Ms.no cross member connecting the two long members of the chassis at the tail end...

Sangi, I read your comprehensive post with great interest. Thanks for the info! I have been waiting since Friday for Mahindra sales officials to return phone calls even confirming that I can order an Invader where I am. The kerb weight is just about 150 kg lighter than the Bolero Camper, another vehicle I have been considering, with mods.

Can you find any mention in your manual what the differential ratios are? I suspect M&M may have gone to 3:72 for emissions but I dunno. The Invader may not be as formidable a pure off-roader as the mm5** or SWB jeeps but that torquey DI, light stance and a little extra room inside make it potentially a great Himalaya mountain goat 4x4 vehicle, I think. Ah but how to get lockers and a creeper gear into it?

[4x4addict]

Originally Posted by DirtyDan

Sangi,
Can you find any mention in your manual what the differential ratios are? I suspect M&M may have gone to 3:72 for emissions but I dunno. The Invader may not be as formidable a pure off-roader as the mm5** or SWB jeeps but that torquey DI, light stance and a little extra room inside make it potentially a great Himalaya mountain goat 4x4 vehicle, I think. Ah but how to get lockers and a creeper gear into it?

DD:

Mahindra vehicles with DI Turbo now hae the 3:72 final ratio. I suspect it is mainly to improve the mileage/top speed at the cost of 0-60 pickup.

Bolero camper is not available with the 4WD and 5+1 gearbox. If you go for 4x4, you get only the KMT90 4+1 gear box. This was the latest info I had a month back. Not sure if things have changed since. If the Camper is on your list, you may also want to wait for the Tata Xenon launch to see what price point they launch it at. I saw the vehicle and it is years ahead of the other 4 Door Indian pick ups.

[vinod_nookala]

sangi,
Post some pics of your invader 4wd and if possible with some axle articulation shots too. This seems to be the biggest grouse with invader.

Guys i have a question, one way to increase the articulation to a underslung leaf is to increase the shakle length. What would you do to an invader rear leaf as this is over slung inverted leaf?

[DirtyDan]

Originally Posted by vinod_nookala

Guys i have a question, one way to increase the articulation to a underslung leaf is to increase the shakle length. What would you do to an invader rear leaf as this is over slung inverted leaf?

Good question. I know it is an issue. My thinking would be just live with it and see if I could get some kind of locker or LSD installed. Perhaps the good torque from the DI motor will offset this negative a bit.

Originally Posted by 4x4addict

DD:

Mahindra vehicles with DI Turbo now hae the 3:72 final ratio. I suspect it is mainly to improve the mileage/top speed at the cost of 0-60 pickup.

Bolero camper is not available with the 4WD and 5+1 gearbox. .. you may also want to wait for the Tata Xenon launch... . . it is years ahead of the other 4 Door Indian pick ups.

Just from the pictures it looks like the Xenon may be too big for my purposes. It is built on the Grande Sumo platform. The Bolero Camper is relatively narrow, narrower than my Spacio and I thought that if I puchased it I would straight away give it a Khan Sultan rear end bobb to remove the overhang at the rear shackles. This would lop off about 2.5 feet of the bed. You are quite correct, the 4x4 camper only comes with the 4 speed semi synched coffee grinder tranny with the little tinny piece of brown goo shift lever. Maybe I could hammer it into an AXE.

[kodava]

Hi Sangi

Nice to see you here, thanks for sharing your experiences.

Bopanna

[susan3004]

@Dirty Dan
I am waiting for you to complete this exercise of getting rid of the rear overhang! I am all set to follow suite.

[vinod_nookala]

@dirty dan,
Some on has done this chop job in Argentina to then Utili pick up. The job was impressive. He has also installed long travel suspension too. Will post pics if i get it.

Your vision for bolero camper is good and will look awsome!

regards vinod

[-GT-]

Nice report Sangi; but where are the pics?

[pradeew]

From where and how can I buy a new Invader in Bangalore?

[Amar82]

Excellent review sangi, I was myself in a confusion before buying gypsy. Other option in diesel was definately invader but i wasn't sure if it came in 4X4 version. Post some Pics of your machine.

[SirAlec]

PS: i have been a supporter of a thread which accompanies along detail images. Thats what keeps our forum better than the rest.

Please upload images of the vehicle.

Thanks

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by sangi

BOLERO INVADER 4 WD : A more comprehensive feedback!

now thats quite a comprehensive report. good buy you got. may i suggest you to go for fwd facing rear seats? A friend of mine has done just that and it is damn comfortable. I could suggest fitting innovas 3rd row seats which can be flipped and foldedd away. Wated to talk to you about this. PM'd you too.

Originally Posted by DirtyDan

Just from the pictures it looks like the Xenon may be too big for my purposes. It is built on the Grande Sumo platform. The Bolero Camper is relatively narrow, narrower than my Spacio and I thought that if I puchased it I would straight away give it a Khan Sultan rear end bobb to remove the overhang at the rear shackles. This would lop off about 2.5 feet of the bed. You are quite correct, the 4x4 camper only comes with the 4 speed semi synched coffee grinder tranny with the little tinny piece of brown goo shift lever. Maybe I could hammer it into an AXE.

your idea (via your rendition) will make the camper look cool.

Originally Posted by vinod_nookala

@dirty dan,
Some on has done this chop job in Argentina to then Utili pick up. The job was impressive. He has also installed long travel suspension too. Will post pics if i get it.

pix please. Curious to see that.

[jango]

Sangi, congrats on the Invaded 4X4. Pls do post some pics of your JEEP. Did you take the invader off roading ?. Will be following this thread closely