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Originally Posted by GTO  I drove a 2.2 Safari yesterday, and the first thought that ran through my head was "Man, this SUV's time has gone!".
Yes, the 2.2 is a significant step forward and offers the Safari with respectable performance. Refinement levels were good for a Tata too. But Tata havent improved on anything else. Man, even at 80 - 100 kph, the SUV's behaviour was darn scary. Immense body roll coupled with a soft suspension and the tall / narrow design simply doesnt give the Safari acceptable highway stability. Straight line...maybe. But then, which highway drive of ours is dead straight or doesnt require emergency manouveurs? Fit and finish were horrible and the 500 km run example had a power steering problem. The dismal build quality reminded me of an era which the industry has long left behind.
Is it worth a million rupees? Not in my opinion but the sales charts obviously indicate otherwise. Last I checked, it was selling upward of a 1000 units per month.
Just wanted to know whats in the Safari that made it tick with some owners on board? The space? Ride quality? SUV image? |
Yes, Tata's have just upgraded the engine and nothing else and I agree to your arguement. Value for money is a relative term and most of the Indian auto manufacturers provide features that are just enough for them to make their sales. Nobody knows how much more they can offer in the same price. Case in point is some of the cars getting better features in negligible incremental price when a competitor has come out with a better offering. These guys are happy until they can sell, but dont care much about what is necessary for safety (unless mandated by government or forced by competition) and never try to set a bench mark.
So as some of the other BHPians have expressed we are forced to settle in with what is available in the market and fits our budget.