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Originally Posted by DKG  Finally managed to test drive a Gurkha.
The BS III engine is pretty silent and smooth for a diesel and quite peppy too. Ofcourse it won't take off like a V10 Toureg  But it feels right for the job.
Gear box ratios seemed adequate with no apparent slump in acceleration. Shift is crude but ok for a raw machine like this |
I spoke to OldModel who picked up the Gurkha that I had booked. He said that initially the engine kind of felt stuff and rough and a bit under powered, but after about 500 kms it was much smoother and free revving. Not sure how many KMs your test car had.
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Originally Posted by DKG General appearance is well very purposeful. Its not a pretender for sure. Its definately a bare basic offroader with mechanicals to die for. Loved the simple diff lock levers. There were three, assuming one for the central diff too. |
The specs didn't specify a central diff. I suspect the third lever is to power the PTO unit in the transfer case if you want to install a winch or something.
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Originally Posted by DKG
The leather upholstery is a joke. I think design staff at Force have some pretty distorted view of luxury. When the rest of the car is finished like a railway coach you don't throw in leather to fool people into thinking its a luxury SUV. They should have used hardwearing weather proof material, more useful. |
It's not leather mate. Fake leather. Firodia would impale himself on a stake before they put leather in a Force motors car.
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Originally Posted by DKG Overall I liked it. Its raw, definitely has phenomenal devices to enable you go places where even the fanciest of SUV's will struggle, no pretence, more a tool than a car. I think I like that about it. Its a device. Yes the Gurkha is an offroading device. Calling it an SUV or anything else is to lose the plot.
The bottomline, would I buy one? Definately yes and a soft top for sure. Do I like the price? Definately no. Its a joke and you have to be slightly irrational to make this purchase at this price point. Force should seriously strip this car bare and lower it by 2 lacs offering it at 6. That makes sense.
At 6 the Gurkha is the ultimate no nonsense offroader. At 8 plus we need to lose some sense to buy one.
I have to now seriously think of all the absurd reasons why I should buy it. Which is the fun part. Nutcases like me who know the value of what this device can do will struggle, but eventually crib and pay the price. The general market simply will reject the car. |
I agree with you completely. It's not for everyone. You have to be a bit of an off-road nut to go in for a Gurkha. Remember for about the same price you can get a 4x4 Safari or Scorpio but obviously they are in different leagues. The constant question I would get from friends is WHY A GURKA??