Safari 2.2 Dicor - "Silverado" LTR

[smsrini]

Since the time Tata Motors launched the Safari some 15yrs ago, I've been dreaming of owning one some day.

Circa 1996, My first car. a Maruti 800/- which I drove for a good 4yrs and being my first car, it did get some good TLC.

Circa 2000, came the time to upgrade, and the Safari ( still in its TDCi avatar and before the 3.0 facelift ), was a distant dream, thanks to Tata's high price for the vehicle. Even the LX 4x2 was out of limits, and I settled for the next best car - a Mitsubishi Lancer GLXi Black Magic.

The lancer was a dream car to drive, and has some great memories attached to it, my daughter's first drive in her 4th month, her first vacation to chikamagalur and so on. The Lancer took us on many a wonderful drives - Chikamagalur, Ooty, Chennai & Mahabalipuram, numerous trips to Tirupathi and Hyderabad, Mangalore, Dharmasthala and many more...

It used to be a dream to drive, stuck to the roads like glue, and was a gem to drive on the hills.

It started to show its age after 90k kms, and I was visiting Southern Motors more than my in-laws! and therefore the reason to change. Even today, seeing a Lancer, I go nostalgic. I wish I could have kept this car...

So F-FWD to Circa 2007, June-July, time for change, and the options are:
1) Ford Fiesta Diesel.
2) Hyundai Verna Diesel,
3) The Safari ( 2.2 was not launched yet ),
4) The Innova

Following the Automotive news on the Internet, I land up at Team-BHP and JeepThrills, and at one point of time even contemplated buying a Ford GPW with a Diesel Engine for my daily drive! The JeepThrills influence I'd say!

This forum has been a vital source of information on the 2.2Dicor, and played an important role in my decision. Come October, and the 2.2 is launched with much fanfare on T-BHP, the TDs reports were consumed with much gusto. I booked my TD with Concorde, and did about 4 TDs before I made the choice to go with the 2.2 Dicor.

I took delivery of my Safari 2.2 Dicor on 7-Nov-07 from Concorde Motors Dairy Circle Bangalore, and finally realized my dream to own and drive this car.

Drove straight to my Daughter's school to pick her & her friends from school..

Uncle look..a new Tata Safari..
Yes beta, I know.
The ribbon is still there, must be new..Its the new 2.2 Dicor..
Yes, I know.
Kids are walking ahead of us, and I unlock.. HEY! what's ha.. Is it our new car ??? and the kids are all over !!!

Details of the car are in my garage, so will not include here. I'm running on Indian Oil Normal Diesel or XtraMile, after having experimented with SystemD.

Now for some vital Stats:
ODO: 14,985
Fuel Efficiency: 9.5kpl in city with 100% A/c. 12kpl on highways.
LongDrives: 6 totalling about 6000kms, the longest being to Vizag.

The good:
Acres of room.
Highway Cruiser
The road presence

The Bad:
Fit and Finish
Engine sounds harsh

Issues faced:
Day1 Fuel Sediment filter warning after filling up, immediately after delivery. Had to take it to a TASC to get it cleaned.
Day 3. The Blau HU display conked off, and had to be replaced.
Day 7 Front Fender chrome garnish broke on impact with a barely visible rod, and took Concorde more than 2 weeks to replace.

Month 5, Left Window packed up on the trip to Vizag.
Damper pulley replaced
Windshield washer fluid tank drained out when the rear wash/wipe was used. Found that the pipe was getting loose under pressure

Month 9, a truck kissed the front bumper and wanted to take it away.
The A/c compressor fuse ( 25Amps ) blew for some reason.

the famous 'Krrrr' issue persists as do the tailgate squeak and other creaks and squeaks once in a while.

The Ugly:
The look on the people's face when you whizz past them, or cut in front of that pesky driver who thinks he's a schumy in the making!

The A.S.S Experience: Mostly went to Concorde Hosur road, and overall experience was satisfactory. Tata Motors is pretty responsive if you email them or provide feedback that the service experience was not good. The dealer CRM Chandru is responsive.

Used Manipal Motors on ORR Hebbal once, for fixing the gear lever sleeve, and found to be ok.

At 14k kms, the engine seems to be settling down, feels smoother, and drives easier in 3rd, without having to downshift. Can feel the flat torque curve now.

Chal bidoo, side de, Landrover ka bhai aa-rela hai!

The car grows on you.. and keeps you engaged all the time, unlike the high quality Jap cars

I'm loving it!

[SuperSyn]

You have summed up the Tata Safari experience nicely. Congratulations, and now let us see what Tata can do when they come up with its replacement.

[dicorex4x4]

smsrini - have you driven a car after buying the Safari? My salesman told me at the time of booking - after you get used to this, you will hate sitting in a car.

Nice report. Two minor corrections - the Safari was launched in 1998. And it was still in the TCIC (not TDCi) avatar in 2000.

The Safari dream is really something, I tell you. You read all the mags cursing it, you hear people badmouthing it and you still tell yourself - One day, I will drive my own Safari. Right?

What chrome garnish is there on the fender? Or is it grill?
What is the replacement A/C fuse rating?

[smsrini]

Originally Posted by dicorex4x4

smsrini - have you driven a car after buying the Safari? My salesman told me at the time of booking - after you get used to this, you will hate sitting in a car.

Nice report. Two minor corrections - the Safari was launched in 1998. And it was still in the TCIC (not TDCi) avatar in 2000.

The Safari dream is really something, I tell you. You read all the mags cursing it, you hear people badmouthing it and you still tell yourself - One day, I will drive my own Safari. Right?

What chrome garnish is there on the fender? Or is it grill?
What is the replacement A/C fuse rating?

There is a Chrome lip at the bottom of the bumper in the center.
Replacement A/c fuse is also 25amps. spare in the fuse box under the hood.

Yes, I drive a santro occassionally and boy does it take time to get used to.

[smsrini]

Got my car from 15k service yesterday.

Issues reported:

1) 15k service - Done
2) Front Left door rattling away to glory - fixed by tightening the linkages
3) Rear tailgate squeaks - fixed.
4) Wheel balancing and rotation - done.
5) RH Cladding painting to remove some scratches. - done. not happy with the work. A lot of paint spray left on vehicle. will have to get the whole vehicle polished.
6) Steering play /feel. The SA was trying to convince me that in a power steering equipped vehicle, there cannot be any adjustments made ?? I felt that there was some play in the column linkages. He claims nothing was done, but the feel has improved.

7) Power Steering hoses changed under warranty. I am not sure what the issue was, the SA reported that they found some leakage? replaced under warranty.

The Vehicle feels smoother, and quieter.

The Krr noise seems to have gone away. It was there till about 12k kms, after which I dont remember hearing it. Currently running on a mix of Xtramile and Turbojet thanks to the fuel shortage in the past few weeks. will have to wait to get back to regular fuel to see if it reproduces.

Castrol GTX?? CH-4 Engine oil, Oil filter, Gear Oil changed.


Onto the next 15k then..

cheers!
Srini

[bglsrini]

Thats really a nice feeling to own our dream car...... keep enjoying every moment of it.

[harjeev]

Originally Posted by smsrini

The car grows on you..

smsrini, You've summed it up in as few words as possible. It really grows on you.

Originally Posted by dicorex4x4

have you driven a car after buying the Safari? My salesman told me at the time of booking - after you get used to this, you will hate sitting in a car.

And the salesman was absolutely correct.
I would say that we have 3 other cars at home and in 9+ months of Reclaiming my lifeI can count the no of times I have sat in the other cars. Maybe 3 or 4 times. This too was only when my younger brother had taken the BEAR or the BEAR was at the Service Center.

[bhagathmp]

@ smsrini, there is no feeling like driving you dream vehicle and that too after waiting for over 10 yrs!!! I'm sure every Safari owner on this forum would feel the same. 3 cheers: to TATA and Safari !!!

Originally Posted by dicorex4x4

smsrini - have you driven a car after buying the Safari? My salesman told me at the time of booking - after you get used to this, you will hate sitting in a car.

absolutely dicorex4x4 !!!

Bugs.

[smsrini]

Left Front and rear door rattling away! I wish there was a closer workshop where i can get these niggles fixed. Taking the car all the way to Concorde Motors Hosur Road is a pain!!


Latest Trip to Yercaud.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...y-yercaud.html (Quick Getaway - Yercaud)

Thought of posting my earlier travelouges here as well as a log book.

My first Looooong trip 3000km:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...hyderabad.html (GQ Cruising! Bangalore - Vizag - Hyderabad)

Innovative Film City:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ttraction.html (Innovative Film City - Bengaluru's latest attraction)


Some random snaps of Silverado

Yercaud Road:


Kumbhakarna on the way to Hyderabad


Gingee fort on the way to Pondicherry


Araku Valley


Golconda Fort Hyderabad

[HappyWheels]

Great photos, Smsrini!

Hope you get those 'rattlers' done with soon.

Originally Posted by dicorex4x4

...My salesman told me at the time of booking - after you get used to this, you will hate sitting in a car...

Did not think much about this statement when I read it earlier; but now, yes, its true!

Had a test drive of the Safari 2.2 last weekend, on a Saturday. This is the second time I am getting into a Safari in my life. (The first time was with my brother when we both went down to take delivery of my current car!)

Did a 1 hr TD and that was it for the day. The next day, Sunday, when I got into my car (Alto) something was just not right - did not realise it for sometime, and then it stuck me - the previous days TD!

I know both are at the extremes, but a car I drove for the last 3.5 years felt a bit odd for sometime by this 1hr TD!

[jkdas]

Originally Posted by smsrini

some 15yrs ago, I've been dreaming of owning one some day.


Circa 2007, June-July, I took delivery of my Safari 2.2 Dicor on 7-Nov-07 from Concorde Motors Dairy Circle Bangalore, and finally realized my dream to own and drive this car.


The Bad:
Fit and Finish [mostly squeaks right? esp the tailgate]
Engine sounds harsh [ICE baby ICE]

the famous 'Krrrr' issue persists as do the tailgate squeak and other creaks and squeaks once in a while.

The Ugly:
The look on the people's face when you whizz past them, or cut in front of that pesky driver who thinks he's a schumy in the making!

[ same opinion]

At 14k kms, the engine seems to be settling down, feels smoother, and drives easier in 3rd, without having to downshift. Can feel the flat torque curve now.

[After steer drove my 2.2L (odo was almost 18k) he said mine's still like a new truck as he feels my engine is still a virgin! Asked me to redline to ease her . Been doing it for last 500kms, feels better.]

Chal bidoo, side de, Landrover ka bhai aa-rela hai! cheers:

The car grows on you.. and keeps you engaged all the time, unlike the high quality Jap cars

I'm loving it!

I have taken it were Jap cars will breakdown in the first attempt and after my last trip I can reconfirm this.

Originally Posted by smsrini

Got my car from 15k service yesterday.

The Krr noise seems to have gone away. It was there till about 12k kms, after which I dont remember hearing it. Currently running on a mix of Xtramile and Turbojet thanks to the fuel shortage in the past few weeks. will have to wait to get back to regular fuel to see if it reproduces.

Castrol GTX?? CH-4 Engine oil, Oil filter, Gear Oil changed.


Onto the next 15k then..

cheers!
Srini

Gear oil changed at 15k?

[snaronikar]

Originally Posted by smsrini

Chal bidoo, side de, Landrover ka bhai aa-rela hai!

The car grows on you.. and keeps you engaged all the time, unlike the high quality Jap cars

Nice pics srini. Though we have see these in your travelogues. Nice to refresh the memories.

Punch line to mast hai bidoo (Landrover ke chotaa bhai na)

[Torque-ative]

Originally Posted by smsrini

There is a Chrome lip at the bottom of the bumper in the center.

Is that the "Faux Chin Protector" you are talking about.

[smsrini]

Originally Posted by Torque-ative

Is that the "Faux Chin Protector" you are talking about.

Yes, if that is the technical name for it. Its at the bottom of the bumper.

[biju_kp]

Congratulations Srini on your decision of buying Safari. My dream car too.