Ahmedabad-Rishikesh-Ahmedabad+4000KM Report

[ramkya1]

Hai BHPians,

Little confused whether to put this report here or at Ownership reports; tought this is a hybrid and belongs to the Travelogues:

Just finished a 2640 KM trip - Ahmedabad-Delhi-Rishikesh-
Delhi-Ahmedabad trip on my new Scorpio 2.6 Turbo CRDE. I have
also posted a 1250 KM trip log on the URL below:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-t...km-report.html

My ODO stands at 3991 now, 1000 KM shy of the first service.
The trip log for the Delhi trip is on the URL below:

http://www.geocities.com/ramkya1/tri...BD-DLI-RSH.htm

Some additional info to add to my earlier report:

RIDE, HANDLING:
The road presence and looks makes smaller vehicles give way.
The engine noise is blocked out if you roll down the windows,
if you open it, its a roar. The power, pick-up, steering
control (no oversteer as I heard someone say) is very good.
The large tyres are OK for most pot-holes and bumps, for
larger ones, the occupants get tossed about.

From Jaiput to Delhi, followed a Innova taxi; man can this van
move? Had great difficulty keeping up, licked his dust; either
this van is a real mover on the highway or the driver belonged
to the Shumi class.

On the pick-up side, I had a Safari DICOR chasing me from
Kotputhli to Jaipur, it was stop and go traffic with lots of
trucks, I could easily overtake accelerate away and could not
see the Safari for a long long time. After Jaipur BP, the
roads improved, I reckon he could cruise at 130 and overtook
me 20 KM ahead of Jaipur by pass, the DICOR is surely is a
better cruiser. Just my thoughts... of course, one bird
doesn't make the season.

From Delhi-Haridwar-Rishikesh-Delhi, we were 10 people inside,
the truck handled that pretty well. I felt the handling
improved on load, the bouncing reduced, I increased the tyre
pressure from 28 to 31. Only mishap was near Roorkee when we
went into a pothole at 70, the rear L mudflap broke and flew
off. Again, space for luggage was a huge proble, I rooftop
luggage rack is a must, if there are 6/7 people and suitcases.
The multi-link suspension is a great improvement; if you break
and take turns on good roads above 100 there is hardly any
roll; bad news for the nay-sayers of Scorpio; test drive if
you have douobts.

By mistake (a Himalayan one) I took the Abu Road to Udaipur,
did 90 KM and 3 Hrs extra, turned out to be a nightmare. 56
KMs of off scary mud-plugging off-roading, 4 laning going on,
entire stretch gutted with gooey mud due to the rains. I was
****scared we'd get mired anytime, almost did once; sheer
power of the 2.6 pulled us through loads of bog. Fortunately
ther was some tarmac left, I think 2500 KG is lethal on roads
like this without 4x4. Careful driving and following a jeep as
pilot saved the day. Reminded me something of the Popular
Rally we used to do through the plantations on a 4X4 Gypsay
back in the 80's. We were too worried to think about photos,
somehow managed to click a few.










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Return leg; about 75 KM around Chittaurgarh, we had pounding
rain. Around town road was under 1-2 feet of water, the water
-fall effect is real even with new air-dammed fenders,
whenever I hit a mass of water, there was a deluge of water on
the windshield, with 0 visibility, this is a serious problem M
& M needs to look into. I found most smaller cars parked under
available shelters, waiting for the rain to abate, I would
have done that too with a smaller car; the Scorpio told me to
just drive on carefully. Though I was concerned, loss of
control due to braking was never a problem, I wonder where the
stories of breaking porblems for the multi-linked Scorpio
originated?

THE A/C
Pretty powerful, we closed out all vents but one. With full
load of people, the middle rows gets chilled, M&M need to work
on this. Though the improved grill blows air now more towards
the roof, not enough is done. Best alternative would be the
roof mounted unit.

THE GEARS:
Got used to the notchy slots; one can live with this.

FE:
Ok at about 10.56 KM/LTR.

ICE:
Got the roof mounted Thaiwain make LCD Screen 9"with a jack
for Video input. Pretty good resolution and results for 5 K.
Goes well with the JVC DVD player and any video game console.

I think this SUV is value for money, those who want to spend
above 10 L should stretch the budget and think around Grand
Vitera territory.

When I compared logs with Kumar, Mumbai, the Road Wrrior with
a scorpio, my logs from Delhi-Ahmedabad came very close to his
of 12 hours. If it was not for the rains near Chittaurgarh and
Udaipur stretch we could have done it under 11 hours.




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Last important note; I had problems with the wiper washer not
working, FR fog lamps conking out and the power-windows going
dead. Tried all the dealer numbers including the emergency
number on the Scorpio manual, EVERY ONE of them turned out to
be WRONG, even the M&M Regional Office number was dead!!!!!
Shame on you M&M.... are you listening ???? Your after-sales
sucks big time, no amount of TV adds and bravado will sufface
for action on the groud where it matters; we the paying
customers are awake. Are you aware of CRM, if not, copy the
TATA'S.

I put up a post on the Scorpiofans/yahoo BB, in 10 mts I had
Gurudut calling me, SS, Anil, Roshan & Kumar posting solutions
which worked like magic. That was real web power like we have
here at TBHP. We even had an eye-ball QSO at Geofferys, Noida.
Salutes to you guys...

@#12#

End of the line for this report....

Happy Driving,

--Ramky
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[ramkya1]

Mods,

Please help out... some of the pictures have come out helter skelter, guess I messed up the tags...

Pl. see if it can be rectified or one of the picture can be chopped off where two are joined.

Thanks a lot.

--Ramky

[akroy]

Nice travelogue and fantastic pics Sir,
After Kumar Sir, you are the person who is doing justice to the SUV...

Abhi

[hvkumar]

Ramky hosted me dinner at Ahmedabad on Thursday night. Thank U Ramky!

The Scorpio is indeed a great vehicle to do on both god and bad roads - last year, I did the Bombay-Delhi drive in 17 hours on these great roads (Ramky, catch me if you can!). But alas, yesterday night on NH8 (Ahmedabad-Bombay), I almost ruptured my sump on the craters between Ghodbunder and Manor, so bad were the roads.

Time for us to develop a live network of those who are willing to help and be helped on the road. As Ramky mentioned, the e-forum helped him fix those bugs in his car on the move, shaming the company that wants to be seen selling to helicopter pilots in cold temperate zones.

Can someone tell us why the Chittprgarh bypass is taking so long to complete?

[ramkya1]

Hai,

Any time mate......

It was a pleasure consulting with you my south travel plans.. some of the cobwebs are clear now.

I know how agonizing its for a Diesel-head to sit out in a traffic jam.

You scare me about those roads to Mumbai, I have to do A'bad-Satara in one drive in order to reach Tanjore in 3 days; hope the damned roads will improve by that time.

Happy Driving,

--Ramky

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[doctorkats]

[quote=ramkya1;550459]Hai BHPians,

From Delhi-Haridwar-Rishikesh-Delhi, we were 10 people inside,
the truck handled that pretty well. quote]


ten people?whoa! plus luggage...
how did you manage that?

any pics of rishikesh?

[aZa]

Very nice write up ramkya1 had fun reading it! Do i see our fellow bhpian GD in that last group pic ?

[ramkya1]

Originally Posted by aZa

Very nice write up ramkya1 had fun reading it! Do i see our fellow bhpian GD in that last group pic ?

dr.kats,

Luggage was diffiuclt. The seating, front driver + 1 adult, 140 Kg ( big frame) Middle row, 4 adults = 250 KG (Average frame) last row, 4 children = 160 Kgs ( 2 big framed, 2 small framed ) the last row was a tight fit. The luggage came under the last row and under seat of the co-passenger front seat. Since stay was only one overnight, luggage was manageabe. 2 nights stay, we would have decided to offo load some passengers to acommodate luggage.

aza,

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.

I don't know if who you call GD, but the people on the picture are:

Baldy, me, next to me Anil, opposite to him Mrs. Anil, next to Anil with spec - Subasish Sarkar, next to him Mrs. SS, Opp. Mrs. SS - Roshan, next to him B.C.Gurudat, place Geoffery's, Noida. This great gang is very active in the Scorpio Yahoo based group.

I would be traveling to Bangalore in November, if possible I would love to meet some BHP'ans down there, let's see what pans out.

Happy Driving,

--Ramky

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[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Dear Mr.Ramkya1 - your comment " -

Last important note; I had problems with the wiper washer not working, FR fog lamps conking out and the power-windows going dead. Tried all the dealer numbers including the emergency number on the Scorpio manual, EVERY ONE of them turned out to be WRONG, even the M&M Regional Office number was dead!!!!! Shame on you M&M.... are you listening ???? Your after-sales sucks big time, no amount of TV adds and bravado will suffice for action on the ground where it matters; we the paying customers are awake.

Please do contact me. My mobile number is 9820709513.

Please accept my best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[ramkya1]

=Dear Mr.Ramkya1 - your comment:

"Last important note; I had problems with the wiper washer not working, FR fog lamps conking out and the power-windows going dead. Tried all the dealer numbers including the emergency number on the Scorpio manual, EVERY ONE of them turned out to be WRONG, even the M&M Regional Office number was dead!!!!! Shame on you M&M.... are you listening ???? Your after-sales sucks big time, no amount of TV adds and bravado will suffice for action on the ground where it matters; we the paying customers are awake"

Please do contact me. My mobile number is 9820709513

Please accept my best regards

Behram Dhabhar

Hai Behram,

Tnx for the response to my call; your service team contacted me today. They were curteous and focused on solving my problems.

I am glad M & M is turning around fast in improving their customer service. I submit that you have a great challenge to train and equip your dealer netweorks to under stand the meaning of Service; though you and some seniors at M&M may be well intentioned, unless it perculates to the ground floor, we the customers will not get what you want.

You'd agree, there are still miles to go.......

Three cheers to TEAM BHP; M&M heard my problems only through here !!!!!

Happy Driving,

--Ramky
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