[GTO]

Originally Posted by Samurai

That is one heck of a test-drive man! Enjoyable read and exceedingly well-written. Will surely be a reference point for future off-roader queries.

[Jaggu]

nice report samu san, distant cousin of g-wagon it is

[madan80]

snorkel exhaust!

It's actually an intake. Goes into the air filter from there. Helps increase the fording and overall off-roadability!

[maddy42]

wow tats an awesome way to TD a suv...jus hope they get their act right and get a vehicle which has allround ability.....force needs some indepth thinking into wat they really wanna do.
Btw the interiors really need some thinking over...

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by aah78

Love the snorkel exhaust!

Originally Posted by prasadee

The snorkel exhaust should let you explore the rivers in western ghats that are at a stone's throw away(for you).
-Prasadee

As madan noted, it is Air intake, not exhaust.

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

Nice detailed write up Samurai. And now you know what I said and why about Gurkha.
Fifth gear is on top right.

You are always right, old man. Oops, why did I say Optra, only the reverse is like Optra, rest is not. It is 1st,3rd,5th down and 2nd, 4th up.

Originally Posted by phamilyman

I was expecting to see gurkhas and GV take on the challenge

So Samurai san, when do we get to see you pitting the GV in the best of the bad-roaders?!!

Originally Posted by 1000Horses

Fantastic report samurai as always . Yeah we wud also love to see the GV and Gurkha head to head on same condition with your as usual detail photos.

Thanks guys, but let's not kid ourselves here. The Gurkha can have GV for breakfast when it comes to off-roading. But GV can beat the Gurkha by miles in city roads and highways, but then so can any sedan. GV is a bhachha off-roader in front of the Gurkha. Let's not forget that.

Originally Posted by GTO

That is one heck of a test-drive man! Enjoyable read and exceedingly well-written. Will surely be a reference point for future off-roader queries.

Thanks, it helps having an off-road track as part of office premises.

[tsk1979]

how many horses and how much torque? Any idea about acceleration figures etc.,?
That said, 7.2 ex showroom is a bit too much.

[ported_head]

What are the engine specs?

[lohithrao]

WOW Awesome! very well written

btw how good is this machine on the hiway, what is the speed at which it can cruise comfortably?

[Spitfire]

Nice write up and awesome pics. The Gurkha should do more. Hopefully better tyres would help. Since i have used a Classic for the last 5 years to go offroad, the only other Indian vehicle that seemed competent enough has been the Gurkha.

Will the Gurkha be in Mangalore? I am thinking of having a real off-road drive in Goa during the next monsoons. Hope you can make it then. Will be good to pit all 4x4 vehicles against each other.

Again very well written.

[Rudra Sen]

Originally Posted by Spitfire

Will the Gurkha be in Mangalore? I am thinking of having a real off-road drive in Goa during the next monsoons. Hope you can make it then. Will be good to pit all 4x4 vehicles against each other.

Samurai, do something. Members are still thinking it's your car.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by ported_head

What are the engine specs?

Just realized this is not a published information. I just added the specifications to the first post.

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

Samurai, do something. Members are still thinking it's your car.

Oh boy, I mentioned so in the very beginning, people are not reading. Probably I'll add a disclaimer in the beginning.

[Spitfire]

Oops sorry i meant will your cousin be in India?

[Torqy]

@samurai: Nice report and pics.
Where can i get a snorkel for my Bolero?

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by lohithrao

btw how good is this machine on the hiway, what is the speed at which it can cruise comfortably?

It is very composed on the highway, no body roll was noticed by us in the turns. But the steering felt so disconnected, I didn't push any further than 70kmph on this twisting Udupi-Karkala highway.

Originally Posted by Spitfire

Nice write up and awesome pics. The Gurkha should do more. Hopefully better tyres would help. Since i have used a Classic for the last 5 years to go offroad, the only other Indian vehicle that seemed competent enough has been the Gurkha.

It was an eye opener. With that kind of GC and diff locks, it can go anywhere. Yesterday it was undermined by a sub-standard highway tyre that slipped easily on the mud.

Originally Posted by Spitfire

Will the Gurkha be in Mangalore? I am thinking of having a real off-road drive in Goa during the next monsoons.

I am a Grand Vitara owner, the Gurkha belongs to my cousin who is based in Bangalore, but currently in UK.

[4x4addict]

Thanks for the review. I think I am going to stick with a Mahindra Legend for off-road urban use and pick up a 2.2 scorpio or 2.2 Safari for Highway/family use.