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Originally Posted by GrayBerry rhandle
Awesome and thank you very much for your review & pictures of Gurkha. It seems to perfectly fit my requirement which goes as follows –
1. Reliability – my buy are always for a life time (I understand the teething problem – I ride a Royal Enfield bike, where the first 5k KM was a regret on buying a bike that was a rebel from my previous ride (RX 100). From 5K to 50K, was wondering as to why I delayed buying this bike. And from 50K till date wondering if I have deep enough pockets to own this bikeJ. Said and done, I love my bike and feel that I can never have a better bike. (Gurkha’s 300K KM - warranty cannot be ignored, I guess this is for the transmission and engine) |
Well Warranty cannot be ignored true. I had got alternator replaces, Speed Sensor replaced, New Hose pipe, Rear spring leaf sets and recently (last week) idler arm. It's great to work with the force guys they do their work and take their warranty seriously. But then do you really want those many new pieces in your vehicle because they failed you? God forbids wht if it happens in a Jungle with nothing in sight for 30 miles. But that's the pleasure of staying in an overpopulated country - you are never at that kind of place. Gurkha is anyways over engineered I mean in a good way for most of the troubles one can throw in its way.
It has not yet failed me completely except for couple of occasions, I am yet to gain enough trust on this again for long drives.
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Originally Posted by GrayBerry 2. Touring – Need a good cruiser – I plan to have only one vehicle - daily commute as well for the weekends |
I do exactly that. After OTR, wash it grease it and you are off again with no trip to mechanic. Also you can go confidently to OTR in comfort.
Though about long trips -- It has not yet failed me completely except for couple of occasions, I am yet to gain enough trust on this again for long drives.
I would be starting soon by this weekend with a couple of 500 km runs. Am bit tired now as just returned back from a fast 5 day drive tour delhi -mumbai -delhi, but on Corolla since did not had courage to trust this machine with comfort and reliability with My dad being the only passenger besides me.
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Originally Posted by GrayBerry 3. Rugged – Will be doing hills and bad roads (read as off-roading)- this may require 4X4 |
Tough beating a Gurkha here
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Originally Posted by GrayBerry 4. Character – I want a vehicle with a personality – And yes Sumos are taxis and to me Safaris looks like a gay (Safari owners - no hard feelings, once I was a big fan of Safari as wellJ). |
I own a Safari. I still like it's looks even after 4 years, and I had been it's fan since it was launched. Most comfortable Highway cruiser. I had Scorpio before Safari for 3 years and covered 125K kms on that before selling it. I would rate Safari higher than Scorpio.
BTW For people who want a vehicle with "Character" I suggest them to pick an OLD vehicle -Trax/MM550 or anything, spend 6 lacs (approximately 12000 per square feet) on vehicle and they will have vehicle which is just with them all over India. So at a total cost for what you will pay for a Gurkha you can build a vehicle more capable and with more character than Gurkha.
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Originally Posted by GrayBerry 5. I love MM 540/550 – but would like to have a new vehicle, Now this lands me with Bolero or Gurkha
Anyways, I will take my time to choose one of these – Yes, OM611 will make a difference to me.
Looking forward to more of your reviews, comments and feedback. Enjoy your Gurkha my friend. |
Wait for OM611. I usually do not recommend Gurkha to everyone, in fact anyone. If you really want one, then get one and whatever help I can be of I would be more than happy to do it.
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Originally Posted by 4x4addict It is a great off-roader, but that's about it. I understand your views on Scorpio/Safari but honestly these make far better and comfortable family cruisers if you are willing to look at it more practically. |
110%. Please consider this. I am a rookie in 4x4 and my first 4x4 vehicle is Gurkha. I always thought off-roading is when you are not driving on road, and using 4x4 is simple, you encounter anything difficult just use the other gear lever (4 wd lever) and your vehicle would just cross over. I am learning and it's not easy.
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Originally Posted by 4x4addict
The Gurkha maybe more capable than the Bolero in terms off-offroad hardware and a more powerful engine. However, if you look at overall cost of ownership, serviceability and parts availability, you are much better of with a Bolero if you can live with an underpowered engine and leaf springs up front for the 4x4 version. |
Still I would prefer Gurkha over Bolero anyday. Overall cost of ownership with Gurkha is cheaper in the long run considering what you are getting - I would like to believe that!
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Originally Posted by 4x4addict If you still have spare cash, you can buy a jeep/gypsy/gurkha for your weekend off-road fun. If you have time, then you may want to wait until Mahindra launches the Thar in India, which I hope will happen some time next year. It is exactly what many of us need a good 4x4 which can also be your only vehicle for long trips/family holidays as well. |
This is another very good suggestion. You can also look at Mahindra customization site. If you are not not gonna do extreme off-road then Safari, Scorpio would be more comfortable even a Xenon would do. If you want to do extreme hardcore off-roading then it is a waste spending that much money on Gurkha. You can buy a nice Honda City and an old Jeep for that amount of money. You do anything with the Jeep, abuse it to no end and it wont hurt. At times when you are taking a vehicle this costly to hardcore off-roading your heart burns thinking of the scratches it is earning on it's paint job every time you run through thick foliage.
My Advice - Think Again. Do not let Heart rule over Mind. Rest Your wish - and I would be glad to have one more friend with whom I can share my highs and lows of Gurkha (and also few secrets)!