Quote:
Originally Posted by GTO Isn't it nice ... another convert
... check the engine shape (compression test is best), ..4 points are fine, you are okay.
...overheating, steering shake, how the brakes are.
...jugaad. It's okay to get your own jugaad done, but not okay to buy someone elses jugaad.
....allocate your 60K for tyres + misc repairs.
... absolutely shoddy build. Don't expect Gypsy-like peace of the mind. Niggles ...preparations
...Bangalore prices, but 1.5 lakhs seems awfully high for a 23 year old Jeep. |
I'd go with GTO's approach to buying this vehicle. It's remarkably easy to reset odometers on almost any vehicle. I don't know much about Mahindra 4x4s, but the one thing I am sure of is that the basic build quality is rather shoddy (under-carriage rust, jittery suspension, hubs, steering column/dampers, electricals etc) for a 4by.
One spin in the dirt, and a few bumps on, and you'll have half the vehicle coming undone. I've seen some Mahindras with fantastic mods - but then, they're not stock vehicles.
Also, Wolf, with any second-hand 4by, you've gotta set aside some money... the more your car loves you, the more problems it reveals. Of course, branding helps - when I got my Patrol, she was in great shape, but from experience I knew there'd be issues. I got lucky, though - and the fact that it was a Patrol helped. Just new tyres and new shockers, a few diff seals etc. The actual transfer case and drivetrain were as bullet-proof as expected, and the electricals were top notch. My mate, who bought a Toyota 4Runner (now called Hilux, and sold in India as Fortuner, I think) and the poor guy suffered till he sold it in disgust.
However, I have no idea of the engines Mahindra 4bies come with. Don't Mahindras run on Diesel? That means you'll get some pretty good range for off-road trips(...my next Patrol will surely be diesel powered - diesels rock!)
I went 4WDing in The Holy Land in 1994 when I was there- which was the last time I was there - and I bought an ex-army Jonga via a friend in ND. It had only 3 gears, and could tow a shopping mall! no bells and whistles - but bullet-proof petrol engine (well, it's a 1950s Nissan engine anyway). I variably drove the J, and occasionally swapped with my mate's Suzuki Maruti Gypsy (couldn't remember the name till I saw it here!) when I needed some air-conditioning. Gypsies were sold in Oz as Vitaras back then, and are now sold with a 1.3 Litre petrol motor as Jimnies.
I'm familiar with a fair bit of Indie-lingo, but please do tell me what a Jugaad is, GTO? Sorry to sound like a noob
Khan Sultan's 540 (Mahindra?) is fantastic... looks like it's in good nick, though I don't see any spare wheel (fitted inside, perhaps?)
Oh, and does OTR stand for Off-The-Road, please?
Also, if you're really going to head off-road, with your family or so, at any point, this page'll give you some pointers on what kind of equipment you'll be spending on (keep in mind that there's a bit of sponsor-spin there, and that Indian brands/prices/equipment could be rather different - cheaper, I hope -- nothing like a li'l research!) though I don't know about a UHF tranciever or a DVD player in a Mahindra, which is much smaller than a Patrol. I also have no clue about what radios/frequencies are used in India.
Pats Patrol
For the drive-test, I'd go with GTO's pointers... and probably also recommend that you try driving it up a 10 degree gradient for about 2-3 kilometers. That way, ignition issues / a bad engine-tune / setting / radiator rust (via the coolant overflow) would show up
If the vehicle weighs about 1.3 tons (from memory) and runs a 1.5-2.0 Liter petrol engine, you should be able to climb a 10 degree gradient at about 45-50km/hr (at least) on second/third gear without having to pull in low-range power.
Diesel engines are not my forte, but from experience, if it comes with anything bigger than a 1.5 Liter diesel, it should pull you up the gradient on 3rd gear without any drama - avg speed would depend on whether it's turbocharged or not, and also on whether it is a direct-injection diesel.
Of course, I'm presuming that the a/c is turned off, and you're in 2WD mode on a tarmac road. If the gradient has any chicanes, you'll also get to test power steering / suspension performance.
I reckon I'm learning a fair bit myself about Indian 4bies - whenever my next trip to The Holy Land is... thanks folks!