[arin_12]

Originally Posted by siddheshb

Friend of mine in the US packs a couple of bikes in the back of his SUV, travels around highways in the SUV, then parks in the town and rides around on his bike. Not a bad option, really!

I think comparing Indian scenario with other country will not make any sense here. India is completely diff scene all together.

Originally Posted by raj_5004

1) The respect you get on road - With all modesty, as soon as you leave thane, traffic sense is just pathetic. bikers occupy the right lane at 40 kmph, cars/trucks/bikes come head on on the right lane, truckers drive as if they own the road. This is where a SUV's advantage comes into picture. We were travelling at a constant 110-120 kmph with all smaller vehicles giving way to us. On certain open stretches, even 130 kmph was possible & anything more than that was risky. even on the single lanes, no car, truck or bike ever came head on to the scorpio. I have travelled umpteen times in my innova & on many occasions, we were even pushed off the road.

Respect or kind of attitude. We leave road for the politician too, do u think that its a respect ? Scorpio already got a typical Muscle Man's Car attitude specially the white one. Even I give the way to the Scorpio due to their driving attitude. Excessive honk, close tail gaiting ...
No personal attack just my view.

[TheARUN]

Yesterday, after a long long time, I drove the SAFARI to work. There were more than a hundred cars in the basement. From ALTO to the CIVIC but only 1 SUV, my SAFARI.

Just like how my company's tag line in the 50's and what I truly believe in

"WHY BLEND IN, WHEN YOU CAN STAND OUT"

[Sheel]

In a way I am blessed, there are just so many Safaris, Scorpios that no one even looks or cares for them at my place. Every Ram/Shyam owns one.

You 'arrive' only in an Endy/Fortuner/Pajero, but even their charm too shall fade out soon as people (contractors/politicians) have started moving to ahem, Montero/LC/Prado.

[raj_5004]

Originally Posted by arin_12

Respect or kind of attitude. We leave road for the politician too, do u think that its a respect ? Scorpio already got a typical Muscle Man's Car attitude specially the white one. Even I give the way to the Scorpio due to their driving attitude. Excessive honk, close tail gaiting ...
No personal attack just my view.

Yes, i knew this would be coming, thats the reason i specifically mentioned this-

Originally Posted by raj_5004

No rash driving though, before anyone jumps on me!

Driving fast does not necessarily mean driving rashly. We were not tail gaiting anyone & i am strictly against excessive honking, infact it irritates me. But if car owners are adamant to stereotype all white scorpio drivers as rash drivers or as politicians or as goons, there is nothing much i can do!

[n.devdath]

Completely agree with what Raj has said. I never exceed 100kmph on Hariya even on 4 laners (I am quite a fan of FE you see), I still reach my destinations faster than most other vehicles due to the consistency of speeds that can be maintained and the mutual respect that truckers give you when you want to overtake them or pass them on a narrow road or when they have covered all lanes.

Let me give you another example. I have travelled from Bangalore to Hassan in a car and in Hariya. There are many Volvo B7R/B9Rs plying on these routes. They usually maintain speeds of 90kmph (locked by KSRTC). Now, when you are in a car at 100kmph and intend to overtake them, they do not pay attention unless you are honking to glory behind them coupled with lights flashing etc. Also sometimes, to avoid potholes and undulations on the road, they tend to push cars off the road even when the vehicle is halfway between the bus.

All this rarely happens with an SUV.

And, like everyone else has said, roads in India cannot be guaranteed to be good, even on NHs and here, the SUVs completely rule.

[vb-san]

Originally Posted by n.devdath

Completely agree with what Raj has said. I never exceed 100kmph on Hariya even on 4 laners (I am quite a fan of FE you see)

Sorry for my ignornance, but what is a Hariya?

[himanshugoswami]

I am a hardcore SUV fan, but an eperience yesterday made me wonder.....

I had the first flat tyre in my SX4 after 20 months ownership. While changing the tyre was not too much of a chore, what i was really impressed with is the attention to detail that maruti (Suzuki?) has given to designing the placement of the tool kit, the actual design of the tools etc.

In contrast, the tool kit in my safari was a joke and i once tried using the jack for practice sake (no puncture) and it was a real chore. Coupled with that the massive rear tyre that is mounted high up, and it can easily cause back injury while lowering the trye and then placing the deflated one back in the tailgate mount. That made me wonder, how much extra effort would I have expended had this puncture been in my Safari instead of the SX4

I know this is a very minor issue, but an owner ship experience is the sum total of small things, and as they say, God is in the details.

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by himanshugoswami

That made me wonder, how much extra effort would I have expended had this puncture been in my Safari instead of the SX4.

SUVs dont get punctured

Disclaimer: This is a joke. Just incase someone gets himself tied in a knot thinking about it.

[Aravindpn]

Originally Posted by himanshugoswami

I am a hardcore SUV fan, but an eperience yesterday made me wonder.....

I had the first flat tyre in my SX4 after 20 months ownership. While changing the tyre was not too much of a chore, what i was really impressed with is the attention to detail that maruti (Suzuki?) has given to designing the placement of the tool kit, the actual design of the tools etc.

In contrast, the tool kit in my safari was a joke and i once tried using the jack for practice sake (no puncture) and it was a real chore. Coupled with that the massive rear tyre that is mounted high up, and it can easily cause back injury while lowering the trye and then placing the deflated one back in the tailgate mount. That made me wonder, how much extra effort would I have expended had this puncture been in my Safari instead of the SX4

I know this is a very minor issue, but an owner ship experience is the sum total of small things, and as they say, God is in the details.

The less impressive part of owning a monster liked by every SUV fan. Imagine if the spare tyre is mounted under the chasis, the difficulty to take it out and fix is more.

[Driver2000]

Thanks for this topic and interesting opinions. As is the case, the world will be divided. I am all for SUVs, and here are my reasons:

a) Driving position: I love the higher seating offered by the SUVs. Why look into the road, when you can look down at it?

b) Comfort of night drives: Owing to the higher position, I get less glare with our very caring opposite high beam drivers.

c) Sheer presence / Road respect: (somewhat specific to a Scorpio) Have you ever switched on your turn indicators, and have the oncoming traffic halt for a second to allow you to turn? Drive the Scorpio, and see it happen!

d) Specific to a Scorpio: The side plastic cadding has taken many a scratch in its stride, without causing any visible damage.

e) Scratches add to the character of an SUV, rather than demeaning it - kinda like a real man doesnt need to dress fancy.

f) The way the roads are going - why worry about scraping/touching etc when you can just vroom over bumpy areas, and gloat about really losing your competition behind?

Some of these opinions are highly debatable of course, but then they are opinions. An SUV for me, any day.

Aye!

[raj_5004]

Originally Posted by vb-san

Sorry for my ignornance, but what is a Hariya?

Hariya is his Scorpio's name...

Originally Posted by himanshugoswami

I am a hardcore SUV fan, but an eperience yesterday made me wonder.....
......

LOL, very true. after changing a scorpio tyre for 6 long years, a week back i had to change my friend's santro's tyre & it was so damn easy !!!

Originally Posted by Driver2000

c) Sheer presence / Road respect: (somewhat specific to a Scorpio) Have you ever switched on your turn indicators, and have the oncoming traffic halt for a second to allow you to turn? Drive the Scorpio, and see it happen!

+10 to this!

It happens every time in my case whenever i drive the scorpio. I purposely dint mention this here as I was sure it would get responses like "you are doing dadagiri on the road", "its rash driving", "all SUV drivers are goons", etc etc!

Infact, i was so accustomed to this that when we bought a new Maruti Ritz, I turned on the indicator & flashed the headlight to an oncoming sedan & to my surprise he dint stop! Instead he flashed his light back & made me brake hard. His speed was slower than mine, but he dint care.

So on Indian roads, the mightier one has the advantage & thats a fact. So why should SUV owners/drivers be badmouthed for that?

[Guna]

Originally Posted by Driver2000

c) Sheer presence / Road respect: (somewhat specific to a Scorpio) Have you ever switched on your turn indicators, and have the oncoming traffic halt for a second to allow you to turn? Drive the Scorpio, and see it happen!

Very funny. Is it because the oncoming traffic thinks that Scorpio's brakes may not work or they think the drivers of the Scorpio can't see the oncoming traffic? What is the reason behind this phenomenon (assuming it is true)

[raj_5004]

The reason maybe the size & girth of the vehicle... may sound funny but its true & is valid not only for scorpio, but also for other SUVs like endy, safari, fortuner, pajero etc.

but of course, there are exceptions... not all car drivers will stop! I usually judge the speed & sense of the oncoming car. if they are as slow as i am, i flash my headlight once... 7 out of 10 times they stop. If they dont, I do. No battle lost there!

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by Guna

Very funny. Is it because the oncoming traffic thinks that Scorpio's brakes may not work or they think the drivers of the Scorpio can't see the oncoming traffic? What is the reason behind this phenomenon (assuming it is true)

They wont get it man. Awesome though

PS: I drive a Bolero but dont try such stunts just because I drive a bigger vehicle. I prefer to go by right of way and a little bit of commonsense. No mine is bigger then yours syndrome.

[Driver2000]

Originally Posted by Guna

Very funny. Is it because the oncoming traffic thinks that Scorpio's brakes may not work or they think the drivers of the Scorpio can't see the oncoming traffic? What is the reason behind this phenomenon (assuming it is true)

Indeed, a great point, Guna!

Dont mean to start a fire here at all; nor do I mean to state this as an aggressive/recommended driving technique.

One other interesting aspect here: I have noticed that people dont stand too close to the SUV when at a set of lights. And in many ways, that is safer for the driver inside the SUV. We can take digs at all these points - but somehow, they do happen - so there is merit in mentioning them in a comparative study.