[amol4184]

Originally Posted by Trojan

Lets see how this pans out, hopefully I will find a reliable local workshop or a reliable Force service center to get things done! Fingers crossed!

Is Gurkha only serviced at specific Force locations? If not and since I see you are in Pune, did you try the Ahmednagar dealer. On my cycling trips I have seen an odd Gurkha or two there. Just a suggestion, I wouldn't have high hopes but sometimes small town places are surprisingly better experience.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by Trojan

Lets see how this pans out, hopefully I will find a reliable local workshop or a reliable Force service center to get things done! Fingers crossed!

Hi, I service my Scorpio at a small FNG near Pimple Saudagar, whose owner is a 4x4 specialist, and repairs/services 4wd Jeeps, Gypsys etc. regularly. He is not perfect, but definitely much better and more cost effective than the ASCs. If you want to visit his workshop, I can give you his name and phone number.

[Trojan]

Originally Posted by amol4184

Is Gurkha only serviced at specific Force locations? If not and since I see you are in Pune, did you try the Ahmednagar dealer.

Yes not all centers service the Gurkha, for Pune they were planning to train the Siddarth Motors guys on the Gurkha (for the new model) but not sure on the status as of now.

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

Hi, I service my Scorpio at a small FNG near Pimple Saudagar, whose owner is a 4x4 specialist, and repairs/services 4wd Jeeps, Gypsys etc. regularly.

Pune certainly will have a few options, please do share - will certainly be helpful once am back as am not in Pune, currently at my camp at Panna Tiger Reserve, MP and hence the challenge.

Thanks a lot guys for your suggestions

Cheers!

[amol4184]

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

Hi, I service my Scorpio at a small FNG near Pimple Saudagar, whose owner is a 4x4 specialist, and repairs/services 4wd Jeeps, Gypsys etc. regularly. He is not perfect, but definitely much better and more cost effective than the ASCs. If you want to visit his workshop, I can give you his name and phone number.

Originally Posted by Trojan

Pune certainly will have a few options, please do share

Cheers!

Please share it here... I might be looking for a Jeep guy sometime in October. Thanks!

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by Trojan

Pune certainly will have a few options, please do share - will certainly be helpful once am back..

Originally Posted by amol4184

Please share it here... I might be looking for a Jeep guy sometime in October. Thanks!

Here you go. He is currently in Goa for RFC 2021, but should be back by next week.

Workshop name: Shantai Auto Works
Owner: Surendra Manjare
Mobile #: +91 97634 37744
Google maps link: Shantai Auto Works
HQVJ+XVP, Jagtap Dairy, Wakad, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra 411057
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GRSVMKY2NGLK28Ev7

[Trojan]

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

Workshop name: Shantai Auto Works
Owner: Surendra Manjare
Mobile #: +91 97634 37744
Google maps link: Shantai Auto Works
HQVJ+XVP, Jagtap Dairy, Wakad, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra 411057
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GRSVMKY2NGLK28Ev7

Well well, what do I say, except that life certainly is a Circle and for off-road enthusiasts a much smaller one.

Surendra Manjare was the guy suggested to me when I bought my first Jeep an MM540 way back in 2012 by none other than the late Behram Dhabhar Sir during my meeting with him at his residence in Pune. The name brought back memories, Manjare used to run his workshop then at the Don Bosco Technical School at Chinchwad and if I remember he was planning to move out and I guess that's where he moved to.
My weekends with the 540 were usually spent over there

As I parted ways with the 540, my contact with Manjare too diminished to closure.
I still have his number saved and its the same one that you shared

Thanks a bunch @Comfortably Numb, will catch up with him once am back!


Cheers,

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by Trojan

Well well, what do I say, except that life certainly is a Circle and for off-road enthusiasts a much smaller one.

Haha, it's a small world indeed!

I gave him a heads up a couple of days ago, that you might call some time in the near future; am sure he will be pleasantly surprised to hear from you again.

[Manuuj]

Lovely and honest ownership review Trojan! Read it with a smile. Back in 2019 i had to sell my prized Fortuner known as Obelix on Team Bhp due to the NGT 10 year rule for diesel vehicles.

As i went shopping around for a replacement i shortlisted the Ford Endeavour 3.2 4x4, Toyota Fortuner 4x4, Mahindra Alturas 4x4.

Now the Force Motors showroom is very close to all these showrooms on Rama Road in Delhi and while test driving each car i would cross it and peer inside at the Gurkha 2.2 standing there.

Eventually one day i summoned the guts to walk in. I had been spoiled by Toyota aftersales for almost 2 decades and the infamous Force aftersales experience as you described above was well known.

The sales person to his credit was very receptive and immediately arranged for a test drive.

The car was parked up and my heart skipped a beat. It was gorgeous. With a real "don't mess with me look" about it.








When i climbed into the cabin though i was extremely underwhelmed. The gear boot had a tear. On a brand new vehicle. The interiors looked like from a bygone era. Reminded me of my MM540 DP which i drove in college in 1993.

Though as i drove the Gurkha Extreme my smile widened.

Now my Fortuner was a looker, wrapped Army Green with an Ironman Snorkel and pretty tall too owing to its raised Ironman suspension and 275/60R17 tyres.


Everywhere it went people did give it a second look and even posed with it for pics in parking lots.

The Gurkha had the same presence. It towered over everything and felt indestructible (except for rubber gear boots)
Suddenly my heart was made up. (Not mind..my heart)

Glancing below at the two Diff Lock levers i imagined myself on rutted forest roads and climbing high mountain passes.

By the end of the drive the salesperson was sitting back relaxed in his seat with a satisfied expression at a job well done and a sure shot sale.

Even financially it made good sense. The other vehicles were close to the 40 lac mark and this was about 16 lacs on road.

The next day i was told that the North India sales head from Force was there at the showroom and if i have any doubts i should meet him which i did. We discussed about the advantages of a solid axle vehicle and the 3 inch lift provided by the factory itself.

I came home convinced and discussed it all with my family but they were totally averse to the idea. They all liked the Ford.

My parents would not have been comfortable in a 3 door vehicle and the fact that it did not have Airbags seemed to be a complete dealbreaker for them. (Owing to a previous experience of a personal tragedy)

In the end my poor heart lost to my head and it was the Ford Endeavour that came home.


Now as i write this in 2021 i am once again in touch with Force for the 2021 Gurkha in Green. This pic from Team Bhp is my actual phone wallpaper now.


It is an itch that I just have to scratch.

I did see your video review of it and am quite convinced it is going to join my Ford Endeavour at home soon.

I was wondering why in 2020 did you not get the 2.2 liter 140 bhp engine but the 2.6 liter 89 bhp engine?

Please keep updating this thread with pics and experiences with your lovely Gurkha!
Also on a sidenote I'd love to visit Bear Valley Camp soon sometime. Hopefully in my own Gurkha!

[Trojan]

Originally Posted by Manuuj

Lovely and honest ownership review Trojan! Read it with a smile. Back in 2019 i had to sell my prized Fortuner known as Obelix on Team Bhp due to the NGT 10 year rule for diesel vehicles.

As i went shopping around for a replacement i shortlisted the Ford Endeavour 3.2 4x4, Toyota Fortuner 4x4, Mahindra Alturas 4x4.

Though as i drove the Gurkha Extreme my smile widened.

Thank you Manuuj!

You still have those photos, the Gurkha does leave a lasting impression!

Your Fortuner was certainly a looker
Ya the Gurkha was pretty much a Heart over Mind stuff earlier and I totally understand why you had to go for the Endeavour over it. But I guess its always difficult when your heart is set on something...it lingers at the back our grey cells, dormant but alive!

Luckily this has been sorted and its now easier for people to actually consider it as a primary car.

Our first choice was the 2.2 Extreme 5 Door 4x4 but due to BS6 deadlines, there were none in stock and the 2.6 was all that was available, so didn't really have much choice.

Please do visit, nothing like 2 Gurkhas ruling the forests!

Cheers!

[howler]

Originally Posted by Trojan

Our first choice was the 2.2 Extreme 5 Door 4x4 but due to BS6 deadlines, there were none in stock and the 2.6 was all that was available, so didn't really have much choice.

Please do visit, nothing like 2 Gurkhas ruling the forests!

Cheers!

There is a mint , low run (1400km) 2019 xtreme for sale in BLR. I checked it out and it’s basically brand new ,it was bought for a promotional event that was scrapped due to covid. Very tempted but the new one is more usable as it will be my primary car.
Let me know if anyone is interested and I’ll pass on the owners number. I found it on olx. Very impressive vehicle

[Trojan]

Wow that sounds really interesting, since it is posted on OLX, it would be ok to share the link itself over here, so that potential buyers can have a look at it directly. But I will surely pass the word around!

[howler]

Originally Posted by Trojan

Wow that sounds really interesting, since it is posted on OLX, it would be ok to share the link itself over here, so that potential buyers can have a look at it directly. But I will surely pass the word around!

Here you go https://www.olx.in/en/item/gurkha-xt...iid-1650238174
Hope I haven’t violated any forum rules

[Manuuj]

Originally Posted by howler

Here you go https://www.olx.in/en/item/gurkha-xt...iid-1650238174
Hope I haven’t violated any forum rules

Wow! Thank you for the link! Good find. I am a bit surprised at the 15 lac price for a 2
year old vehicle.

It was 12.99 ex showroom in Delhi in 2019.

Also considering that the new one has been launched and seems more refined.

But then its the 140 bhp model with a 3 inch lift from factory with solid rear and front axles and is quite rare.

Will have to get it registered in Delhi or HP and that will also cost so the price will go up more. That too makes me feel that the 15 lac list price is quite high.

A brand new Gurkha 2021 model is a shade over 16 lacs on road in Delhi so i feel the owner really should reconsider that 15 lac price it is listed at.

[howler]

Originally Posted by Manuuj

Wow! Thank you for the link! Good find. I am a bit surprised at the 15 lac price for a 2
year old vehicle.

It was 12.99 ex showroom in Delhi in 2019.

Also considering that the new one has been launched and seems more refined.

But then its the 140 bhp model with a 3 inch lift from factory with solid rear and front axles and is quite rare.

Will have to get it registered in Delhi or HP and that will also cost so the price will go up more. That too makes me feel that the 15 lac list price is quite high.

A brand new Gurkha 2021 model is a shade over 16 lacs on road in Delhi so i feel the owner really should reconsider that 15 lac price it is listed at.

I felt the same way, but I didn’t want to even negotiate since I wasn’t interested once the new Gurkha launched. Way overpriced, but if money and space wasn’t an issue this would definitely be in my garage. I don’t think we’re going to see another vehicle like this. The only thing that bothered me was the archaic recirculating ball steering.

[Manuuj]

Hi Trojan could you please post some clear pics of the front underside of your Gurkha. Am very interested in looking at the suspension bits and Ground Clearance.

Also please comment on weather you have faced any ground clearance issues yourself since you have owned the vehicle for a while and also must have driven it in rutted areas around Bear Valley Camp.