The First Grand Vitara on Team-BHP

thefreak · 5th November 2007, 10:32

Nice car, great write up and awesome snaps. Congratulations.

Jaggu · 5th November 2007, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai

Once the car got cleaned, I noticed that keeping a white car clean is going to be much more difficult than keeping a black car clean.

Invite me to Uduppi for a offroad ride and will share the secrets of keeping white as white

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! ! !

nikkibike · 5th November 2007, 10:34

Top quality decision and smart choice there! Great to see a wonderfull SUV-ian here!

CONGRATS and BEST WISHES to you and your family Samurai!

Drive ON!!!!!

NIP · 5th November 2007, 10:34

i think white is the only colour that befits this SUV ! great choice and nice seats to go with it too

!! thanks for taking so much time to articulate the ownership experience...loved reading that....and here's wishing you many many years of happy mudbashing samurai !! cheers !!

hellstar · 5th November 2007, 10:37

Congrats on your new ride Samurai ,

She looks wild in White !

Greats picture , i loved the last one especially !

Rocky_Balboa · 5th November 2007, 11:15

Samurai,

Amazing is an understatement! The enthu You have even after so much discussions on choosing your drive, clearly shows in the photos!

Congrats.
(The dog territory pic was funny)

Ketan · 5th November 2007, 11:23

Congratulations Samurai San!!
The white color really gives an image of the King!! Nice first hand exp report and mudbashing pictures..

As someone said here before, I was following your SUV buy plan too. I felt may be I have the similar requirement (not going off/bad-roads so frequently as you though). I was following it since Gurkha days, then it comes Gama TD and its good to know that you settled with GV. Really a Grand Vehicle..
Now, both of you can enjoy those off-the-beatan trails with the mean machine..

I heard you saying it will run in 4H all the time, wouldnt it be slower if you engage 4WD (4H) all the time!!! I do see 'N' position on that knob!! what is that?? is that a normal 2WD position?? I was in impression that you dont need to put it in 4H unless you are driving on sand or some surface where you need lil more traction!! and yeah,, 4H lock and 4L lock are for extreme conditions and adventures I guess.

normally_crazy · 5th November 2007, 11:43

Sam San,

I would have loved to see slushy and muddy pictures of the SUV instead of clean ones.

And boy you seem to have gone into overdrive with the off-roading bit

I simply am drooling over the seat colour - AWESOME !!!!!!!!

Congratulations once again.

Samurai · 5th November 2007, 11:46

Thanks everyone, hope to get better photos once things settle down. Need some Rudra magic to happen.

Some more things:

1) A/C is a chiller, it can easily put Baleno to shame. Of course, I am comparing a white GV with black Baleno. But still, the auto climate control works wonders.

2) The gear box is very notchy, moving to 2nd gear is a pain, need to really concentrate to get it right. Other gears are not that bad. Hopefully it will get better like it did on the Baleno.

3) The keyless system is pretty clever. My usual concern with keyless entry has been taken into consideration. If I accidently unlock the car, and if nobody opens the door in 30 seconds, it will lock itself back. Don't have to worry if kids unlock the car from inside the house.

I'll keep adding as I remember more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ketan

I heard you saying it will run in 4H all the time, wouldnt it be slower if you engage 4WD (4H) all the time!!!

No, it is like any AWD car in normal mode. The diff locks will engage only in 4H lock and 4L lock.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ketan

I do see 'N' position on that knob!! what is that?? is that a normal 2WD position??

That is used only when the car needs to be towed, N is no wheel drive. If it is towed without switching to N, it can cause major damage to the transmission.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ketan

I was in impression that you dont need to put it in 4H unless you are driving on sand or some surface where you need lil more traction!! and yeah,, 4H lock and 4L lock are for extreme conditions and adventures I guess.

That is true for part-time 4WD like Safari. This car is in 4H mode all time, that might explain the low FE.

Samurai · 5th November 2007, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

I would have loved to see slushy and muddy pictures of the SUV instead of clean ones.

The photos in second post (puja/temple shot) were taken right after plowing through the slushy green field, do you see any mud/slush?

Quote:

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

And boy you seem to have gone into overdrive with the off-roading bit

And you were wondering other day about it.

rangaraj · 5th November 2007, 11:59

Looks like we have a more affordable version of a true SUV (compared to Pajero). The comfort and the interiors seem to be better than the endy of ford. Looks more modern and better than the Tuscon. Much cheaper and better off road capability than the CRV. More upmarket than the Safari (a whole load of owners might be up in arms with this statement). Seems to have found a niche for itself and like the baleno taken some time for people to take notice and recognize its capabilities and value..

P.S. Why is this in the long term ownership section?

Samurai · 5th November 2007, 12:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangaraj

P.S. Why is this in the long term ownership section?

That has come up recently, since we don't have any new ownership or short term ownership section, all ownership threads are ending up here.

streetsdisciple · 5th November 2007, 12:24

Man i really like the GV ,i think it looks so much better then the crv.
Congrats samurai.
Dont like the seat covers much ,a black white combo would have looked amazing.
Just my opinion.

Fillmore · 5th November 2007, 12:30

Awesome SUV.
No plans to put Roof Rails ?

I guess a black pair would enhance the looks .. But then this is my personal opinion :-)

esteem_lover · 5th November 2007, 12:43

Congrats Samurai. Now you have the truly right car for your terrain. Enjoy the beauty (would not like to call it a beast).

5th November 2007, 10:32	#31
thefreak BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 362 Thanked: 7 Times	Nice car, great write up and awesome snaps. Congratulations.
	() Thanks

5th November 2007, 10:34	#33
nikkibike BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: QoAS Posts: 526 Thanked: 4 Times	wow! Top quality decision and smart choice there! Great to see a wonderfull SUV-ian here! CONGRATS and BEST WISHES to you and your family Samurai! Drive ON!!!!!
	() Thanks

5th November 2007, 10:34	#34
NIP Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,180 Thanked: 152 Times View My Garage	i think white is the only colour that befits this SUV ! great choice and nice seats to go with it too !! thanks for taking so much time to articulate the ownership experience...loved reading that....and here's wishing you many many years of happy mudbashing samurai !! cheers !! Last edited by NIP : 5th November 2007 at 10:36.
	() Thanks

5th November 2007, 10:37	#35
hellstar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,072 Thanked: 44 Times	Congrats on your new ride Samurai , She looks wild in White ! Greats picture , i loved the last one especially !
	() Thanks

5th November 2007, 11:15	#36
Rocky_Balboa BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Namma Bengalooru Posts: 676 Thanked: 358 Times View My Garage	Samurai, Amazing is an understatement! The enthu You have even after so much discussions on choosing your drive, clearly shows in the photos! Congrats. (The dog territory pic was funny)
	() Thanks

5th November 2007, 11:23	#37
Ketan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,001 Thanked: 442 Times View My Garage	Congratulations Samurai San!! The white color really gives an image of the King!! Nice first hand exp report and mudbashing pictures.. As someone said here before, I was following your SUV buy plan too. I felt may be I have the similar requirement (not going off/bad-roads so frequently as you though). I was following it since Gurkha days, then it comes Gama TD and its good to know that you settled with GV. Really a Grand Vehicle.. Now, both of you can enjoy those off-the-beatan trails with the mean machine.. I heard you saying it will run in 4H all the time, wouldnt it be slower if you engage 4WD (4H) all the time!!! I do see 'N' position on that knob!! what is that?? is that a normal 2WD position?? I was in impression that you dont need to put it in 4H unless you are driving on sand or some surface where you need lil more traction!! and yeah,, 4H lock and 4L lock are for extreme conditions and adventures I guess.
	() Thanks

5th November 2007, 11:43	#38
normally_crazy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,369 Thanked: 528 Times View My Garage	Sam San, I would have loved to see slushy and muddy pictures of the SUV instead of clean ones. And boy you seem to have gone into overdrive with the off-roading bit I simply am drooling over the seat colour - AWESOME !!!!!!!! Congratulations once again.
	() Thanks

5th November 2007, 11:59	#41
rangaraj BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 570 Thanked: 10 Times	Looks like we have a more affordable version of a true SUV (compared to Pajero). The comfort and the interiors seem to be better than the endy of ford. Looks more modern and better than the Tuscon. Much cheaper and better off road capability than the CRV. More upmarket than the Safari (a whole load of owners might be up in arms with this statement). Seems to have found a niche for itself and like the baleno taken some time for people to take notice and recognize its capabilities and value.. P.S. Why is this in the long term ownership section? Last edited by rangaraj : 5th November 2007 at 12:02.
	() Thanks

5th November 2007, 12:24	#43
streetsdisciple BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: delhi Posts: 76 Thanked: 0 Times	Man i really like the GV ,i think it looks so much better then the crv. Congrats samurai. Dont like the seat covers much ,a black white combo would have looked amazing. Just my opinion.
	() Thanks

5th November 2007, 12:30	#44
Fillmore BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 492 Thanked: 580 Times	Awesome SUV. No plans to put Roof Rails ? I guess a black pair would enhance the looks .. But then this is my personal opinion :-)
	() Thanks

5th November 2007, 12:43	#45
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 502 Times View My Garage	Congrats Samurai. Now you have the truly right car for your terrain. Enjoy the beauty (would not like to call it a beast).
	() Thanks