| Tata Safari 4WD 100,000 KM
Hi,
I got my hands on a Safari 4WD Euro II in August 2000 (There was no Lx/Ex then!) and just completed 110,000 km this week.
Being as underpowered as it is, driving it in the city with the aircon running is something i either avoid, or leave to the chauffeur!! But on the Mumbai - Pune Expressway (which the car hits every weekend en route to my dad's farmhouse) it manages a cruising speed of 120 fairly easily. I have pushed it till 160 (speedo read. Actual?..) believe it or not, but that only a couple of times and never for more than 2 minutes. Engine noise above 120 is rather annoying, and above 140 quite unbearable.
The engine's given a bit of freak trouble. The gasket blew twice without the car ever visibly overheating, and was duly replaced, but it was only after the guys at Tata Motors dismantled the engine that the root of the problem was eliminated. Seems part of the cooling line running thru the engine had somehow corroded and was messing with the flow in the cooling system. Also, the turbo's pipe dislocated once causing much exhaust smoke, mysterious rumbling noises, and drive characteristics akin to a diesel Premier! The car has NEVER broken down on the road. I've always been able to drive it to the workshop.
Aside from the above, there were never any problems (loose fan belts dont count) The car regularly gives a mileage of 8 kmpl in the city and 9 - 10 on the highway depending on how gentle a foot is on the pedal. (Always with the aircon) I've been feeding it "Hi Speed" Diesel the last couple of months, and performance has improved noticeably, but only just so. I was using Mobil 1 synthetic engine oil for about 60000 km, and Castrol Magnatec since then. The first is no doubt far superior, but the second does the job, is much cheaper and much more easily available.
Love the sound of that engine! The high pitched howl of the turbo is pure music! (Also ensures that you dont need to honk much in the city. People just get the hell out of your way!)
That car also carries stuff like cement, fertiliser, roof tiles, and such stuff quite often, and i mean some serious weight - nearabout a tonne, with no hiccups, except that you gotta brake a mile earlier !!!! Suspension has been overhauled and shock absorbers changed at the stipulated mileage, that is to say, nothing has ever gone wrong. And that car logs serious kms on BAD roads, even NO roads. Ride quality on good roads is bouncy with upto 2 people in the car, and is best with 4 people and a few bags in the back. The ride on bad roads is excellent regardless of the load. Comfort, legroom, etc is legendary, and the rear seat is your sofa on wheels!
I've used the 4WD quite a bit, both in 4H and 4L modes. This is one point where i found the performance very very good. Tata Motors claims it can handle 45 degree inclines easily, and i can verify that claim, and whats more i did it in the rains, ascending as well as descending and NOT on a metalled road. "Make your own road" is right. Routinely use the rear hook to tow cars that get bogged in the mud at the farm in the rains. Even towed a 407 once. No Sweat.
The Aircon works. It aint great, hell not even very good, and makes a bit too much noise, but coupled with tinted glasses, it does the job. Just about. Dont even try driving with the front and rear splits both turned on. It refuses to get moving, though highway cruising is not much affected. Do it in the afternoon and some spirited revving will cause the temp to rise.
The switchgear is very irritating. Turn indicators cut off because of the steering column vibrations. The wiper came with about 5 intermittent speeds, which promptly quit, come the second monsoon. Someone once changed the aircon flow direction to the windshield to defog the glass, and the car had to make a trip to the workshop to reverse the process.
Thats about all i can say about my mini truck. Do let me know what you think of my first review. | 
26th December 2004, 03:47
(1)
Thanks
