Sold my Safari (3.0): Why?

Su-47 · 28th May 2008, 20:45

The first thought that may come to anybody's mind is: it was a lemon. No, it wasn't a lemon. On the contrary, I think I faced lesser issues than many other Safaris. The ones I can remember are a stuck rear door lock and oil leakage due to a bad seal (or gasket).

Then, why our alliance didn't work out well. Read on:

Braking: This was my biggest problem. Since its a (S)UV, I expected the braking to be poor, but it turned out to be PATHETIC. It failed to inspire any confidence. And, many times when I had to brake hard, it resulted in a skid. This is inspite of the fact that the truck rode on Michelin Synchrones.

Steering: The steering has enough play to make most people uncomfortable, and I am with the majority here. I slowly learnt to filter out the play, and life became easier, but never easy enough.

Airconditioning: Initially, I felt that the AC was decent. But, come peak summers (or whatever we call peak-summer in BLR) the cooling turned out to be pretty mediocre. BTW, my car did have decent sunfilms (LLumar Platinum).

Just for sake of comparison, I would like to mention my experience with the Scorp-M2di, which I ended up using last month on my trip to MP. Its airconditioning was much better inspite of Central India being a couple of degrees hotter than BLR and the Scorp having no sunfilms at all.

Driveability: It was uncomfortable to drive the truck in the peak hour traffic in BLR. The gear ratios of 2nd and 3rd coupled with the narrow power band made it uncomfortable. Its not impossible to drive, its plain inconvenient.

Rattling, Noises: Every once in a while a new noise would surface. It would turn out to be something like a loose clip behind the dashboard, slightly misaligned clamp or a loosened screw somewhere. I just couldn't come to terms with the fact that a new car can have such strange noises. Sorry to bring another car in picture, but, I dont hear such noises in our 7 year old Matiz.

Refinement: Lets not talk about it.

I decided that if I am not happy with something, no point in living with it. At one point, the thought about rectifying the issues (better brakes, overhead AC..) came to my mind, but I couldn't convince myself. So, we had no choice but to part-ways.

Will I miss it? Yeah, for the excellent ride, space and highway comfort. I dont really care anymore whether the autos and cabbies make way when they see me in the RVM.

Cheers,
Su-47

zenopio · 28th May 2008, 21:31

so what are you planning to buy budddy

Su-47 · 28th May 2008, 21:44

Nothing as of now. A friend will be away from town for a couple of months and he has asked me to *take-care* of his lancer while he's gone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenopio

so what are you planning to buy budddy

I did get the AC checked. Though not as hot as many other places, summers are getting hot in BLR as well. Its not that AC doesn't work, it just takes a higher fan speed and longer time to cool things down. Add to that, the blower fan which is pretty noisy at speeds higher than 2 and causes a high degree of irritation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

a.c not effective in Bangalore seems weird, as summers are not really summers there. Did you check it?

CrAzY dRiVeR · 28th May 2008, 21:47

Nice post. Any other car in mind for replacing the Safari?

a.c not effective in Bangalore seems weird, as summers are not really summers there. Did you check it?

Then again, as i read in one Safari thread. Everybody knows the Safari is not perfect, but they buy it for the sheer passion of it.

EDIT: Just saw the lancer 'care' post.

phamilyman · 28th May 2008, 23:27

Oh well, interesting it is. What a care you have to give!

PS: Come to delhi and experience real fundoo summer!

abhinav.s · 29th May 2008, 00:16

Glad I went through this post. One of my cousins was planning to buy a used 3.0 Dicor as he was getting it for a good bargain. I told him to hold on till I get more info on it. And lo & behold!! You come up with the actual reasons for selling a new Safari 3.0 which i think will be very useful to convince my cousin.

But on the other hand, i feel sad that you had so many difficulties with it. One way its good that you parted ways! And Lancer to be taken care of is an inviting deal. Hope you take real good care of the lancer..

iraghava · 29th May 2008, 00:26

Interesting, I guess you're the first person on the forum to get so irritated with the Safari's niggles that you sold it off!

Thanks for the nice & honest review though.

dadu · 29th May 2008, 09:36

Well, although its a 3.0l Safari but I would eventually take this decision with any car I am not happy with, right decision Su-47.

This was which year model/variant and how much did you get for this ??.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Su-47

I decided that if I am not happy with something, no point in living with it. At one point, the thought about rectifying the issues (better brakes, overhead AC..) came to my mind, but I couldn't convince myself. So, we had no choice but to part-ways.

Will I miss it? Yeah, for the excellent ride, space and highway comfort. I dont really care anymore whether the autos and cabbies make way when they see me in the RVM.

Cheers,
Su-47

Akshay1234 · 29th May 2008, 09:57

nice to see an honest review. if you didnt like it the best thing to do was to sell it. good choice su47.

ravikn · 29th May 2008, 10:09

Good Decision su47,

One should never live with something you do not like. It keeps hogging your brain till you get rid of it

DCEite · 29th May 2008, 10:14

Thanks for the honest Review, su.
I agree with you, there is no point staying with something you are not comfortable with, no matter if selling it means a bit of financial loss. You did the right thing.

Rahulk76 · 29th May 2008, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by iraghava

Interesting, I guess you're the first person on the forum to get so irritated with the Safari's niggles that you sold it off!

Thanks for the nice & honest review though.

I sold mine way back in feb

. I had my share of problems from Day1 w.r.t defects and whatnot and ultimately I parted. Glad I took that decision. As they say all good things come to an end
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-term-ownership-reviews/18472-passion-red-safari-dicor-lx-4x2-15000-kms.html

Good Decision SU-47!

Jeep · 29th May 2008, 10:47

Thanks for sharing your experience, Su. I always believed that the huge Safari club in team-bhp is because of the fact that it has good road presence (also the space and ride quality). Sad that it ends there. No wonder why the resale value of Scorpio is better than that of the Safari.

PatienceWins · 29th May 2008, 11:00

Good decision. It is better to part ways with a vehicle you are not happy with. Thanks for sharing the honest review.

Su-47 · 29th May 2008, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhinav.s

Glad I went through this post. One of my cousins was planning to buy a used 3.0 Dicor as he was getting it for a good bargain.

If you are getting a good deal, buying safari is not a bad idea. Whatever I said doesn't take away the positives from it. It is a fantastic car on the highway, has good road presence, absorbs bad roads and is decently fuel efficient too. The problem with me was I wanted something more than that. If your cousin can live with the negatives I've listed, by all means go for it. Do remember to get it checked by some knowledgeable guy though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iraghava

Interesting, I guess you're the first person on the forum to get so irritated with the Safari's niggles that you sold it off!

It wasn't just niggles IR. It also had to do with things like poor-braking, about which I couldn't do anything.

28th May 2008, 20:45	#1
Su-47 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 692 Thanked: 338 Times	Sold my Safari (3.0): Why? The first thought that may come to anybody's mind is: it was a lemon. No, it wasn't a lemon. On the contrary, I think I faced lesser issues than many other Safaris. The ones I can remember are a stuck rear door lock and oil leakage due to a bad seal (or gasket). Then, why our alliance didn't work out well. Read on: Braking: This was my biggest problem. Since its a (S)UV, I expected the braking to be poor, but it turned out to be PATHETIC. It failed to inspire any confidence. And, many times when I had to brake hard, it resulted in a skid. This is inspite of the fact that the truck rode on Michelin Synchrones. Steering: The steering has enough play to make most people uncomfortable, and I am with the majority here. I slowly learnt to filter out the play, and life became easier, but never easy enough. Airconditioning: Initially, I felt that the AC was decent. But, come peak summers (or whatever we call peak-summer in BLR) the cooling turned out to be pretty mediocre. BTW, my car did have decent sunfilms (LLumar Platinum). Just for sake of comparison, I would like to mention my experience with the Scorp-M2di, which I ended up using last month on my trip to MP. Its airconditioning was much better inspite of Central India being a couple of degrees hotter than BLR and the Scorp having no sunfilms at all. Driveability: It was uncomfortable to drive the truck in the peak hour traffic in BLR. The gear ratios of 2nd and 3rd coupled with the narrow power band made it uncomfortable. Its not impossible to drive, its plain inconvenient. Rattling, Noises: Every once in a while a new noise would surface. It would turn out to be something like a loose clip behind the dashboard, slightly misaligned clamp or a loosened screw somewhere. I just couldn't come to terms with the fact that a new car can have such strange noises. Sorry to bring another car in picture, but, I dont hear such noises in our 7 year old Matiz. Refinement: Lets not talk about it. I decided that if I am not happy with something, no point in living with it. At one point, the thought about rectifying the issues (better brakes, overhead AC..) came to my mind, but I couldn't convince myself. So, we had no choice but to part-ways. Will I miss it? Yeah, for the excellent ride, space and highway comfort. I dont really care anymore whether the autos and cabbies make way when they see me in the RVM. Cheers, Su-47
	() Thanks

28th May 2008, 21:31	#2
zenopio BANNED Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: hyderabad,london Posts: 441 Thanked: 4 Times View My Garage	so what are you planning to buy budddy
	() Thanks

28th May 2008, 21:47	#4
CrAzY dRiVeR Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore / TVM Posts: 17,183 Thanked: 73,525 Times View My Garage	Nice post. Any other car in mind for replacing the Safari? a.c not effective in Bangalore seems weird, as summers are not really summers there. Did you check it? Then again, as i read in one Safari thread. Everybody knows the Safari is not perfect, but they buy it for the sheer passion of it. EDIT: Just saw the lancer 'care' post.
	() Thanks

28th May 2008, 23:27	#5
phamilyman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 5,968 Thanked: 4,642 Times	Oh well, interesting it is. What a care you have to give! PS: Come to delhi and experience real fundoo summer!
	() Thanks

29th May 2008, 00:16	#6
abhinav.s Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,775 Thanked: 1,272 Times	Glad I went through this post. One of my cousins was planning to buy a used 3.0 Dicor as he was getting it for a good bargain. I told him to hold on till I get more info on it. And lo & behold!! You come up with the actual reasons for selling a new Safari 3.0 which i think will be very useful to convince my cousin. But on the other hand, i feel sad that you had so many difficulties with it. One way its good that you parted ways! And Lancer to be taken care of is an inviting deal. Hope you take real good care of the lancer..
	() Thanks

29th May 2008, 00:26	#7
iraghava Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 8,033 Thanked: 265 Times View My Garage	Interesting, I guess you're the first person on the forum to get so irritated with the Safari's niggles that you sold it off! Thanks for the nice & honest review though.
	() Thanks

29th May 2008, 09:57	#9
Akshay1234 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 10,266 Thanked: 12,317 Times	nice to see an honest review. if you didnt like it the best thing to do was to sell it. good choice su47.
	() Thanks

29th May 2008, 10:09	#10
ravikn BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 344 Thanked: 25 Times	Good Decision su47, One should never live with something you do not like. It keeps hogging your brain till you get rid of it
	() Thanks

29th May 2008, 10:14	#11
DCEite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NCR Posts: 3,418 Thanked: 2,571 Times	Thanks for the honest Review, su. I agree with you, there is no point staying with something you are not comfortable with, no matter if selling it means a bit of financial loss. You did the right thing.
	() Thanks

29th May 2008, 10:47	#13
Jeep BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Posts: 438 Thanked: 67 Times	Thanks for sharing your experience, Su. I always believed that the huge Safari club in team-bhp is because of the fact that it has good road presence (also the space and ride quality). Sad that it ends there. No wonder why the resale value of Scorpio is better than that of the Safari.
	() Thanks

29th May 2008, 11:00	#14
PatienceWins Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,416 Thanked: 809 Times View My Garage	Good decision. It is better to part ways with a vehicle you are not happy with. Thanks for sharing the honest review.
	() Thanks