Suzuki Grand Vitara: 2,32,000 kms & 7 years ownership

sudev · 13th September 2009, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by anonymous

100000 in 24 months. Approx 136 Km daily. Man, when was the last time, you saw you family? lol just kidding.

Easy..take my better half along with...enjoy and be together at the same time!

Right now in middle of desert around Bikaner doing recce for routes to be used for Desert Storm 2010. Will post pictures later.

Done enough dune bashing and getting bogged down - yeah even GV does that.

sudev · 16th September 2009, 16:01

For some one who doubted ... see the attached.
One problem which is coming on and off is that the door switch of the tail gate is malfunctioning as the "rubber" cap on top of the switch fell off. As a result the switch does not get depressed and the warning light keeps coming on. In this condition the remote door lock also does not function. However the problem is intermittent and so waiting for next service to attend.

Not visible in this picture (as it was taken when the mile stone was crossed) is that the odometer has space for six digits - 1milion/10lac kms!! So is the GV going to last that long? Hmmmmmmm will take me twenty years of driving at current rate to find out

contactme27 · 16th September 2009, 16:09

Congrats Sudev ! I have not heard personal vehicles being ripped to this extent. Most of time I have seen plenty of Innova's [esp. TAXI's] doing more 1.5 Lakhs odo. But, this is something a surprise on luxury vehicles.
keep going...

sudev · 16th September 2009, 20:40

Why have a luxury vehicle if you do not put it to use?
Hey maybe that is why the "reliability" rating of high end (read priced) vehicle is high - cause they are not driven enough??

CaliforniaKnight · 16th September 2009, 20:57

I am sure, 1 lakh is just like peanuts for the Grand Vitara. The engine has just warmed up.
How is the Build, not bad right??

sudev · 16th September 2009, 21:12

Great build quality...hardly any rattles even after this. Except one, which was there right from day one. Still not fully traced but is somewhere at the rear but not the door.

sudev · 16th September 2009, 23:12

Last week end was a long but quick trip to area around Bikaner to find tracks for the next Desert Storm. Three days and 1600kms sort of trip. 1200kms to and from Bikaner and rest spent around the town exploring the unknown off the road country.

Originally planned the trip with two cars but the others could not join in so left home base on Saturday by 1500hrs. Drove through Gurgaon, Behror, Shahpura, turned off the NH8 and used state highway to Ringus and then on the NH11 to reach Bikaner at 2230.

Next day was full taken up exploring the country around. The research on GoogleEarth had already reveled some interesting alignments but till you do it on the ground you really do not know.

Here is a shot which I liked from my last weeks outing on the Aravallis and now this week I was heading for major off roading adventure in to the desert

Suzuki Grand Vitara: 2,32,000 kms & 7 years ownership-100_3223.jpg

This track lead us through "monsoon" farming country. The fields here are somewhat green since they received some rain fall.

Suzuki Grand Vitara: 2,32,000 kms & 7 years ownership-100_3260.jpg

This young fellow got carried away in to thinking that GV was also one of the milch animals that he was tending.

Suzuki Grand Vitara: 2,32,000 kms & 7 years ownership-100_3255.jpg

Further afield the crops had failed and the farmer we met was disgusted with his luck. Gave him a lift despite ferocious looking sickle that he carried.
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Name: 100_3258.jpg
Views: 2533
Size: 31.9 KB

Climbing dunes was fun

Suzuki Grand Vitara: 2,32,000 kms & 7 years ownership-100_3262.jpg

But not as much as was coming down on the steeper side. Only wish there was another person to capture that on the camera.

Suzuki Grand Vitara: 2,32,000 kms & 7 years ownership-100_3264.jpg

The tracks that ran through the fields had many "gates" to keep out wild animals (read deer, chinkara and blue bull)

Suzuki Grand Vitara: 2,32,000 kms & 7 years ownership-100_3266.jpg

And this meant that my better half got enough exercise opening and closing those gates after us

Suzuki Grand Vitara: 2,32,000 kms & 7 years ownership-100_3265.jpg

Having a vehicle that can be taken off road and enjoying taking it on to such territories was one of my major priorities when I purchased the GV and I am enjoying it to the fullest.

The objective of finding 50km+ sections was partially achieved and so the next Desert Storm will see most of the sections in the range of 50~100kms in length. This in contrast with 12~20kms that were run in the initial years.

Next week end is the first NCR SUV trail blazing and I hope to get more pictures from there for adding to this thread.

hellstar · 18th September 2009, 07:24

thats possibly the shortset time to reach 1 lakh km by the private use vehicle on the forum !

Sudev i really envy you job , its very rarely that one get to be working withwhat you love and are passionate about ....

just finished running through all your exploits , and i must say that you have had one ball of a time .... keep rollin mate ! keep rollin

akshay4587 · 18th September 2009, 08:14

Nice

Another example is my friends Dzire bought in Apr 08 it has almost done 92K on its Odo till now

hellstar · 18th September 2009, 09:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by akshay4587

Nice

Another example is my friends Dzire bought in Apr 08 it has almost done 92K on its Odo till now

my god does he ride a bike for his living ?

sudev · 18th September 2009, 09:20

The problem of "door open" warning light was attended with a "jugaad" as shown in the picture below. A bit of platic tubing is added to the switch stem. By extending the switch it is getting triggered in to "off" position when the rear door is now closed.

Suzuki Grand Vitara: 2,32,000 kms & 7 years ownership-100_3279.jpg

Basically the total door switch assembly comes covered with a rubber moulding which is missing in the rear. Possibly this was missing since last year when accident repairs were done to the tailgate.

The picture from the side door shows how it should look.

Suzuki Grand Vitara: 2,32,000 kms & 7 years ownership-100_3280.jpg

Hoopoe · 18th September 2009, 09:36

Hey Sudev, great report and congrats on achieving the 6 figures so quickly. Looking forward to more stories. The 'Jugaad' incident demonstrates your ingenuity. Keep it up.

sudev · 19th September 2009, 17:16

Bill form the recent service of GV. The parts are very reasonably priced.

Brake Pads 3525
Oil filter 186

I know some of the other SUV's a set of OE brake pads comes for ~12K and higher.

anandpadhye · 19th September 2009, 19:16

Which engine oil is this?
Can't read properly - 5W30? Rs. 296/liter?

sudev · 19th September 2009, 19:48

It sure does say 5W30 - This is Suzuki Motor Oil (SGP) that is supplied from the company. I have used this through out. Rather this is what MotorCraft, the MASS, have used ever since.

16th September 2009, 16:01	#152
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	For some one who doubted ... see the attached. One problem which is coming on and off is that the door switch of the tail gate is malfunctioning as the "rubber" cap on top of the switch fell off. As a result the switch does not get depressed and the warning light keeps coming on. In this condition the remote door lock also does not function. However the problem is intermittent and so waiting for next service to attend. Not visible in this picture (as it was taken when the mile stone was crossed) is that the odometer has space for six digits - 1milion/10lac kms!! So is the GV going to last that long? Hmmmmmmm will take me twenty years of driving at current rate to find out Attached Thumbnails
	(1) Thanks

16th September 2009, 16:09	#153
contactme27 BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 225 Thanked: 21 Times	Congrats Sudev ! I have not heard personal vehicles being ripped to this extent. Most of time I have seen plenty of Innova's [esp. TAXI's] doing more 1.5 Lakhs odo. But, this is something a surprise on luxury vehicles. keep going...
	() Thanks

16th September 2009, 20:40	#154
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Why have a luxury vehicle if you do not put it to use? Hey maybe that is why the "reliability" rating of high end (read priced) vehicle is high - cause they are not driven enough??
	() Thanks

16th September 2009, 20:57	#155
CaliforniaKnight BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: IND + DXB Posts: 980 Thanked: 141 Times View My Garage	I am sure, 1 lakh is just like peanuts for the Grand Vitara. The engine has just warmed up. How is the Build, not bad right??
	() Thanks

16th September 2009, 21:12	#156
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Great build quality...hardly any rattles even after this. Except one, which was there right from day one. Still not fully traced but is somewhere at the rear but not the door.
	() Thanks

16th September 2009, 23:12	#157
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Last week end was a long but quick trip to area around Bikaner to find tracks for the next Desert Storm. Three days and 1600kms sort of trip. 1200kms to and from Bikaner and rest spent around the town exploring the unknown off the road country. Originally planned the trip with two cars but the others could not join in so left home base on Saturday by 1500hrs. Drove through Gurgaon, Behror, Shahpura, turned off the NH8 and used state highway to Ringus and then on the NH11 to reach Bikaner at 2230. Next day was full taken up exploring the country around. The research on GoogleEarth had already reveled some interesting alignments but till you do it on the ground you really do not know. Here is a shot which I liked from my last weeks outing on the Aravallis and now this week I was heading for major off roading adventure in to the desert This track lead us through "monsoon" farming country. The fields here are somewhat green since they received some rain fall. This young fellow got carried away in to thinking that GV was also one of the milch animals that he was tending. Further afield the crops had failed and the farmer we met was disgusted with his luck. Gave him a lift despite ferocious looking sickle that he carried. Climbing dunes was fun But not as much as was coming down on the steeper side. Only wish there was another person to capture that on the camera. The tracks that ran through the fields had many "gates" to keep out wild animals (read deer, chinkara and blue bull) And this meant that my better half got enough exercise opening and closing those gates after us Having a vehicle that can be taken off road and enjoying taking it on to such territories was one of my major priorities when I purchased the GV and I am enjoying it to the fullest. The objective of finding 50km+ sections was partially achieved and so the next Desert Storm will see most of the sections in the range of 50~100kms in length. This in contrast with 12~20kms that were run in the initial years. Next week end is the first NCR SUV trail blazing and I hope to get more pictures from there for adding to this thread.
	(1) Thanks

18th September 2009, 07:24	#158
hellstar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,072 Thanked: 44 Times	thats possibly the shortset time to reach 1 lakh km by the private use vehicle on the forum ! Sudev i really envy you job , its very rarely that one get to be working withwhat you love and are passionate about .... just finished running through all your exploits , and i must say that you have had one ball of a time .... keep rollin mate ! keep rollin
	() Thanks

18th September 2009, 08:14	#159
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,151 Thanked: 4,525 Times View My Garage	Nice Another example is my friends Dzire bought in Apr 08 it has almost done 92K on its Odo till now
	() Thanks

18th September 2009, 09:20	#161
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	The problem of "door open" warning light was attended with a "jugaad" as shown in the picture below. A bit of platic tubing is added to the switch stem. By extending the switch it is getting triggered in to "off" position when the rear door is now closed. Basically the total door switch assembly comes covered with a rubber moulding which is missing in the rear. Possibly this was missing since last year when accident repairs were done to the tailgate. The picture from the side door shows how it should look.
	(1) Thanks

18th September 2009, 09:36	#162
Hoopoe BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 107 Thanked: 103 Times	Hey Sudev, great report and congrats on achieving the 6 figures so quickly. Looking forward to more stories. The 'Jugaad' incident demonstrates your ingenuity. Keep it up.
	() Thanks

19th September 2009, 17:16	#163
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Bill form the recent service of GV. The parts are very reasonably priced. Brake Pads 3525 Oil filter 186 I know some of the other SUV's a set of OE brake pads comes for ~12K and higher. Attached Thumbnails
	(1) Thanks

19th September 2009, 19:16	#164
anandpadhye Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 3,054 Thanked: 3,313 Times	Which engine oil is this? Can't read properly - 5W30? Rs. 296/liter?
	() Thanks

19th September 2009, 19:48	#165
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	It sure does say 5W30 - This is Suzuki Motor Oil (SGP) that is supplied from the company. I have used this through out. Rather this is what MotorCraft, the MASS, have used ever since.
	() Thanks