Tata Sumo Grande ownership Report.

greenhorn · 12th July 2010, 17:56

Congrats on the buy HappyRoadie. Here's wishing you years of trouble free miles

Do update your maintenance bill details , once you're through the first couple of miles. A lot of folks are interested in how the maintenance of the Grande compares to its predecessor.

HappyRoadie · 12th July 2010, 21:18

As requested by members here are the photos of interiors.

bblost · 17th July 2010, 22:26

I happened to td a Sumo Grande just today morning. Was pleasantly surprised by the very decent quality on the inside. The vehicle is very imposing and you sit really tall. The variant I drive was the top end GX.

Drive quality felt a lot like my Wagon R. i.e I felt the bumps and nudges on the road in almost the same intensity.

The amazingly short turning radius a HUGE plus point.
The steering is easy and feels quite good.

Nice pics, buddy.
The vehicle is quite good.

Amartya · 18th July 2010, 02:33

Never noticed the reflectors on the inside of the door. I think it is a very thoughtful touch. Thanks for the interior pics as well.

HappyRoadie · 18th July 2010, 08:20

Thank You for the comments. bblost I think you must have test drive'd the new Grande MKII. It has got better suspension as compared to the older one. Older one is a bit bumpy on bad roads compared to the new Mark II.

condor · 18th July 2010, 08:24

@Happy Roadie - better fitting seat covers will make a huge difference to the interior look & feel.

HappyRoadie · 18th July 2010, 18:46

Hi Condor. I completely agree. I got them fitted as my budget was not high. I also feel that the quality of work is poor.I will definitely would get them changed with leather seat covers when pocket permits.

TaureanBull · 18th July 2010, 18:55

Nice pics. I have read a lot about the vehicle and it seems to have come a long way. Like I told before it would be so nice to leave the Sumo word. But may be its the marketing tactics.

I have the same observation as Condor. In addition, you may consider changing the steering wheel cover too. Dont have to go for leather (unless its your preference), any fabric/art leather cover with decent colour would be fine.

Is that the stock ICE? I could n't make out much from the pic.

DRIV3R · 18th July 2010, 19:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amartya

Never noticed the reflectors on the inside of the door. I think it is a very thoughtful touch. Thanks for the interior pics as well.

I believe that those are not reflectors but actual lights. Check out the next pic (Of the right door), where the door is closed and the light is powered off.

Thoughtful touch indeed. Safaris too have it.

Amartya · 18th July 2010, 22:03

^^ Thanks for pointing that out, great observation. Them being lights make it even safer.
I was wondering whether these are the so called "puddle" lights, which also serve the purpose of the passenger getting out form the car without knowing what he/she is stepping on. If that is the case, somehow I had imagined that the puddle lights had to face downwards (say at the bottom of the door or something like that), nice to stand corrected.

HappyRoadie · 18th July 2010, 22:07

@Amartya. These are not puddle lamps but just indicators to indicate just in case the doors are opened and not closed properly. Puddle lamps are located at the bottom of each door. If possible I will post the pictures of the puddle lamps.

Amartya · 18th July 2010, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyRoadie

@Amartya. These are not puddle lamps but just indicators to indicate just in case the doors are opened and not closed properly. Puddle lamps are located at the bottom of each door. If possible I will post the pictures of the puddle lamps.

Hey, thanks for clarifying that. I was ignorant about their placement. Once again, I think this is a very thoughtful safety feature (the lights on the inside of the doors). Kudos to Tata Motors.

HappyRoadie · 19th July 2010, 10:38

Hello, I will click some better interior photos and will post them. Also what will be the cost of hellas. Yesterday went for a short drive and this time I was sitting in the last row. I experienced vibration in the floor. Rest all is going fine(touch wood).

amitk26 · 19th July 2010, 10:52

Hi Happyroadie,

Came across the thread today bit late to congratulate.
Yes Grande is a practical choice , I did extensive testing of Safari , grande ( Original not MKII) and Scorpio VLX. The ride , Handling and seating of Grande is miles above of Scorpio VLX. It scored bad on points of interior plastics and NVH.

The vehicle was written off by many people with out test drive just because it had Sumo badge and they were not willing to disassociate it mentally with Sumo.

About Puddle lights they are very useful thing , I remember a distant relative of who mine went to a marriage reception years ago, the driver stopped the vehicle next to an open man-hole the gentleman stepped out straight in to the gutter. The incidence is kind of folk lore now which gets repeated at every family gathering

HappyRoadie · 19th July 2010, 11:10

Sad to hear about that incident. Hope your relative did not suffered much injuries. Yes you are right that it did not sell well due to the Sumo badge it carried. Also plastic and NVH levels could have been better. But now they have solved these problems in Grande Mark II. One thing I am sad about is that just one month after my purchase Grande Mark II was announced. But anyway I am still happy and have not faced major issues.

12th July 2010, 17:56	#16
greenhorn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,745 Thanked: 4,400 Times View My Garage	Congrats on the buy HappyRoadie. Here's wishing you years of trouble free miles Do update your maintenance bill details , once you're through the first couple of miles. A lot of folks are interested in how the maintenance of the Grande compares to its predecessor.
	() Thanks

12th July 2010, 21:18	#17
HappyRoadie BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Lucknow Posts: 538 Thanked: 303 Times View My Garage	As requested by members here are the photos of interiors. Attached Thumbnails
	(1) Thanks

17th July 2010, 22:26	#18
bblost Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 11,008 Thanked: 15,353 Times View My Garage	I happened to td a Sumo Grande just today morning. Was pleasantly surprised by the very decent quality on the inside. The vehicle is very imposing and you sit really tall. The variant I drive was the top end GX. Drive quality felt a lot like my Wagon R. i.e I felt the bumps and nudges on the road in almost the same intensity. The amazingly short turning radius a HUGE plus point. The steering is easy and feels quite good. Nice pics, buddy. The vehicle is quite good.
	() Thanks

18th July 2010, 02:33	#19
Amartya Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Evanston Posts: 1,748 Thanked: 736 Times	Never noticed the reflectors on the inside of the door. I think it is a very thoughtful touch. Thanks for the interior pics as well.
	() Thanks

18th July 2010, 08:20	#20
HappyRoadie BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Lucknow Posts: 538 Thanked: 303 Times View My Garage	Thank You for the comments. bblost I think you must have test drive'd the new Grande MKII. It has got better suspension as compared to the older one. Older one is a bit bumpy on bad roads compared to the new Mark II.
	() Thanks

18th July 2010, 08:24	#21
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Speed-brkr City Posts: 15,864 Thanked: 16,014 Times View My Garage	@Happy Roadie - better fitting seat covers will make a huge difference to the interior look & feel.
	() Thanks

18th July 2010, 18:46	#22
HappyRoadie BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Lucknow Posts: 538 Thanked: 303 Times View My Garage	Hi Condor. I completely agree. I got them fitted as my budget was not high. I also feel that the quality of work is poor.I will definitely would get them changed with leather seat covers when pocket permits.
	() Thanks

18th July 2010, 18:55	#23
TaureanBull Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,071 Thanked: 326 Times View My Garage	Nice pics. I have read a lot about the vehicle and it seems to have come a long way. Like I told before it would be so nice to leave the Sumo word. But may be its the marketing tactics. I have the same observation as Condor. In addition, you may consider changing the steering wheel cover too. Dont have to go for leather (unless its your preference), any fabric/art leather cover with decent colour would be fine. Is that the stock ICE? I could n't make out much from the pic.
	() Thanks

18th July 2010, 22:03	#25
Amartya Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Evanston Posts: 1,748 Thanked: 736 Times	^^ Thanks for pointing that out, great observation. Them being lights make it even safer. I was wondering whether these are the so called "puddle" lights, which also serve the purpose of the passenger getting out form the car without knowing what he/she is stepping on. If that is the case, somehow I had imagined that the puddle lights had to face downwards (say at the bottom of the door or something like that), nice to stand corrected.
	() Thanks

18th July 2010, 22:07	#26
HappyRoadie BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Lucknow Posts: 538 Thanked: 303 Times View My Garage	@Amartya. These are not puddle lamps but just indicators to indicate just in case the doors are opened and not closed properly. Puddle lamps are located at the bottom of each door. If possible I will post the pictures of the puddle lamps.
	() Thanks

19th July 2010, 10:38	#28
HappyRoadie BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Lucknow Posts: 538 Thanked: 303 Times View My Garage	Hello, I will click some better interior photos and will post them. Also what will be the cost of hellas. Yesterday went for a short drive and this time I was sitting in the last row. I experienced vibration in the floor. Rest all is going fine(touch wood).
	() Thanks

19th July 2010, 10:52	#29
amitk26 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,089 Thanked: 715 Times	Hi Happyroadie, Came across the thread today bit late to congratulate. Yes Grande is a practical choice , I did extensive testing of Safari , grande ( Original not MKII) and Scorpio VLX. The ride , Handling and seating of Grande is miles above of Scorpio VLX. It scored bad on points of interior plastics and NVH. The vehicle was written off by many people with out test drive just because it had Sumo badge and they were not willing to disassociate it mentally with Sumo. About Puddle lights they are very useful thing , I remember a distant relative of who mine went to a marriage reception years ago, the driver stopped the vehicle next to an open man-hole the gentleman stepped out straight in to the gutter. The incidence is kind of folk lore now which gets repeated at every family gathering Last edited by amitk26 : 19th July 2010 at 10:53.
	() Thanks

19th July 2010, 11:10	#30
HappyRoadie BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Lucknow Posts: 538 Thanked: 303 Times View My Garage	Sad to hear about that incident. Hope your relative did not suffered much injuries. Yes you are right that it did not sell well due to the Sumo badge it carried. Also plastic and NVH levels could have been better. But now they have solved these problems in Grande Mark II. One thing I am sad about is that just one month after my purchase Grande Mark II was announced. But anyway I am still happy and have not faced major issues.
	() Thanks