[SDP]

A few weeks back I had seen a Green XUV with a very interesting bull-bar from Ajanta. First thing - it was green in color, perfectly matching the green of the XUV. Secondly there were DRLs integrated in it. The car was waiting for someone. The guy at the driver's seat looked like a driver, so I did not bother to ask him the details about the bullbar.

Came home and searched on the net. Found nothing.

Then today (while answering the above query), I got the image of the same bull-bar/front-guard. Here are couple of images:




Sharing as I found it interesting.

The red XUV in the pictures is not mine. And, No, I don't work for Ajanta!

PS:
A.R, if you are wondering how do the Ajanta foot-steps look, you can refer these pictures.

[Heavy Horse]

Our trip to Mysore (March 28-31) as mentioned in an earlier post was superb from every point of view, be it driving or experiencing the historical richness of the city and surroundings. Extremely satisfying.

Those interested in the travelogue can click here http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...-day-trip.html

I thought I will share the following aspects that might be of interest to others:

1.Use of MMI : With continued use of MMI and helpful inputs from BHPians, my skill level in using this feature has gone up. I figured out that the MMI database is inadequate especially if one has to go down to street level and for some POIs. As an example, let me point out that Ginger Mangalore features in the database, but NOT Ginger Mysore ! So I decided to look at the street and see if that features. The Ginger website states Ginger Mysore street address as Vasant Mahal Road. Even this does not feature in the MMI database. So where does one turn to when all is lost ?? Google Maps !! How interesting that Google Maps shows the address of Ginger Mysore as Lokaranjan Mahal Road. And MMI has this….how doubly interesting. So I ask MMI to navigate to Lokaranjan Mahal Road, which it does in admirable fashion, and then use good old Indian GPS (with a cop, sipping nimboo pani in the shade), do a U turn and in 200 m I am at Ginger…voila!!

MMI does not show Infosys, Mysore. Same procedure above, and Google Maps, says Hebbalu Industrial Estate. Only Hebbalu in MMI, so go to Hebbalu. Use Indian GPS and Infosys campus looms up in no time….. mighty impressive that, the campus I mean not MMI.

I think the towns are all in there, even some pretty small ones in MMI. For some reason they all take you to the bus station.

2.Fuel Efficiency: Total distance travelled on this trip was 818 kms, fuel consumed 59.21 litres on TF2TF basis, yielding an FE of 13.8 kmpl. DIS showed 14.6, as always erring on the higher side. The highest I have got so far is 14.3 kmpl in mid Feb when ambient temperatures were lower. So probably the AC has to work harder now, since I drive with 100% AC, manually operated, temperature set at 24C and blower between 1-5. Tyre pressures as recommended and load, basically me and wife, with a 20Kg strolly bag.

3.Gear change: One thing that I have realized is that, when slowing down from G6, down to G5 and you are around the 40 kmph mark, it is better to go straight to G3and bypass G4. I find that accelerating from there, on G3 is far more effective than from G4, which does not accelerate that well from that point. And you usually need that surge to overtake the vehicle in front.

4.Speed Breakers: I have never seen such speed breakers on a highway. Both in quantity and size! Now I understand where all the Bangalore BHPians are coming from. And anyway, one is not used to such a profusion of them on a Highway. I crashed into 3 at full speed (around 80kmph) on SH 57 (Holenarsipur_Mysore),before I realised that the rules of the game had changed. But the good thing was that the Big Cat was up to it and took it on the chin. On the return we took SH88 (Mysore-Madikeri). Believe me this was worse, but I had wisened up, but it was really irritating to keep slowing down every few kilometres.

[aajohn]

Thought of sharing this with all of you. It had come in today's Malayala Manorama ( Kerala based news paper).

Just yesterday, the Area Sales Manager from Cochin had called me and had informed of the exchange and loyalty bonus. He also told me that for silver and white, delivery can be done in a maximum of 10 days. Colours like Black and Purple would require a maximum of 3 weeks!

Planning to do doing a booking within the next 2-3 weeks!

[Heavy Horse]

Originally Posted by SDP

A few weeks back I had seen a Green XUV with a very interesting bull-bar from Ajanta. First thing - it was green in color, perfectly matching the green of the XUV. Secondly there were DRLs integrated in it.

Hi SDP, that bull gaurd sure looks smart. Might be useful in Mumbai, Delhi etc where bumper-to-bumper traffic is the norm.

After you put up this info, I googled Ajanta and got their website http://ajantain.com/front_guards/mahindra_accessories
Contact details are available.

Originally Posted by aajohn

Thought of sharing this with all of you. It had come in today's Malayala Manorama ( Kerala based news paper).

Just yesterday, the Area Sales Manager from Cochin had called me and had informed of the exchange and loyalty bonus. He also told me that for silver and white, delivery can be done in a maximum of 10 days. Colours like Black and Purple would require a maximum of 3 weeks!

Planning to do doing a booking within the next 2-3 weeks!

Hi John, good luck with the booking. Are you planning to go for the Arctic Blue?

[EFF-EIGHT-BEE]

Originally Posted by SDP

Sharing as I found it interesting..

Nice catch SDP. I think its a good accessory option for the XUV, helps a lot in breaking the monotony and masking the overdone front styling but again don't the bull bars plays a havoc with safety system(crumple zone, airbag sensor et all) ??

[Zappo]

Originally Posted by SDP

You can check out options from Ajanta and ClaSSique. I have seen them on at least one XUV each. They are broader than the one offerred by M&M (if that's what you mean by 'something flatter').

The Ajanta one is something I saw long time back when I was searching for an alternative to the over-the-top costly accessories that M&M dealers peddle in. The only hitch I felt with this one (the bull bar you posted) was that this one is a little too busy looking for my taste. Too plasticky. Maybe it is because of the color of the photograph but the guard reminds me more of those red plastic barriers that police puts up on the roads (the ones that can even be joined like lego bricks).

By the way, recently I saw an XUV with a bar that looked better to me and the M&M dealer said this is the new design they now store. Need to check.

Originally Posted by Heavy Horse

2.Fuel Efficiency: DIS showed 14.6, as always erring on the higher side.

Actually, the DIS is not exactly wrong. I figured that out a while back. The problem is the FE figures are always based on an avg of last few kms. It does not averages out your FE over a long distance. So when you try to figure out the average FE over a tankful (and XUV tank is pretty big) you will find that the FE is always lower than what the onboard DTE is telling you. This can change though if you drive for a while (say the last 50-100 kms) in a very rough manner and manage to take the display down substantially. You will suddenly find that the actual FE you are getting is higher than what the vehicle is showing you to be.

By the way, I always reset my FE figures on every tankful and start from scratch.

Originally Posted by Heavy Horse

3.Gear change: One thing that I have realized is that, when slowing down from G6, down to G5 and you are around the 40 kmph mark, it is better to go straight to G3and bypass G4.

With me it is a little different.

I shift from 4th gear to 6th directly when I am on the highways. 5th gear becomes redundant for me in such cases (as I accelerate enough on 4th so that the 6th gear easily takes over without breaking into a sweat).

Once again, while decelerating I prefer jumping down to 4th from 6th without getting into the 5th gear.

[aajohn]

Originally Posted by Heavy Horse

Hi John, good luck with the booking. Are you planning to go for the Arctic Blue?

No Heavy Horse, Arctic Blue is too light for my taste!

Will be going for Purple (I hope). Debates at home for Silver and Grey!!

[Heavy Horse]

Originally Posted by Zappo

Actually, the DIS is not exactly wrong.

By the way, I always reset my FE figures on every tankful and start from scratch.

With me it is a little different.

I shift from 4th gear to 6th directly when I am on the highways. 5th gear becomes redundant for me in such cases (as I accelerate enough on 4th so that the 6th gear easily takes over without breaking into a sweat).

Once again, while decelerating I prefer jumping down to 4th from 6th without getting into the 5th gear.

I too reset the DIS at every tankfull. Whatever the explanation for the DIS reading may be, and I daresay your explanation sounds quite plausible, I use it as a broad guide. And nowadays, I tend to use the DTE figure more as an indicator of when to fill up.

Regarding the gears, I think various possible combinations exist, because M&M have flooded us with choices. Even I upshift often from G4 to G6. I know of someone who frequently does G3 to G6 !!

However, on the downshift, I've now settled on what I have enumerated in my original post. The reason is that I do a lot of driving on single lane highways. You get stuck behind a heavy vehicle (bus / truck) and can't overtake due to oncoming traffic. So you start slowing down and downshift. For whatever reason I'm usually around the 40kmph mark before there's a gap in the on-coming traffic and I can overtake. At that point I find I get far more power if I am in G3 rather than 4. Hope I've been able to clearly outline the scenario.

[parsh]

Originally Posted by SDP

A few weeks back I had seen a Green XUV with a very interesting bull-bar from Ajanta.
...

Sharing as I found it interesting.

The red XUV in the pictures is not mine. And, No, I don't work for Ajanta!

Neither do I But I use their front, rear guards and side steps since about 7 years and can say that they are damn sturdy and durable.

The design that you indicated definitely looks good, similar design exists for Innova too since long. However, IMO there could be issue with this guard.

Consider if it gets hit and damaged with cracks or a piece breaking off, it literally can be irreparable and either one has to live with the damage or get it replaced or just get rid of the damaged upper plastic part and live with the SS bar structure underneath.

There are two parts to it however. There is an internal SS bar structure on which the good looking plastic mold is mounted on. So, it may be possible to get the new mold without needing complete replacement. You could directly confirm with Ajanta's proprietor Mr. Rakesh Mestry. I think I had read that Raj had got his Innova's similar guard repaired after some damages (probably dented) from a FNG. So, there is hope that it may be reparable too.

[raj_5004]

Originally Posted by parsh

I think I had read that Raj had got his Innova's similar guard repaired after some damages (probably dented) from a FNG. So, there is hope that it may be reparable too.

Thank for remembering me Parsh! I have always been a silent spectator of this thread.

Yes, I have a similar guard on my Innova made with a similar material (fibreglass or whatever). Toyota's A.S.S. claimed it is irreparable and Carnation quoted 8k as he claimed it needs a specialist who can work with fibreglass.

I got it repaired at local body denting shop for 2.5k with painting and it looks brand new! So yes, it can ideally be repaired. But in my case, it was a dent on the guard, so I think those guys just filled the dent with putty, sanded it and painted it. If the impact is huge and the cover of the guard shears off or cracks, then I think it will be a difficult task to repair it. But then, even steel guards cannot be repaired after a huge impact...

Anyways, coming to bull guards, I think I am the minority here who did not like the bull guard. Infact, these days I am against bull guards. My Scorpio had a bull guard, more commonly known as a nudge guard. It was a small black piece and I had installed it because I felt the Scorpio looked meaner with it, and not to protect the bumpers! I personally feels bull guards dont suit crossovers like the XUV. They look acceptable on SUVs...

Pics of my Innova and Scorpio -

[nitinralli]

Originally Posted by raj_5004

Anyways, coming to bull guards, I think I am the minority here who did not like the bull guard. Infact, these days I am against bull guards. My Scorpio had a bull guard, more commonly known as a nudge guard. It was a small black piece and I had installed it because I felt the Scorpio looked meaner with it, and not to protect the bumpers! I personally feels bull guards dont suit crossovers like the XUV. They look acceptable on SUVs...

I completely agree with you Raj. Crossover's like XUV,Captiva etc are better off without these bull guards. Maybe a small Nudge Guard like the ones you see on Fortunar ( smaller version of your scorpio's) may look ok on XUV but not these big ones.

[bnzjon]

Mahindra has again raised the price of XUV by Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2500 across variants.

W8 FWD ex-showroom price (Chennai) difference is as follows:
1/jan/2013 - Rs 13,39,911
3/apr/2013 - Rs 13,87,686

The price increase between Jan and Apr this year is almost Rs. 60,000 (inclusive of corresponding increase in registration and insurance). This is the second hike from Mahindra excluding the 3% hike due of excise duty increase in the budget.

[nitinralli]

My friend got his new w6 and i helped him in getting new alloys. I got to know that 2013 models are getting someother brake pads cause its not bosch (below is the pic). I guess its the one you guys been saying, gladen ones cause i could not see any marking of bosch. I really could not makeout much of a difference but that brake noise was not there for sure. But i told my friend to be prepaird to hear sometime soon

[bnzjon]

Originally Posted by nitinralli

My friend got his new w6 and i helped him in getting new alloys. I got to know that 2013 models are getting someother brake pads cause its not bosch (below is the pic). I guess its the one you guys been saying, gladen ones cause i could not see any marking of bosch. I really could not makeout much of a difference but that brake noise was not there for sure. But i told my friend to be prepaird to hear sometime soon

The new 2013 brake pads are Galfer and the brake boosters are from Bosch.
The bite is excellent and the brake noise has vanished for good.

[norhog]

[quote=nitinralli;3087831]My friend got his new w6 and i helped him in getting new alloys. I got to know that 2013 models are getting someother brake pads cause its not bosch (below is the pic). I guess its the one you guys been saying, gladen ones cause i could not see any marking of bosch. I really could not makeout much of a difference but that brake noise was not there for sure. But i told my friend to be prepaird to hear sometime soon

Attachment 1070121[/QUOTE

Can you post a long shot of the alloys??Thanks in advance.