[YGarg]

Unquestionably, Black and UB are best match for the beast. But I'm being coerced (Needless to say by whom!) to go for Pearl White so that I don't end-up wasting (or investing) hours every week in washing-drying-polishing routine.
Have heard that Pearl Champagne also looks cool (yet to see in flesh).. can anybody post some good quality pics of this color? Which of these two (colors) would be a better choice for long term?

[Lukeskywalker]

Have heard that Pearl Champagne also looks cool (yet to see in flesh).. can anybody post some good quality pics of this color? Which of these two (colors) would be a better choice for long term?

Condor has a Pearl Champagne, it looks very urban and understated, I'd chose Pearl Champagne over Pearl white.

[YGarg]

Originally Posted by Lukeskywalker

Condor has a Pearl Champagne, it looks very urban and understated, I'd chose Pearl Champagne over Pearl white.

Condor, it would be a great favour if u share some pics (or the link, if already uploaded).

[ampere]

Originally Posted by YGarg

Have heard that Pearl Champagne also looks cool (yet to see in flesh).. can anybody post some good quality pics of this color? Which of these two (colors) would be a better choice for long term?

Originally Posted by Lukeskywalker

Condor has a Pearl Champagne, it looks very urban and understated, I'd chose Pearl Champagne over Pearl white.

+1

Yes the looks are understated. And Pearl Champagne looks amazing.
Here is one for you @Ygarg. Had posted in Auto Image thread. Cross linking it here.

@Condor's "understated" beast!

[narayan]

Originally Posted by YGarg

Unquestionably, Black and UB are best match for the beast. But I'm being coerced (Needless to say by whom!) to go for Pearl White so that I don't end-up wasting (or investing) hours every week in washing-drying-polishing routine.
Have heard that Pearl Champagne also looks cool (yet to see in flesh).. can anybody post some good quality pics of this color? Which of these two (colors) would be a better choice for long term?

Have you decided on the variant ? Pearl champagne is not available in Lx

[neel385]

Tata seems to be giving good offers on the Storme if brought before 30 Sep. 3 years free insurance+exchange bonus+corp discount+cash discount+gold coin seems to be on offer!

[condor]

Thanks, @Amp - for a lovely pic.

& Thanks to LukeSkyWalker for suggesting this color. I had initially selected Pearl White. But happy I got PC instead.

[stormerider]

Saw pearl champagne today for the first time in all its glory here Jaipur at vaishali nagar. I must say it is a nice color, better than pearl white. Though I still prefer black!

[YGarg]

Originally Posted by stormerider

Saw pearl champagne today for the first time in all its glory here Jaipur at vaishali nagar. I must say it is a nice color, better than pearl white. Though I still prefer black!

Isn't it difficult to maintain the gloss and finish over a long period of time? As some minor scratch marks are unavoidable (and Black is expert at showing-them-up!), I've stayed-away from this color so far. But my Heart wants to convince my Head (though its a Heart decision altogether) for buying a Black instead of PW.
B.T.W., I hope that even if minor scratches occur (like due to roadside shrubs), door cladding only would get affected and that must be replaceable easily.

[stormerider]

Originally Posted by YGarg

Isn't it difficult to maintain the gloss and finish over a long period of time? As some minor scratch marks are unavoidable (and Black is expert at showing-them-up!), I've stayed-away from this color so far. But my Heart wants to convince my Head (though its a Heart decision altogether) for buying a Black instead of PW.
B.T.W., I hope that even if minor scratches occur (like due to roadside shrubs), door cladding only would get affected and that must be replaceable easily.

Gloss and finish is nice and stays. But "scratches" remind me of the new thread am I a sucker! A learner etios driver banged on my rear driver side door, leaving scratches on cladding, but what can you do, cant even argue since the driver was a lady. otherwise also it would had resulted in a long useless argument, so i just proceeded on with my journey, frustrati:.
IMO Black shoes them all but it looks best in black.

[Fortuner71]

Black is beautiful indeed . Will leave you guys with this pic of my beast 16 k done.

[narayanang76]

Finally completed test drive on the new Safari Storme. And I have to say it has come out reasonably well put together.

Dealer: KHT Motors, Bangalore, Whitefield
Safari Storme VX 4X2, TD vehicle has run some 14K Kms
Date: 28th Sep 2013, around 11 AM
TD was around Whitefield, on some of the narrowest, roughest, deepest pot-holed roads of Whitefield Bangalore.

My wife and Son were happy while sitting in the 2nd row seat and my 4 year old Son was testing all features available in there, AC, power windows, leg room, play room etc while I was busy taking the Storme on the pot-holed roads of Bangalore. In the leisurely Saturday morning received a called from a cell number asking if I am ok to have the Storme TD today and what time they can bring the vehicle, I said in 1 hour. Sharp on time, got a call again from the same number saying that the vehicle is waiting in our visitor parking zone. A flashback for now.

Requirement: (?) There is no burning requirement except for the fact that our current Honda City ZX is nearing its 7th Year by Dec and Petrol prices are on the steep hill ascend mode. The Honda City was a smooth sailing experience giving me good FE (AVG 15 KMPL throughout) I was always on the lookout for some good used diesel SUV in the market, and also looking out on the newly launched vehicles. But never went for TD or checking out their price details except reading through Team BHP official reviews and user reviews. That itself gave the needed details. However what I was looking was a Diesel SUV with flexible & comfortable seating options, good ride quality, descent interior space and quality, with good after sales support. Alloy wheels, ABS, Airbags and leather seats were in the list of priority specs in the new vehicle.

Somehow last Sunday 22nd Sep happened to step further and walked into all showrooms of Tata, Renault and Mahindra with my wife and son. First it was KHT motors and they had a Storme VX on display but mentioned that TD vehicle was not available for that day since it has gone for service, and they would send the TD to my home on Monday. I told them to send the TD vehicle on week end since during week days it’s not possible for me. I left my name and contact number and I was given a poor quality paper printout with details of all Tata passenger vehicles starting with Tata Nano, Indica, Sumo till Storme. Honestly I was not expecting a response from them and somehow I kept receiving calls through the week from some call center number checking with me if I got a chance to do TD and I had to answer them few times. Once I also got a SMS thanking for my interest in Tata Nano , I smiled reading that and when I received a call regarding Tata Nano from a similar call centre number I mentioned that I am not interested in Nano but enquired about Storme. I felt that that number was only dealing with Nano queries and the lady disconnected the call. Due to this confusion I thought I am never going to get the TD and kept sticking to the updates on the TBHP threads from the new users like Narayan, fortuner71 etc. The reviews were mixed and I thought it’s no big deal if I don’t get the TD, its Tata’s problem and loss not mine.

On the same 22nd Sep Sunday I walked into the showrooms of Whitefield Renault (for Duster) and Mahindra Sireesh Auto at Silk board (for Scorpio). Both places I was attended to properly and TD was offered. I will stick to the Storme TD in this post, but explain about my experience about the other 2 competing vehicles also (I never considered Toyota Innova into my list due to some reasons, I don’t know).

Renault Duster: Whitefield Renault Duster SA asked clearly on my requirement and mentioned about various model, options available and zeroed on the possible variants for my need and I got to TD the 110 PS model with Navigation option. TD was done and he also suggested taking the vehicle to a field nearby the road we were driving, the muddy trail had huge craters, stones etc and the vehicle performed excellently in there, even it was possible to navigate, turn and accelerate and stop excellently. If anyone takes the Duster during a TD to such places, they will be sold to Duster, and I was at that moment. The dealer experience was also nice and they spent some quality time with us and even went to extend of asking for trading of my existing car and the finance options were suggested, color options and delivery period was explained. However I was not keen on Duster, mainly due to its smaller size for the price, the quality of interiors and to some extend exteriors (didn’t quite like the side and rear looks) and the rear bench space and comfort was not as per my family liking, and lack of flexible seating options (lack of 5+ seating, split seating, recline on the 2nd row). What was also missing in the experience was even after the SA assuring me that someone will call me and come to my home to evaluate my existing car for trading (some current trading offer + 30 K bonus available), it was not done till date. Since we had the Storme pricing at that time, we felt it’s not worth paying more than Storme for a Duster. We immediately drove down to Sireesh Auto, Silk board after leaving Renault showroom.

Mahindra Scorpio: There was no need to TD a Scorpio as I had driven Scorpio during long drives as my younger brother is currently having a Scorpio SLE for last 3 years. I don’t like the front driver seating position, it was always claustrophobic and the gear change was not of my liking. Also the boxy looks and ride quality was always felt that it could have been better. Also I am aware of the Scorpio’s many technical issues mostly concerning was the frequent clutch slave cylinder failure in the new generation Scorpios. It was also concerning was these issues were mainly reported immediately post doing the service from authorized showrooms, and the failure would happen immediately. Still went ahead with the TD to see any changes to the ride, also to get the price details and current running offers. TD Was given in a VLX, SA explained about various features and explained that I can decide between a SLE and VLX. I could have considered a VLX 4X4 also if I was comfortable with Scorpio, I felt. Also checked out XUV in-out, was not my liking, inside it was more like a Casino feeling with colorful gizmos, felt like a gambling zone reading through XUV niggles reported. Left from there, and SA called up after 2 days following up and asking if I had decided on VLX and was told that the evaluator will call me and come to my house for trading my existing car, however that never happened till now.

Tata Safari Storme: It was the first time I was driving a Safari or a Tata vehicle, I was always driving a Maruti and Honda (Japanese Petrols, Brain decisions), Storme just hugged and welcomed my entire family inside with good comfort. It was a VX variant and I fell into the seating comfort, a comfortable position in no time. I am of medium built and the seating was already in the position of my liking. Just had to pull it slightly and adjust the seat inclination and I was comfortable. Just buckled in and started the vehicle, and Storme began and settled in with a bit of a clatter. Initially the pedals position was felt a bit different to my style, since plenty of space was there and also the accelerator pedal was way off to the right hand side than I am used to. But I got used to the Storme pedals quickly. Took off and came onto the roads, traffics and roads were waiting. What a view of the road in front of you! Quickly noticed that the vehicles, small or big, don’t cut across in front of you instead give way and signal you to pass through. Vehicles coming from front wait for you to cross and give way. Nice feeling!

Below are the things I liked:

• View of the front road ahead
• Rear view through the ORVM and IRVM
• Front and 2nd row seating position and space. Flexible seating options
• Ingress and Out from 2 rows, side step bar was also of good quality and looks nice
• Vehicle Size and posture, I liked the rear looks, but front was more of a smiling face than before
• All 4 wheels disc brake and braking is quite effective and confident inspiring
• Ride Quality was very good (felt slightly lesser compared to Duster ride quality, but no problem. It was better than Scorpio ride)
• Turning Radius was promising, took the car through the tight spaces in my apartment car parking and it came out cheerful. Didn’t have to do back and forth anywhere, it was surprising
• Felt it’s a powerful vehicle, above 1500 RPM the vehicle pulled very efficiently
• Gear change and clutch, Storme felt better than Scorpio, Duster was better than Storme. I am used to Honda City, pls note
• City riding through traffic was comfortable
• More metal to money feeling, its just a feeling though

Below are the things I didn’t like quite well:

• Music system, if I keep a cheap logitec stereo speaker and connect to my phone, I felt it would sound better
• Variants options were not matching to my preferences

• o LX has ABS, but no Airbags option. Good thing was the front& rear bumper, cladding is all now body – colored in LX. I felt like considering LX if I am going for Storme.
  o EX could have had Airbags, Alloy wheels at least? LX-EX is almost same with interiors color. Why such an EX in the first place, except for having the roof A/C and height adjust driver seat as interesting additional features?
  o VX interiors and color were not of my liking, I felt more towards the LX-EX interiors

• Front view from the 2nd row was restricted to only the middle occupant of the 2nd row
• I was wondering how the SRS Airbags will be effective with the Safari front seating (high) position and the dash board (very low). Hoping that SRS airbags will activate when needed in Tata vehicles also.
• The Front and back bumper and fittings felt flimsy. Felt they were very thin and the exhaust tail ends and the rear fog lamps were hanging loose on the TD vehicle. Thought that Storme needs a bull bar for front, not sure how it looks.
• Felt as a heavy and tall vehicle. Heaviness could be more felt when on lower speeds
• Safari – Tata after sales service or the lack of it is worrying

I was offered a Corp discount of 5 K and 3 year free insurance as the current running offer. I was told that it could be a saving of nearly 1 Lac Rs.

Summarise: Safari Storme made my entire family comfortable inside the vehicle. Safari Storme didn’t make me feel that I was driving a Storme for the first time, or the fact that I am used to driving Japanese Petrol cars. It provided a very good feeling and comfort and gave me confidence of sitting high up with a very good visibility of what’s ahead. My family was also comfortable sitting inside. The luxurious space and commanding view of the front, side and rear was mesmerizing. The GC, ability to Storme through the potholed roads and make way for its own, was nice feeling.

But they are all ‘Feeling’, a decision that can be taken by ‘Heart’. I felt Tata has a long way to go to bring confidence to fence sitting customer like me to make them buy Storme comfortably, with confidence, with decision from our ‘Head’.

I told my wife that from all the vehicles we drove, Safari Storme was the best of the drive so far, and my wife acknowledges that the 2nd row seating was the best in Safari Storme. My son still likes white color Scoprio.

If I and my family take a decision from our ‘Head’ we will continue with our Honda City for some more time and wait and watch for other confidence inspiring vehicles to be available for our budget and our liking. If we make our decision with our ‘Heart’ we will buy a ‘Safari Storme’. Time will tell that and I will update with the outcome in case we decide either ways, in the next couple of days. My wife finally tells me that go with ‘Heart’.

[rkg]

Test drive ARIA . compared to Strome LX, ARIA LX is better to drive. Strome has pronounced nose dive on braking( It was on the initial batches, whether TATA rectified it or not iam not aware).

Both are priced same. Strome LX has ABS, ARIA LX has second row A.C

Mod Note: Please quote ONLY the relevant bits of a post. Quoting a full, long post inconveniences our mobile readers.

[PRADEEP KUMAR]

Folks,
Thinking of a LX storme .Thinking of changing my Scorpio 2005 DX which has 79k .Has run like a charm all these years.
Have a few queries,
1.I am 6'2" ,i think i will have an issue of the sterring knocking my knees.The TD vehicle is VX with height adjusting seat, will not give LX seating postion?

2.No urban bronze or pearl champage in LX?

3.Concorde is quoting 12.6 L OTR with 4 yrs warranty package.
4.Is moving to storme a WISE decision , is it not a step back compared to dusters and ecosports?

Pls suggest.

cheers

[narayan]

Originally Posted by PRADEEP KUMAR

Folks,
Thinking of a LX storme .Thinking of changing my Scorpio 2005 DX which has 79k .Has run like a charm all these years.
Have a few queries,
1.I am 6'2" ,i think i will have an issue of the sterring knocking my knees.The TD vehicle is VX with height adjusting seat, will not give LX seating postion?

2.No urban bronze or pearl champage in LX?

3.Concorde is quoting 12.6 L OTR with 4 yrs warranty package.
4.Is moving to storme a WISE decision , is it not a step back compared to dusters and ecosports?

Pls suggest.

cheers

Pradeep - congrats -

1) Pls check and validate this. no point in asking in the forum because different people have given different views. I confirm there is an issue in terms of getting into the seating position but after that, there is no problem. I am 5'10" . so pls check this yourself
2) Yes
3) pls give the break up in cost. if this is for Lx - it looks a bit on the higher side.
4) very subjective - depends on what your definition of "WISE" and " STEP BACK" is !