[Pal]

Awesome attention to detail! Rated 5 stars!

It also reminds me of my 1st post (ever) for the Storme sneak preview -
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...ml#post2520509

I would love to do a comprehensive city/ highway comparo of XUV 500 v/s Renault Duster v/s Safari Storme. Is it on the cards for the New Year?

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Originally Posted by adityasiera

I had a chat with the manager of Bharat motors (Dealers in bhubaneswar). More if not most young, impatient guys (read that as within the age bracket of 25-45) have enquired about a LX 4x4. Tata if you are reading... This is the zillionth request/suggestion/crib. Launch a barebones 4x4 on Strome please.

Dear Adityasiera - yes, Tata Motors is reading and we are listening. I have already taken up many times for you guys. I also have a small vested interest. I want the same vehicle for myself also. .

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[adg_andy]

In the 4X4 test drive picture, I can see that the right exhaust tailpipe is missing. Is it by design? Also, I see the rear-lower plastic cladding cracked in one of the pictures. Did it happen during the course of the test drive?

[AVR]

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Dear Adityasiera - yes, Tata Motors is reading and we are listening. I have already taken up many times for you guys. I also have a small vested interest. I want the same vehicle for myself also. .

Counting on you Mr Behram! Btw, heard some vague details about your project from the TML guys. Looking forward to hearing you speak/write about it soon

[mallumowgli]

Dhabhar sir - was wondering why there has been no response from your side. Good to known that TML is reading. Hope TML has taken cognisance of the quality niggles highlighted in this comprehensive review. It is a great assurance that someone in the know is there on the other side also!!

[bhagathmp]

Originally Posted by adg_andy

In the 4X4 test drive picture, I can see that the right exhaust tailpipe is missing. Is it by design? Also, I see the rear-lower plastic cladding cracked in one of the pictures. Did it happen during the course of the test drive?

Hi Andy,

Its already mentioned in the review by Tanveer that the chrome tip came off during one of the Off road exercises (in the controlled environment that is).

Regards
Bugs.

[ayadalam]

Originally Posted by inder_s1

If I would go for Strome, I would've liked it to look like the pic I edited. I know it is Lexus kind of styling but it looks way better than the bland layout

Looks impressive Inder. Hope there can be a design change to the rear of the Storme. Otherwise, the current design is rather boring in comparison to a very contemporary frontal look of the beast.

Drive Safe,
Andy

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Dear Adityasiera - yes, Tata Motors is reading and we are listening. I have already taken up many times for you guys. I also have a small vested interest. I want the same vehicle for myself also. .

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

If Tata motors is listening, please ask them to put a small plastic plate under the transfer case so that 4x4 does not start malfunctioning every time we splash through an inch of water.

Speaking of 4x4. The cost is driven up due to the following
1. Alloy wheels
2. Transfer case
3. LSD

A bare bones LX 4x4 will go 1.20 above the LX 4x2 with all these additions, which is too high.
I suggest, that bare bones LX 4x4 be launched without body colored bumpers and cladding (20,000 cost saving)
So at 1.0L above LX 4x2, it will be <11 L ex showroom, which makes it a value proposition.

Originally Posted by adg_andy

In the 4X4 test drive picture, I can see that the right exhaust tailpipe is missing. Is it by design? Also, I see the rear-lower plastic cladding cracked in one of the pictures. Did it happen during the course of the test drive?

Originally Posted by bhagathmp

Hi Andy,

Its already mentioned in the review by Tanveer that the chrome tip came off during one of the Off road exercises (in the controlled environment that is).

Regards
Bugs.

Yes, it had broken. If you look closely, you will see bumper cracked at one point. This is very expected. When I was doing the articulation challenge, I also hit the bumper at one point.
And this is true for all SUVs. Plastic cosmetic bits will get hits and dings and eventually break.

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Dear Adityasiera - yes, Tata Motors is reading and we are listening. I have already taken up many times for you guys. I also have a small vested interest. I want the same vehicle for myself also. .

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

Sir, one more request to look at. PLEASE get the marketing team to tweak the price of Storme LX so that its less than 10L ex showroom for the whole of India. As mentioned by TSK, just for a rupee beyond 10L, people in Bangalore (and some other states too, where the tax slab is different for 10L+ ex showroom price) will have pay 20,000/- + in terms of taxes. Mind you, these unlucky souls in Bangalore also pay the highest tax in the country making the ownership experience even tougher. And same request for Aria Pure LX as well (probably a 5000/- cut on the pricing should do it.)

EDIT: Please look at the below conversation to get a clearer picture.

Originally Posted by madhkris

... Have a coupla questions:
Any inputs on when we can expect the Storme in Bangalore and if the Lx will be under the 10L mark?..

Originally Posted by tsk1979

...Price will be around 1 re above the 10L mark so that you pay the higher tax bracket . As you know, this is what companies do. They do not have any idea about the impact that one rupee can cause to the on road price...

[madan80]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

If Tata motors is listening, please ask them to put a small plastic plate under the transfer case so that 4x4 does not start malfunctioning every time we splash through an inch of water.

Speaking of 4x4. The cost is driven up due to the following
1. Alloy wheels
2. Transfer case
3. LSD

A bare bones LX 4x4 will go 1.20 above the LX 4x2 with all these additions, which is too high.

I suggest, that bare bones LX 4x4 be launched without body colored bumpers and cladding (20,000 cost saving)
So at 1.0L above LX 4x2, it will be <11 L ex showroom, which makes it a value proposition.

+1 To Tanveers request.

If I am going to put my money down, I would love a highway competent vehicle which can be taken off the beaten track. So far the Storme fits all the requirements, but for the price of the 4x4 which comes only in the VX Trim.

I can live without a lot of the cosmetic things such as body color bumpers etc, hell - i will also put in my own music system - because If I am going trail driving- I will need a GPS and an additional set of lights.

So Tata - you've listened once and have included the ABS in all versions- please bring in a basic LX 4x4 trim at an ex-showroom of 10L.

[jkdas]

Great review TSK!

I will miss this too

An existing Safari owner who held onto these while cleaning the roof wasn't too happy with the change

1) Aria too have the same disc brake setup (DiH)?
2) Do they still use 2 types of fuse?
3) The alloys are 6.5J?

And hope they bring in the 0% loan offer like that had for Aria

[Vroom barabar!]

The first time I saw the Safari Storme at the Auto Expo, I was disappointed. But now as I am reading the reviews and going through the pictures I have started liking it. I guess Tata has done well to improve on the earlier Safari and the Storme will definitely do well in the market.

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by jkdas

Great review TSK!

I will miss this too

1) Aria too have the same disc brake setup (DiH)?

Well download the owners manual and see

2) Do they still use 2 types of fuse?

you mean small and big, it seems so from the fuse box. Infact, there are 3 types. Look at the big transparent rectangular ones. That yellow thing is a plastic grab tool to pull out fuses. Great move I must say.

3) The alloys are 6.5J?

Yes
But you can easily fit in Aria 235/65 R17 rims and tires to this vehicle. I have seen an older safari with same setup with no issues(since outer dia is similar)

And hope they bring in the 0% loan offer like that had for Aria

They are selling 1000+ a month, unlike Aria which crashed to two digit numbers. So I doubt you will get many discounts.

[ambujlal]

Fantastic review!

Waiting for a Bangalore launch and I guess the wait would continue as the showroom guy I inquired from, had no clue. Waiting for the Lx version to be priced under 10lacs, that would save me some money in taxes

I was hoping that Tata would provide 4x4 in the base version, at least on order. I can let go off many things for 4x4, like:

• Roof mounted AC
• Power windows. Heck, I can use my hand to roll them up! Really don't care about it.
• Wood finish and the likes.
• Music system. I can get one outside, and probably a better one.
• Electrically fold-able mirrors.

And much more. I can add accessories in market but not 4x4. Tata please listen. There is a substantial market out there I guess. You would suck the life out of Thar, may be :P

[Ajitsingh208]

Yet to see a Storme on the road in Delhi. Wondering if this is because of everyone being skeptical of the first batch.
Has anyone else seen a Storme anywhere except for the TD vehicles which also seem to be parked always outside the showroom.