I went for the Tata Storme Terrapod event at Bangalore on 11 Jan 2013. But first,
my thanks to LukeSkyWalker for posting the info on Team-Bhp, if it were not for that post, I would not have gone.
I saw the post on the evening of Jan 10 and was both disappointed & excited. The former because I missed one day and excited because I had the next day to look forward to! Wanted to tell me wife to come back from work early the next day but forgot so the next day, Friday morning I tried reaching her at her work (she is a Dentist) but could not get through. Also being So sent her an SMS to be ready as soon as I am back from Friday prayers. Wanted to leave as soon as possible, expecting a crowd in the last few hours.
Got back from prayers but wifey had not seen the sms and was not ready! Grrrrr, told her the programme and we left after wolfing down lunch. Left at 3pm and reached the venue in 10min thanks to Google Navigation which worked like a breeze. I didn't realise I lived so close to the venue!
At the ground was expecting a crowd but nope, that was not to be. There were some 6 cars packed and the place was very uncrowded. There were 2 Stormes 4x4s doing their thing and one more vehicle for TDs.
In a few minutes, met an organiser from Tata Motors itself whom I shall identify as V due to the nature of the conversations. V is a very friendly and approachable chap. He is on Team-Bhp but not officially! Very forthcoming and honest in his approach. Felt very comfortable asking him direct questions ...
Here are some snippets from my interaction with V:
Quite a few interesting inputs I think. My thanks to V for being so forthcoming.
Me: "Why did Tata take so long to launch the Storme? It's been more than a year since it was displayed!"
V: "We were really testing it for the last one year. Wanted to offer a good, well sorted vehicle."
Me: "What's wrong with you guys at Tata??? You don't offer a 2 DIN system and some goodies. You are willing to offer it on the Manza but not on the Storme? I agree that SUV fans may not really bother but still ...???"
V: A sheepish smile and no response for awhile, then, "We also asked this question internally at Tata but we did not get a response. But we are working on it and you should see it in 2-3 months."
Me: "So there will be a upgrade to the dash in 2-3 months?"
V: "Yes!"
Me: "So can I book a Stome now and take delivery only after the new dash is out?"
V: ".... hmmm, don't think that will work ..."
Me: "Will you guys ever offer the Storme with a 3rd row seat?"
V: An emphatic "No! Then it will not a SUV!"
Me: "How come there is such a small crowd? I was expecting a lot more people. You haven't advertised about this event?"
V: "Well, you know if you have to advertise, then it has to be Times of India no? Tatas has a problem with the ToI group after the 2G fisaco."
Me: "Why did you not have this event over a weekend? You would have gotten a lot more participation no?
V: "Yes, actually we wanted to have it at Palace Grounds this weekend but it was not available so ... Also, we did not want to push the event to later as it would be too late. We may have it again over a weekend later."
Me: "Are these the same Stormes that you had a Gurgaon event?"
V: "Yes, the same."
Me: "Where is the next Terrapod?"
V: "We are going to Chennai and then to Hyderabad.
It was really a pleasure to have this open conversation with V. Interspersed of course with a lot of other tit bits which I shall not report here. We were watching other participants doing their rounds and it was clear already that the Storme is a very capable vehicle. And now, it was our turn ...
V ushered us to the Storme for our ride. Christopher (Chris) was our demo driver. Both waited patiently till my wife in the rear seat and I in the front passenger seat were buckled in. Christopher, a very pleasant chap turned out to be a rally driver and pro photographer took us through the Terrapod and explained stuff as we went along ...
The Rumbler.
Chris aligned the Storme at the Rumbler and just let the Storme crawl through it. The Rumbles were a good 4-5 inches high each opposed alternately. The Storme of course just went through it without any hesitation.
The Hill.
Next came the Hill Climb & Descent. Chris stopped the Storme before the ramp, put it in 4x4L and let it go up & down. There is that point on the climb when all you see in front is the sky and when you look out the side, you feel you are taking off like in a plane. Cool! Then the Storme just rolls over the top as though it was the most natural thing to do and then heads down at the same speed. And there is the point down when all you see is the ground in front and you wonder if the Storme is going to burrow into it!
The Storme did this WITHOUT any inputs to the accelerator & brake, and all in one absolutely smooth continuous fashion. Very impressive indeed!
The Sea Saw.
A test of driver skill for sure. Chris lets the Storme climb and holds it just at point where the Sea Saw gently tips over. There was another drive where the driver would allow the Storme to slide back just as the Sea Saw began to tip. He did this a few times, fun to watch.
The Slope.
This is not for the faint hearted! Chris lets the Storme climb it and puts all the 4 wheels on the Slope. And then ... he just stops the Storme at the slope. He says we are at 49 degrees sideways! Wow, with my wife sitting behind the driver and me in the front passenger seat, I was literally looking down at her a good 2-3 feel below me sideways!
As we realised that we were NOT going to topple and it was all safe an secure, Chris lets the Storme gently slide off the Slope. Amazing grip & experience!
The Doughnuts.
Wifey wants to get off at this point! Chris, very reassuringly says he will drive "slow" and to tell him to stop at any point if she wants!
Chris did the doughnuts like a charm. Inside you really have a very very different experience. The world just seems to spin gently around. There is no rumble & tumble that one would expect when looking from outside. And yes, must mention, there was not a spec of dust that entered the Storme during the doughnuts!
The Bumble Bee.
The Bumble Bees were a good 2 to 2 1/2 feet high and the Storme just went through them without a fuss. Now one knows what it can really do in ravines and all!
Alas, the end ...
Finally, a gentle stop at the tented area. A request to wait a few moments for the outside dust to settle from Chris and disembarked. There was the customary photo in front of the Storme and a thanks for coming.
Found V and continue chatting ...
Have to make a point that these are the same Stormes that are going for all the Terrapod events looks like and they have already run through this abuse at least a few hundred times each. After all that they have been through through, they did not rattle or feel "loose". They felt solid and very well put together.
Given that if I had a Storme then I would probably never do even once what these Stormes have done, it seems that the Tata's have really worked hard on the build issues and sorted them out to a large extent.
Well, that was it !
Overall, very impressed.
The Storme has definitely smitten me.
I hung around for another hour or so trying to get my friends to come over to experience the Storme at the Terrapod. So luckily, I went twice on the round. Looks like the Tata guys were quite happy to let you go as many times as you liked !!
Oh yes, I went to a (decently long) TD of the Storme after this and to my luck, an Aria from a dealer was there when I got back so did a Storme & Aria TD back to back. Great comparative experience. More on that soon ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Enigmatic Nice video, however i have one question ..
What is the squeaking noise from 0.25min on-wards ?? |
Yes, there is a squeaking noise when the Storme is over the Rumbler, Bumble Bee and the Slope. The noise is not there at other times. I really can't be sure of the source of the noise but I am guessing it's from the suspensions and / or from the twisting of the chassis when the Storme goes through these parts of the course.