All Tata Safari Owners - Your SUV Pics here

hkborah · 14th September 2009, 22:27

Ah! Thanks a ton guys. I am trying to write my travelogue here as you have requested. But I have been thinking, why restrict it to that? Let me tell you all about my interest and love affair with Tata’s very own Safari.
Let me start by introducing myself. I am Hemanta Borah, born in 1980 to a middle class family in Guwahati. Like most middle class families, all we could afford then was the Maruti 800. And I, like most guys who love wheels, wanted my cars to be big, along the X,Y and Z axes. I swore to myself, I am going to become big and buy a Tata Sumo (The largest “car” I had seen till then). Till my father took me to the Auto Expo in Guwahati in 1998. Tata had just launched the Safari and there she was, pristine sparkling metallic red. It was love at first sight for me and I swore again, Tata Safari or nothing. This had been my motivation to work hard and get somewhere in life – so that I could buy myself a Safari. (I got busy having way too much fun during Graduation to be studying hard – 18 year old living alone in Delhi – can be forgiven na). But after I screwed my grads, I learnt the hard way. “Career banana padega”.
I studied hard. Went to India’s top B-School. And by the grace of God, like anyone in my batch, earned okay enough to buy myself a used Tata Safari. It was a white 2001 LX 4x2, picked up 3 hours before my first salary in Bangalore (That was 2005). And boy was I happy. Did entire south of India on weekends. Even bosses knew well not to call me up on weekends. Loads of female fans. Tata Safari. Ah! Wha else does a 25 year old want? Life was bliss. Till one morning, ten months later, I wake up in the morning, look out, and see – no car. Stolen. **##**. Lodged an FIR straight away. But you know Bangalore police na. To make matters worse, my insurance had lapsed. So double whammy.
At the same time, infact the same day, I got a great job offer in Mumbai. Almost double the pay. And I had no choice but to take it up. Which meant that I could not pester the Indiranagar P.S. cops to find my car. So I had to let her go. I reached Mumbai, sad and angry. And the only way I could say “**** you destiny” was to buy another Safari. I booked a Dicor LX 4X4 in Mumbai, but friends asked me to wait for the 2.2. I thought, good idea. Till I went to cancel my booking when the Chandivali showroom guys said – they could not return my 50K as they had already ordered the car. (The consumer court case was another story, and I got 40k back 3 months hence). But I could not wait, and I searched all over Mumbai for a used Safari. Could not find a good 4x4. So picked up my 2004 EX 4x2 for 4 odd lakhs from a used car dealer. Only 36000 km done. This is the car I am using currently. (My cousins call her Rumblebee).
Picked her up the day before Diwali, 2006. The same night, my mechanical engineer cousin had come down from Pune. We bought 52 Weekends from Mumbai, picked up a random page. Daman. What we did immediately, you all can figure out right?
Likewise, every weekend my car did atleast 1000 kms. And ~100 kms every day commute (Mulund -> Fort). Life was good. Tata Safari. Lots of Female attention. What else does a 26 year old need?
Now 29. Still enjoying the same car. But it was not without its fair share of misery. But as I said, this has been a love affair.
My 2001 LX had been absolutely trouble free. Did not go to the garage even once. I just had to work on the Bushes once, in addition to the usual servicings. 56,000kms to 80,000 kms– all I spent on was diesel and maintenance.
Rumblebee I call my fussy girlfriend. But my lawyer girlfriend I never find fussy. I have a lot of fun with Rumblebee, provided I am patient with her “nakhras”. She let me down and stranded only once from 36000kms to 85000 kms. I will post the detailed ownership review and my travelogue tomorrow.

Rumblebee:
Tata Safari Tcic - 4x2 EX
Model: 2004
Crash Guard: Carryboy
Sun Film: 3M
Gear Lock: Minda
Seats and Door Trim: Black Art(ificial) Leather (Milan Subway)
ICE:
Sony DVD MEX1000 (Only mistake)
Necvox 7 inch screen
Front Door: Stock (Blaupunkt/Alpine speakers and tweeters)
Rear Door: Sony Coaxial
Pioneer 4 channel Amp
Pioneer 5 way ovals, JBL 3 way ovals
Pioneer mono Amp
JBL 12 inch 1200W subwoofer in Boombox
Stock 8 inch subwoofer in tailgate
Tyres: Goodyear Wrangler (AT/R) 255 R15- Arunachal to Guwahati with nails inside the tyre. Will only use this tyre from now on.
Alloys: Neo (No Chinese stuff on something this critical)
Headlamps: 130/100w
Centre Console Box
Roots Vibrosonic horn

Am repainting Rumblebee next month (same colour and changing plastic/rubber parts). Need to make her look brand new. Cannot bring myself to sell her.. The love affair only gets stronger.
(PS: I hope my girlfriend does not see this thread).

I went through all 107 pages of this thread. I made myself a wishlist which I am attaching below:

Aman's Fog Lamps On his pearl white 2.2 VTT
Nitin's Parking mirror (LHS of bonnet) on his red Tcic.
Dicor Scruff Plates
Dicor Roof rails.

AVR · 14th September 2009, 23:23

A truly interesting love story you've got yourself there hkborah. Interestingly its very similar to mine and would love to have a more detailed travelogue sometime soon!

Keep the affair going. The two girlfriend story is so very familiar to me.

Cheers,
AVR

freewheelburnin · 14th September 2009, 23:37

Thanks JK, Nice alloys on the truck.Would be perfect on a black safari too...

jkdas · 14th September 2009, 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVR

A truly interesting love story you've got yourself there hkborah. Interestingly its very similar to mine and would love to have a more detailed travelogue sometime soon!

Keep the affair going. The two girlfriend story is so very familiar to me.

Cheers,
AVR

crazy people !

Hemanta; where are the pix of your girl friend! A traveler like you should have got the 4x4.

freewheelburnin · 14th September 2009, 23:47

hkborah, The TCIC Safari looks nice from the front,except that i would have liked a black mesh grill instead of original grill.Got some advantages,most importantly can be serviced by any mechanic(No E.C.U or C.R.D.I).Loved reading your love story!

PAVAN KADAM · 15th September 2009, 00:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkborah

Rumblebee:
Tata Safari Tcic - 4x2 EX
Model: 2004

Am repainting Rumblebee next month (same colour and changing plastic/rubber parts). Need to make her look brand new. Cannot bring myself to sell her.. The love affair only gets stronger.
(PS: I hope my girlfriend does not see this thread).

Everyone over here loves the original Safari TCIC so much, that we would request you to retain the originality of the Safari.

Somehow that twin headlamp assy., looks better and meaner than the present DICOR setup. Even the rear tail light assembly looks nice.

I would suggest you to retain the stock settings and restore the Beast, Grey claddings, and Blue body color. That would be a mean looking TCIC

I did'nt understand why you need to re-paint it, it looks so good in the pic.

evo · 15th September 2009, 12:45

@tsk

Whoa, those are wonderful pics! I especially liked the one where you are backing her up to turn around.

LongDrive lover · 16th September 2009, 18:14

Nice love story jkborah. Like someone said above, I too feel that your Rumblebee looks great in its present colour itself, can do without painting. Anyway, just my opinion, rest is upto you.

LongDrive lover · 16th September 2009, 18:29

Hi, Pavan Kadam ji,

Please add my 'Black Tigress' too, to your list. Its details are:

Variant: 2.2 VTT, LX,
Colour: Q.Black
Bought on: August 24, 2009
Odo reading: 1450 kms
Service done: Ist at 1430 kms
Issue reported: None really
Additions: Body colored bumpers & claddings (at Dealerships on payment)
Front and rear bull guards (a must in UP cities !!)
Sun film (Garhware)
Door wisers

I shall write detailed buying & ownership report shortly.

Thanks to all T-BHP Safari owners and other mates whose views helped a lot in realising this dream of owning & driving this wonderful SUV. And, of course, started reclaiming our life !!

sidcruise79 · 17th September 2009, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by LongDrive lover

Hi, Pavan Kadam ji,

Please add my 'Black Tigress' too, to your list. Its details are:

Variant: 2.2 VTT, LX,
Colour: Q.Black
Bought on: August 24, 2009
Odo reading: 1450 kms
Service done: Ist at 1430 kms
Issue reported: None really
Additions: Body colored bumpers & claddings (at Dealerships on payment)
Front and rear bull guards (a must in UP cities !!)
Sun film (Garhware)
Door wisers

I shall write detailed buying & ownership report shortly.

Thanks to all T-BHP Safari owners and other mates whose views helped a lot in realising this dream of owning & driving this wonderful SUV. And, of course, started reclaiming our life !!

Congrats on your buy

. The beast looks best in black. Post some pics ASAP.

suman · 17th September 2009, 09:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by LongDrive lover

Please add my 'Black Tigress' too, to your list. Its details are:

Congrats but where are the pics of your tigress?

LongDrive lover · 18th September 2009, 13:02

Thanks @ sidcruise79 and @ suman.

Ya, the pics will follow soon, may be today itself. Actually, me being a newbie, I am daily spending lot time on T-BHP forum, but most of the time goes in reading earlier posts. You see, there is so much of nice & useful quality information here. But, yes, I shall start posting pics and sharing my experiences with the Tigress now.

Cheers

LongDrive lover · 18th September 2009, 14:00

Here are a few early photographs of my Black Tigress

chaxy · 18th September 2009, 14:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkdas

freewheelburning: nice pix; Black Beast rules.

Another TBHPian's (Bugs) EX on stock tyres.

wow JKDas, the beast looks dashing in those alloys. Any pic from side profile?

sidcruise79 · 18th September 2009, 16:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by LongDrive lover

Here are a few early photographs of my Black Tigress

Great pics

. But do you really need the rear bumber guard bar. Also get rid of all those stickers on the rear glass.

Post pics of the interiors too.

14th September 2009, 22:27	#1606
hkborah BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Guwahati Posts: 69 Thanked: 66 Times	My love affair with the Safari. Ah! Thanks a ton guys. I am trying to write my travelogue here as you have requested. But I have been thinking, why restrict it to that? Let me tell you all about my interest and love affair with Tata’s very own Safari. Let me start by introducing myself. I am Hemanta Borah, born in 1980 to a middle class family in Guwahati. Like most middle class families, all we could afford then was the Maruti 800. And I, like most guys who love wheels, wanted my cars to be big, along the X,Y and Z axes. I swore to myself, I am going to become big and buy a Tata Sumo (The largest “car” I had seen till then). Till my father took me to the Auto Expo in Guwahati in 1998. Tata had just launched the Safari and there she was, pristine sparkling metallic red. It was love at first sight for me and I swore again, Tata Safari or nothing. This had been my motivation to work hard and get somewhere in life – so that I could buy myself a Safari. (I got busy having way too much fun during Graduation to be studying hard – 18 year old living alone in Delhi – can be forgiven na). But after I screwed my grads, I learnt the hard way. “Career banana padega”. I studied hard. Went to India’s top B-School. And by the grace of God, like anyone in my batch, earned okay enough to buy myself a used Tata Safari. It was a white 2001 LX 4x2, picked up 3 hours before my first salary in Bangalore (That was 2005). And boy was I happy. Did entire south of India on weekends. Even bosses knew well not to call me up on weekends. Loads of female fans. Tata Safari. Ah! Wha else does a 25 year old want? Life was bliss. Till one morning, ten months later, I wake up in the morning, look out, and see – no car. Stolen. ##. Lodged an FIR straight away. But you know Bangalore police na. To make matters worse, my insurance had lapsed. So double whammy. At the same time, infact the same day, I got a great job offer in Mumbai. Almost double the pay. And I had no choice but to take it up. Which meant that I could not pester the Indiranagar P.S. cops to find my car. So I had to let her go. I reached Mumbai, sad and angry. And the only way I could say “**** you destiny” was to buy another Safari. I booked a Dicor LX 4X4 in Mumbai, but friends asked me to wait for the 2.2. I thought, good idea. Till I went to cancel my booking when the Chandivali showroom guys said – they could not return my 50K as they had already ordered the car. (The consumer court case was another story, and I got 40k back 3 months hence). But I could not wait, and I searched all over Mumbai for a used Safari. Could not find a good 4x4. So picked up my 2004 EX 4x2 for 4 odd lakhs from a used car dealer. Only 36000 km done. This is the car I am using currently. (My cousins call her Rumblebee). Picked her up the day before Diwali, 2006. The same night, my mechanical engineer cousin had come down from Pune. We bought 52 Weekends from Mumbai, picked up a random page. Daman. What we did immediately, you all can figure out right? Likewise, every weekend my car did atleast 1000 kms. And ~100 kms every day commute (Mulund -> Fort). Life was good. Tata Safari. Lots of Female attention. What else does a 26 year old need? Now 29. Still enjoying the same car. But it was not without its fair share of misery. But as I said, this has been a love affair. My 2001 LX had been absolutely trouble free. Did not go to the garage even once. I just had to work on the Bushes once, in addition to the usual servicings. 56,000kms to 80,000 kms– all I spent on was diesel and maintenance. Rumblebee I call my fussy girlfriend. But my lawyer girlfriend I never find fussy. I have a lot of fun with Rumblebee, provided I am patient with her “nakhras”. She let me down and stranded only once from 36000kms to 85000 kms. I will post the detailed ownership review and my travelogue tomorrow. Rumblebee: Tata Safari Tcic - 4x2 EX Model: 2004 Crash Guard: Carryboy Sun Film: 3M Gear Lock: Minda Seats and Door Trim: Black Art(ificial) Leather (Milan Subway) ICE: Sony DVD MEX1000 (Only mistake) Necvox 7 inch screen Front Door: Stock (Blaupunkt/Alpine speakers and tweeters) Rear Door: Sony Coaxial Pioneer 4 channel Amp Pioneer 5 way ovals, JBL 3 way ovals Pioneer mono Amp JBL 12 inch 1200W subwoofer in Boombox Stock 8 inch subwoofer in tailgate Tyres: Goodyear Wrangler (AT/R) 255 R15- Arunachal to Guwahati with nails inside the tyre. Will only use this tyre from now on. Alloys: Neo (No Chinese stuff on something this critical) Headlamps: 130/100w Centre Console Box Roots Vibrosonic horn Am repainting Rumblebee next month (same colour and changing plastic/rubber parts). Need to make her look brand new. Cannot bring myself to sell her.. The love affair only gets stronger. (PS: I hope my girlfriend does not see this thread). I went through all 107 pages of this thread. I made myself a wishlist which I am attaching below: Aman's Fog Lamps On his pearl white 2.2 VTT Nitin's Parking mirror (LHS of bonnet) on his red Tcic. Dicor Scruff Plates Dicor Roof rails.
	() Thanks

14th September 2009, 23:23	#1607
AVR BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ahmedabad Posts: 978 Thanked: 847 Times View My Garage	A truly interesting love story you've got yourself there hkborah. Interestingly its very similar to mine and would love to have a more detailed travelogue sometime soon! Keep the affair going. The two girlfriend story is so very familiar to me. Cheers, AVR
	() Thanks

14th September 2009, 23:37	#1608
freewheelburnin BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: bangalore Posts: 277 Thanked: 33 Times View My Garage	Thanks JK, Nice alloys on the truck.Would be perfect on a black safari too...
	() Thanks

14th September 2009, 23:47	#1610
freewheelburnin BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: bangalore Posts: 277 Thanked: 33 Times View My Garage	hkborah, The TCIC Safari looks nice from the front,except that i would have liked a black mesh grill instead of original grill.Got some advantages,most importantly can be serviced by any mechanic(No E.C.U or C.R.D.I).Loved reading your love story!
	() Thanks

15th September 2009, 12:45	#1612
evo BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kolkata/Shillong Posts: 780 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	@tsk Whoa, those are wonderful pics! I especially liked the one where you are backing her up to turn around.
	() Thanks

16th September 2009, 18:14	#1613
LongDrive lover BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lucknow Posts: 782 Thanked: 114 Times	Nice love story jkborah. Like someone said above, I too feel that your Rumblebee looks great in its present colour itself, can do without painting. Anyway, just my opinion, rest is upto you.
	() Thanks

16th September 2009, 18:29	#1614
LongDrive lover BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lucknow Posts: 782 Thanked: 114 Times	All T-BHP Safari Owners-Your Car Pics here Please Hi, Pavan Kadam ji, Please add my 'Black Tigress' too, to your list. Its details are: Variant: 2.2 VTT, LX, Colour: Q.Black Bought on: August 24, 2009 Odo reading: 1450 kms Service done: Ist at 1430 kms Issue reported: None really Additions: Body colored bumpers & claddings (at Dealerships on payment) Front and rear bull guards (a must in UP cities !!) Sun film (Garhware) Door wisers I shall write detailed buying & ownership report shortly. Thanks to all T-BHP Safari owners and other mates whose views helped a lot in realising this dream of owning & driving this wonderful SUV. And, of course, started reclaiming our life !!
	() Thanks

18th September 2009, 13:02	#1617
LongDrive lover BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lucknow Posts: 782 Thanked: 114 Times	Thanks @ sidcruise79 and @ suman. Ya, the pics will follow soon, may be today itself. Actually, me being a newbie, I am daily spending lot time on T-BHP forum, but most of the time goes in reading earlier posts. You see, there is so much of nice & useful quality information here. But, yes, I shall start posting pics and sharing my experiences with the Tigress now. Cheers
	() Thanks

18th September 2009, 14:00	#1618
LongDrive lover BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lucknow Posts: 782 Thanked: 114 Times	Here are a few early photographs of my Black Tigress Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks