Buying a Used Tata Safari?

amitk26 · 20th February 2009, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by headers

To add to Steeroids inputs, The 3.0 Engine has done Billions of kms on Indian roads in the NA form in the Tata 407 for decades!

IMO that was still older TCIC , Dicor 3.0 was something in between

hrag · 20th February 2009, 10:50

No sir, the TCIC Safari used a 2.0 litre block

amitk26 · 20th February 2009, 11:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrag

No sir, the TCIC Safari used a 2.0 litre block

But that was the engine which was derived from old Tata 407 engine and doing duty in Sumo with reduced displacement or I have some disconnect ?

hrag · 20th February 2009, 11:36

The 497 DL was the original block used in the 407. This *may* have been scaled down to the 483 DL (Estate, Sierra, Sumo, Safari TCIC) and further down to the 475 DL (Indica, Indigo, Marina).

What headers sir is referring to is the 497 DL engine has seen billions of km on Indian roads. The 3.0 DiCOR uses the same 497 block as the 407, 207 DI, Spacio.

zenx · 20th February 2009, 11:43

Illuminating discussion! Yes, I've heard the olde' Tatas are solid engines. Perhaps I should test drive one to understand how unrefined it is. Just TD'd a Xylo right now - and it needs to be much better than that for sure or I'm sticking with the 2.2

Steeroid · 20th February 2009, 20:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenx

Illuminating discussion! Yes, I've heard the olde' Tatas are solid engines. Perhaps I should test drive one to understand how unrefined it is.

TD one and find out for yourself. Depending on what your driving habits are like, you will either love it or hate it.

I do a lot of highways and some off-road driving for which I like low-end torque, I love the 3.0 for this purpose and therefore I do not find the 2.2 a compelling enough excuse to change. Perhaps I would've shifted to a 2.2 if I had a lot of intra city running.

evo · 23rd February 2009, 12:06

Whoa, just used up precious office time to read the whole thread! But totally worth it!

zenx · 23rd February 2009, 12:53

@evo - yeah the learning about the Safari's versions, its character, the support and the depth of knowhow on TBhp about it was amazing

Now - to find a vehicle and live the dream....

evo · 23rd February 2009, 14:06

@zenx,
aha, that means that ur LX deal is off?

zenx · 23rd February 2009, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by evo

@zenx,
aha, that means that ur LX deal is off?

Oh yeah, that had happened some time ago (mentioned somewhere earlier in the thread). The hunt continues...

evo · 23rd February 2009, 17:25

oh, sorry, didnt come across that...I know I shouldnt be thinking this way but the Safari TD I had yesterday coupled with the effect this thread has had is making me want one! But I shouldnt think of a new car now. Bad Boy!!!

zenx · 26th February 2009, 15:36

Oh well, looks like its a dry market and a long wait for the 2.2Dicors. Not too many around. Anyone with leads, please oblige.

evo · 2nd March 2009, 09:54

Was going through the classifieds yesterday, found these :

2007 OCT EX 4x4 22000 KM. Extended Warranty.
Rs. 5.95 Lakh

2008 FEB EX 4x2 12000 KM.
Rs.6.40 Lakh

These are Kolkata prices and the first quote, havent seen the vehicles, since this thread is turning into a used Safari buyers manual, I thought I`ll just put in the prices for benchmarking.

zenx · 2nd March 2009, 10:07

@evo Thanks! That should be really useful for folks looking at Safaris. The second, especially, makes me hopefuly again

Also - got to idle a couple of 2.2s at the Blr meet on Sat - dkamath's and maheshmenon's - and found them to be much "smoother" than the one I'd TD'd earlier - esp wrt the noise between 1.5-2k revs. I think I need a proper loong TD with a new one for a decent comparison. Of course, idling may be a very loose indicator.

zenx · 3rd March 2009, 11:08

Called Concorde and decided to do another "proper" test drive.

They sent a VX - Cycus Grey (v nice colour). The vehicle - marked for "demo" - was a 4x4, and had about 20k on the odo. The guy explained upfront that the clutch was a little harder than is normal, and the vehicle's taken some beating. While the clutch did have a "rough" feel to it, I did not find it annoyingly uncomfortable.

Took it first along the same route that I did the Xylo TD in - and the difference was immediately apparent where I "missed" a sppedbreaker at 60 or so

The engine was audible with the windows rolled down, but not harsh or anything. In fact the noise I'd mentioned earlier between 1500 and 2000 was again not audible. And it lunged like a beauty, even from single digit speeds, in second gear. The off road section started slowly, where things did get a touch bouncy (its a pit filled kuccha stretch) but soon I was trying to accelerate through it! Fun, fun, fun.

Hit a good road after that and accelerated to 60 quickly with all redline shifts. Yes, its fun to do even that and the 2 tonne of metal does not lurch, jerk, etc through the shifts. Decided to test 3 digit speeds so went down Sarjapura road. 80kmph came and went without fuss (A/C on all the time) and had gotten comfortable enough to even weave in and out of traffic, by now. The earlier body roll I'd experienced was gone now - probably adapted my overtaking to the vehicle's dynamics - and soon managed a unhurried 110. Saw a tiny gap in the median and decided a 100 metres before that to take the u-turn. No panic breaking - but a quick decision was helped - again with no fuss - by composed braking. The turning radius showed its hand and I managed to get the outer wheel onto the shoulder on the 4 laner (narrow lanes though). Sped to 100 again, braked hard a couple of times, went into a mini-jam at the railway crossing where felt at ease with the stop and go traffic too.

11kmpl with all this will be awesome! I'm sooo waiting to become a truck driver

Edit : TDing a Grande for completeness tomorrow/the day after. Whats wrong with me - I even liked (though the handling was weird, and the steering unconnected) the feel and space of a battered old Qualis I borrowed to take to dinner on Saturday.

20th February 2009, 10:50	#152
hrag BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras Posts: 1,982 Thanked: 31 Times	No sir, the TCIC Safari used a 2.0 litre block
	() Thanks

20th February 2009, 11:36	#154
hrag BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras Posts: 1,982 Thanked: 31 Times	The 497 DL was the original block used in the 407. This may have been scaled down to the 483 DL (Estate, Sierra, Sumo, Safari TCIC) and further down to the 475 DL (Indica, Indigo, Marina). What headers sir is referring to is the 497 DL engine has seen billions of km on Indian roads. The 3.0 DiCOR uses the same 497 block as the 407, 207 DI, Spacio.
	() Thanks

20th February 2009, 11:43	#155
zenx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,161 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	Illuminating discussion! Yes, I've heard the olde' Tatas are solid engines. Perhaps I should test drive one to understand how unrefined it is. Just TD'd a Xylo right now - and it needs to be much better than that for sure or I'm sticking with the 2.2
	() Thanks

23rd February 2009, 12:06	#157
evo BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kolkata/Shillong Posts: 780 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	Whoa, just used up precious office time to read the whole thread! But totally worth it!
	() Thanks

23rd February 2009, 12:53	#158
zenx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,161 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	@evo - yeah the learning about the Safari's versions, its character, the support and the depth of knowhow on TBhp about it was amazing Now - to find a vehicle and live the dream....
	() Thanks

23rd February 2009, 14:06	#159
evo BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kolkata/Shillong Posts: 780 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	@zenx, aha, that means that ur LX deal is off?
	() Thanks

23rd February 2009, 17:25	#161
evo BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kolkata/Shillong Posts: 780 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	oh, sorry, didnt come across that...I know I shouldnt be thinking this way but the Safari TD I had yesterday coupled with the effect this thread has had is making me want one! But I shouldnt think of a new car now. Bad Boy!!!
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 15:36	#162
zenx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,161 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	Oh well, looks like its a dry market and a long wait for the 2.2Dicors. Not too many around. Anyone with leads, please oblige.
	() Thanks

2nd March 2009, 09:54	#163
evo BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kolkata/Shillong Posts: 780 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	Was going through the classifieds yesterday, found these : 2007 OCT EX 4x4 22000 KM. Extended Warranty. Rs. 5.95 Lakh 2008 FEB EX 4x2 12000 KM. Rs.6.40 Lakh These are Kolkata prices and the first quote, havent seen the vehicles, since this thread is turning into a used Safari buyers manual, I thought I`ll just put in the prices for benchmarking.
	() Thanks

2nd March 2009, 10:07	#164
zenx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,161 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	@evo Thanks! That should be really useful for folks looking at Safaris. The second, especially, makes me hopefuly again Also - got to idle a couple of 2.2s at the Blr meet on Sat - dkamath's and maheshmenon's - and found them to be much "smoother" than the one I'd TD'd earlier - esp wrt the noise between 1.5-2k revs. I think I need a proper loong TD with a new one for a decent comparison. Of course, idling may be a very loose indicator.
	() Thanks

3rd March 2009, 11:08	#165
zenx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,161 Thanked: 158 Times View My Garage	Called Concorde and decided to do another "proper" test drive. They sent a VX - Cycus Grey (v nice colour). The vehicle - marked for "demo" - was a 4x4, and had about 20k on the odo. The guy explained upfront that the clutch was a little harder than is normal, and the vehicle's taken some beating. While the clutch did have a "rough" feel to it, I did not find it annoyingly uncomfortable. Took it first along the same route that I did the Xylo TD in - and the difference was immediately apparent where I "missed" a sppedbreaker at 60 or so The engine was audible with the windows rolled down, but not harsh or anything. In fact the noise I'd mentioned earlier between 1500 and 2000 was again not audible. And it lunged like a beauty, even from single digit speeds, in second gear. The off road section started slowly, where things did get a touch bouncy (its a pit filled kuccha stretch) but soon I was trying to accelerate through it! Fun, fun, fun. Hit a good road after that and accelerated to 60 quickly with all redline shifts. Yes, its fun to do even that and the 2 tonne of metal does not lurch, jerk, etc through the shifts. Decided to test 3 digit speeds so went down Sarjapura road. 80kmph came and went without fuss (A/C on all the time) and had gotten comfortable enough to even weave in and out of traffic, by now. The earlier body roll I'd experienced was gone now - probably adapted my overtaking to the vehicle's dynamics - and soon managed a unhurried 110. Saw a tiny gap in the median and decided a 100 metres before that to take the u-turn. No panic breaking - but a quick decision was helped - again with no fuss - by composed braking. The turning radius showed its hand and I managed to get the outer wheel onto the shoulder on the 4 laner (narrow lanes though). Sped to 100 again, braked hard a couple of times, went into a mini-jam at the railway crossing where felt at ease with the stop and go traffic too. 11kmpl with all this will be awesome! I'm sooo waiting to become a truck driver Edit : TDing a Grande for completeness tomorrow/the day after. Whats wrong with me - I even liked (though the handling was weird, and the steering unconnected) the feel and space of a battered old Qualis I borrowed to take to dinner on Saturday. Last edited by zenx : 3rd March 2009 at 11:10.
	() Thanks