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-   -   Tata Safari Storme : Test Drive and Review. More pics: pg 47 (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-drives-initial-ownership-reports/120250-tata-safari-storme-test-drive-review-more-pics-pg-47-a-29.html)

+1

And TINA ! I personally find M&M's designs far from attractive. Duster could have been a competitor, but it is already at 12L for a 85Bhp 4x2. I dont expect Ford to be priced or featured any better.

clap: Good one !

I am suspecting, rather than a surprise, its going to be a shock. Somewhere in their heads, they are positioning it against the XUV.. which means XUV price.

So, what is the use of feedback that people gave during and after the Auto-expo? This is the least that they could have done. If vista, manza can afford to have a 2 din system, then why not safari?
I am sure they would have made some good changes, but still a single din system, very hard to digest.

Im a fan of current safari
But in storme, I am seeing the following from this issue

Good :-

- less body roll and good control over speed
- lighter and small turning radius
- fit and Finish

Not so Good :-

- idea of selling old safari in parallel
- keeping it between current safari and aria - Will get tough competition from Duster, Eco sport and Scorpio for Price point of view.
VFM, additional features will be accounted later only for any buyer once the Price is OK

Bad :-

- Side Facing Seats

- Looks - Very odd from front compared to old safari
Tata is not selling Cars because of its Quality and Long term Reliability

Its going because of VFM, Looks and comfort and some point may "be an Indian attitude" too.
Here looks is gone from the Stormes bucket.
Lets see how other three option can save Safari

I fear if the Sumo Grande story may be repeated here too.
Sumo Grande, Initially Launched as a vehicle for Private use, Later given for cab service

I guess lack of vertical space in the center console of the Safari is the primary reason : please check the pics of the center console, and you will understand this point.

I remember reading some ownership threads which stated that even the single-DIN system used to be uncomfortably close to the hand when operating the gear lever. So, a dual-DIN will only make this more obviously difficult.

The other option would be to bring the music system higher up in the console, and bring the HVAC controls down : this would involve significant re-engineering.

Close to the hand? Thats an understatement.
You cannot change CD if you are in third gear. I got a system with USB drive capability. I had to buy one of those "tiny" Pend drivers to 5th gear won't hit it every time I engage.
I broke a cell phone charger because the gear lever kept hitting it on engaging 1st gear. Eventually, got a 3 in 1 adapter with a short stubby module to insert into the socket.

I find it quite amusing, that in such a ergonomically nice car from driving pov, you have such jugaad in the center console. And its not that its a small car, and space is limited, its just that whoever designed the dash did not assume there would be things like pen drive music systems, CD players and mobile charging points.

What is amusing here is not the the lack of foresight the first time around when they (mis)designed the dash 10-14 years ago. How on earth did they manage to repeat the feat in the second avatar?! Beats me! And I was thinking that they would have ironed out all the wrinkles this time around and will present us a with a perfect version of the original... What was I thinking???:Frustrati

God knows how many more such brilliant designs are hidden away elsewhere in this car. I sincerely hope that number is zero.

I am now very much looking forward to reading the ownership reviews of the pioneering owners nee guinea pigs of Storme.

Disclaimer : I am not a troll. I really wanted TML to pull this one off (so that I could buy this baby). But the portents do NOT look good.

Safari Storme Variants at the time of launch are as follows:

LX 4x2
LXa 4x2
EX 4x2
VX 4x2
VX 4x4
VXp 4x2
VXp 4x4

Company may launch further variants post launch of the vehicle but these variants are largely that will be available at launch, whenever that happens! :D

Considering the old safari will continue to sell side by side and has another 3 variants with 4x4 (which hopefully will now be priced better), it is not a bad array of vehicles and variants.

Akhilesh, the old Safari has 4X4 only on the top variant - VX. Been looking for an EX/GX 4X4, but their website and the dealers say it is not available.

I am hoping that with the launch of the Storme and streamlining of the models on offer, they may decide to offer 4X4 on lower variants of the existing Safari. But the wait has been agonizing !!

I think it has just 1 variant with 4x4 - Vx. Will all variants of the current Safari exist or will it be just the Lx,Ex ? Maybe they'll strip them somewhat and bring down the cost (under 10L) and launch the Storme above 10L.

Company has already restricted production of GX variant in current Safari so I would expect that too be eliminated completely and would also expect VX to be stripped off to accomodate new product.

That would probably leave us with:
Safari LX 4x2
Safari Storme LX 4x2
Safari Storme LXa 4x2
Safari EX 4x2
Safari EX 4x4
Safari Storme EX 4x2
Safari Storme VX 4x2
Safari Storme VX 4x4
Safari Storme VXp 4x2
Safari Storme VXp 4x4

Phew! That seems like a long list. C'mon Tata Please spare us the trouble here.

This is not a problem in the old 2.0 ltr. safari. I drive one with mobile charger and the gear lever does not interfere with CD changing or changing channels while driving. I do not have USB but there seems to be enough space for a USB drive too.

That is a long list indeed, but, I do not expect the 4WD in Safari EX.

Tata QC guys have to spare us of the trouble & give up their Chalta Hai attitude, lest there won't be any Storm(e) in tea cup even, & whine not wine in old looking new bottle.

I agree - I am in the same boat. I personally have a negative impression about Tata's Quality.

Aria is a good a vehicle but Tata's reliability moves it down.

I would give Tata one final chance to improve thier QC and change perception. If Storme is at least on par with XUV on niggles i would say that is a giant leap for Tata. Toyotas and Hondas are benchmarks, but for a start, M&M can be looked-up to.

People have mentioned that Storme will stand out of the Tata stable for the right reasons and check all check-boxes. I am waiting for the Launch and the TBHP review to decide on it.

:OT Aria is not a bad vehicle as far as quality is concerned, yes there are few guys in the forum who had bad experiences, but there are others who have good experience as well. ACI's long term Aria has been more or less trouble free as well (Link - http://www.autocarindia.com/Review/3...nd-report.aspx). It is just not VFM & the price Tata's have asked courtesy bad product planning (crossover on ladder frame) is not a good value in the eyes of people. Moreover, off the roads it tends to get struck due to long wheelbase & looks more like a soccer mama's van than a SUV, losing any favour from the offroaders.

IMO Indian made cars have to fight a mentality~perception that they cannot be priced beyond certain figures & there has to be some fine tuning of the product (in terms of looks & quality, which need not adversely affect the price of the vehicle) by these manufacturers to pass this hurdle. Several foreign manufacturers do not have to face this despite there being serious issues with their products... Skoda & Dacia for instance. And last but not the least we need to compare apples with apples not oranges.