Team-BHP - Tata Safari Storme : Test Drive and Review. More pics: pg 47

Guys,
I visited Concorde Motors yesterday.Met a senior manager-the gist of my discussion is as follows:
1. The Storme will be launched in delhi by this month end i.e Sept end and in Bangalore by the middle of next month.
2. He claimed that the product will be very different from what was seen at the Auto show in jan.They have taken a lot of feedback from people who have test driven the vehicle and incorporated many of them.
3.Pricing - around 11Lacs.Positioning of the Storme will be between the current Safari and the Aria.
I currently drive a 5.5 yr old Safari VX (3 lit engine,90K kms done) and am looking to upgrade. Don't like the XUV -after driving it ,felt it was over hyped-driver's seat felt cramped, poor interior platics etc. So my choice is between and Aria and the Storme.Will decide in October.
Regards
Venky

Quote:

Originally Posted by lurker (Post 2900146)

Just imagine if after such a delayed launch, and after such extensive 'testing in real conditions' the vehicle actually develops some real niggle and then the Tata's will have busted their credibility through-and-through. Basically I feel the problem for them is maintaining parts quality from vendors in serial production in face of penny pinching habits of the TML mandarins. So lot of crappy parts do filter through to actual customers, who then have to bear the brunt of it all. It can go really awry.

Tata's will be left with no credibility if Storme goes the Aria way and in that respect it is better if they do not launch the product at all if they are doubtful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by venkaswamy (Post 2900220)

Venky, Good information. I am kind of positive that you would choose to "Storme" unless you want to change the driving style to suit ARIA :)

Good luck !

Prem.

Thanks, Venky. An update like this definitely helps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by venkaswamy (Post 2900220)

3.Pricing - around 11Lacs.Positioning of the Storme will be between the current Safari and the Aria.

Will still need to wait for exact pricing - hope words like that (from the Dealership) dont mean " between highest end Current Safari and highest end of Aria" - which will take the pricing in the 19L range (OTR, Bangalore).

Btw, the Aria a lovely vehicle ! Just did an extended drive on various roads, from BLR to Wayanad (highways, state highways, bad roads, ghats & slush/mud) - and it was confident & comfortable at all times.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajay_satpute (Post 2898159)

Spotted a registered White Storme parked in one of the Apartments in Kothrud. It looked grand and shiny. Loved the road presence and stance.

This one must be owned by an employee of TML.

Generally, Senior officials are given a privilege to ride all the new products for a week or so, to give their personal opinion and feedback.
These cars get registered most of the times to move them out of state for long drives or other real testing conditions.

Regards,
Maverick79.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CARDEEP (Post 2900062)

Link to the 2012 Safari Storme commercial & few details (courtesy Indiancarsbikes):

http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/cars/t...g-hints-61809/

Couple of missing items in the add are disappointing. No 2 DIN music system and no steering mounted controls. When Vista can have them why not Storme. I recall reading elsewhere in the thread that both 2DIN and steering mounted controls are available. I am crossing my finger. My Grande MKII is now 2.5 years old and am looking forward to see if it will be worthwhile to change to Storme as soon as it is released or much later.

Quote:

Originally Posted by condor (Post 2900675)

Registration not necessary. A temp registration is sufficient, like we have seen recently - and like we see with the vehicles that are being tested everywhere/

Yeah you are right Condor, its not mandatory.
But some RTO's were insisting on that.
I had to get the yellow Vista Zx (Which was in the TV Commericals) registered for sending it for a photo shoot in Satara dist(MH State), as that RTO team was asking for it seriously.

Regards,
Maverick79.

Quote:

Originally Posted by arulpeem (Post 2900660)

This advt was released around 8 months back and refers to the version that was displayed in the Auto Expo. The production version, as mentioned above, should be different having factored in feedback from test users. The discussion on previous pages indicates that there should be a 2-DIN option + Steering Mounted controls (though it remains a speculation until the actual release).

Quote:

Originally Posted by amit_mechengg (Post 2900749)

The vehicles given to managers / other employees for testing are asked by the RTO to register.

I had a cycus grey Storme with me duly registered and with insurance for few days.

So what was your experience with the Storme like? What were the improvements made over the one showcased in Auto expo. If I remember correctly, you were in the market for a SUV and went on to buy the current Safari (am I correct?) - so any comparison would be much appreciated.

EDIT: If you had bought the current Safari, as I assume, did you buy it before you got the Storme for testing? Because if no, I'd be very curious to know why you did so.
OT: Sorry, if I am asking too many questions and it would be alright if you want to give them a miss.

Amit now that you have been used to the present gen Safari and having spent considerable time/kms with the strome, how do you differentiate both the vehicles.

having tasted the latest, you still went for the present gen Safari, am sure your feedback/observations would help many prospective buyers.

I was pretty confident or clear about my decision on choosing the present gen safari, that is after have testing all the UVs in the 10lacs bracket and am happy with the decision, however would love to TD it as soon as the strome hits the showroom :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by amit_mechengg (Post 2900749)

The vehicles given to managers / other employees for testing are asked by the RTO to register.

I had a cycus grey Storme with me duly registered and with insurance for few days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrsteer (Post 2900870)

Quote:

Originally Posted by lohithrao (Post 2900981)

The new Storme still holds the Single Din Alpine head unit. The dashboard is very classy with very high quality inserts. Even the glove box lowers slowly and is fully velvet lined.

The Storme is miles ahead in terms of ride quality and handling over the current safari which has body roll and RBT type steering mechanism.

The vibrations from various panels of current safari is not present in Storme which validates its well engineered and well packed vehicle.

Power wise i dint find much difference and both engines drove the same.

Looks wise i like the current safari than the Storme. But if someone wants to buy a Safari and can wait i would say go for Storme.

I had driven Storme before buying current safari. Me buying current safari was due to time constraint and price + unknown reliability of Storme.

However i feel storme will be better reliable vehicle.

My current safari has very good quality interiors that have evolved out of continuous improvement. Fit and Finish is very good.
My engine is butter smooth and doesnt make much noise when compared with other tbhpians Safari.

For time being is am very happy with my new safari and trying to learn new things/quirks about this new possession :)

Actually, am pretty happy with the ride quality of Safari, this is after owned/driven OHC and Adventure, if the ride quality is better in storme then what more to ask :)

Yup, engine sometimes gives me a feel that am i driving a petrol or a diesel, very smooth and i love it too. and yes the present gen Safari is lot better then the initial once.

Quote:

Originally Posted by amit_mechengg (Post 2901046)

My current safari has very good quality interiors that have evolved out of continuous improvement. Fit and Finish is very good.
My engine is butter smooth and doesnt make much noise when compared with other tbhpians Safari.

For time being is am very happy with my new safari and trying to learn new things/quirks about this new possession :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by lohithrao (Post 2901150)

Dont get me wrong when i said ride quality. Safari doesnt give you jerks and eats up all the pot holes etc like a piece of cake.

But when there is a curvy road or undulations you feel like sitting in large boat. Pitching sideways + frontways is the issue here.

But then compared to other SUVs in market i cannot comment as i havent driven them extensively.

Somehow i am so used to linea that whatever car i compare with it in terms of ride quality and handling , looks way inferior to linea.

Amit, not at all:) i think i was not that clear, i meant having owned 2 cars which ranks which ranked pretty high when it comes to ride/handling. when i decided to go for an UV/SUV i was prepared for a bad ride quality..this was confirmed when i took some long TDs in all of the suv/uv's in this price bracket.

i test drove safari in the last when i had kind of ruled out almost all the vehicles and for my surprise safari's ride quality was much superior then those and also i felt it was acceptable in all terms, however noways it can be compared to sedans esp the good handlers...

apparently, sumo gold with the upgraded suspension setup ride quality is quiet good

So when i see those twistie's i drive it like a truck but not a sedan, yes i miss my previous cars at times:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by amit_mechengg (Post 2901198)