ACM Thoughts - Diverse points Am considering the new Endeavour but am right now on the fence. Reasons:
1) Deliveries - 3.2L min 6 months, 2.2L min 3.5 months. Not really how I go about buying cars.
2) Was considering a vehicle that is: - Reliable (Endy - Ticks), Potentially. Use the Ford EcoSport and relative to the TATA Safari, Aria, Laura and even the i10 it has proven to be reliable, so as a brand it is acceptable on this parameter. Though they do NOt have sufficiently acceptable number or quality or locations of Service Centres.
- Tough looking (Endy - Ticks), For Sure - It is Massive. I like Massive.
- Big on the Inside (Endy - Partly Fails) - I tried to sit in the middle row bench of the 3.2 AT Titanium (which has a sunroof). I am 6ft tall and my head touches the roof-liner. Then I next tried the Drivers seat. Again the head touches the roof-liner. Yes it is possible to reduce the height of the seat and get into a less erect position but the position I like to sit in is high and erect.
So next I asked the guys which variant don't have the Roof-Liner and am told that all except the 3.2 Titanium come without the roof liner. Since I just don't fit into the 3.2 Titanium though I can even look at the 2.2 variant since all reports have it pegged as an equally capable performer in most circumstances plus it is 20% more fuel efficient. So next I asked for the 2.2 Titanium AT AWD - DOES not exist one can get AWD and Titanium AT only in the 3.2L not 2.2L. Next moved on to see if 3.2 Trend AWD AT can meet my needs and it misses a lot on the safety and creature comfort kit. Further if I have to take a variant in 2.2 Trend then why the Endy in the first place is a question that pops up. I end up paying 33L for a variant missing on Safety and creature comforts that even the current Fortuner provides (And I fit better in it - but the ride) its all nudging me towards waiting for the Hexa. - Something that my old Parents can get into and out of without too much of a bother - (Endy - Fails) Yes it is expected to fail but the Middle Row Access is extra hard in the Endy.
- Is Value for Money - (Endy - Partly Fails). Yes in 3.2 Variant but am not convinced about the 2.2 variant. Feel that Fortuners smaller engine variant will undercut the Endy significantly and rankly feel the Hexa will be as good a product with more creature comforts and safety kit for 13L less and I should fit in the drivers seat and middle row better.
- Something that I can live with for 10 years (Endy - Seems to Tick)
- Good Water Wading Ability - (Endy - Ticks) - 800mm -
- Occasional 4X4 - (Endy - Ticks) - Love the convenience of a rotary terrain mode and the info display.
- AT - (Endy - Ticks) - Engine seems to cover the average transmission flaws.
- Creature Comforts & Safety- (Endy - Partially Ticks) - Safety is missing in all except the Titanium variants even the 2.2 Titanium misses a few of the goodies that I would want, and the Trend misses out big time on Airbags. I like having stuff like Auto Lights, Auto wipers, built in Sat-Nav, Front Sensors (Critical for parking a vehicle of this size) but they are missing in all but the top variant that I don't fit too well into.
Currently am planning to wait it out. Was seriously considering the Endy but neither is going to available off the shelf in the next 6 months nor does it tick all my requirements. The Inside vertical space lost in the top model due to the Panaromic Sunroof is a major issue for me, and the other variants either miss on Safety or AT or AWD also.
Further this leads to the feeling that lower variant are not truly VFM for if I am looking at a 155 Bhp 2.2Ltr engine vehicle that is fully loaded then the Hexa at likely sub 20L fully loaded top variant OTR seems to be a better option. Plus I would fit in better and also entry and exit for my parents would be more reasonable. Besides it now does look cool. Yes the Endy probably looks even better and will definitely will be more reliable.
That said am sitting on the fence and do not discount the Endy but this would not be the brain deciding instead the heart.
Additionally the New Fortuner for most likely similar money as the Endy would also give better resale and is likely to be much improved and hence similar in ride and drive as the Endy also it just may come sooner than later. Then again it too will have a 6 month lead time. No clear solution nor winner.
Last edited by ACM : 29th January 2016 at 14:12.
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