[Leoshashi]

Update: The XL6 completed 8k on the odo last month. Apologies for the delayed reply.

It was year end, and we all were in vacation mood. Decided to visit our native place, since no one had been there in the past 19 years. Mom also accompanied me, and this was going to be the first true test of the comfort of XL6, something because of which this car was shortlisted.

In all, we drove close to 1200 km, with mom sitting peacefully for 6 hours at a stretch. This was a revelation for us, as she couldn't tolerate any car ride for more than an hour earlier. She was all praises for the comfort of XL6.

The XL6 was also subjected to a torturous test, when it was loaded with ~ 200kg of luggage, and 4 well built adults for over 80km. Add to this, the non existent axle bending roads(if you could call them roads) with craters like potholes every 50 meters. The only change in vehicle dynamics was that the rear became a lot more settled. Apart from that, no effect on engine or pulling power, which I had doubts on, being a NA petrol.

In all, everyone was extremely happy with the practicality of the car.

Some pics:

At Tarachandi Temple parking, Sasaram:

At Patna Junction:

At Hotel Maurya Patna's parking:

At our native place:

The chap pushed our luggage haphazardly to make space for the heavy cereal bags

We had to travel on these kind of roads, with the XL6 fully loaded:

Odo at the end of year 2020:

Parked alongside other stablemates:

Also decided to get the underbody comprehensively washed, as all the XL6 was getting till now was top body wash:

Love the Gloss post DIY ceramic treatment, its holding up well:

Signing off with some pics of XL6, along with BHPian Swapnil_Alto's 4th Gen city:

The car will remain parked mostly for the next two months, till February end at least.

Regards,
Shashi

[smooth]

Hi Shashi,

I have 1 query. Which is better to have Primary 4 or XM2. I am getting primary4 at 2700 in exchange and XM2 at 2500 in exchange for brand new Bridgestone Ecopia's.

Thanks

[Leoshashi]

Originally Posted by smooth

Hi Shashi,

I have 1 query. Which is better to have Primary 4 or XM2. I am getting primary4 at 2700 in exchange and XM2 at 2500 in exchange for brand new Bridgestone Ecopia's.

Thanks

I'm very happy with XM2 considering the bad roads I do regulary. Honestly, I didn't expect it to endure those torturous roads so well. Since I haven't used Primacy myself, I wouldn't comment on how it will fare. But its certainly more comfort/performance oriented than XM2. If your usage will be on good roads, I'd say go with Primacy eyes closed.

DBHPian Parag has used both XM2 and Primacy on his Ertiga, I hope he replies here.

Regards,
Shashi

[smooth]

Originally Posted by Leoshashi

I'm very happy with XM2 considering the bad roads I do regulary. Honestly, I didn't expect it to endure those torturous roads so well. Since I haven't used Primacy myself, I wouldn't comment on how it will fare. But its certainly more comfort/performance oriented than XM2. If your usage will be on good roads, I'd say go with Primacy eyes closed.

DBHPian Parag has used both XM2 and Primacy on his Ertiga, I hope he replies here.

Regards,
Shashi

Thanks Shashi. I will be driving mostly around NCR so can go for either one. I feel prices are little on higher side but considering the shortage of Michelin tires do not have much option.

[Leoshashi]

Originally Posted by smooth

Thanks Shashi. I will be driving mostly around NCR so can go for either one. I feel prices are little on higher side but considering the shortage of Michelin tires do not have much option.

Go with P4ST then, will be better anyday.

Prices of leftover stocks of Michelin are skyrocketing. I turned out extremely lucky because the tyres which I bought for ~5800/pc, is now retailing for over Rs. 7200 in the same shop, same 2018 make stock. Atleast you NCR guys are lucky enough to get fairly recent stock.

Regards,
Shashi

PS: Which size are you going for?

[smooth]

Originally Posted by Leoshashi

PS: Which size are you going for?

As you suggested 195/65/15.
Will be getting delivery this weekend (White XL6 Alpha AT). I hope Auto box do not disappoint in real world so much.

[Leoshashi]

Originally Posted by smooth

As you suggested 195/65/15.
Will be getting delivery this weekend (White XL6 Alpha AT). I hope Auto box do not disappoint in real world so much.

Congrats! Do post pics once its delivered. AT won't disappoint unless you drive pedal to metal style.

Do check if Continental UC6 is available in that size, heard they are awesome. Yoko BluEarth is another popular alternative.

Regards,
Shashi

[smooth]

I am not getting Conti UC6. What I am getting is:

Michelin Primacy 4 –> 2700
XM2 -> 2500

Yoko earth1 –> 1500

Conti MC5 –> 1800

I will check with the dealer on the day of the delivery what is available & the best price for that day.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by Leoshashi

I'm very happy with XM2 considering the bad roads I do regulary. Honestly, I didn't expect it to endure those torturous roads so well. Since I haven't used Primacy myself, I wouldn't comment on how it will fare. But its certainly more comfort/performance oriented than XM2. If your usage will be on good roads, I'd say go with Primacy eyes closed.

DBHPian Parag has used both XM2 and Primacy on his Ertiga, I hope he replies here.

Indeed the right time for me to comment on how Primacy 3STs fare on bad roads because I ended up taking a torturous 40Km stretch between Murbad and Sahapur when I was driving Aurangabad Mumbai last week, that too on the tires that have already clocked 90,000+ Km. No sidewall cuts, no punctures, no nothing and I was pretty impressed.

These were the roads the tire had to endure:







I never faced issues in XM2 and they lasted 93,000 Km with just one puncture on one of the tires. The Primacy 3STs have at least 1 puncture per tire till now.

Whether XM2 or P3ST, I had zero instances of sidewall damage till now

P3STs are silent compared to XM2, They also perform better in rain and overall they offer better comfort over XM2s at least from my experience till now.

[Leoshashi]

Originally Posted by smooth

I am not getting Conti UC6. What I am getting is:

Michelin Primacy 4 –> 2700
XM2 -> 2500

Yoko earth1 –> 1500

Conti MC5 –> 1800

I will check with the dealer on the day of the delivery what is available & the best price for that day.

Among these, I'd say Primacy 4 would be best suited. Avoid Earth1 as they tend to be very noisy. MC5 is good but not good enough for an MPV IMO. Grip is excellent, but comfort, durability and life is questionable. There is another series in Yokohama, BluEarth. Do enquire about it. BHPian Lionell has it on his XL6.

Regards,
Shashi

[HornNotOkPlease]

Originally Posted by Leoshashi

Update: The XL6 completed 8k on the odo last month. Apologies for the delayed reply.

The XL6 was also subjected to a torturous test, when it was loaded with ~ 200kg of luggage, and 4 well built adults for over 80km. Add to this, the non existent axle bending roads(if you could call them roads) with craters like potholes every 50 meters. The only change in vehicle dynamics was that the rear became a lot more settled. Apart from that, no effect on engine or pulling power, which I had doubts on, being a NA petrol.

Regards,
Shashi

Great going mine is still on its early 7K with the reduced running, i have made quite a few runs loaded with 6 full grown adults and overhead luggage and agree the engine performance is within acceptable range including hill runs where also its has enough juice to pickup on inclines from stop, but with full load the rear wallows a bit on high speed undulations on the highway which becomes uncomforting for the 3rd row passengers. I have made it a habit to shed some speed when ever i see a culvert or bridges approaching.

[smooth]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

P3STs are silent compared to XM2, They also perform better in rain and overall they offer better comfort over XM2s at least from my experience till now.

Thanks Parag very reassuring to read this.

Leoshashi - I will definitely check with the Tyre dealer while going for the exchange. I do not have any personal equation with any of the dealer so will see how it goes. But Michelin may be better.

I had Bridgestone (B290) in my Skoda Fabia and they were not good. Did not lasted 35k and overall driving pleasure was also not great.

[Leoshashi]

Originally Posted by smooth

I had Bridgestone (B290) in my Skoda Fabia and they were not good. Did not lasted 35k and overall driving pleasure was also not great.

Yes better to remove stock Ecopias. Atleast you get decent buyback when they are new. I don't know if they are generally bad or there is something special in OEM grade tyre, two of my friends have ruined tyres in less than 15k kms.

[lionell]

Originally Posted by smooth

Thanks Parag very reassuring to read this.

Leoshashi - I will definitely check with the Tyre dealer while going for the exchange. I do not have any personal equation with any of the dealer so will see how it goes. But Michelin may be better.

Michelin’s were hard to find in August last year. I doubt they will be in stock now. I replaced the Ecopias with BluEarth Yokohama 195 section. Had called Shashi before the swap citing non-availability of Michelin’s and this was the next best. Till now they are okay. The ride isn’t as soft as I’d expected. Maybe the Michelin’s are a softer compound. Rear left already has a puncture. Noise isn’t much as well. Overall I am satisfied but not as much as I would have been on the Michelin’s given my previous experience with other cars that I have had them on.

[Leoshashi]

Update: Fixed the Headlight woes, well to a large extent. I had 2 qualms with the headlight output, both were related to focus being too down. Fogs were aimed so low that they were illuminating that part of the road which wasn't visible to me from my driving position. To explain that better, I'm using DBHPian Audioholic's explanation from his Celerio thread:

Similar complain was with the headlamp being too low, such that I found myself driving with high beams on most of the time, and still feeling light being inadequate in some conditions.

Headlamps have two adjustments, vertical and horizontal. I fiddled with only vertical adjustment. Easier way of spotting vertical adjustment screw is locating the HL leveler motor.

For HL, I found my ideal focus after rotating the screw exactly one full turn.
For fogs, I had to adjust it as per my preferred visibility from driver's seat. Noticed for the first time that despite being LEDs, the output of fogs is a bit yellowish.

Some pics:


Only Low:

Only High:

High with fogs on, notice the yellowish tinge:

With glare coming from opposite lane:

Night Look:

Adjusting knob for headlight's vertical output:

Adjusting knob for fogs:

Lots of space in the engine bay to work easily:

In short,

Visibility Range=Excellent now, lit or unlit highways
Visibility with High beam glares from opposite side=Liveable now. Earlier it was horrible.
Visibility in fog=Still poor.

Signing off with a recent click of the XL6:

Regards,
Shashi