[vijaykr]

Phenomenal writeup. At the risk of repetition and stating the obvious, let me say it again You have a great writing style and skills and your passion for literally going the extra mile(s) to get what you want clearly shines through.

Wish you many, many miles of driving your awesome ride. And yes, do keep the thread updated with all your exploits with Django in the islands. Look forward to more from you. All the very best!

[Mad Max]

“Choose between approach angle and airbags”

Great write up! Couldn't stop reading it till the end. You definitely need to keep up this thread with your trips and especially your description of these adventures. Wishing you and family many many happy miles with Django.

[BlackPearl]

What a writeup vigneshkumar31! It has to be one of the the best buying and ownership threads that I have come across in a long long time. No need for popcorn, I just went through it at one go with a cup of tea. Congratulations on your Gurkha. It is really a special vehicle and your Gurkha will be so happy to have a special owner like you.

Originally Posted by vigneshkumar31

I’m a big Defender nut and love the Corris Grey on the old Ninety. So chose the Gurkha in grey. (Note to self: Will see if I can later black out the alloys and go for the classic black and grey of the Ninety).

Good to see another Defender fan! When I saw the first pic of your Gurkha, the colour reminded it me of the Corris Grey on the Defender. Since you like the colour so much, I hope you will not mind if I post a couple of pictures of my Defender 90 in Corris Grey

[shancz]

What a write up, brilliant is an understatement.
When I started out reading there were some outstanding lines which I thought I will specifically reply but as I read on it dawned that it was the entire thread.

After living your journey through your words, like a fascinating novel I leave with :
- Team Force : Respect and Admiration for persisting with the Gurkha, against all odds, like a Gurkha.
They have been exceptional. Providing that sales experience to a customer in the Islands and all it took was an email.
A lot of the "premium" brands should hang their heads in shame reading this.

- The Gurkha : was always a capable and true off-roader in my books but your experience shows its much more than that. A symbol of how the Force has been with us, through thick and thin, doing things well beyond others dreams without even a whisper. Hats Off.

- Django : Congratulations and heartfelt Thanks for such a moving write up

Looking forward to more.

[vigneshkumar31]

Originally Posted by Theyota

A lot of people on this board seek this feature and I never understood why, that too in India.

Its a trend that has trickled down from expensive cars, like many other features, and has become a rage now, limited functionality notwithstanding.

I understand the appeal for kids though. My kid is enticed by sunroofs, I think for kids, it breaks up the fifth wall, and makes room for some imagination beyond the obvious novelty. And in a crowded city street, with traffic jams and chaos all around, the heavens opening up above does bring some respite and gives something new to look at.

He really enjoys the panoramic window of the Gurkha now, and calls it the jungle window and votes it above a sunroof.

Originally Posted by Theyota

I run manufacturing operations for living and I have done it in 3 different continents. I can tell you that night shift always has better quality and productivity across every factory. We never really analyzed why, but I think it is because night shift has the least amount of distractions.

Originally Posted by tilt

And BTW, your night-shift comment - Thar (both old and new) comes with the same three-bolt bracket for a five-bolt spare wheel

The night shift comment was just an expression.
But I still don't get the intent behind that design 3 for 5, now that I hear that the Thar has the same quirk too. Is it to save time to do 16 (8 to screw off +8 to screw on) bolt turns, instead of 20 (10+10), in case of a flat tire? Or is there something wiser?

Originally Posted by sunnyjimny

I do have a question for you?

Mahindra Thar
Force Gurkha
Maruti Suzuki Jimny - 5 door

Throwing these three in the mix, you would have still picked Gurkha?

I've driven the 3 door Jimny abroad, and what a nifty little thing it is. I haven't any experience of seeing or driving a 5 door Jimny.

But since you asked, I would still go for the Gurkha among those 3, not because its the best vehicle, but because its the best vehicle for me.

Originally Posted by BlackPearl

Since you like the colour so much, I hope you will not mind if I post a couple of pictures of my Defender 90 in Corris Grey

Drool! Thanks a lot and feel free to bomb the thread with that handsome Grey. I love the 'Safari Window' (?) on the turn of the roof. Man, I really need to black out my alloys.

[Shekhar Rao]

Congratulations Vignesh on a unique ownership experience documented brilliantly with such originality. You have made all of us long for an island drive covering the entire length of the Great Andamans Highway. I do hope Force will organise one much like the Spiti Expedition once conditions permit. Wish you and family all the very best with Django.
I was driving Nemo (my orange Gurkha) to my place of work for flag hoisting on Republic Day. I was thrilled to see a small convoy of green and white Gurkhas on the way flying our flag. Stopped to speak to them and they were so good as to invite me to join them for a drive. I couldn't do it due to the programme already fixed but they promise to keep in touch and let me know future opportunities.
The Gurkhas were looking really grand and there was a huge amount of excitement. I missed a chance to arrange the Gurkhas in orange, white and green for a picture!
Greatly heartened by your experience with Force Motors and their response to your enthusiasm.

[keroo1099]

Brilliantly written post, and to me this reply of yours is the crux for anyone buying a car.

"But since you asked, I would still go for the Gurkha among those 3, not because its the best vehicle, but because its the best vehicle for me"

Also have to applaud Force for going the extra mile to make this story possible.

Hope Django and you have many happy trouble free kms together.

[Neversaygbye]

This is by far the best ownership review I have read on TBHP. I couldn't peel my eyes away from it! Your narration, the pictures, attention to detail, et al - every word tells a story! You have a way with words and then some. I am super impressed by your perseverance too. Looking for a particular set of tyres across India is just one example, apart from the biggest example of overcoming the challenges of getting the car into Port Blair in the first place. The support provided by Force Motors is also truly exemplary and I don't think any other OEM or dealers would have gone to so much trouble. All-in-all a fantastic experience, described fantastically. Makes me want to go out and buy the Gurkha right now, even though I don't really have a need for it!

[rhsakarp]

Brilliant! Wishing you and Django some awesome memories!

Loved this quote

The Gurkha’s sole purpose is to convert diesel into memories. Nothing else.

[sudanmohit]

Wow is too small a word to describe the feeling after reading your review. Never knew we have a Shakespeare or Charles Dickens on team BHP.

Your write up has pushed me to almost book one Gurkha for myself (though I know that Home ministry would never allow that and one cannot fight with the supreme power even in a Gurkha ).

Completed the thread in one go
Looking for more updates as you explore further

Best wishes and keep us updated

[mav3r1ckblu3]

Congratulations @vigneshkumar31, firstly on owning this beast of a vehicle, and secondly for hitting it out of the park with that review, reading it felt like being part of a journey, from the vehicle factory to the faraway Island you reside in, literally!

You and Manuuj have done for Force Motors, what they themselves couldn't, even if they tried to hire and pay automotive journalists to do it, i.e. persuade buyers to atleast think about Force motors, and make an informed decision before investing their hard earned money on an affordable off-roader! And the results are visible as well, people have started to consider this over the competition, and that says a lot!

If only Force Motors would really hear their customers and iron out the chinks in their armour, they have a winner here, for sure! All the improvements can make their way to the 5 door, and eventually to the 3 door version (if/when Force decides to introduce a facelift).

[Traveler]

Absolutely brilliant piece of articulation and engineering. It bought tears to my eyes. Congratulations on a well deserved SUV. Amazing persistence and patience from your side to get what you wanted in exactly the way you wanted it.

I am sure you will be very proud of what you have achieved and you should be!

Congratulations once again and wishing you a lifetime of happy motoring.

[DesertLynx34]

Huge Gurkha fan here and I've been lapping up all the reviews on the forum and wow, what a write up!

Pray that it becomes well worth the effort you've put in.

It's great to hear of this fabulous attitude of the Force Team from the new customers. Good to see a home-grown brand making progress in that regard. I myself got a call earlier this week from my local dealership telling me that they've a test drive vehicle available. Apparently, I had visited them a couple of years ago.

N.B Looking forward to seeing more pictures of the Island terrain too. Magnificent!

[Manuuj]

Originally Posted by vigneshkumar31

The Gurkha

If names could sell cars, this would have set sales charts on fire. Unarguably, the most aptly named vehicle in India...

In a sea of charlatan SUVs, and hatches on stilts, and fancy electronic gizmos, the Gurkha stands alone as the last bastion of honesty of purpose. It doesn’t pretend to be something else.

The rear seat is a place where memories are made, as amused kids peer through the large side glass, which is as wide as their innocent imagination.

The Gurkha’s sole purpose is to convert diesel into memories. Nothing else.

"The Gurkha’s sole purpose is to convert diesel into memories. Nothing else"

This for me is the best line i have ever read on TeamBhp in all my years here. Superb write up Vignesh. I read through it in one go, like everyone else here did as well I am sure. It simply isn't possible to stop reading this thriller and i was actually sad when i got to the end. I look forward to all the updates!

I remember our conversations regarding your decision on owning the 2021 Gurkha. I was very impressed with the way Force Motors proactively assisted you and the entire story laid here really put the scale of the effort from everyone involved in perspective. Hats of to them and to you for leaving no stone unturned and making sure your GURKHA dream is finally realised.

The initial niggles of the earlier batches including with Asterix seem to have been resolved now. The quality of the seal for the gear box must be the upgraded one in yours.
I am sure that Django (what a name!!) also has had the necessary orientation changes made to the power steering pipe.

I did read that you found the brakes to be spongy.

I would suggest the following: Find an empty stretch of road and drive ahead 50 meters and brake hard. Reverse back to the starting point and brake hard again. Repeat said steps a couple of times. The sponginess would be gone!

I had reported the same issue with mine once i drove to Delhi from Mandi after delivery and Ved ji (Service Head, North India) did exactly this procedure to resolve it. The Gurkha comes with automatic brake adjusters that need this kind of "activation". Once its done you will never find them to be spongy again.

Once again heartiest congratulations on joining the ever growing Gurkha tribe and a big thank you for this brilliant writeup.

I love the "Special Vehicles Division" badge that you designed and had fabricated. I desperately want one for Asterix also. Please let me know how I can get my hands on one or two! Also do design a similar badge on the lines of - "RFC India Champion".

Look forward to your updates. Thread rated 5 stars.

[vigneshkumar31]

Originally Posted by Manuuj

[i][b]

I remember our conversations regarding your decision on owning the 2021 Gurkha.

I did read that you found the brakes to be spongy.

I would suggest the following: Find an empty stretch of road and drive ahead 50 meters and brake hard. Reverse back to the starting point and brake hard again. Repeat said steps a couple of times. The sponginess would be gone!

Thanks a lot Manuuj/Asterix! Your counsel and Trojan’s Gurkha reviews were an important cornerstone for me. Thanks for keeping Asterix up to date and as informative for all those who follow.

I’m sorting out the adhesion and external coating on this badge so that it endures rough duty. I’ll share the template in a week.

Thanks for the spongy brake remedy. I will try it out. It’s also relatively less bitey because of the muscle memory of the Safari’s all four discs. I’ll check your method.