[anupam00]

Dear BHPians,

Sharing the story of my recent buying of a truck or should I say, a bus. Yes, probably the first Citiline on Team-BHP - ownership review.

Well my association with Team-BHP and cars has been really long - from a collection of small bay toys to a huge garage of cars from Indian brands to Italians and Germans. I have cars which were always for enthusiasts. I have a good collection of cars and would start a thread on the same very soon.

Coming back to the decision making process for the Citiline. It all started with Tata Safari ageing and the need of a people carrier and also some time back, my son - he is currently in class 10th - started his own brand of cold drink manufacturing i.e. Wild Drink. We thought it's time we built a car for him and that is how we started our search. The cars that were considered were the new Tata Safari, Scorpio-N and XUV700. At the same time, we needed space to carry people and also enough space to have a fridge installed and carry loads to stuff like cold drink bottles.

Took a test drive of the Cruiser after a test drive of the new Safari, Scorpio and XUV700. The preference was following due to that fact have big Germans already in the garage.

Engine - Rugged
Maintenance- Easy
Electronics - Bare minimum
Space - Huge
Road Presence - Extraordinary

Since we would be doing badging of "Wild Drink Drive", it should be smooth.

So the decision of a Force Cruiser type car was made. At the same time the Force Cruiser came with bench seats at the last row and it came to my notice that Force has launched the Citiline. Also read the thread of the Citiine on Team-BHP in which our GTO said - I can't be the only one out here thinking this extended MUV has the potential to look handsome Well, the decision was made and we decided to book one and the same was done with Rohit Force in Delhi. The day of delivery came when I actually saw how this truck looked.

There was no surprises here. Our visualization and the actual were the same. We took the delivery of the Citline and had asked the dealership to install the following:
1. Roof Rails
2. Windshield protection bars
3. Red Grill Horn (plan to install roots as well)

The delivery day: There were some troubles which were later addressed by dealership well and the delivery was taken at 10 in the night. thanks to them. It was Dhanteras, so we wanted a new car at home. The car was driven some 1400 kms as per the odometer. We were told that their cars are driven from plant to dealership. Hence the km reading.

Coming to the car's look and feel, well, I was not very happy the way car was cleaned. May be they had extra workload that day. So no worries. I took the car later to World of Service and got it washed.

The front looks similar to Mercedes G-Wagen or should I say, it's inspired by the Mercedes G-Wagen


Coming back to the list of things that I plan to do

1. Audio installation choices in consideration - Pioneer or Blaupunkt music system
2. Speakers - Rockford Fosgate
3. Component speakers
4. Custom wooden box for rear speaker installation
5. Pods
6. 4 channel amplifiers - maybe two of them
7. Bucket seat covers
8. 7D mats
9. Roof carrier besides roof rails
10. Alloy wheels
11. GPS and central locking
12. TPMS
13. 360 degree camera
14. Rear parking camera
15. Projector headlights
16. Projector fog lamps
17. Indicator fitring - like Gurkha
18. Roots horn with Hella horn
19. Battery cut off switch
20. Wild Drink badging
21. Snorkel
22. Remapping shall be done by World of Service
23. Cold air intake
24. Fridge in the rear
25. Rear windshield mirror
26. Changing of gear oil to fully synthetic and adding additive
27. Steering cover
28. Body cover - to get it built / buy
29. Interior lights
30. Engine bay light
31. Rear ladder

Any suggestions you all have most welcome. I am sorry the wish list is quite a huge one. The company has left us to do a lot of things. The second way was that they could have done all that themselves. But anyway, I like doing things on my car. I'm happy to get it done myself .

The road presence is truly amazing and the space it has is simply awesome. Loads and loads can be carried comfortably


The rear stance of Citiline


More updates shall be coming as soon as I complete things.

I have driven the car 400+ km post delivery and am happy with the performance. ABS has a loose connection that we sorted out today during washing at World of Service Greater Noida. Rest of the updates are coming soon. Do let me know what all accessories you propose.

Thanks to Rupam & Naveen Sir from the Gurkha group for their suggestions and support towards making my decision of buying a Force Citiline.

The rear camera comes as stock in the Citiline


WHAT I LIKE

1. The space and the road presence
2. People carrier that can ferry 10 people comfortably
3. Body on frame construction
4. Build quality and steel used
5. Turning radius considering the size of the vehicle
6. Good lower end torque
7. Modification options are quite exhaustive
8. Ground clearance is acceptable
9. Good A/C. Rear A/C is also very effective
10. Although this vehicle is a 4X2, it's still effective on bad roads

The tall, commanding driving position makes you feel nice and also helps to maneuver the vehicle well. The purpose for which it is bought, it shall serve well and that is people carrier / goods carrier / Wild Drink vehicle. Above all, one thing that is huge is space....space and space!

Loads and loads of space - something that is missed in most vehicles including luxury wagons


WHAT I HATE

1. The power out of the car is less. It needs a bigger intercooler and definitely remapping. That I plan to get done in the next 30 days or so
2. The basic audio etc is missing. So one area which the company should look at improving
3. The oil and lubricants used should be of better quality - fully synthetic oil of German brand makes the vehicle smoother
4. A 6-speed transmission is required in the vehicle
5. The dashboard could have been better
6. Airbags should have been there. This feature is missing for sure
7. The engine mountings should have been hydraulic or better quality to reduce vibrations
8. 4X4 option should be given by the company
9. The features / add-ons which are present in the Gurkha could have been provided by default in the Citiline
11. The service support is something they definitely need to improve upon. If you need to sell cars in India, learn from Maruti - which is to date best example of how to products in India
12. The part quality could have been better. The cooling coil - a few Gurkha owners faced failure. That too within 3 years.

Reasons why I bought the Citiline

1. Space that the vehicle has is huge
2. No other alternative to the Citiline for the purpose that it's been bought
3. The price at which it comes
4. The road presence
5. Ability to carry loads if required. It shall be used as a Wild Drink vehicle - my son's venture which is of herbal soft drink

Currently on the stock tyres and rims. Plan to upgrade to Gurkha alloys


Things/Modifications done so far

1. Audio installation choices in consideration were Pioneer or Blaupunkt music system. Installed two systems - a single DIN system for audio and the second as a screen system for the 360 degree camera and GPS
2. Speakers: Rockford Fosgate. Went ahead with Pioneer
3. Component speakers - Rockford Fosgate
4. Custom wooden box for rear speaker installation - did not get installed
5. 4 channel amplifiers - maybe two of them - went ahead with a Pioneer amp
6. Bucket seat covers - got the same done. At a few places where I feel some more foaming shall be required, I shall get redone
7. GPS and central locking - Central locking of RD company installed
8. 360 degree camera - installed the same
9. Rear parking camera - installed the same
10. Projector headlights - after installing projector fog lamps, I am now not planning to install projector headlights
11. Projector fog lamps - installed the same and yes, they work well
12. Indicator Fit - like Gurkha - installed the same and yes, it works well
13. Roots horn with Hella horn - installed the same and yes, they work well
14. Rear windshield mirror - not required now since I have a 360 degree camera in place
15. Changing of gear oil to fully synthetic and adding additive - done [/b]

The famous FM 2.6 engine - the same is used in almost all Force cars / buses


Things yet to be done
1. Pods- yet to be done
2. Bucket seat covers - got the same done. A few places where I feel some more foaming shall be required, I shall get redone
3. 7D mats - yet to be done
4. Roof carrier besides roof rails - this is a little tricky. I shall get it done this week
5. Alloy wheels - got alloys of the Gurkha thanks to Naveen Sir. I'm in a dilemma about whether to install them or not
6. TPMS - yet to be done
7. Battery cut off switch - yet to be done
8. Wild Drink Badging - yet to be done
9. Snorkel - ordered the same. looks like it will be delayed since it's not in stock and it's dependent on the factory which is busy making the new Gurkha
10. Remapping shall be done by World of Service - to be done
11. Cold air intake - to be done
12. Fridge in the rear - to be done
13. Rear windshield mirror - not required now since I have a 360 degree camera in place
14. Steering cover - to be done
15. Body cover - to get it built / buy - to be done
16. Interior lights - to be done
17. Engine bay light - to be done
18. Rear ladder - to be installed. Got the one used in the Gurkha
19. Rear foot-step - to be installed

Any suggestions you all have are most welcome.

A few pictures of car


The front gaps of the bumper - but that is okay. We knew what we are buying and why


The left view


The right view


Your suggestions are most welcome for modifications and upgrades.

I shall update the thread with the latest pictures of the Citiline with the accessories installed and once I get the remapping done, I will give and update on the performance.

Thanks & Regards
Anupam00

[anupam00]

Update after driving around 3500 kms

Car has travelled well for 3500 kms have been basically a long drive runner during the same,

The issue that are witnessed so far

1. Clutch is hard
2. The seat bucket work done so far needs more foam shall get that done.

The car visited the authorised service centre and not a Happy experience as for Clutch the statement is there is no problem and we would advise the company official so when he shall visit we would inform you.

The manpower is quite less there so basically to complete one job - yes they installed a carrier on the car and it took some 7 hours for same and no other work was done,basically what I feel that they are too busy handling travellers so our car is on back burner,

Few parts are ordered like Snorkel so those would be only picked

Anyway decided this was the last visit to them and work would be done ourselves,

The Current Stance of Car


Things that went well

1. Fuel efficiency has been roughly 10
2. Synthetic oil has made huge difference and clutter has reduced - efficiency has increased post same,
3. Got synthetic gear oil changed and added Liqui moly additive the gear has been really smooth post same,
4. Drive after synthetic is really becoming smoother and would check efficiency most likely would be increased by 1 or 2.
5. 360 Degree camera is really required for this car and happy that I got it done

Roof carrier added but company removed the roof rails - would add them as well as shall place the carrier on rear end


The interior with Bucket Seats


360 Degree Camera with Audio


Projector Fog Lamps added


Side view post Roof Carrier


Things in pipe line apart from the pending reported above

1. Remapping
2. Plan to install carpet of different colour
3. Planning for the badging work on car for wild drink
4. Also few of friend suggested to do changes in the front looks - that is G Wagon looks evaluating the same,

Rest would update as soon as remapping is done,

Thanks & Regards
Anupam

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Reviews section. Thanks for sharing!

Going to our homepage today

[rakesh_r]

Congratulations from a fellow Gurkha owner. On the service, I can understand. Fortunately the support in Pune is good. It would great if you could spare some details on the android unit and the synthetic oil used (engine oil and gear oil with its grade). As of now the SVC uses Gulf, which honestly does a good job but have been longing to switch to Synthetic oil.

[anoopGTkrish]

Quite a rare insight into the ownership of a equally rare car on urban roads. Might be a good marketing opportunity with a tasteful livery and some lighting that reflects the brand identity in the likes of this brand from Kerala.

[svsantosh]

If there is an option to make the front look like Gurkha/Temp Trax again do consider it. It will make it truly stand out. Or blacken out the front grill like the Gurkha.

And consider blacking out the A-B-C-D pillars. No need to paint, a simple sticker job will do.

Save up and get some black deep dish alloys, it will surely change the looks.

[coolmind]

Congrats on the purchase.
One quick question. Does it need a heavy vehicle license?

[powertrain]

Originally Posted by anupam00

Dear Bhpian's,

Sharing the story of recent buying of a Truck or should i say a Bus - yes probably the first Citiline on Team bhp - ownership review,



Coming back to the decision making process for Citiline,

It all Started with Tata Safari Ageing and need of a people carrier and also some time back my son - he is currently in class 10th - started*his own brand of Cold drink Manufacturing i.e. Wild Drink.

Hello Anupam!

I'm not gonna congratulate you for buying a Force Citiline.

I want to congratulate your son - For being an Entrepreneur!

God bless his soul! Our country needs more kids like him!

May the Force be with him! (Pun intended)

Cheers,
Powertrain

[Anandg]

Please share the back side interior pics. How do rear seats fold? How much total boot space you get?

[mgastor2022grey]

A little our of the topic, hope the mods don't mind

Hi mate, hope you and your family is doing good..

I tried DMing you, but said your storage was full! Please take a look into it.

I was quite blown away when you said that your 10th grade kid has his own business! Am I hearing it right? I actually had to pinch myself .

My son is also studying in 10th grade here in Chennai and he too wants to become an entrepreneur one days, and your words mildly moved him to enquire more about your son's business.

What does he do? Did you assist him in anything? Why have your bought the Citiline (as in case what needs and how he will use it and yes, that's my question, no my son's!) and how is it legal for a 10th grade kid to indulge in business?

Hoping to find some answers to my queries! Thanks for taking the time to help my son!

Cheers,
mgastor2022grey

[Phantom 510]

I would like to suggest the following (if okay) -
1. Front end from the Gurkha would make the Citiline's front end lot more appealing.
2. Offroad steel rims (all five) with slightly chunkier all terrain rubber.
3. Badge delete.

[Raghu M]

That's a rare one! Actually happy to know that you have options for 8 to 10 people requirement. That's a cool review too. The list of to-do's on your car are quite lengthy. Please keep us posted and share pics once you get the mods done. Also one question - that MID screen looks quite big on the dash. Isn't it obstructing your view? It looked like a distraction to me. I know the stance from the driver's seat could be a little different, just asking.

[anupam00]

Originally Posted by rakesh_r

Congratulations from a fellow Gurkha owner. On the service, I can understand. Fortunately the support in Pune is good. It would great if you could spare some details on the android unit and the synthetic oil used (engine oil and gear oil with its grade). As of now the SVC uses Gulf, which honestly does a good job but have been longing to switch to Synthetic oil.

Dear Rakesh_r,

Thanks for same,

The support in Delhi is not that great and I decided that shall not be sending the Citiline to Company Service centre don't care of their warranty,

Moreover since I maintain my cars happily anyway have lot of them so no worries sir, therefore decided why to get frustrated as my driver went in morning he reached at service centre at 10 am and came back at 11 pm that too saying sir they are not even inclined to check the clutch hardness and the service centre of force people mentioned we would raise your complain to force service and when they visit we shall inform and you send car back - imagine a new car which has not even done 5k kms this is what you tend to listen and then he got only one part fixed that was carrier that too they removed the rails and that I need to get fixed again with Carrier,

Coming to your question sir - the oil used is fully synthetic 5w40 FUCHS - A brand used by Mercedes and Gear oil that I changed was again fully synthetic - which was liqui moly and with that I also added MOS2 Additive - that made the gear very smooth and that was also done in a friends Gurkha - would surely advise to change engine oil and also gear oil,

I hope this help,

The engine oil did also made the difference in fuel efficiency to 2 as it increased,

The smoothness is great now and car feels really better,

Next in line is remapping and that would help to improve the torque,

Do let me know in case you have any other information required

Originally Posted by anoopGTkrish

Quite a rare insight into the ownership of a equally rare car on urban roads. Might be a good marketing opportunity with a tasteful livery and some lighting that reflects the brand identity in the likes of this brand from Kerala.

Attachment 2543317

Thank you anoopGTKrish*sir for the wonderful idea,
Yes the plan is to make this bus/car in a wild drink vehicle*and would be used a marketing/sale vehicle's and company usage,
Shall be sharing the*pictures once its ready in a months time,

Originally Posted by svsantosh

If there is an option to make the front look like Gurkha/Temp Trax again do consider it. It will make it truly stand out. Or blacken out the front grill like the Gurkha.

And consider blacking out the A-B-C-D pillars. No need to paint, a simple sticker job will do.

Save up and get some black deep dish alloys, it will surely change the looks.

Yes sir the plan is to remove the logo and make it as Wild Drink logo name of my son's company.

Shall do a photoshop of options*for colours and yes would do blacking out few pillars,

Got the alloy done already,

We installed Gurkha alloys and upgraded the tyre,

Had quite alot options on alloys but didnt wanted to go for them due to PCD change as in my safari since i installed bigger alloys and tyre and every six months the bearing goes off,

But happy with the alloys and looks shall share pictures by tomorrow,

Thank you for your suggestions sir, incorporated brother

Originally Posted by coolmind

Congrats on the purchase.
One quick question. Does it need a heavy vehicle license?

Thank you brother,

Actually the way it is private vehicle license is sufficient In India to drive such cars, had checked before buying was worried myself about same ,

At the same time it is a bus for sure,

Thanks & Regards
Anupam00

[rakesh_r]

Originally Posted by anupam00

Coming to your question sir - the oil used is fully synthetic 5w40 FUCHS - A brand used by Mercedes and Gear oil that I changed was again fully synthetic - which was liqui moly and with that I also added MOS2 Additive - that made the gear very smooth and that was also done in a friends Gurkha - would surely advise to change engine oil and also gear oil,

Many thanks for the details. On the oil grade, if I am not wrong, the recommended grade is 10w30 for FM BS6 engines?

[anupam00]

Originally Posted by rakesh_r

Many thanks for the details. On the oil grade, if I am not wrong, the recommended grade is 10w30 for FM BS6 engines?

Yes sir I understand your point,

At the same time would like to advise to use 5w40 as for Indian road conditions that is best oil and work well in almost all Indian and German brands,

Have been using same in my German cars(BMW,Audi and vv group cars) and also Indian made safari

Have not got any issue till date,

Lately manufacturers have been recommending 10w30 and in case of Maruti 0w20 which when you use for more than 7 k with out change cars feels sluggish.

Go for made in Germany oil 5w40 of some good company check the diesel & petrol sub grade and enjoy nothing to worry,

have used over 4 lac kms in cars and they are best suited for Indian condition,