Test Driving a San Storm Today I drove a Ferrari red San Storm with black alloys (alloys are OE and look beautiful).The letters F E R R A R I (too large to ignore)were pasted in a sticker on its rear. There was no San Storm logo and those not in the know may have mistaken it for a Ferrari! In fact, many young bikers were trying to speed up and keep pace with me on this car to have a "dekho".Mobile camera clicks became usual.Mistaking a small, poorly finished , fibre bodied car for a Ferrari maybe? The car was about 2 years old but in ship shape.
San Storm is powered by a 4 cyl Renault 1149cc/58.5bhp/9kgm petrol engine and weighs 820Kg. The soft-top is quite usable and not much of a bother to put on. The car had a company fitted AC and the door glasses upped with the sun-roof put on can facilitate the AC to be turned on for the comfy and dust free feel.The music system was an after-market add-on.
To start with the black dash plastics are not so slick and not also the interiors and even the exterior fit'n finish levels.But have to concur that the car is quite cute and surely a traffic stopper, be it any Indian city.The yellow dialled dash meters are quite well laid out for reference and are quite slick. The round horn button at the centre of the three spoked chrome steering wheel reminded me about the Austin 8 of 1940's vintage, that too has a similar horn layout. Older jeeps too have such a horn button layout. The wheel as such is quite cushy and nice to hold and of a small diameter to match up with the sports car image.The horn button of my Landmaster of 1955 vintage is also better with access from many angles.
The test drive- The gearbox (not aware if it is to Renault made)is not at all slick. Engaging the reverse gear was troublesome.You just do not know which gear is being engaged while on the move unless you are used to.Other than the first, all other gears are accessible with difficulty.The car moved 40kmph with the second gear engaged, but the high RPM prompted me to shift to the third. The engine when strained makes a typical Tak tak kind of noise-i.e. when its a higher gear with a lower speed. It has five gears.The top speed is 141kmph but I never could exceed 70kmph in the city traffic.The engine is very, very peppy.Cars following me were left behind and became smaller on the OVRM.Once behind the wheel the engine pampers you and begs for more pedal press.I simply liked the engine thats so free revving and spoils you.The gear box spoils the party. I was however appalled as its output was a mere 58.5 bhp. Thats too low for a 1149cc engine fitted to a SPORTS CAR.
The two front seats have comfortable leg space but the rear bench seat is only OK for kids or men and women of short stature.
Our own Indica Xeta with the 1193 cc engine delivers 64bhp/10.2kgm and the Vista with the Fiat petrol 1172 cc engine delivers 65bhp/9.8kgm.And these are not sports cars! Verdict: A wonderful effort by the car maker but has a tremendous scope for improvement.The car if appropriately priced at Rs 4.5-5L (now costs about 5.9L) and improved can create a true niche market especially for youngsters who seem to like it for what it is!!
Will post pictures soon.
Last edited by GTO : 11th January 2010 at 10:07.
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