Grand Vitara - Offroading in exotic places

Samurai · 20th October 2008, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudev

@Rider: One of the best things about GV is the headlamps. I have not felt the need of installing extra lights till date and other GV guys can pipe in with their opinions.

If there is one thing I hate about GV headlights, it is the spread. Anything more than a 60 degree turn at night, is practically a blind turn into darkness.

anandpadhye · 20th October 2008, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudev

The 3+ is the V6 engine on for North America.

GV comes CBU and not assembled in India.

Yes. 2.4 is a replacement of 2.0 which is on sale here right now and 3.2 will replace the 2.6 that's sold in the US.

And yes, I meant they can not continue to assemble the 2.0 in their Japanese factory for the very small numbers sold in India.

I know it's a CBU.

BTW, I saw an ad in the newspaper today but was disapponited to see that there is nothing much in that ad - no specs, no attractive offers, no mention of 2.4L :-(

They have a real good SUV but they do not know what to talk about it!

rangaraj · 20th October 2008, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by anandpadhye

BTW, I saw an ad in the newspaper today but was disapponited to see that there is nothing much in that ad - no specs, no attractive offers, no mention of 2.4L :-(

They have a real good SUV but they do not know what to talk about it!

Hope it is a desperate attempt to clear stock before they launch the 2.4 version!

ramki067 · 21st October 2008, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudev

@Ramky: File size is too big for upload. If you need I can email offline.

Thank you. I've PMed you my email address. Please do send me these pics...

Ramki.

sudev · 21st October 2008, 16:25

@ramki067: Done sir. Thanks.

sudev · 1st March 2010, 21:28

Went through the Rann of Kutch as part of itinerary of Desert Storm 2010. The place is amazing and the few people who you do meet are also so alive and animated to talk to. This gentleman was discussing with me his life and all the while was constantly making rope using the ingenious "charkha" and the raw material used was "waste" plastic bags shreded in to strips. What an environmentally friendly and nice recycling idea!

Grand Vitara - Offroading in exotic places-18444_340902740863_635870863_4735406_4053091_n.jpg

Parked on top of sand dune to better catch the radio transmissions while doing tracking duty. All vehicles in the rally are tracked by patient marshals who are positioned well before the rally passes (almost all the days we left night halts between 0100 and 0300hrs!!) and till the last competitors is through. Some go missing and it is our lot to also find them. All are volunteers from varied field of professions and business.

Grand Vitara - Offroading in exotic places-18444_340906685863_635870863_4735414_1720878_n.jpg

Temperatures were extraordinarily low. One degree centigrade at almost 0700hrs!! Three days running from Bikaner to Jaisalmer to Bhuj. We almost froze in the camp with only one army style blanket issued to all. Additional layers of bed sheet + bed cover + jackets was added to make do and sleep for couple of hours before the marhsal convoy rolled again for the next days tasks.

Grand Vitara - Offroading in exotic places-18144_342472085863_635870863_4742645_3789298_n.jpg

This is from outside at the same time. In middle of Rann of Kutch. This picture is taken after doing a 25kms of 140kmph + drive through vast expanse of Banni wasteland. Flat in all directions. What and exhilarating rush that gave. This is returning back after starting from camp at 0400hrs and having placed all marshals at their appointed spots.
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sudev · 11th March 2010, 21:07

Here is shot of me driving the GV through Rann of Kutch. Early morning flat out drive. Captured beautifully by Yatin

SmartCat · 11th March 2010, 23:38

Sudev, how do you rate Vitara's off-roading capabilities? When compared to peers like Fortuner, Endeavour, Pajero, X-trail etc? Is it a monocoque or body on frame?

Samurai · 12th March 2010, 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by smartcat

Is it a monocoque or body on frame?

It is both. It is monocoque over ladder frame.

sudev · 12th March 2010, 07:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by smartcat

Sudev, how do you rate Vitara's off-roading capabilities? When compared to peers like Fortuner, Endeavour, Pajero, X-trail etc? Is it a monocoque or body on frame?

Samurai has already answered the last.

Rating vis others always a matter of strengths vis weakness. No vehicle is all of one or the other. Fortuner's got the best combination but brakes and body roll are disconcerting. But that is if you have driven a GV and compare else it is acceptable and the vehicle is hugely capable. Fortuner in India is sold without diff locking and that takes away some from overall capability range. GV does not have locking either.

Pajero scores above in many traits but recently a teenage son of Pajero owner commented when he hitched a short ride with me in GV "Man I love this luxury". GV? Luxury? It is matter pf perspective I guess.

To me XTrail scores very low on A.S.S. network and parts cost. Endy I am not impressed with the huge body vis undersized engine. Yes the same body with American sized V6 goes places.

All said if given a choice I would buy GV all over again, especially now that it is available with 2.4 litre engine. And this question belongs more to this thread: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-t...rm-report.html

@Samurai: You must join us once for the Rann drive. Amazing. Next Storm maybe?

Samurai · 12th March 2010, 09:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudev

@Samurai: You must join us once for the Rann drive. Amazing. Next Storm maybe?

I have to tell you I am very tempted. But with two kids, that too during exam time (Feb-Mar), I won't be able to think about it for a while.

SmartCat · 12th March 2010, 10:59

Since there are two GV owners here (samurai & yourself), I will put my questions on this thread itself.

- Could soft roaders like Captiva/CRV handled some of the stunts you have done with your GV? Like take on the Sambhar Lake/Rann? Climb up the dunes? Or take short cuts on the way to Leh?

- If you have owned a sedan before, do you miss out on some of the fun you could have had on the ghats? Now I know I will be doing more ghats than off-roading - so I need to know how much compromise I will be making if I were to buy a off-roading SUV rather than a crossover or a softroader.

- Auto magazines talk about "missing a diesel engine" for GV/Outlander. Is it just the FE factor or does it have something to do with engine characteristics (like low end torque)?

sudev · 12th March 2010, 12:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by smartcat

Since there are two GV owners here (samurai & yourself), I will put my questions on this thread itself.

This is more about places I visited than a tech query. And dont you worry Samurai reads much more than just this thread. See the other thread for balance answer.

nix1976in · 12th March 2010, 13:22

Beautiful pics....does anyone think if a XYLO can make it up to Khardungla? and if yes, whats the best season?

sudev · 12th March 2010, 13:34

Xylo + Khardungla = Yes
Any time you can reach Leh in Xylo you should be able to do Khardungla. Best season is August/September. Hell people do it in 800's and Alto's

21st October 2008, 16:25	#170
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	@ramki067: Done sir. Thanks.
	() Thanks

1st March 2010, 21:28	#171
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Went through the Rann of Kutch as part of itinerary of Desert Storm 2010. The place is amazing and the few people who you do meet are also so alive and animated to talk to. This gentleman was discussing with me his life and all the while was constantly making rope using the ingenious "charkha" and the raw material used was "waste" plastic bags shreded in to strips. What an environmentally friendly and nice recycling idea! Parked on top of sand dune to better catch the radio transmissions while doing tracking duty. All vehicles in the rally are tracked by patient marshals who are positioned well before the rally passes (almost all the days we left night halts between 0100 and 0300hrs!!) and till the last competitors is through. Some go missing and it is our lot to also find them. All are volunteers from varied field of professions and business. Temperatures were extraordinarily low. One degree centigrade at almost 0700hrs!! Three days running from Bikaner to Jaisalmer to Bhuj. We almost froze in the camp with only one army style blanket issued to all. Additional layers of bed sheet + bed cover + jackets was added to make do and sleep for couple of hours before the marhsal convoy rolled again for the next days tasks. This is from outside at the same time. In middle of Rann of Kutch. This picture is taken after doing a 25kms of 140kmph + drive through vast expanse of Banni wasteland. Flat in all directions. What and exhilarating rush that gave. This is returning back after starting from camp at 0400hrs and having placed all marshals at their appointed spots.
	() Thanks

11th March 2010, 21:07	#172
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Here is shot of me driving the GV through Rann of Kutch. Early morning flat out drive. Captured beautifully by Yatin
	() Thanks

11th March 2010, 23:38	#173
SmartCat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,429 Thanked: 42,964 Times View My Garage	Sudev, how do you rate Vitara's off-roading capabilities? When compared to peers like Fortuner, Endeavour, Pajero, X-trail etc? Is it a monocoque or body on frame?
	() Thanks

12th March 2010, 10:59	#177
SmartCat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,429 Thanked: 42,964 Times View My Garage	Since there are two GV owners here (samurai & yourself), I will put my questions on this thread itself. - Could soft roaders like Captiva/CRV handled some of the stunts you have done with your GV? Like take on the Sambhar Lake/Rann? Climb up the dunes? Or take short cuts on the way to Leh? - If you have owned a sedan before, do you miss out on some of the fun you could have had on the ghats? Now I know I will be doing more ghats than off-roading - so I need to know how much compromise I will be making if I were to buy a off-roading SUV rather than a crossover or a softroader. - Auto magazines talk about "missing a diesel engine" for GV/Outlander. Is it just the FE factor or does it have something to do with engine characteristics (like low end torque)?
	() Thanks

12th March 2010, 13:22	#179
nix1976in BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 413 Thanked: 485 Times View My Garage	Beautiful pics....does anyone think if a XYLO can make it up to Khardungla? and if yes, whats the best season?
	() Thanks

12th March 2010, 13:34	#180
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Xylo + Khardungla = Yes Any time you can reach Leh in Xylo you should be able to do Khardungla. Best season is August/September. Hell people do it in 800's and Alto's
	() Thanks