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A 22-year-old's dream garage: Owning a Jimny, Gypsy & an EcoSport

6th October 2023, 17:08 by Rahul Nagaraj

An entry-level adventure tourer, a versatile petrol 4x4 with AT, a nimble turbo-petrol C-SUV and a raw and unadulterated project car.

BHPian Akash_1806 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I am starting this thread to share a 22-year-old's dream garage - a dream that took many years to materialize. It's a combination of vehicles, each excelling in its own segment. I won't delve into technical details and reviews, as there are already informative posts on our forum. Instead, I'll provide my observations, both pros and cons, based on my personal experience.

Starting with my background:

I'm 22 years old and work for a startup in North India. I've been a car enthusiast for as long as I can remember, and my passion began with my Hot Wheels collection, which now boasts more than 200 die-cast vehicles. I've been driving since I turned 18 and have covered over 1,50,000 kilometres in the past 4 years.

A brief overview of vehicles we've owned in the past:

1996 Bajaj Chetak: Purchased pre-owned in 1997 and sold in 2010, this scooter was driven 90,000 kilometres over 13 years by my grandfather.
1998 Hero-Honda Splendor: Bought new in 1998 and sold in 2019, this motorcycle covered a total of 2,32,000 kilometres in 21 years, ridden mostly by my father.
2000 Maruti 800 4 Speed: Acquired pre-owned in 2001 and sold in 2015, this car travelled 73,000 kilometres in 14 years, driven by both my father and grandfather.
2006 Hyundai Santro (Converted to CNG in 2013): This car served as a learning vehicle for me and my mother. We drove it for around 45,000 kilometres. It was purchased new in 2006 and sold in 2021, accumulating a total of 137,000 kilometres in 15 years within the family.
2014 Nissan Terrano: Purchased new in 2014 and sold in 2023, this SUV was driven for a total of 1,48,000 kilometres by my dad and me in 9 years, with 58,000 kilometres driven by me in 2 years.

Now, onto the title of the thread - A Dream Garage:

I've been planning to write a combined ownership report of all my vehicles, but I must confess, I'm a bit too lazy for that. However, I believe that each vehicle in my garage is unique in its own way and cannot be compared to each other or to any other vehicle. For my family and me, every machine is special, and it wouldn't be fair to compare them.

2023 BMW GS 310

The first time I saw the baby GS at Lutyens Motorrad, Okhla.

We purchased the baby GS brand new in April 2023 and have ridden it approximately 2,000 kilometres to date. This machine introduced us to modern-day motorcycles. The initial observations can be found here.

Pros:

A well-engineered product resulting from the BMW-TVS partnership, evident in various aspects.
It boasts sorted driving dynamics, providing a stable and reliable ride and handling experience.
The build quality is top-notch, with no rattles or vibrations from the body or drivetrain.
The 310cc reverse-inclined engine, generating 34bhp and 28nm, is smooth and offers decent fuel economy (averaging 35 kmpl in typical riding conditions). It doesn't heat up like other motorcycles in its segment.
The upright seating and riding position, which were essential for me and my father, are comfortable.
BMW's after-sales service and customer support have been excellent, with no major issues encountered.

Cons:

The cost of spare parts and service is on the higher side. For instance, a brake lever replacement costs around Rs 6000, and the 1000 km service costs approximately Rs 5500. This cost reflects the premium associated with the BMW brand and customer service.
While the engine is smooth and refined, the same cannot be said for the 6-speed gearbox. It feels clunky, and shifting between 1-N-2 and vice versa can be challenging.
Although there are no vibrations or rattles, the bike becomes quite vibey around the seat and fuel tank at around 6000rpm.

2023 Maruti Suzuki Jimny Zeta AT

We took delivery of this vehicle on August 30, 2023, from Fairdeals Nexa, Sector-10, Noida. We've driven it around 600 kilometres so far. We were looking to replace our 2014 Nissan Terrano, and my dad was particularly impressed with the Jimny, especially its smooth and refined automatic transmission. The initial observations can be found here.

Pros:

We adore Jimny's looks and its no-nonsense boxy design.
The K15B+4AT combination feels decent, and it doesn't feel underpowered in our use case. The car always seems to be in the right gear (possibly due to having fewer gears).
It's a proper petrol 4x4 AT with a low ratio and most of the bells and whistles, all under 17 lakhs. Features include 6 airbags, ABS, Hill Descent Control, Speed Chimes, Seatbelt reminders, and more.
The NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) levels are excellent, especially when compared to my previous daily driver, a 1.5 K9K Diesel Nissan Terrano.
With its compact body structure, lightweight, and 103hp on tap, this vehicle is fun to drive and handles small bumps and potholes exceptionally well.

Cons:

Although the ride quality is better than the Thar, it doesn't quite match up to our Ecosport or the previously owned Terrano.
The engine behaves like a turbo-petrol when it comes to fuel efficiency. Even the slightest touch on the accelerator pedal results in extremely low fuel efficiency. Coasting seems to be the only option for longer stretches.
The stock tires are fine for on-road usage and extremely mild off-road trails. However, extreme rough road or off-road usage may necessitate a switch to all-terrain or mud-terrain tires.

2014 Ford Ecosport 1.0 Ecoboost Titanium

This vehicle was purchased pre-owned in 2021 with approximately 60,000 kilometres on the clock. It has covered around 20,000 kilometres to date, driven by my mom and dad.

Pros:

The 1.0 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, producing 125hp (stock) and paired with a 5-speed MT, is extremely fun to drive.
It handles like it's on rails, with no surprises in terms of ride quality and handling. I particularly enjoy the hatchback-like handling in corners.
The spare parts and service costs are reasonable. We haven't encountered any issues with Ford's service so far, and we hope it remains the same.
Loaded with features compared to the Terrano of the same manufacturing year.
The build quality seems decent, and the NVH levels are on the better side.

Cons:

The 1.0 turbo-petrol has mediocre fuel efficiency. City driving yields around 10 km/l, and sensible highway driving provide around 14 km/l.
With Ford India's exit, we are uncertain about the quality of spare parts and service.
The ride quality is acceptable but on the stiffer side. All the bumps and undulations are felt inside the cabin.
The 1.0 3-cylinder engine doesn't sound good at higher RPMs. It's average at best, and the signature 3-cylinder vibrations become noticeable at higher RPMs.

The Project Car and Off-road Build, the 2005 Ex-Army Maruti Gypsy King 1.3 MPFI (prepped to taste)

I affectionately call it the 'King.' We acquired it in 2020 (it was registered in 2016 with a few modifications already done) and have driven it around 19,000 kilometres since then, mostly by me. It has undergone various modifications but remains as robust as any off-roader can be. It was built by Auto Attitudes in Noida, courtesy of a fellow BHPian, Amanpreet.

The list of mods includes:

FFE Side exit with Performance Headers.
K&N Air Filter, Conical type.
Gabriel Shock Absorbers.
One less leaf spring on each wheel.
AC.
Radiator from 1.6 Baleno.
Upgraded cooling system with an electric fan.
65 Amp Battery.
NGK Iridium Spark Plugs.
6-inch Extended Rally Cabin.
JBR Reclining Racing Seats.
Blaupunkt Music System with two 6-inch JBL speakers.
Checkered floor and bed plates.
Tachometer.
Yokohama Geolander All-Terrain Tires, 205/70/15, on stock steel rims.

Pros:

An extremely capable and mod-friendly G13BB engine, a proper 4x4 with low ratio, and no electrical aids for pure driving bliss.
Spare parts and service costs are minimal compared to other vehicles, and spare parts availability is not a concern.
A no-nonsense off-road machine built for one purpose: conquering obstacles one after the other.
Did I mention that the Gypsy is extremely mod-friendly? Modified NA builds have reached up to 190hp, and TC builds have achieved a whopping 450hp at the crank.
The narrow body structure is a blessing in traffic.
The mods done to the engine provide excellent low-end torque and a livable mid-range, which is not the strong suit of NA petrol engines.

Cons:

Power steering? Power Windows? Stock AC? Creature comforts? These terms are foreign to the Gypsy.
Gypsies tend to overheat in extreme off-road and traffic conditions if the radiator hasn't been upgraded.
The less said about the ride quality, the better. A Gypsy is only stable when it's at a standstill, thanks to its leaf spring suspension.
Fuel Efficiency? What is that? It gives me around 6 to 8 km/l on average.
It can only be driven on private roads or tracks due to the NGT ban on 15-year-old petrol vehicles.

After going through the above-mentioned points and details about the vehicles, a question might arise for the readers: How is this a dream garage?

To answer that question, I'd like to emphasize that I have realistic dreams and ambitions in life. I believe that things in life take time and happen only at the right moment. While I do think that this garage could use a proper 7-seater SUV (perhaps a Fortuner?) and a fast sedan or sports car (maybe a pre-owned 530D or a Porsche Cayman?), I feel that this is a perfect dream garage for someone like me. It surpasses what I had imagined five years ago, wondering if I'd be able to own my chosen cars in my early twenties. And here I am, with these beauties from the diverse and amazing world of wheels.

An entry-level adventure tourer, a versatile petrol 4x4 with AT and plenty of features, a nimble and comfortable turbo-petrol C-SUV, and a raw and unadulterated project car that would terrify any sane person (read non-enthusiasts). It's a perfect experience!

Ending the post with 2 beautiful pictures.