Does it make sense to replace my 2016 Scorpio with a new Jimny AT?

I know the natural upgrade path is the Scorpio-N, but it's out of my budget.

BHPian s4ch recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Looking for some advice on whether I should upgrade my 2016 Scorpio S10 Auto to the Jimny Alpha AT

I currently have a 2016 Scorpio S10 Automatic in pristine condition, bought new, with 50k on the clock. It's the top-end model with captain seats in the middle row and all the bells and whistles. Only used by my wife and I for city running (no other passengers) a couple of highway trips per year from Pune to Goa, and several Pune <> Mumbai runs. The car is running perfectly and has always been maintained on time. I love the size and ease of driving the Scorpio.

However as the Scorpio ages, and it is in its 7th year now, I do expect more and more maintenance issues to crop up. This is my only car and I need it running 100% of the time. A few minor wear and tear issues have come up recently but nothing is over the top yet (coolant hose leak, power window motor replacement, steering shaft replacement).

So with the current discounts going on the Jimny, and my particular use case of just 2 of us in the car with mostly city running and limited highway trips per year, does the Jimny Alpha AT at 16 Lakhs OTR make sense? I guess I could sell my Scorpio for 11 Lakhs so that would be an outlay of 5 Lakhs approx which I can afford with no problem.

So looking for answers to these questions:

1. Would this swap make sense?
2. What about financial sense?
3. Would I miss my Scorpio's 2.2 MHawk beast and the super smooth 6-gear TC?
4. Would I miss the road presence of the Scorpio?
5. I would like some creature comforts that my Scorpio currently does not have, dual zone AC, a quiet cabin, and a good infotainment system. Will I get this in the Jimny?

I am not concerned about mileage at all so this doesn't come into play.

I know the natural upgrade path would be to a ScorpioN, however that is out of my budget for now at 30L+ OTR for the Z8L model. I prefer to make all my purchases in cash and remain debt-free for life so getting a loan is not an option. I don't wish to compromise and buy a lower-spec model.

I could buy a ScorpioN in a few years but wondering if the Jimny makes the best sense right now? Any thoughts on the resale value of the Jimny?

Or should I consider the Thar which is in a similar price range?

Confused and looking for some clarity!

Here's what BHPian Mystic had to say on the matter:

As an owner of Black Scorpio top-end model VLX (2008) with m hawk engine for more than 12 years and moved to Jimny alpha dual tone yellow automatic, I can give my personal experience.

1. Scorpio's classic shape is dated and in 2021 I decided to move on to a modern-looking car even though the mHawk is a bulletproof engine. The natural upgrade is another modern Mahindra BOF car but wanted to try a Japanese car.
2. I bought a top-end Crysta Z BOF diesel automatic in 2021 to replace my Scorpio VLX. I enjoyed it for 2 years and started to look for another car even though I liked it ( due to the zero usage of 3rd row, not good on rural roads where I was stuck in muddy roads due to its heavy weight a couple of times, parking issues despite 360-degree camera etc).
3. Come 2023, it was a very hard decision to downgrade from Scorpio/ Crysta to Jimny but my wife tells me that it is the best decision I had taken and this statement she is making after going multiple times from Bangalore to Visakhapatnam and back in all 3 vehicles ( one way is 1000kms) namely Scorpio, Crysta and Jimny. Initially, I was apprehensive about Jimny's capabilities but he is an all-rounder both on rural and highway and is surprisingly very comfortable on any type of road.
4. When we think of the most popular SUV and MUV in India, we think of Scorpio and Innova. I had experienced both and now I wanted to experience something different hence the Jimny. Only time should tell on the long-term ownership experience and I have full confidence in Japanese engineering until some big lifestyle change or Government policies will push me to an EV vehicle shortly.

Here's what BHPian Jaggu had to say on the matter:

The short and straight answer is a BIG NO!

Absolutely not, it is a serious downgrade.

• Not at all, unless your Scorpio has run lakhs of kms and is at the end of life. Or you are getting a great deal or want to avail of a corporate car lease for saving tax.
• You will curse yourself every day.
• Of course yes, you will be bullied by even an autorickshaw.
• Infotainment is good coz it has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, that's all.

Unless you are desperate for a change, I will never suggest downgrading from Scorpio with a Jimny or even a Thar. Yes, both are downgrades and not upgrades from your existing vehicle. You are just buying a new car, that is all.

Here's what BHPian shankar.balan had to say on the matter:

1. Scorpio S10’s don't generally give trouble. There won't be any major maintenance hassles. It is a Mahindra after all. You can happily use this for another 3 years. If I were you this is what I would do. Maintain, Service and keep driving. Scorpios will always find buyers, especially in Tier 2 and Rural areas.
2. The Jimny is a nice vehicle indeed and if it is only you and your wife for primary city and occasional highway use then it is a very good choice for that. It is very comfortable. But you will find the Jimny much smaller than your Scorpio. If size and presence matter to you then you will not appreciate the Jimny. Jimny resale will become similar to Gypsy resale. It will tend to hold its value because there will be a reasonable number of utility-plus price-focused takers in the used market.
3. The Thar is a great vehicle too. And very comparable to your Scorpio S10 in many ways. If 4x4 isn't required then you can book and wait for the RWD 1.5 Diesel Thar or AT Petrol which will easily work as an almost direct replacement for your S10. And the waiting period is what it is, anyway you’ll be waiting quite a while which gives you the chance to use your Scorpio that much more.

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