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Want vs Need: Do I sell my Honda BR-V & buy a Jeep Compass

Purchasing a 4x4 automatic SUV is more of a want, than a need at this point.

BHPian ScorpWarp recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Fello BHPians,

Looking for your opinion and views, validation of my view on my current predicament described below.

I am a very logical, conservative person by nature, I have always prioritized function over form.

So far every financial decision has been taken with a view to ensuring a comfortable future for the family than splurging on current wants.

I am a firm believer in 'save now spend later. 'Later' in my case means when kids are in college, expenses related to their education are taken care of. So, I have been saving as much as I could till now with a view to starting spending on 'wants' after 3 years, when my son would be in an engineering college, the daughter would start college after 7 years so there is sufficient time to take care of her educational expenses.

On the Financial front - fortunately, I own a house without any EMIs, enough corpus to take care of educational expenses, retirement corpus just enough for all the needs but not enough for all the 'wants'.

On the fitness front, I used to run half marathons and have completed Washington full marathon just after a snowstorm in -10 deg Celcius, with 2 jackets and gloves on, it was slow and painful but I did complete it in under 6 hours.

On the vehicles - I drive a Honda BR-V. it is 4 years old, with 18k on the odometer. Before BR-V I had driven Ford Mondeo, Mahindra Scorpio, Honda Pilot and I still own a Yamaha 135.

The car which I loved driving most was the Mahindra Scorpio. It was also the least comfortable ride-quality wise but still, I was addicted to that m-hawk torquey diesel engine and sudden power surge when the turbo kicked in at 1800 rpm.

The decision to choose BR-V was solely to travel with extended family (in-laws) without needing 2 cars. It took me a while to get used to free-revving the Honda engine, having to work the gears. I sorely missed the low-speed drivability of the 2.0L diesel engine. But now I enjoy the honda engine on highways, especially when it gets past 3000 rpm. The engine note and the way it revs all the way to 5k+ is addictive. Even at higher triple-digit speeds the BRV feels planted, stable, hardly anybody rolls and brakes inspire confidence and all this without any vibrations. It just feels safe, unlike my older Scorpio which felt like it would fall apart after 100kmph due to vibrations. So BRV is a really good family car. I feel it is an underrated vehicle let down by the MUV-ish look.

For city errands, the wife uses Zen Estillo.

My BR-V is 4 years old, total mileage is 17k in 4 years, well maintained. No issues and no reason to sell. On a side note - I did 15k in my first year of Scorpio ownership - just shows how much I enjoyed that engine.

In short - I don't really need a new vehicle now so why then this long post?

Enter Corona - should I say Corona Vaccine. It changed everything for me in a matter of 6 months.

It seems I had some health condition and the vaccine triggered a flare-up. I got to know this after consulting 2 orthopaedics, 1 MD, and 2 Rheumatologists. Basically, all my joints, ribs were swollen and were so painful that I was almost bed-ridden for a week, needed 10 minutes to cover 10 steps from bed to toilet that too with someone's support. Was on the verge of needing a walker. I could not walk/limp for more than 5 minutes for almost 3 months, I did not step out of the flat for those 3 months, was advised expensive injections every alternate week. The thought of driving a manual car sent shivers down the spine literally. I was advised to stop running by all doctors or be ready for joint replacements in 10 years' time. I was on sleep medication, pain killers in addition to disease-specific medicines. It was an absolute low point of my life.

Eventually, after almost 6 months, I am back on my feet, things are under control with ongoing medication, which I need to continue for the foreseeable future since there is no cure. There are good days and bad days regarding pain but grateful that I am no longer dependent on anyone or external aid for my daily chores. I started slow jogging on alternate days, on some days I think of the past where I could run 10k in 62 minutes and now I need 100 minutes for the same. I am grateful that I am physically independent now but I also started questioning myself - when am I going to start living? am 47 already, how long should I wait?

It made me rethink the bucket list of 'wants', especially not knowing what conditions the body would after 6/7 years. One of the wishlist items (since childhood) was owning a Jeep and exploring India by road. I was planning to kickstart it after 4 years but with the new 'normal' I decided to pre-pone everything by 4 years and 'live in the moment' as they say!

So I started looking for upgrade options, the main criteria being:

  • Rs 30 to 40L budget
  • Premium feel
  • Automatic
  • Diesel (use while they are still around before they are banned or EVs take over)
  • 4x4
  • Solid build, no rattles
  • Should give peace of mind, suitable for all the future road trips (all road conditions/no roads/narrow roads)

I plan to keep the new car for 8-10 years, use it for future road trips.

Mahindra XUV700: I had booked without seeing only going by the Engine specification. I am sure it is going to be fun to drive but when I checked the vehicle in person it did not feel premium enough.

BMW/AUDI: would be too much of a financial stretch so ruled out.

Skoda Kodiaq: No diesel and apprehensive about owning a Skoda long-term going by the horror stories read so far. It may also be over budget.

Tata Safari: spacious but no 4x4 and somehow did not feel premium enough (after checking Jeep)

that left only one option,

Jeep Compass: Feels up-market, premium enough as an upgrade but a bit small especially the all-black interior in the top-end model. I liked the Limited model very much due to the light colour beige and tan interior. It is small/compact, suited only for 4 adults but I am ready to compromise (and be selfish)

What I am not sure about is:

  • slow gearbox, not sure how slow it is, especially for quick overtakes on single-lane roads (think about quick overtake in Tamhini Ghat)?
  • is the ride too stiff? (note that BRV ride is also on the stiffer side)
  • lack of paddle shifts? would jeep introduce paddle shifts in the near future?
  • would Jeep offer a beige-tan interior theme in model S?

I have scheduled a test ride but my heart says go for it, the cars are getting expensive, jeep which cost Rs 33L now may cost Rs 40L + after 3 years - who knows. So, live in the moment and take the plunge.

Head says wait, but wait for what?

Thanks for reading this long post, probably the longest I have posted anywhere but I would really appreciate your views, suggestions and feedback.

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

Wait for the Tucson.

However, if you have an appetite for taking enormous risks there's a vehicle that can meet almost all your requirements: the Mahindra Alturas.

  • Rs 38L in Kerala OTR, will get good discounts
  • Premium feel, better than many offerings by the big 3 Germans
  • Automatic, 7-speed Mercedes sourced
  • Diesel, you bet
  • 4WD with H/L
  • Solid build (cannot comment on this as I have never driven or used it. As a Korean CKD, it should be)
  • all road conditions/no roads/narrow roads - not fit for Maruti Omni-width roads, it is a huge vehicle

Plan to keep the new car for 8-10 years - this is where the real problem is. Mahindra might discontinue this vehicle

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

If I understood you correctly (and I could be way off the mark), exploring India by road is the #1 item on your wishlist. If that's the case, start doing it pronto with the BRV.

The vehicle is just a means to an end, and you will be able to cover most places with your existing car. If you still feel like getting a Diesel 4x4 after a few months, then the Compass is always there. Maybe by then, the new Scorpio would also be one more option for you to consider.

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

It may overshoot your budget a little, but why not consider the Fortuner? Given you plan to be on the road most of your time, reliability should be the top priority. As a bonus, even if you plan to sell it at the 7-year mark, you will not lose much in terms of resale.

Since you lived with and enjoyed the Scorpio, the ride quality may not be a dampener for you. In any case, do evaluate it along with others to see if it suits you.

Second, if you do wait till next year, the New Scorpio should be here. Most probably with a 4WD system. That should not go over the lower threshold of your budget. But being a v1 product, you may need to be prepared for some niggles.

All the best and wish you good health!

Here's what BHPian VW2010 had to say on the matter:

There is no one car that will do what all you ask for including the price point. The alternatives are, compromising the list of things you may have in your mind that is of low priority. Exploring India does not require a supercar as many places have rentals and region-specific cars to rent and explore. Please do not confuse exploring India vs your car choice, as economically too, flying to certain places and roaming on a rental vehicle will be cheaper, safer, and most importantly healthier than being on the car for 3000 odd km and feeling tired after reaching the spot.

Jeep is where you started your plan and Jeep is what you should get. Test drive it and book a Jeep. You will satisfy both heart and brain as it is not a bad car. Every car has quirks.

Note: I was in your same boat and I wanted to live in the moment (I always did but certain things shake these aspects) and in the end, I spent less than 25% of that Rs 40L and picked a used Endeavor. It has been 30 days and I have covered 5X more distance than what I had done in the last 36 months. I decided to spend the rest on actual travel, stay, and fuel. The requirement was to explore and not worry about which car I owned and how new it was. But picked a proper 4*4 that also drives like a 1BHK on wheels on long trips.

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

Fellow BRV owner here (albeit the CVT) - if cross country road trips are what you are keen to do, the humble BRV can take you places and how. Mine has conquered steep passes in the Himalayas, winding and sometimes terrible roads in the hills, cross country road trips (recently did a 3300 km North to South India trip), mud tracks or rocky stretches (when Google throws you off the grid in upcountry) and so on.

It has all the trappings of a good tourer - good and high seating, decent power, high GC, sharp steering, paddle shifters with the CVT, good high-speed manners (<120 km/h), minimal body roll and plenty of space.

Not sure I caught this detail in your thread - Is yours the Manual or the automatic? if the former, then that's the only "fly in the ointment" so to speak. Save the money for the future and/or use it on vacations.

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