I have been driving Toyota vehicles from the Qualis days back in 2002 and have owned literally 3 Qualis and 4 Innovas one after the other.

BHPian suryaj1990 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Thank you very much! Till now I have driven the car a good 3,000-4,000kmkm which included one religious trip for Ashtavinayak contributing to 900km on the ODO and another trip to Pune which was close to 400km. I have an Innova which was Hot out of the oven back in 2009! The car has been a workhorse ever since! Back then, a vehicle that big and at that price point with that much of peppiness was a steal deal! Even today, Innova is a legend all around the Country! I love the car but may have to part ways due to less square footage for the parking. She has completed 2,40,000km under my hand alone and always pampered with the OEM. The Elders were all set to upgrade to a Crysta. It's a no-brainer in their opinion. Toyota vehicles can survive the famous "2012" movie and they expect no less from Crysta. The Ease of Driving and maintaining, Peppy Engine and those Comfortable Captain Seats were the points they put up. This became a challenge for me because nothing exists like the Crysta.

Me on the other side was now looking for a 4x4 to replace the Yeti and more importantly an SUV. I have been driving Toyota vehicles since the Qualis days back in 2002 and have owned literally 3 Qualis and 4 Innovas one after the other. I tried a few cars out:-

• Fortuner

This was the Third generation with the 3.0 D4D Engines which was good but nothing apart from the Ride Quality and 2nd Row Bench Seat were different from the Innova I owned. The hefty Price Tag was also not favorable. Ride Quality was also Harsh. With the 5th Generation out, this was Outdated too. Most of all, all options available in the Preowned Market seemed to have already Globetrotted around India. All cars had High Mileages on them. Expecting a Toyota with Low Mileage is like Finding a Needle in a haystack

• Endeavour

The 3.0 Litre was something else. The vehicle was the perfect mix of Comfort and Reliability for me specially after the Fortuner but no Low Mileage cars were available and the Third Row was literally non existent. Even then, this car made it to the Qualifying List for me to propose to the Elders.

• Pajero Sport

The Vehicle was amazing. Old school but an amazing All-rounder. But the options I tested were extremely Noisy and Unrefined. The car had been there for just too long and would have aged pretty fast. Mitsubishi parts were also a Factor.

• Audi Q7

Completely a choice from the Heart and not the Mind! I looked at it keeping the Elders Comfort in Mind or should I rather put it this way that I Comforted myself in thinking that a Q7 is Logical for the Comfort of the Elders!

This soon left the list when I was told about the Horror Stories of Maintenance. I was lucky to lay my hands on a 4.2 Petrol which was really old but was she fast. She was Built to make a Man Grin!Fuel Efficiency was to make a Man Cry!

• Isuzu MU-X

Very less options were Available and whoever had them Sold them for a Premium which I did not see as Logical for a vehicle not sold in Good Numbers. The car had whatever I wanted and fit the list perfectly. It was slightly Heavy in driving and more on the Unrefined side but the capability of that car was Outstanding! A friend has a cousin of the MU-X known as D-Max and the car has been good over the years. Trailblazer is exactly the same car but there is a sky difference in power, pickup and feel both from the Engine and Gearbox!

I was convinced that I had No Option but to stick to the MPV segment and get the Crysta. I tried to shop across Segments such as Kodiaq, Alcazar, XL6, etc but the SUV choice was Embossed in my mind. It was either that or Crysta!

One day, while browsing through the net, I stumbled upon the only SUV that I had yet not considered now, and for obvious reasons. The Rarity itself Questions one mind whether this car was ever sold in India or did people just Import it. This car was a hidden gem. The question even before considering this Mammoth was Parts, Reliability, and the Availability of a Good Car! I personally was half keen on it because of the missing 4x4.

Days passed by and I finally decided to take the Plunge. I looked through the net and various sources for this car but the most Major Factor, “Availability of the Car Itself” was not being met. Soon, I managed to see a few options scattered in Maharashtra but they had Clocked well. This was a Good Thing because that Simply means the car has been Reliable. On the other hand, I was Researching on Major Parts and Components that could go wrong in the future and it turned out everything was available that too off the Counter. During this Research, I was Guided to Speak to the Chevrolet Workshop for Diesel Filters since this car has two of them. This is where I hit the Jackpot. The Manager asked me to bring in my vehicle to have it changed but soon he learned I was just Researching. The Talks went on Deeper and Eventually, he Proposed a Customer car that had literally 30,000km on the ODO. He told me that if I could make it today, I could meet the owner who is interested in selling since the car was at his workshop.

I immediately visited the workshop excited to see the car in the flesh for the first time and boy was I surprised! The car looked even Bigger than I Imagined! I met the Owner, took a Test Drive, and was happy to see how well the car was kept. She had new shoes at just 30,000km of Goodyear Wrangler Silentrac. I was blown away by the Power. I ended up paying a Token and Sealing the Deal at the Chevrolet Workshop.

Post that, I have just done some Minor Repairs to the Body. Got some Dents Removed. I had the Compressor and Brake Pads Changed. I have got all the Fluids Replaced as per the OEM manual Except Transmission. Thinking of upgrading the Fog Lamps and Headlights soon too.

My Experience till now has been Good. It's been Barely two months and the car has already done 4,000km which includes more Cities. One was a 400km round trip to Pune and the Second was a 900km Sprint for Ashtavinayak in two days.

Refinement

The Diesel Clatter from the 2.8 Duramax can be felt but it's not invasive. I was able to keep highway speed beyond 100kmph with ease. The Clatter is Evident Outside but once inside, you're Cocooned by Silence. There is literally next to “0” vibration. The Engine sound was much less than all of the options above!

Fuel Efficiency

This seems to be the Elephant in the Room for this car. Especially for me. During my Initial drives, I could see nothing more than 7kmpl which included Traffic runs and the use of all 200 Horses since the car was new. Soon I Simmered down to usual driving styles and managed 9kmpl even in Deep Traffic. On slightly open roads in the City, I have managed 9.5-10kmpl. On the Highway, I have seen up to 14kmpl with Controlled Inputs to the Accelerator similar to an EV. On Normal Driving, it's Easy to Witness 13kmpl and on Aggressive Inputs, you can see nothing more than 10.5kmpl. I have seen myself in all Environments now and I must say that Duramax engine and the Butter Smooth Gearbox Tempts on the Open Road to push for more!

Power

The car is simply a Beast. The Pickup is Great. Although not as Light as the Old Fortuner when pushed, she can Smoke many Cars. In fact, when I Floor the Accelerator, the Rubber Burns. That’s the Amount of Power on Tap. Easy to Overtake in Single Lanes too and not a car which would get you tired.

Comfort

This has been the area that needed convincing with the elders. The car is “High” but the footstep does a Good Job. Second Row are Bench Seats that are Extremely Comfortable. Even the 5 Link Suspension is Good on Bad Roads. They do Miss the Captain Seats but the Overall feel was enough to have them Sold on this car. The Third Row is also one of the most Spacious and Comfortable Places to be. Driving-wise, the Car is very Comfortable too but the Steering is Slightly Heavy during Parking.

Safety

Equipped with all the Safeties a Modern Car would need Today's date such as ABS, EBD, Traction Control, Stability, etc but it only has 2 Airbags which is a little Disappointing. It even has something known as Grade Braking which Assist in Braking the Car on Steep Slopes. This is different from Hill Descent which is also present in this car because this happens even at Highway Speeds.

Features

The car has a 7-inch unit which is a Touchscreen with USB, Aux, and Bluetooth. It displays the Music Content being played on the Screen and Call Data too. The Mic is very Clear and Crisp. 6 speaker unit is nice. You can set up some simple settings related to the car through the Music System. It has a Good Rear View Camera, Auto Folding Mirrors, and Cruise Control.

Parts, Reliability, and Availability

All parts are available with Chevrolet Factory. They can simply be ordered at their Authorised workshop. Even local shops stock all Mechanical Parts. Most parts are common with the MU-X. Hence, the ISUZU part bin is an option to explore. The Interiors are completely identical so are the Suspension setup and Chassis. Engine and Gearbox are different. Even though the cars are identical, the Trailblazer feels better put together and has much better performance.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Realistically, both these brands, Ford and Mitsubishi, will need to do something drastic to re-enter the Indian car market.

BHPian Omkar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The Indian automotive market is one tough nut to crack. Its ever-changing and dynamic nature means that car companies need to adapt and improvise constantly. It is tricky, but the sheer number of cars sold here makes it hard for manufacturers around the globe to ignore the Indian market. Over the years, we’ve seen so many homegrown as well as foreign car brands enter the Indian market and get tested to their limits.

While some of the brands understand the assignment well and are reaping huge profits, some brands are barely surviving. Recently there was an excellent discussion on how car companies are finding it hard to increase their market share in India. Then there are car companies that despite having good cars in their portfolio, didn’t make it. As fans of these cars, here are a couple of car companies that I think should make a comeback in India.

Ford

Enthusiasts loved Ford cars as they set the benchmark in their respective segments for being the most fun to drive. However, the American company never managed to increase its market share despite getting an early start (compared to say, Hyundai) and having good cars in its portfolio. High operating costs were cited as the reason for the company’s exit from India. But as an enthusiast, this is the car brand that I wish would make a comeback in India.

Mitsubishi

Just like Ford, Mitsubishi in its prime had some great cars in its portfolio. The Pajero, Outlander, Cedia and the Lancer in their time were all excellent cars. Sadly, the company ran into financial troubles globally and didn’t have anything to offer in the Indian market with changing times. Things aren’t much different today and the company doesn’t have anything special in its global portfolio. But it would be great to see the brand re-enter the market.

Realistically, both these companies will need to do something drastic to make a comeback in India. They’d need an outlandish marketing strategy and a balanced portfolio that would help them re-establish themselves as brands in India. It’s not impossible for a new brand to make an impact on the Indian market without good backing and a great strategy. Kia is a brilliant example of such a company.

Do share which car companies you would like to see make a comeback in the Indian market and what their strategy should be in doing so.

Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:

I wish Ford would come back. They really have some kickass SUVs & Crossovers which were the best in class (Endeavour, EcoSport). Will always hold a special place in my heart because Ford is the only one to have sold a modern, useable muscle car in India (Mustang).

It wasn't the cars, but poor management that led to Ford India's decline. I hope they come back and only focus on the 20 lakh segment & up. They can't make money selling cheap hatchbacks & sedans (only Maruti, Hyundai & Tata can).

Here's what BHPian Bhodrolok had to say about the matter:

It has to be FORD for me.

And I do not think they would need too much of an effort to establish their presence, there are plenty of people who have been happy owners of the Ikon, Figo, Endy and of course the EcoSport.

Maybe an SUV-focused launch in the 20-30 L range would be the ideal re-launch in the way Kia started, along with a couple of "halo" models through the CBU route to get the interest churning.

However, based on how well Ford is doing internationally without having to cater to a small percentage of the market in India, I do not see them coming back anytime soon.

Here's what BHPian arjab had to say about the matter:

Ford

They already have the after-sales network in place. The plant is there. The platforms are there. The powertrains are there. A comprehensive revamp of the EcoSport, like what Tata did to the Nexon will set Ford's cash register ringing again. Also an MPV top hat on the EcoSport's platform as an additional model. Everest-Endeavour can continue as a CKD-SKD import. And the Mustang can come in via the CBU route as it did.

FIAT

Fantastic vehicles. No one complained about the products. Everyone complained about the after-sales service network. FIAT knows what it has to do in India to set things right. India loves Fiat. The brand equity is very strong. Mr Aditya Jairaj & Co. can still do it. If they want to.

Mitsubishi

In this SUV-crazed market of ours, this marquee brand with some of the most coveted nameplates in the SUV world is glaringly absent. The Toyota Fortuner dominates the Rs 50-lakh segment. Would it have been the same if Mitsubishi rolled in with their Pajero, Outlander, Eclipse, the mighty L200 (Triton) pickup to fight the Hi-Lux and even the small cars like Delica and the eK Wagon? Maybe the new owners of Nissan-Renault are plotting something. Who knows.

Brands that should be here

SUBARU

Once upon a time, there was a world rally car called the Impreza. It was piloted by some awesomely talented drivers and scared the living daylights of some of the biggest European OEMs competing in WRC. That DNA continues to run to this day in all Subaru's. And yes - no one makes a flat-four boxer as they do, do they?

NIO

A Tesla at half the price and probably equal in performance.

INEOS GRENADIER

Ultra Niche. For all the old DEFENDER fanboys out there.

Here's what BHPian DicKy had to say about the matter:

Ford. Yes. But not for regular operations. Ford should forget the sub-30 lakhs segment exists. They should rather become importers and use their major service centres in the big cities. Something like what Ford Australia is doing. Or they can do what GM is doing with the General Motors Specialty Vehicles company in Australia. Heck, even Chevrolet can make a comeback to India that way.

Prices won't be an issue. (Talking about Rs.50+ lakh market) If Ford or Chevrolet is selling officially RHD cars in India, even with a presence only in major cities, there will be a good number of customers willing to buy them up. I mean, already there are private imports of F150s and Escalades by really influential people. If people could buy them at authorised dealers, there would be many more willing buyers for these. Pity GM and Ford exited by the same time their full-size trucks got diesel engines.

Mitsubishi? No. It is a shell of its former self. Most new models are codeveloped or rebadged versions of Nissan-Renault. With Nissan- Renault themselves not on a strong footing in India, less chance of Mitsubishi ever coming back.

Offtopic, and have been discussed in other threads but couldn't hold back. One company that I wish to come to India. Mazda.

Though technically it can be coming back as Mazda was present in India via Swaraj Mazda.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I haven't driven the benchmark VW Polo (I drove its elder brother Vento), but I would say that the best-handling hatchback I've driven till date has to be the Beat.

BHPian saikishor recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My car crossed 80,000 km today, and I wanted to put up a short appreciation post for it.

The Chevrolet Beat is truly a once-in-a-lifetime vehicle. Nothing like it existed before it came, and nothing as good as it came after it got discontinued. I am not aware of the later versions but at least the initial versions were truly special.

My car was in perfect condition till an accident that happened in November 2022. There were absolutely zero squeaks in the interiors before the accident. Things were a little different post the accident, as a lot of interior bits needed to be removed. The engine of the car was in perfect condition throughout these years. It never gave up on us (until recently which was all because of my or rather my mechanic's fault). The S-tech motor had a decent grunt and dare I say a strong top end. Fuel efficiency was satisfactory, as it still returns 13+kpl in the city with AC on at all times.

All of this aside, what makes me like the Beat so much? The feel of the car. The Beat makes you feel connected to the car. The lovely lovely hydraulic power steering makes you feel every turn that you take, and the brakes have a good feel. I am failing to express further, but this is one car that really communicates with you. It is a tight handler as well, it takes corners really well. I haven't driven the benchmark Polo till date (I drove its elder brother Vento), but I would say the best handling hatchback I've driven till date has to be the Beat.

Engine refinement is unreal, the gearbox, though rubbery, slots into gears perfectly well, and the interior has held up really well even after 13 years. I have so many positives about this car.

I really miss GM. There was nothing wrong with the company. It was just that at one point, their lineup was outdated and this was combined with a clueless bunch of management people. This was what made GM leave the country. Had GM still been in business, we would've happily bought a car from them again. Heck at one point I even contemplated buying a used Cruze but dropped out only because there weren't good cars within my reach.

I really love this car and would like to touch the 1 lac milestone soon. This is one car that I would like to keep for a lifetime.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

It was supposed to be a jolly night drive with friends but the car stalled and there was a burning smell for 15 minutes straight.

BHPian saikishor recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Short backstory

I took my car out on 30 September at around 1-2 a.m. for a short shawarma drive with my friends within the city. Mind you my car's service is overdue by 3 weeks or so, as my mechanic delayed it because he was expecting a Chevrolet service camp to take place soon. But that didn't happen, and the service started to get delayed. My car also has a problem with the low oil pressure light. It starts glowing dimly at some moments and then just goes off, despite of having enough engine oil in the car.

So after driving the car for 7 odd kilometers, I stopped to pick up a friend of mine. And then I saw this fluid leaking from the car. I first suspected it to be engine oil, but wasn't very sure as I knew how viscous engine oil is and this wasn't engine oil for sure. My friend suggested it to be AC water, and I believed him because I drove with the AC set to 22 ish for those 7 kilometers.

After this, I drove for 15kms or even more at a speed of 80-100kmph. At this point, the engine oil light started to glow when I braked but went off immediately after I took my foot off the brake. 2-3 kms after this, the engine temperature light started to glow, and the car stalled 200m later. I had to push the car to the side of the road. There was this burning smell for 15 minutes straight. I mean, little did I know that there was something wrong with the cooling system. I knew that the engine oil pressure light was erratic and there was sufficient engine oil in the car. The car broke down for the first time in 13 years of ownership, that too at midnight. What was supposed to be a jolly drive with friends turned out to be something else.

I got the car towed to my trusty mech the next day. The car started within one click, but was misfiring badly. My mechanic took the car up on the lift, and showed me that the water pump along with the corresponding pipes had worn out and failed. And the reason the oil light was acting erratically was because the water from the water pump was leaking and this water was falling right on the oil pressure sensor. My mechanic showed me this under the lift, but I am not sure about how true the oil sensor part is. My mechanic told me that changing the water pump and corresponding hoses should solve the issue. If not, some gasket needs to be changed. He gave us an estimate of 20k including the pending general service. This was fine to me and my dad. He told us the gasket thing if needed would take the cost upwards of 30k.

Photos of the water pump:

Today, he called my dad and told me that the misfiring was not solved, as the gasket and cylinder head needed to be replaced and overhauled respectively, giving us a new estimate of 40-45k. My dad was not okay with this. He feels this guy is taking us for a ride. This guy was the same guy who fixed my car last year. My car had a rollover crash, and the initial estimate he gave us was 30k but the final bill ended up being 60k caused by a shoddily executed full body repaint. We've known this guy since 2015, and his issue diagnosis was spot on when he was with Chevrolet. He had worked with Chevy for 10 years and then a customer invested in a garage with him, ever since he has been running his own garage.

All of this aside, I really need advice on my issue. I would like to know if the issue diagnosis is genuine and how much it would take to solve it. If not, I'd also like to know some better mechanics who identify and solve the problem at a much more reasonable price.

Photos of the gasket and cylinder head:

Here's what BHPian svsantosh had to say about the matter:

Cannot comment on pricing, but a petrol engine without water is sure to cook the gasket and crack the head. You are in trouble friend. See if you can get a used working engine from a rearward-accident 4Cyl petrol Beat. That is your quickest way out of this mess. Rebuilt engines (esp Petrol) do not last very long and you are better off finding a used engine.

Sum of parts during a rebuild can be very expensive and frustrating and never gives the satisfaction of a factory-fit engine. And no mechanic can do a perfect job and the machine shop is the primary root cause of failures after rebuild. Each will machine/grind the head surface to his experience and you will need to play with advance/retard to get the timing right and it will always overheat after the rebuild and especially improper running in/setting in of a newly rebuilt engine.

PS - Sorry to say but you actually saw and encouraged your engine to die step by step and you did not give the necessary care as an owner and stopped the car at the first warning.

Here's what BHPian sagarpadaki had to say about the matter:

Sorry to hear about the ordeal.

What options you have depends on how long you intend to keep your car. If you intend to keep it for long then an engine rebuild from a reputed engine workshop will work well assuming you will install all genuine parts.

If you do not want to go with the hassle, then try sourcing an engine from a scrapyard. But there will be no guarantee on the condition of the scrapyard engine. You will basically be taking a risk.

When was the last time the coolant was changed? Extended coolant change intervals and/or using the wrong quality and spec of the coolant are the main reasons for the corrosion of the components in the cooling system leading to the coolant leak and subsequent engine failure. Hence the question.

Here's what BHPian myavu had to say about the matter:

Oops! Sorry to hear that.

You should have taken care of your water pump leak and oil pressure switch issue much earlier. I had gone through the same but was closely monitoring it with weekly coolant top-ups and checks. I got the issue resolved for 4700/- instead of 22,500/- quoted by ASC. Details here.

For the engine, the best option is to find one from the scrap market.

Here's what BHPian Mortis had to say about the matter:

I also experienced an engine shutdown on my Beat due to the same issue. The elbow of the water pump corroded and failed just like yours, apparently a relatively common issue just like the gear knob crumbling after 5-6 years.

Luckily I was only a Km away from home so I could limp it back without any lasting damage to the engine.

Just the elbow is available but I replaced the whole pump. The price your mechanic quoted for just pump replacement (30k) is definitely on the higher side. I can't remember the exact cost but it was definitely under 10-15k and parts are readily available.

The engine damage due to driving without coolant is definitely possible though I can't say to what extent and the cost for the same.

If you do decide to get rid of the car instead of repairing it do let me know as I would like to buy a few parts from you.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

My dad does not want to spend any more on this car and wants to get rid of it since we bought a Maruti XL6 Alpha+ a few months ago.

BHPian HoldMaBeer recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Recently while going to his office in Pune, my dad experienced a catastrophic failure in his Sail-UVA. The car started bogging and eventually came to a complete halt with the whole instrument cluster getting blank (0 fuel, 0 odo and so on). He works in Nokia Telecom services and so he has a very busy schedule. He called for towing service to a garage in Pune and went to his office to attend a meeting via Ola.

After a few hours, the mechanic told him that the ECM was shorted and needed replacement costing INR. 25665. They are not as knowledgeable and trustworthy as before this, they quoted him 15000 for replacing the security system (third-party system installed by dealer), when it was a simple case of the keyfob's battery dying which I found while testing things myself.

Now, my dad is in a dilemma as he does not want to spend any more on that vehicle and wants to get rid of it since we bought an XL6 Alpha+ a few months ago. I'm keeping him from selling the Chevy since I want to take it over when I start earning (a few months). I persuaded him to daily the XL6 as it has better mileage but he refuses to do so since he wants to keep it new.

Here are some pictures which he (the mechanic) sent:

Since he is really busy with his work, he is never able to visit and observe the work done. Also, the workshop is in Pune and our permanent home is about 150+km away, so even I can't visit. I've a few queries and would love to hear your opinion on it:

• Does the ECM look short/the experience explained by my dad point to ECM failure?
• Should we go ahead with repairs? The car is otherwise in good shape.
• Is 25665 a valid price?
• Are there any other trustworthy repair shops near Pune, Kalyani Nagar

Here's what BHPian hothatchaway had to say about the matter:

A quick search online shows Chevrolet (Beat) ECM priced at 31k. I think there may be a possibility of it being repaired. If yes, check the wiring also if a short is the culprit.

Hope a Pune-based member can share garage options in Pune.

All the best!

Here's what BHPian ninjatalli had to say about the matter:

Try getting a second opinion; especially with regards to repair options. For instance, this garage (Independent Garage - The Mechanix Automotive (Pune)) is a bhpian run place. You could reach out to @noopster and @moralfibre (among others) for feedback who have vouched for the place.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I covered these roads in my BMW M3 G80 last year and would pick the ZL1 over it any day without any second thoughts.

BHPian vj123 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Team-BHP meet - Tail of the Dragon

• Duration: 4 days
• Fuel cost: $450.13
• Fuel consumed: 92.8 gallons (351.2 liters)
• Distance covered: 1756.7 miles (2827.1 kilometers)
• Fuel consumption in mpg: 21.3 (best), 17.8 (average), 11.1 (worst)

Link to the detailed meetup report

Last month, I took the ZL1 to the Team-BHP meet at Tail of the Dragon and it was a blast. Prior to the trip, I completed the second break in service at 1500 miles and replaced engine oil & rear differential oil.

I was able to cover the 9-hour stretch between Michigan and North Carolina (sans food and fuel stops) with ease. It was a comfortable GrandTourer and the features that stood out during the highway cruise, other than the power delivery, were Magnetic ride suspension and Recaro seats. I had to get used to the Alcantara material in the seats which was warmer than a typical leather seat but the cooled seats took care of that issue.

Sport and Track modes brought in significant differences in power delivery, throttle response, suspension travel and ZL1 tackled those mountain roads like a champ. Once warmed up, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires offered plenty of grip in the corners and it gave immense confidence in pushing the vehicle along those curves.

At the end of the drive, the wheels were covered with brake dust and Brembos did the job except for one instance where I misjudged a sharp curve. I wish it came with carbon ceramics which would have held better during those sprinted drives.

I enjoyed the "Performance Shifter" feature the most during those sprinted mountain drives. This feature is activated based on acceleration, braking and cornering inputs which prevents transmission upshifts and also opens all exhaust valves bringing in plenty of pops & crackles with the supercharger whine.

As I spend more time with the vehicle, I can understand the reason behind the rave reviews about this car as it excels in day-to-day driving as well as track duties. I covered these roads in my G80 M3 last year and would pick the ZL1 over the M3 any day without any second thoughts.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

There were other vehicles present too including a Trans-Am and an old Chevy.

BHPian AKTransAM recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

We've had a great spell of weather here lately-this is a temperate rainforest zone, so even a straight week of sunny weather counts as great! This whole week was sunny and quite warm, and luckily the sunshine spread into the weekend and looks like it's going to continue for next week.

Since Friday evening (last night) was great, a last-minute meet was set up, so not everyone showed up. This place is quite amazing when it's sunny and warm. It was 80 degrees when we met yesterday, so quite hot.

Just wanted to post some of the cool cars that did show up yesterday. A lot more showed up last week, but of course, I didn't take pics. I'm one of maybe 3 people in town who drive their muscle cars all Summer, regardless of crappy rainy and stormy weather, which is generally a lot of the Summer here. Most of these guys don't even get their cars out unless it's sunny and dry.

My friend's beautiful 69 Camaro that he's had since high school (probably 3 decades)

Another friend's 1980 Camaro Z28, with the cowl induction setup on the hood. There's a rear facing flap that faces the driver on that bulge, which opens up with WOT. T-tops are always fun.

Another modern Camaro

New Corvette, as in 2023. Not something I'd ever want, but quite a good design.

My kind of cars heh heh. My 77 Trans-Am and my buddy's 79 Trans-Am

Dodge Challenger. Immaculate. I do like these cars, even if they're too modern for me

The legendary hawkbill front end of the Trans-Am

Beautiful and immaculate old Chevy

This 67 (I think) El Camino has an insane drag strip capable engine putting out over 750 hp

Another view of the 1980 Z28

Great view from my hood of the 69 Camaro down the highway. You can notice the hood scoop flap in mine opening up. That's really fun to watch when you accelerate and the flap opens up in response to vacuum and engine air demand.

The classic view on a sunny day!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I considered installing PPF to the damage-prone areas as it looks cleaner. My BMW M3 is also protected by a paint protection film.

BHPian vj123 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

There have been a few updates since the initial report.

PPF installation

Paint chipping in the fenders is a known issue with ZL1s as the extremely sticky tires are known to throw rocks onto the body and also front & rear tires stick outside the body (305mm on the front and 325mm on the rear). Two fender rock guard designs are extremely popular within the Camaro community and the design doesn't look terrible. With mine being a black exterior, it's almost not noticeable but I considered installing PPF to the damage-prone areas as it looks cleaner.

For my M3, I installed PPF in South Carolina before driving back to Michigan and I had contacted a few local installers during that time. I reached out to several of them again and some of them didn't respond as they are extremely busy during the spring of every year. I visited a few shops and most of them were pushing me to go with the regular options (full or partial front, full rockers and full fenders) so that they can use their precuts films. Since I am not sure how long I will be keeping this vehicle, I didn't want to spend too much money on the PPF and just wanted to protect the critical areas.

I ended up with an installer who was only 15 minutes from my place. He had worked on several supercars and had great customer reviews as well. He was willing to do a custom job based on my request and provided a very reasonable quote. One of his upcoming appointments was cancelled and he was able to accommodate me by the following week as well. I ended up applying PPF for the front bumper, side areas highlighted below and a part of the rear fender. Side edges were aligned with the body line and they don't stand out. I was extremely happy with the overall service and will be using him for all of my future needs.

Break-in service #1

GM recommends two break-in services for ZL1 (engine oil flush at 500 miles and engine & differential oil flush at 1500 miles) and I was slightly above 500 miles after Team BHP meet. I scheduled my service right after the meet and it was completed right after my PPF installation.

Weekend drive

Weather was really good last weekend and I wanted to make use of it. I was thinking about exploring the roads around AnnArbor area for a while and this was the perfect time as my family was still in India. I wanted to try out Car and Driver magazine's test route which was reported in a few forums couple of years ago and this route was also an option for our last Team BHP meet.

Overall trip was around 250 miles and the roads might have been one of the best I have driven in the area. It had plenty of tight curves with elevation changes and long sweepers. Being a Sunday afternoon, there was hardly any traffic and I saw several motorcycle groups & sports cars along the way. Few members have been proposing a Detroit Team BHP meet and I would highly recommend this route.

I have had the vehicle for two weekends post-delivery and the odometer has already clocked 800 miles. This will not be a garage queen and will be using it to the fullest whenever I have a chance.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The light controls loads on the top part of the infotainment system as part of the legal requirement to always be available.

Chevrolet recently unveiled the 2023 Colorado featuring multiple updates, including a fully redesigned cabin. As part of the update, the American carmaker has removed most physical buttons inside the cabin, including that which control's the truck's headlights.

Customers of the 2023 Chevy Colorado will now have to turn on and off the headlights via a sub-menu in the truck's 11.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display. While the truck does come with automatic headlights, if customers do want to make adjustments they will have to fiddle around with the touchscreen rather than just flicking a switch on the side. Also, if the infotainment fails, customers could lose the ability to control the lights.

Nick Katcherian, Chief Engineer of the 2023 Colorado reasoned that the controls aren't used much since most customers leave the headlights in its auto setting. Also, in the rain, if the wipers are on, the lights turn on automatically. The shift from physical controls to virtual buttons is also said to be to conserve space. The light controls loads on the top part of the infotainment system as part of the legal requirement to always be available.

Katcherian claims that there is no reason to be concerned about any issues, as the team has removed all possible bugs from the infotainment unit. He also stated that software-based switches could help add features to vehicles after they are sold or support optional add-ons. He further stated that virtual switches give customers a lot more flexibility in terms of offering updates in the future, compared to physical switches.

Source: Road&Track

Although the engine is from a scrapped car that had done over 300K km, the mechanic said that it can still go for another 100K km without any major service.

BHPian efuture recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi all, I have an exciting project in hand and looking for suggestions from all members. Let's do it together.

I have an 80hp 186 Nm 2.5L Chevrolet Tavera diesel engine with all required accessories - rear axle, radiator, gearbox, ECU, etc. Basically, it's from a scrapped vehicle which has done more than 300k km on the ODO. The engine is in very good condition and the mechanic suggested it can easily do 100k km without any major service. I am looking for a suitable donor vehicle which can utilize the 80hp power and I have the following options.

• Suzuki Gypsy - 80hp 103Nm 1.3L Petrol engine; Not sure if the engine bay is big enough to hold the 2.5L engine; same power, but almost double the torque.
• Force GAMA - 60bhp 158Nm 2.6L Diesel engine; Just remove the force logo for Mercedes G-wagon looks; difficult to find one below 2L rupees in Tamil Nadu.
• Mahindra Bolero - 64bhp 180Nm 2.5L Turbo Diesel engine; available for ~1.5L and easy to find.
• TATA Estate - 1.9L 68hp 118Nm (not sure) Diesel engine; very hard to find.
• Hindustan Contessa - very hard to find any.
• Tata 207, bolero camper, etc., Any whiteboard pick-up truck with 4 doors and 5 seats for less than 2L rupees.

Ruled out cars

• Fiat Padmini
• HM Ambassador
• Mahindra Armada
• Mahindra Marshal
• Mahindra Willy & Jeep

All my searches are limited to OLX and within Tamil Nadu. If anyone has any leads within the location, please reach out to me. I am looking for low-cost cars only, in simple terms the cheapest used car with a rigid rear axle that should not be more than 10% heavier than Tavera and the power of the donor vehicle should be less than 70hp.

I don't know how much difference an 80hp engine will do in a ~65hp car in terms of performance. Once the engine swap is done and if it runs well, I'll do an engine remap to take it close to 100hp and reduce the weight by throwing out unwanted bulky parts. It will be a cheap fun project with a decade-old diesel engine.

I would like to understand the difficulties with respect to fabrication, interfaces, documentation and reliability as this is very new for me.

Here's what BHPian condor had to say about the matter:

First question is - apart from the 2L you have budgeted for the donor vehicle, you would also need to factor in other parts, labor and even further furnishing of the vehicle about paint etc. Your total cost can touch 5L. Are you ok with this?

Having said that, the Gypsy is ruled out. The Gama is old. You could look for a Tata mobile - the single cab version. Or one of the older Mahindra pickups.

Reg your other question, the 86hp/186Nm will be in the range of the Mahindra engines from early 2000's. Or the Sumo TCIC.

Before you proceed - are you really going to use such a vehicle, or just excited at the prospect of using the spare engine that has come your way. After spending the time, effort and money, the vehicle should be a garage decoration piece.

Here's what BHPian Kosfactor had to say about the matter:

Whatever vehicle you get for cheap - it's going to need a lot of parts to make it road worthy apart from the engine and drive train. So with that in mind, Gypsy and Bolero have better parts availability.

• Gypsy - Diesel will ruin its spirit.
• Bolero - M&M engines are good enough but on older non-ECU models you could attempt a swap.

I hope you are not adamant about swapping the engine because in this process if you come across a vehicle with a decent engine, just restore it as is and enjoy it.

Here's what BHPian IshaanIan had to say about the matter:

Any reason for considering the Contessa but leaving out the Ambassador? Considering both were made by HM and used Isuzu diesel motors and that the Tavera is actually an Isuzu Panther that GM sold in India, wouldn't the Ambassador be a good choice as well? Not to mention easier to find than the Contessa?

I was never a fan of the Ambassador but if you look at today's landscape, every road is filled with Sonets, Cretas, Altroz-es and Baleno-es - all trying to look bling with their DRLs and touchscreens. An old rounded Ambassador would fit nicely and offer a much-needed break from the sea of similarly designed cars that you find on the roads today, I feel.

Perhaps lower the Ambassador, fit one of those highway horns that give off government vehicle vibes and enjoy the Tavera motor (is it also something that GM borrowed from Isuzu?).

Here's what BHPian ads295 had to say about the matter:

Hello.

I used to be part of India's leading student Formula SAE team (Camber Racing). We were assigned the task of creating a vehicle from the ground up. Hence I feel I can contribute to your question.

What you intend to do is a massive engineering exercise, so I'll list down what priorities you should have in mind before doing anything further.

Legally - I think routine checks on engine numbers are rare. You should be able to do whatever you want with the donor vehicle after transferring it to your name.

Technically - An engine swap is a BIG DEAL. Make no bones about this. This is a project that will take 2 months or more to complete, and you will need the best fabricator you can find, because it's not going to be easy at all.

• Engine mounts - What are the locations of the donor vehicle engine mounts, and where are the mounts located on the Tavera engine?
• Drivetrain - The entire gearbox and drivetrain assembly will have to be dropped in order to transplant a new gearbox. If the power ratings are the same, I strongly suggest that you use the gearbox available in the donor car. Even then, you will have to do a lot of work as the engine's output bell housing will have to be adapted to the donor car's gearbox input (whatever it is). If the Tavera was RWD (I don't know) even the donor car must be RWD, as FWD engines usually have a transaxle to drive the front wheels.
• Electronics - The Tavera was a pretty basic vehicle but check if ANYTHING in the Tavera was hooked to the ECU that is not with you. E.g. if the Tavera had ABS then those sensors would need to be used here as well.

All said and done, what is your motive behind this swap? At best you are looking at a marginal increase in power in the old donor vehicle. What is pushing you to do this?

If you're doing it just to get your hands dirty then by all means you should do it, we at TBHP will do all we can to help you on your journey. But if you're hoping to recreate a vehicle that is as fuss-free as the donor vehicle and then use it, then I'm afraid that is very unlikely. You will need to go through a ton of headache to make sure the engine even fits inside the donor car (ideally you want to create a CAD model of the donor car's engine bay and some model of the Tavera's engine to see if the engine can actually fit inside the donor car).

Do not purchase a donor vehicle without thoroughly understanding if you can fit this engine in that. Read other engine swap threads for other cars and see how other people have done it. There is a ton of information available on the internet.

About the remap - it kinda defeats the purpose if you have to remap a swapped engine to get more performance. Hypothetically you could get the Bolero and remap that and save yourself a big headache. Why only this engine?

Do not be tempted just by having this Tavera engine in your possession.

I myself found a W123 240D engine for sale and thought of doing the exact same thing. But it's a project for people with time and experience on their hands.

Either way, do let us know if you intend to proceed with this, this should be really interesting if it happens.

Just wanted to add that you can find really interesting things on OLX if you know where to look and are determined. Apart from the OM616 engine I've mentioned above, I've also come across an inline-6 Volvo bus engine and an MWM-Greaves V8 diesel engine for sale that was once used in some defence vehicles.

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say about the matter:

Please understand that you can’t just plonk any engine into your car. Your car will not remain road legal. You can change the engine, if necessary, with another one from the same manufacturer, and then have your RC and subsequently, your insurance updated accordingly. But you can’t put, say, a Mahindra engine into a Tata car. At least not legally. In your case, since GM has shut shop in India, your hands are pretty much tied.

Do think hard before you proceed with the engine change. In case you are flagged down and it is found that the engine number mentioned on the engine does not match with the RC, police will treat it as a case of theft.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.