The Scorpio N petrol range starts at Rs. 12.74 lakh, while the base diesel variant costs at Rs. 13.24 lakh (ex-showroom).

Mahindra has increased the prices of the Scorpio N by up to Rs. 1 lakh. 

The Scorpio N was launched in June 2022 at a starting price of Rs. 11.99 lakh (ex-showroom). Following the recent price hike, the base petrol variant costs Rs. 12.74 lakh, while the diesel range starts at Rs. 13.24 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Scorpio N is available in five trims – Z2, Z4, Z6, Z8 and Z8 L. It is positioned above the previous generation model, rebranded as the Scorpio Classic. All variants come with a 7-seat configuration, while the top-spec Z8 L variant is available with an optional 6-seat layout featuring captain seats in the second row.

The SUV comes equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 6-way power-adjustable driver seat, an electric sunroof, a rearview camera, cruise control and wireless charging. 

The Scorpio N is offered with two engine options. These include a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with 198 BHP / 380 Nm and a 2.2-litre diesel producing 173 BHP / 400 Nm. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic.

The SUV gets all-wheel drive with Mahindra’s 4xplor terrain management system with low range and four terrain modes: Normal, Grass / Gravel / Snow, Mud / Rut and Sand.

The car has run in 977km now and is due for service.

BHPian BangaloreCarrer recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I finally got my car from the detailer. I had a busy week and hence couldn't post earlier.

I got the following done:

1. DuPont PPF, 180micron for the full car
2. Water repellant coating on plastic cladding
3. Ceramic coating on alloys
4. Red stickering on lower bodyline
5. Painted the brake calipers red
6. Floor mats (on Amazon)
7. Key chain cover
8. Legal transparent sunfilm

The road presence is spectacular!

The car has run in 977km now and is due for service.

I have booked my service at Anant Mahindra, Bangalore.

Shall post my service feedback once it is done. Hope the service team is able to resolve the issues.

Niggles at 1000km:

• Noise from front right suspension
• Rattles from instrument cluster
• Rattles from boot
• Mild transmission humming noise

Current owners, please post your experience and hints on servicing the Scorpio-N.

In the meanwhile, I have also got my registration number. Awaiting the shipment of number plate.

PS: If anyone would like me to post the formalities to register a vehicle in KA after having bought it from outside, let me know and I shall.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The clutch failed at 270 km. Cylinder, clutch plate, pressure plate has to be changed. Caused me a whole day's worth of inconvenience.

BHPian upopularxplorer recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Drove my Scorpio-N around 700 km, I plan to write a detailed review after driving it for a few thousand kilometres. Here are a quick highlights.

Feels great on the highway and the city traffic however, I have to be careful in my street and parking.

Clutch failed at 270 km. Cylinder, clutch plate, pressure plate has to be changed. Caused me a whole day's worth of inconvenience.

Clutch failure video

• I still don’t feel confident about the clutch. I am coming from a petrol and I like the way it works on petrol.

• It is hard to figure out that there is a 2.2L diesel engine under the hood, it’s silent.

• Acceleration and torque is amazing. It will reach 100 in no time.

• Speed breakers and potholes, are no more speed breakers and potholes.

• Ground clearance may be low on papers but on road it’s ample.

• Second row passengers are enjoying the commanding position.

• Head turner for the outsiders and the passengers dont really want to sit in any other car now.

• Manual variant is missing the remote start and remote AC control which is disappointing

• Infotainment always start with radio as source which is irritating.

• Same is with climate control not retaining the previous settings, starts around 21 degrees.

• Auto start stop is sometimes miss sometimes hit.

• Sunroof curtain vibrates at high speed.

• Noise insulation is great but after 90-100kmph you will get the noise.

• Haven’t explored the 4x4 yet, will post it in detailed review.

• LED headlights are amazing. Projector fog lamps/cornering light and high beam are my favourite.

• Ingress footboard’s place is seamless and on point.

• I enjoy the way I get on the driver seat. Feels like riding a horse.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I cannot imagine doing a Ladakh trip with 4 people & luggage without removing the seat.

BHPian kushgandhi recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Finally the New Years eve brought an opportunity to take out my Scorpio N to the mountains. The Christmas eve weekend gave me an idea that going to Manali, Atal tunnel, Shimla or beyond would be nothing but long queues of cars, overpriced hotels and overcrowded places.

I decided to explore a part of Himachal not a lot of tourists visit, The Chamba district.

The trip route was from Delhi to Pathankot then heading towards Dalhousie and then taking a slip road towards chamera dam and heading to a small village named Chakloo. The place is underrated and views to die for, to my surprise not even a single tourist in this village except on 31st night, that too a couple of cars.

Now coming to the cars performance. The ODO now sits at 6000 km so the car has crossed the break in period and I stretched it as much as possible.
The car performed brilliantly on highways, high speed lane changing does not move the car even a little bit. 90-100 kmph lane changing is something this car can do all day long without tiring the driver or the passenger.

The suspension behaved brilliantly. The roads till Pathankot are buttery smooth and the suspension felt at ease, small potholes at highway speeds are swallowed effortlessly. I have experience driving the Endeavour, the suspension setup is almost there in terms of behaviour and comfort.

Coming to the fuel economy, before entering the mountains I refuelled the vehicle to get pure highway mileage. I got 16.1 kmpl from tankful method which was brilliant IMO. In the mountains it was around 12 kmpl. MID showed similar figures +/- 5%. A thing that annoyed me was whenever I parked my car on an incline or I was driving on very twisty roads, the adrenox app showed me a refuelling was done and that also changed the range of the vehicle.

Now coming to hill driving. the suspension setup again is brilliant for curvy roads given that you don't speed up much. You will definitely realise you need to go down a gear or brake at a curve to not get tossed around.

Comparing it to my XUV 500 definitely I have to slow down a bit but that is definitely not a deal breaker.

Coming to what impressed me the most, the torque of the mHawk. It delivers torque in the perfect rev range. You can drive in 2nd gear on steep climbs without shifting down. I tackled all hairpin bends in the 2nd gear. During my trip After chakloo I went to Mcleodganj, my hotel was in Bhagsu on a very very steep climb. 1st gear 20 kmph 2100 rpm the car just climbed without any sort of worries. No need to Half clutch even when you come to a standstill.

Talking about hair pin bends, every steep hairpin bend on a narrow road will give you some wheel slippage. The traction control light blinked several times during this trip. You wont feel anything in the car except a tyre screech noise. But you can see the traction control light all the time.

Now being the month of December I wanted to experience some snow. I went 25 km from chakloo towards Khajjiar, the place is stunning. Beyond Khajjiar the road was closed for 2wd vehicles due to snow.

I dared to venture on the road just a couple of km later the car started to loose grip and I had to engage snow mode. That seemed to alter the traction control system and the car gripped the road brilliantly. Snow drive was really good and The car crossed patches of snow that other 4wd vehicles were struggling to cross (Isuzu dmax, scorpio last gen 4wd, and jeep compass awd). The stock 17 inch tyres performed better than I expected.

I was travelling solo so didn't push the limits of the vehicle but yes the 4wd system performed well on proper black ice and some good snow on road.

I did some off roading on the Ravi Riverbed. There are many trails which tractors were taking to take out the silt from the river bed as part of government contracts I followed one down to the river, engaged rock mode and had loads of fun. Ground clearance is an issue I kept in mind but the experience of snow or the riverbed was something that showed me what a proper 4wd vehicle can do.

Now coming to the negatives of the drive

It might sound weird to some but when I sit for long distances in the car my right leg rests on the door. The grab handle is shaped in such a way that there is an edge that sticks to your leg and after 12 hours of driving that edge was giving me pain and discomfort which I felt even the next day. That is an ergonomic issue and I solved it by decreasing the height of the seat to a level I am not happy with.

The BIGGER ISSUE is the boot. After you do a 10 day road trip you realise how badly the boot is designed. The space is so poorly managed and the ergonomics of the folded seat so bad that a Solo traveller was struggling for space. I cannot imagine doing a Ladakh trip with 4 people & luggage without removing the seat. There is so much space behind the seat once you tumble it and it feels like totally wasted.

Honestly I think my Tata Nexon can take in more luggage than this huge SUV.

Another issue mentioned previously in the thread about android auto was happening with me as well. disconnections and sometimes the system didn't even connect. But apple carplay is sorely missed. Even the XUV 700 now has no carplay now which is strange given Mahindra has designed such brilliant cars but cant give apple carplay.

Overall glaring over the negatives the car performance is amazing. The manual gearbox is good with shifts, gear ratios set perfectly for mountains, torque is plenty and you will never feel out of power even on the steepest inclines, suspension great for on and off road usage, 4wd system performs great, traction control system for snow is very advance, Seat are comfortable for driving 12-14 hours non stop.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

In fact, if not for the recent scrappage policy, we would have invested in refurbishing our SX4 with new suspension and better door insulation.

BHPian BrabarusMark recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

After 11 years, the family is finally ready to upgrade the family car (not by choice). This will be the third new car in the family but it will be my first purchase. For the last 4 years, the SX4 was handed over to me and it is serving us quite well.

In fact, if not for the recent scrappage policy, we would have invested in refurbishing the SX4 with new suspension and better door insulation. Everything else works just perfectly. It's also a perfect fit for my height (6ft3in) and is feels open inside for my mom to not feel claustrophobic.

To make the most of whatever resale our 11 year old SX4 has left, we plan on upgrading the family car later this year. Here are the cars I've test driven or test seated myself so far:

Maruti Grand Vitara & Toyota Hyryder:

When it launched the family loved the Grand Vitara. We were quite excited and recently did a few test drives of both cars. The real life experience was closer to disappointment. Both cars look spacious from the outside but the inside does not reflect the same. I checked out both the non-hybrid and hybrid Vitara and found front headroom to be lacking on both. The rear headroom has been documented on other reviews and it holds true.

Apart from headroom, the front does feel spacious and comfortable but the rear felt like the car was narrowing. Quite a strange experience. In terms of driving, the hybrid did fit perfectly to my already sedate (borderline hypermiling) driving style. It's a shame there's a huge compromise with comfort for what is an excellent powertrain for me.

Hyundai Creta:

I did an extremely short and rushed test drive of a diesel automatic variant. This felt great in the front, even with the seat not set perfectly to my liking. I would lean towards this more but I've been vetoed by the parents, who did not have a great experience travelling a long distance in a friend's car. I'll be attempting one more test drive with the family, but so far this one is low on the list.

Skoda Slavia:

I test seated the Slavia at the airport to see if I could fit into it. With proper adjustments, it is possible for me get into a driving position, although my knees are quite high compared to the SUVs with little thigh support. The rear, however, did not feel comfortable for me but was just about fine for my 5ft11in brother. Anyone shorter than him (which is my parents) should have enough headroom and legroom. Only issue is the low ingress that won't be too friendly for my aging parents.

We plan on testing the following in the upcoming months:

• Skoda Kushaq / Volkswagen Taigun.
• Honda City.
• Mahindra XUV700.
• Mahindra Scorpio-N.

Do provide any insights (especially if you're a tall driver) as well as any additional cars I should check out. Our budget is strictly locked to a maximum of 17 lakh and the car should be a petrol.

Here's what BHPian bijims had ro say on the matter:

Based on my experience with our family members, I will provide my insights on the following cars:

• Honda City - It provides good headroom for people up to 6 feet in height, But for taller occupants, it may not be the best in egress. Moreover, with aging parents, a low-slung sedan may not be the best choice.
• Skoda Kushaq/VW Taigun - A good SUV all round with an impressive recline angle for the rear seats, adequate under-thigh support, and posture but best suited for two at the rear.
• Mahindra XUV700 - The roomiest of the lot, with loads of space, elbow room, and knee room at the front, and can easily accommodate three at the back. i feel this car could be the one for you.
• Mahindra Scorpio-N - It is reasonably spacious as its counterpart the XUV700, but being a ladder on frame chasis, I would recommend the monocoque XUV700 for better comfort.

Hope it helps!

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

I am 6 feet tall and can understand your situation and criteria for searching a suitable car.

Last year we checked out the Slavia, XUV700, Scorpio-N, Safari and Kia Carens. I was particularly looking for a 7 seater. Still went to check out the Slavia. But ingress was difficult for me. XUV700 had good space in first two rows, but since the 2nd row seat does not slide, the leg-room in the 3rd row cannot be adjusted. Same is the case with Scorpio-N. My parents found it difficult to 'climb' into it. I had a similar budget of 17-18L. The variants of XUV700, Scorpio-N & Safari in this budget did not have much features.

Finally went for Kia Carens as it provided good space, features and seating flexibility. You too can check it out with your family.

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

Well, I am 5,11, but my body structure is such that the proportion of lower part (legs, thighs) is longer compared to the upper part of the body. Result ? Most cars which have dashboard as a single unit towards gearbox, I find my left knees touching rather uncomfortably to the lower part of dashboard/gearbox console unit.

Cars I found problematic ranged from hatchback like Punch to SUV like Harrier and pseudo SUV Nexon.

So, my point here is that do sit, test drive with seat height set to your position and be careful observing and evaluating the ergonomics. From your list I can suggest VW Taigun/Kushaq. I found XUV700 to be quite good, in case your budget permits do consider it.

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

I am over 6'2" and I find my Skoda Kushaq, bought a year ago, quite comfortable. The longer wheelbase really helps and even at my driving position the rear leg room is quite good for a 6' Ft. tall person. The rear head room is just enough for me - you may want to check it out. The scoop after the sunroof is helpful in this aspect.

All other cars you mentioned should be okay too, but if you are looking for compact exterior dimensions and SUVish body shape, Kushaq/Taigun is the best bet.

On niggles and issues - I had some issues like noise on braking and too aggressive engine response at start, but these have gone away after 4-5k kms of usage. However two minor ones still remain - A/C not too good and error in driver side auto window up/down. The first service is due this month-end. Mine is a 1.0 Style AT.

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

I am 6 feet, broader build and had TD in all these cars except XUV700 and Honda City.

The Kushaq was best to drive. Seating position was excellent.

The XUV700 was most comfortable for tall persons, with very good thigh support. I didn't drive it. Ergonomics were good. No problem of knees hitting anywhere. The Scorpio N will be very comfortable. No problem regarding the ergonomics. However, in Scorpio N review thread, Kushgandhi recently reported his knee/ leg was resting on door handle which gave him discomfort during long drive. Kindly check this aspect while doing the TD.

For Creta also I didn't face any problem while sitting or the ergonomics. The CVT was not good to drive.

You can try the new Brezza also. Sitting is better than the Grand Vitara or Hyryder for taller and broader driver.

Avoid the cars with sunroof, if sunroof is not an essential requirement.

Sedans won't be comfortable for long drives.

The Alcazar or Carens were also okay for AT. For MT, knees will touch dashboard.

The Grand Vitara and Hyryder both were no good for taller drivers/ co-passenger.

What about the new XUV300 mStallion with MT? I just sat inside but didn't drive it. This was also good for tall drivers.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

had a hard time finding good alloy wheels for the Scorpio-N, because of the weird PCD and wheel diameter. It's the same as the XUV500, but that does not make it much better.

BHPian vivekgk recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Finally, I am now the proud owner of Big Daddy,

On the evening of 26th December, my SA called me and informed that my number plates had arrived, and the vehicle would be ready by 7 p.m, and could be delivered on the 27th. After the usual astrological consultations, the delivery was arrranged for 3 p.m on Wednesday 28th December.

Since it was the month end, I couldn't arrange for a full day off. I reached the dealership at 9 in the morning to make a final PDI, and to hand over a couple of accessories that I had bought online, and to complete the payment formalities.

I had purchased 7D mats in "Coffee and Beige" colours from Amazon.in. While the mats are of good quality and look as well as the pics, they didn't send along the freebie remote key fob cover in matching coffee cover:

I had also bought these wheel caps from Amazon. They look like the alloys that are standard for the Kia Seltos GT Line, and look really nice on the Scorpio:

The original wheel caps are of good quality, but IMO it gives the Scorpio a taxi look.

I had a hard time finding good alloy wheels for the ScorpioN, because of the weird PCD and wheel dia. (17 inch, 5x139.7) It's the same as the XUV500, but that does not make it much better. The other option is to use a converter to change to 5x114.3, but I am not sure about that especially on this heavy vehicle. So, wheel caps it is, for the time being. I have a very specific look in mind, and I don't want to spend my money on something I am not a 100% satisfied with.

I had bought about Rs, 11000 worth of accessories, inclusive of about Rs. 1800 for installation charges. I got the sill scuff plates, underbody and silencer coating (considering the puddle and slush prone roads in a couple months), bumper corner protectors (big car, inexperienced driver), and mud flaps. They were fine with my purchasing the mats and wheel caps from outside, and readily agreed to fit it all before the delivery. Having arranged that, I left for office.

Due to the heavy traffic, my family and I arrived a couple minutes late, but everything went smoothly. The SA explained everything about the new documentation and registration process in good detail, and introduced me to the service person. He also helped me install and register on the With You Hamesha app for service booking and other assistance, and handed over the key and documents.

My wife, dad, sis and niece were all very impressed and awed by the presence of the car. My baby daughter though was similarly awed by the tin of chocolates they gave us, and ignored the car completely. She liked a bright red Bolero that was parked nearby and would have liked to take that home instead of the boring black one.

There was a slight rain on the way back home, but thankfully, not much mud. I was able to reach home with the car looking relatively clean:

Our landlord interestingly checking out the beast:

I had to go straight back to office and park her. In the evening, after my colleagues got wind of the presence of the Beast in the parking lot, we all went out and took a few test drives to appease everyone. There was much nodding and appreciation, and much cautioning about the high maintenance black shade, but overall, everyone absolutely loved it.

I'll be back with more pics and info, guys, please share your opinions on the car. Will be absolutely swamped in work till the 1st.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I'm on the look out for a good, safe and a reliable SUV.

BHPian managhatke77 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I consider myself a minimalist, and I'm pretty frugal about spending on material things. I have no problem spending money on unique experiences like travel, adventure, etc.

I already have a single owner, Grand i10, 2014 model, which has ran just 30,000 Kms and is in terrific condition.

I recently sold my Honda City 2019 because I was just not comfortable with the low riding sedan.

I'm an avid traveller, and have driven across the Himalayas multiple times.

I'm on the look out for a good, safe and a reliable SUV. The car will mostly ferry my wife and I for our road trips, and will ocassionally take my parents to coorg or mangalore regions. (They have another hatchback for their daily use in the city).

The dilemma:

I have the budget for a new Scorpio N AT or XUV 700 AT the top end, but my mind is simply refusing to spend 28 L+ on a depreciating asset which will only be used minially for long trips. (My work is fully remote). I foresee a big economic recession in 2023 and want to ensure that i have enough cash on hand to spot any good investing opportunities.

I am not interested in compact SUVs.

What do you recommend?

Do I Yolo it and go for a Scorpio N or look for a Fortuner AT, Pajero AT or Hexa XTA in the pre-owned market?

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

Think of a better car also as an "experience". Every time you drive it, it will deliver a superior experience than a cheap car. It will also be safer, more comfortable & more pleasurable to drive.

You are frugal, but you are also wasting money. Selling a car within 3 years of ownership means you lost a lot of money in depreciation.

Two recommendations:

1. Buy a great car and keep it for 10 - 15 years. Believe it or not, this will work out cheaper.

This will also be cheaper than buying a 15 lakh car today, then changing it again in 5 - 7 years. I suggest going for that Scorpio-N or XUV700 you have your eyes set on.

2. Get a used crossover / SUV. Avoid the last-gen Scorpio as it was too bumpy. Hexa will be a hit or miss in terms of reliability. Either XUV500, or the popular crossovers (Creta, Seltos, Duster).

But really, just go get that Scorpio-N or XUV700. Keep it for 15 years and the frugal part of you can be happy with all the savings from long-term car ownership.

Here's what BHPian Axe77 had to say on the matter:

I’m largely with the advise which GTO has outlined above.

An alternate thought too, keeping with your minimalist preference.

If the need for the Scorpio is:

(a) exclusively for long road trips;

(b) these road trips are strictly very occasional; and

(c) your existing hatchback covers all your other day to day needs,

You could consider not buying any vehicle at all and renting a suitable vehicle for these occasional road trips. Of course you have to work out what the math is for renting for these trips (vs long term ownership and the up front capital spent) depending on the frequency with which they might be required.

For touring in the Himalayas for instance, lots of rental SUV options are available ex Chandigarh which also save you the time spent driving from Bangalore all the way to the North (in case that is relevant - some may enjoy that aspect of the trip as well).

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

Unlike a small hatchback , cars costing ~ 30 L comes with significant expenses, recurring expenses to be exact. They need to be maintained with a spare no expense mentality if you are to keep them for long, so if the initial spend in itself is a painful thought - well, you have to change the way you think about this. Use money as a tool to bring you and your family some happiness, I'm sure it's worth it.

Looking at your ownership history, you have not made use of your existing vehicle even though it is perfectly capable of running from Kashmir to Kanyakumari non stop - imagine how much fun memories of road trips that little car could have brought to you and your family all these years

ScorpioN and XUV7OO are now going at 30 and 31.5 L respectively around here, if you ask me they are worth it - if you make good use of them.

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

Don't need to get a 7 seater SUV for that - and the XUV / Scorpio-N may not be the most reliable options in that budget either though they will be safe, feature loaded, etc. but if you don't need the tougher ladder on frame chassis of the Scorpio-N; AWD; the additional seats, etc. you could probably get an equally comfortable, safe, and fun to drive 5 seater SUV for cheaper. Something like the Kushaq / Taigun 1.0TSi.

That being said, don't go to the other extreme: as others have commented, a better car results in a better experience : better mood, fewer body pains and aches, safer body structure, etc.

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

You've already taken a huge hit by selling the 2019 City: which is probably the highest riding of all sedans with perfect H point and seating comfort, but to each his own. With the remote working and recession looming large, I suggest you hold your horses and don't spend any further on an SUV. Since the 2014 i10 has just done 30000 kms your running isn't too much. If by 'frugal' and 'minimal' you mean Maruti: suggest you wait for the 5 door Jimny.

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

Frugal is the word you chose to describe yourself. You foresee a possible recession in the near future.

You are not comfortable with a sedan like Honda City.

Hmmmm.

Are you comfortable with preowned vehicles? If yes (and remember you are frugal!), my advise is to go for a well maintained Duster 110 PS, don't splurge money on Endeavour, Fortuners or Hexas, they do require deep pockets.

If not then (remember frugal!) as suggested by someone else, go for Bolero Neo. It is a good, decent vehicle with no useless gizmos.

Or, just hire a car like Innova for trips and be content with your i10. (I am using my Desire petrol from 2014 and in similar situation, daughter's 12th, possible slowdown. Though I want to own an SUV, I am not spending 20+ lac for an occasionally used car).

Lastly, if possible, lease a car and have a feel and then decide. Anyway it takes months to get these cars delivered.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

My mind did wander off after seeing the Scorpio N but I asked myself, am I bored with my nearly 7-year-old Safari?

BHPian avinash_m recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Some updates

To begin with, it is currently at 72.6K on the odo and I'd be completing 7 years with it in May 2023. It underwent its 6th-year annual service at TASS around Jun this year. Best part is there weren't any major issues to report or fix besides the regular fluids change/top-ups and general checkup.

Honestly, my mind had started wandering a bit after the Scorpio N launch this year, had even pre-booked one just for the heck of it! But better sense has prevailed and I've decided to keep the Storme till I hit the 1 Lakh kms mark at least.

Why - few reasons which popped up on deliberation were - Vitamin M, probably the most important one. For even a decent (performance, space, safety, bells & whistles) replacement for the Storme, I'd have to spend at least 20L. The Scorpio N did tug at the heart quite strongly, for the package that it is, but financial prudence took precedence. I just wasn't able to convince myself (and the home minister) to part with such a significant sum on a new car.

And one big influencing factor was addressing the question, if I am done/bored with it - the answer I got was a resounding no! I've spent quite a fortune (regular/preventive maintenance) on its upkeep over the years and the sound mechanical condition helped me decide to retain it. Understand I am missing out on much more advanced (& safer) cars of this day and age, but a (bigger) part of me is just not ready to let it go.

And then the enthusiast bug bit hard! While it is a 6+ year old car, doesn't mean it cannot have a few relevant improvements done!? The real selfish reason was to 'feel-good' having spent some money as a small reward. Initially thought of getting all the deep scratches fixed but a quick visit to a body shop (thanks to a reference from local bhpians @Vixit and @Varun_Hexaguy) changed all that; was suggested to let them be as the time/effort/money would be better spent on something else. And boy did I take that seriously!

Apologies for the pics; all are taken from my Nord 2 and am strictly average in this aspect.

3M Detailing Session (both interior and exterior)

After 2 years, due to Covid.

New upholstery

Ordered a full set of seat covers and 2D floor mats from Elegant Auto retail outlet here in Hyderabad. The best part was they still make it on order for older cars like the Storme. Quite an exhaustive collection of materials and fabrics to choose from and I liked what I got in the end. I was specific about getting the cloth-based seat covers and chose this shade as I thought it'd go well with the dull silver panels in the cabin and the roof liner.

At the time of taking delivery, I did get a set of (cloth) beige seat covers offered as a freebie. Had never liked them since the first day and finally chucked them out (within 6 months) as they picked up some bad stains, was running the stock seats until now.

Tyre Swap

The std. Bridgestone Duelers had served really well over the years, with hardly a puncture or two. But given the age, remaining tread depth (and odo at 66K), decided to swap them out with a new set. A camber issue on the front end for the past 10K kms or so, ate up the inside treads on the front pair as well. I really wanted to try something else and had decided on the Michelin LTX but didn't have any luck sourcing them. Finally went with the Yoko Geolanders as I found them pretty cost-effective.

After having driven close to 5K kms on them (both wet and dry), I'd say they're def. grippier in the wet, but the Duelers were quieter/smoother. I'd never heard/felt the expansion joints on bridges, on the Duelers.

Some random clicks

Recently completed a ~2300kms round trip alone in the Storme doing Hyd-Bhubaneswar-Hyd. It continues to amaze me, the sheer mile-munching ability of this car. The fact that I was able to cover ~1140 odd kms in 15 hours is a testament to that. Yes, I was tired at the end of it but it was more mental (out of concentration) than physical. A good night's sleep was all that was needed to recharge all the batteries.

Noticed yesterday that the tail lights (brake) stopped working all of a sudden. Pretty sure they conked (shorted) along with one of the tailgate number plate lamps (had put white LED in that) when I (DIY) installed a new pair of Hella Trumpets; everything was fine before that. Booked an appointment at the local TASS today and got new bulbs for the tail; still have to source a white LED for the number plate. While I was there, I also placed an order for the cracked upper grille and Left Headlight unit which had cracked (but works fine) in the low-speed shunt I'd a couple of years back. Eagle-eyed bhpians will notice the fogged-up left unit in the pics posted above.

Signing off until the next major update, cheers!

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Even after doing 1400 km in under 18 hours, there was no driving fatigue.

BHPian chipsnchops recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I drove close to 4000 km on a long drive from Hyderabad to Trivandrum and back (plus some driving within Trivandrum as well as a detour at Salem on my way back to meet my childhood friend.

Here are some of the things I observed from my Scorpio-N 2WD Diesel Manual.

I drove alone and I did about 1400 km one way in 18 hours. No meal breaks in between.

• Absolutely mind-blowing performance. No other car on road even comes close. When you floor the accelerator, you can literally see how you leave them behind in the dust.

• Super stable on straight roads, not as much in curves but a gentle application of the break and you have full control of your beast.

• The kind of Confidence you get driving it is unmatched. It is due to the deadly combination of the power thrust, the instant response with the steering wheel, and all four disc brakes.

• Was driving more for performance and not for mileage. So the average was around 12 to 13 only.

• Even after doing 1400 km in under 18 hours, there was no driving fatigue (I was definitely tired after 18 hours but that was due to sitting for a long time since I'm almost 50  )

• Like some others also mentioned, the infotainment is still buggy. The Bluetooth suddenly disconnects and refuses to reconnect (for music), the screen freezes with the reverse camera, and for some time the screen went blank. Also once the cruise control refused to engage. (Like all good Made in India vehicles, all of these got sorted when I restarted the engine. The Bluetooth did not. It had a mind of its own. Started working suddenly just the way it stopped)

• Headlights are not up to the mark, esp if you are driving on two-lane highways at night/early morning. I added two projector lamps on the bumper as add ons and it definitely helped massively.

• I love the N's horn but it still is not enough when you are driving on highways at night (or even day) above 120 km/hr. There are so many intersections where people cross the highway. So I added one more horn for the highway. It is shrill and can catch anyone's attention and it can be heard above the music system in cars. I have a changeover switch. So I use it only when I am doing high-speed driving on highways. I have observed that it really helps.

• My Wolfbox dashcam was very helpful. Even when it is really dark outside, I could see everything clearly through the rear dash cam. When I was driving early morning, there was very thick fog in one place and there was no visibility. I took the help of the front dash cam to get better visibility. Very happy with it. Worth every penny.

Overall, fell more and more in love with my N and also felt that pride of owning*it*

Specific details about Hyderabad - Trivandrum drive with toll details are given in this thread

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The car has a life till 2029 and our car need is for two of us, but being a GM car, finding spares may become scarier with time

BHPian Arayan5614 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hey all,

Trust you are doing well.

I recently moved job with a favorable 'Car Lease Plan' the scheme seems tempting, helping save around ~20% on car costs (tax saving + maintenance + Driver claims)

Currently, I drive a pre-owned SAIL UVA - 36k on the odometer in decent condition - no body noise, smooth engine and gear, doesn't look aged from outside too..highly reliable - never failed ever).

Thinking ahead of curve: the car has a life till 2029 and our car need is for two of us, but being a GM car, finding spares may become scarier with time, and the car value may also go doing currently the value is hardly 20% less than what I paid for 2 years back.

Now, the lease plan temptation made me take a serious test drive ( other than the causal one I keep doing):

• Scorpio N - Just love it for A. the commanding driving position and 5 Star rating.
• Safari - The current one gives the true experience of a full-version SUV - the look, feel and road presence.
• XUV700 - smoothest among all - an experience like driving a sedan from the inside.. cool car.

*All diesel AT, mid variant.

Seeking to advise from the enlightened one here (from the car world, personal finance and giving outside-in views).

Questions:

• Should I continue to drive the current car, because it's just two of us - going to any 5 seaters won't change much for us!
• If I buy should I wait for the NEW safari before making a call between Scorpio, XUV 700 & current Safari.
• increasing car prices also makes me lean towards buying one now - any thoughts on future car prices?
• The age and explore - on top of everything the thoughts come - this is the time to buy a car and explore the world ( love taking long drives)

Eager to hear thoughts from experts here!

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

Use your existing car a bit more , do a few road trips and you will get a perspective of what you want from a new car, what you want to do with it etc.

What next?

Get a nice car that would suit your requirements.

Yes cars are going to get more expensive over time but that's okay, there is no need to hurry and get them now.

But if you need any more temptation , just take a test drive of an XUV AT again  , drive it for a bit longer and then go through this decision making process all over.

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

If your existing car is fine, do not ever sell it . It will always hold its own value for your use case in future.

The options your listed will be fine tuned as the days go by. Reconsider this decision maybe after 2 years to see if you need a car then.

Here's what BHPian Tanmay_868 had to say on the matter:

Well most of us would generally push to upgrade to a better ride but considering your usage I would say wait a little. XUV after more than a year of its launch still has little niggles that would take away your new car experience.

Same with Scorpio (I guess?)

Harrier and Safari are in for an update. Their touchscreens look ancient and they have little disturbing ergonomic issues.

So if possible I would suggest you wait a little.

Maybe at Auto Expo TATA may give us a surprise.

One thing I learned from Indian automotive Scene is Patience, after experiencing it a hard way.

When we had to replace our 2012 XUV500 we hastily made a decision and got home Hector in November 2020 (within a week of booking). I didn’t check for any news regarding facelift or anything. Then came January 2021 and news of face lifted Hector gave us a FOMO .

This was further enhanced by launch of XUV700 in September 2021. (Though the niggles reported later gave us some consolation).

So for each for his own, maybe you should drive your car more and see what actually you need in your new car. And maybe in meantime you further enhance your budget for a even better car.

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

I totally understand your feeling and thought process, as I too have been personally in same situation. Like you, I resisted the temptation and seeked advice.
What I found via my discussions is that it's a simple decision:

If, your existing car is no longer fit for purpose and you really need to upgrade, just go for it.

However, if your current car is serving you well, just because you have a lease plan option, do not go for it yet. Wait till you really see that one car that will make a difference in your life and then put your hard earned money out in the market.

The mathematical calculations I did few years back showed that any tax savings obtained via lease plan more or less get negated by the loss you will suffer on value of new car(s). Do remember that while you save 30% tax, you also pay interest on the leased amount. So, your net saving is closer to 20% (or whatever number based on your actual Lease T&Cs).

If you need Maths to be favourable to you, your new car should be more or less similar to the price range of your original car (which we Indians normally don't do).
Otherwise, you are swapping a well working car (depreciation normally becomes slower with number of years passed) for a more expensive car (more expensive and higher depreciating).

So, my 2 cents, will be to assess the practical need (irrespective of Lease Plan). Treat LeasePlan as a tool to achieve a need, rather than a must do.

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

As long as your current car is working well, keep it. Once it starts giving you problems, you would be better off with a new car. But considering the fact that your car is over 8 years old, now would be a good time to consider an upgrade, considering its age and maintenance issues which are likely to crop up and with Chevrolet having shut shop in India, spare parts availability will only dwindle with time. So all things considered, if you feel that the car wont give you much problems for the next couple of years, keep it, else you would be better off selling it.

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