These questions can be effectively answered with a thorough test drive. You can get a feel for it's day-to-day functionality that way. The Thar has a removable (soft-top) canopy, you can test its effectiveness at insulation on a test drive as well!
Ideal Car for 4x4 Off Roading
- Thread Starter Pawah
- Start date
Dear Pawah,
Ideal car strictly for off roading purpose, in my opinion will be to purchase a cheap second hand jeep, find a good mechanic/ workshop and source unlimited number of accessories from around the world to make it handle any amount of off-roading.
However, there is a flip side to it having major negatives of reliability and amount of involvement required. Still I believe, that it will be a cheaper option in comparison to a brand new vehicle even in the starting range capable of off-roading. And also, this vehicle will be strictly for off-road use and performance on tarmac will be far from satisfactory.
So far, the discussion in thread has covered Mahindra Thar, Maruti Gypsy and Force Gurkha and you also stated that you want vehicle for daily drive as well. Now the last condition of daily drive vehicle practically rules out the option of second hand jeep, I had one earlier and from my experience I can tell you that reliability issues will be omnipresent and ubiquitous in such a vehicle.
Since you had already gone through my one month ownership of Force Gurkha thread, so I will further add to that thread, that so far I had completed 8,000 km+ on Gurkha and since day one, I have been using it as my only vehicle. My daily usage include handling steep inclines, poor roads as good (or bad) as off-roading and occasional highway runs (under summer heat) to visit my native place in Punjab from Himachal. In all this, Gurkha has never disappointed me and proved to be a reliable workhorse.
For off-roading purpose, stock Gurkha is a very capable of off-roader just with a change of tyres from HT to AT. Also, it would be unwise to compare the mechanical differential locks that come with Gurkha with the automatic electronic Eaton that comes with Thar, since reliability of mechanical locks is much better than electronic ones. Imagine, you are in a critical situation and you are at the mercy of a CPU that will engage or disengage the lockers instead of your own brain. You have already experienced electronic AWD on XUV500 W8!
On Highways, it has got a decent cruising capability provided you are satisfied with 90-100 KMPH. Officially it has got a top speed of 123 KMPH, but it's real forte would be cruising comfortably around 90-100 KMPH without any issues all day long.
In Hills, just engage 3rd gear and Gurkha is capable to amble around on any sort of inclines, curves etc. all the time, just like an automatic. One can do speeds between 25 to 65 KMPH in 3rd gear in hills, which is what one looks for when one has to drive all day in hills without the issue of changing gears.
Also, as discussed in previous posts, defogger is a must for any vehicle if it has to endure North Indian winters and also for some periods of extreme humidity during monsoons. One cannot ignore this fact as well.
The biggest plus of the vehicle, for a person who is using it as a daily drive is its suspension, in comparison to Thar. It can take a family of five with luggage comfortably on highways, hills, bad roads etc without any fuss.
Apart from the above additions, I have already compared Thar with Gurkha in my ownership thread. In case of Maruti Gypsy, I found the following issues:
• Turning Radius, believe me the vehicle has the worst turning radius. Most of the government departments still use Gypsy in Himachal Pradesh and I have myself experienced this.
• Suspension is back-breaking, one will never take any loved one in rear bench of Gypsy.
• Petrol Engine – having disadvantages in fuel cost and lack of low end torque, a must in hills.
• Soft Top
• Lack of AC
• Availability issues – I doubt if it’s readily available as I heard that it’s being made only on account of government or military orders.
Gurkha also doesn’t come without issues but most are solvable, only small niggles which have been rectified in the initial two months of ownership. The change of fluids works magic and from engine response to gear shift, everything has improved dramatically. Since my family owns an XUV 500 W6 back home, so from my experience with XUV I can say that you would also have been spoilt by the comfortable vast bucket seats in front and you will miss those in Gurkha, but the seats can be anytime replaced.
I end my post by stating that Gurkha is a very capable vehicle and can be easily used as a daily vehicle as I have been doing for the past 5 months. Take a test drive and judge for yourself.
Ideal car strictly for off roading purpose, in my opinion will be to purchase a cheap second hand jeep, find a good mechanic/ workshop and source unlimited number of accessories from around the world to make it handle any amount of off-roading.
However, there is a flip side to it having major negatives of reliability and amount of involvement required. Still I believe, that it will be a cheaper option in comparison to a brand new vehicle even in the starting range capable of off-roading. And also, this vehicle will be strictly for off-road use and performance on tarmac will be far from satisfactory.
So far, the discussion in thread has covered Mahindra Thar, Maruti Gypsy and Force Gurkha and you also stated that you want vehicle for daily drive as well. Now the last condition of daily drive vehicle practically rules out the option of second hand jeep, I had one earlier and from my experience I can tell you that reliability issues will be omnipresent and ubiquitous in such a vehicle.
Since you had already gone through my one month ownership of Force Gurkha thread, so I will further add to that thread, that so far I had completed 8,000 km+ on Gurkha and since day one, I have been using it as my only vehicle. My daily usage include handling steep inclines, poor roads as good (or bad) as off-roading and occasional highway runs (under summer heat) to visit my native place in Punjab from Himachal. In all this, Gurkha has never disappointed me and proved to be a reliable workhorse.
For off-roading purpose, stock Gurkha is a very capable of off-roader just with a change of tyres from HT to AT. Also, it would be unwise to compare the mechanical differential locks that come with Gurkha with the automatic electronic Eaton that comes with Thar, since reliability of mechanical locks is much better than electronic ones. Imagine, you are in a critical situation and you are at the mercy of a CPU that will engage or disengage the lockers instead of your own brain. You have already experienced electronic AWD on XUV500 W8!
On Highways, it has got a decent cruising capability provided you are satisfied with 90-100 KMPH. Officially it has got a top speed of 123 KMPH, but it's real forte would be cruising comfortably around 90-100 KMPH without any issues all day long.
In Hills, just engage 3rd gear and Gurkha is capable to amble around on any sort of inclines, curves etc. all the time, just like an automatic. One can do speeds between 25 to 65 KMPH in 3rd gear in hills, which is what one looks for when one has to drive all day in hills without the issue of changing gears.
Also, as discussed in previous posts, defogger is a must for any vehicle if it has to endure North Indian winters and also for some periods of extreme humidity during monsoons. One cannot ignore this fact as well.
The biggest plus of the vehicle, for a person who is using it as a daily drive is its suspension, in comparison to Thar. It can take a family of five with luggage comfortably on highways, hills, bad roads etc without any fuss.
Apart from the above additions, I have already compared Thar with Gurkha in my ownership thread. In case of Maruti Gypsy, I found the following issues:
• Turning Radius, believe me the vehicle has the worst turning radius. Most of the government departments still use Gypsy in Himachal Pradesh and I have myself experienced this.
• Suspension is back-breaking, one will never take any loved one in rear bench of Gypsy.
• Petrol Engine – having disadvantages in fuel cost and lack of low end torque, a must in hills.
• Soft Top
• Lack of AC
• Availability issues – I doubt if it’s readily available as I heard that it’s being made only on account of government or military orders.
Gurkha also doesn’t come without issues but most are solvable, only small niggles which have been rectified in the initial two months of ownership. The change of fluids works magic and from engine response to gear shift, everything has improved dramatically. Since my family owns an XUV 500 W6 back home, so from my experience with XUV I can say that you would also have been spoilt by the comfortable vast bucket seats in front and you will miss those in Gurkha, but the seats can be anytime replaced.
I end my post by stating that Gurkha is a very capable vehicle and can be easily used as a daily vehicle as I have been doing for the past 5 months. Take a test drive and judge for yourself.
If budget is not an issue, and as most have suggested the new Thar CRDE, would be good, and @Pawah as you are based in delhi, mayapuri is a hive for 4x4 vehicles.
good luck for your passion.
vinod
good luck for your passion.
vinod
Thread Starter
#19
@ mps khatraw - thanks for the amazingly detailed review and I will be heading for a gurkha test drive soon.
@ Nanofreak - the new 10 year diesel rule is the single reason why I am not looking at used. Though that was my first preference. I will however check out mayapuri nonetheless. If you have any specific locations within mayapuri as a recommendation that would be great.
@ Nanofreak - the new 10 year diesel rule is the single reason why I am not looking at used. Though that was my first preference. I will however check out mayapuri nonetheless. If you have any specific locations within mayapuri as a recommendation that would be great.
Guru, whether its a jeep or a RE bullet, inko khareedne ke liye eek sannak, pagalpan, aur junoon hona cahiye, which essentially means to get down on your hands and knees and elbow grease your way through the kabaad (mayapuri), however positive pointers you receive, you will still need to do the above.
all the best
vinod
all the best
vinod
@pawah gurkha is definitely a worthy buy. its more logical when compared with thar soft top. that being said i'm not against Thar. if you want to have a detailed review of Gurkha you can have a look at it on TAI
http://www.theautomotiveindia.com/f...328-new-force-gurkha-4x4-review-pictures.html
http://www.theautomotiveindia.com/f...328-new-force-gurkha-4x4-review-pictures.html
@Pawah: When going for Test Ride, you may find engaging gears a hard task, this is due to two reasons:
1. Unusual gear shift pattern, as first gear is engaged by pushing back the gear lever on left side unlike the usual push forward first gear in all other cars.
2. The gear box oil company uses, once changed with ATF DEXRON, gear shift becomes butter smooth.
Please don't form an opinion about Gurkha just due to gear shift issue, which is resolved once one get used to gear shift pattern (for me it took hardly 1-2 hours) and once the gear box oil is changed.
Check for it's off road capabilities - crawling function, awesome approach & departure angles, savior differential locks, view it offers, seating position etc. Even in stock tyres, Gurkha leaves one in awe with its capabilities.
All the best![[thumbsup]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Thumbs%20Up.png "Thumbs Up [thumbsup]")
1. Unusual gear shift pattern, as first gear is engaged by pushing back the gear lever on left side unlike the usual push forward first gear in all other cars.
2. The gear box oil company uses, once changed with ATF DEXRON, gear shift becomes butter smooth.
Please don't form an opinion about Gurkha just due to gear shift issue, which is resolved once one get used to gear shift pattern (for me it took hardly 1-2 hours) and once the gear box oil is changed.
Check for it's off road capabilities - crawling function, awesome approach & departure angles, savior differential locks, view it offers, seating position etc. Even in stock tyres, Gurkha leaves one in awe with its capabilities.
All the best
MPS sir, what is the lowest RPM range from where you can get steady torque push in 2nd and 3rd gear???
also how would you rates gurkha's suspension (ride and handling) on very rough roads? is it bumpy or flat?? what would you say about its ride quality when compared to a thar?
also how would you rates gurkha's suspension (ride and handling) on very rough roads? is it bumpy or flat?? what would you say about its ride quality when compared to a thar?
That is a very comprehensive post, however I think the above comment is not correct. The rear differential lock in the new Thar is an MLD i.e a mechanical locking device and not electronically controlled. It is a mechanical device that gets activated when there is difference in rotation between the two tyres. For more info please have a look at this video - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftyJvIO0DZ8