Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying & Ownership Experience [65K Kms Crossed]

[Thetraveller]

Re: Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

Wow those scuffs look cool. How much do you shelve out for these?

and I totally agree with the suspense part truecitylover has created. It is like a teaser for an upcoming movie

 

[truecitylover]

Re: Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

truecitylover no more pictures for you - till you tell us the maruti steed you are expecting shortly - thats the price you pay for keeping us harrassed with the suspense What say guys hope i am being fair!!

Ok. Let me wait for the pictures of the dark knight then.

And I totally agree with the suspense part truecitylover has created. It is like a teaser for an upcoming movie

Are you guys teaming up for it huh?
BTW, planning to tease you guys with few pictures. What say???

 

[Iron Rock]

Re: Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

Are you guys teaming up for it huh?
BTW, planning to tease you guys with few pictures. What say???

Yes as petrol heads u r keeping us teased - so we can gang up - beware !! Cmon some teaser pics will do ...

 

[truecitylover]

Re: Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

Yes as petrol heads u r keeping us teased - so we can gang up - beware !! Cmon some teaser pics will do ...

Ha ha ha. Good to see a team work here! Have asked my BIL to send me the pictures ASAP. He was supposed to go to the dealership today. But due to someother work, he will be going tomorrow. So, stay tuned.

BTW, i'm also eagerly awaiting the photos.

 

[krish_go]

Re: Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

Nice snaps. Hopeing for more. By the way How much did they cost?

 

[Iron Rock]

Re: Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

Iron Rock, your's XUV Rocks.

I guess similar Scuff plates have been fitted by members of TAI having Verna Fluidic.

Thanks Mukesh, Xover,Krish_go, Thetraveller, Vishwas, truecitylover

I must admit i dont remember the price of the scuff plates, overall accessories cost me some 30-35k - ill find out though and post..

Btw the update is ill be doing the first service this friday - its earlier than the recommend 4.5-5K first service as i am off on a long drive to kerala(3k round trip) this saturday and i want to get the first service done before the trip.

 

[Iron Rock]

Re: Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

just back from 3k(approx) round trip to Kerala and wanted to share 2 reports:-

1) The trip itself and the experience :-
To Journey Pune -> Ganagapur->Hubli->Bandipur->Palakkad-> Allepey(1650 kms)

N Main Rd to NH 544 - Google Maps


Return Route Allepey -> Kozhikode->Gokarna->Dharwad->Belgaum->Kolhapur->Pune

Alappuzha, Kerala to Pune, Maharashtra - Google Maps


The routes were so due to the some fixed stops we had enroute and we decided on the return journey to try the coastal route Nh17 and crossover to the bangalore highway from Dharwad.

It was my first trip to allepey and even though i knew kerala was called God's Own Country - I now know why exactly!!
Kerala back waters is a unique experience and even though i have been to Venice -> This was something unique and turned out as a pleasant surprise.
Even the beaches of Allepey were beautiful and its nice to see clean beaches (its slowly becoming a rarity in India). i just hope they improve further on the cleanliness and manage the environment well.Its really a paradise in india and no wonder attracts tourists in hordes. Ill try to upload some snaps later. If you havent visited yet, you should absolutely.

2) XUV 5OO - Firstly my last post said the XUV would go for a service before the trip but that didnt happen - the RM suggested to do it after the trip rather as it was too early. I was a bit apprehensive but really the XUV was mighty to say the least!! We faced no problems whatsoever and beleive it or not the electronics too behaved great including tyretonics - shocking aint it ? lol
Jokes apart mechanically the engine is a gem, i never exceeded 120kmph and the engine was purring at hardly around 2k rpm - easy peasy on the engine!! The entire drive was completely fatigue free and this was the first time i took the XUV on a really long trip and while i was used to civic comforts , i must say the XUV topped all my expectations.

Notes :-

a) Firstly the seats - whoever had any doubts about the first 2 rows dont even bother - they are very relaxing and fatigue free and i managed to cover well over 800kms on a day and still managed to walk off as if it was hardly anything. The driver seat are extremely comfortable, but please take some time to arrange the position of the seat and the steering - yes in terms of ergonomics may be the centre arm rest should slide 2 inches further and that would have been completely ideal. I had a short passenger for most of the journey on the 3rd row seat and surprisingly no complaints except for them feeling jailed in the third row with no doors to get off!! the second row with the recline is very comfy to the passengers and more than enough leg room.

b) Fuel efficiency - I think overall we got over 16.5 , in some clean highway stretches around 19kmpl , whereas it came down to 12-13 in some slow moving traffic.What i loved was a tank full gives u well over a 1000km run - the XUV has a 70ltr tank, so no frequent top ups needed.

c) Drive - the engine is very torquey and and got a good mid range i felt u cud shift to fifth comfortably at 60kmhr and 6th at 80kmhr and the engine was taking it easy at low rpms , never really stretched. With a lot of luggage and 7 passengers never felt overtaking would be so easy and the xuv was rolling heads wherever we went - lots of questions all around. At bandipur we got stopped and were asked questions by a really enthusiastic bunch - all through the journey i could only spot 2 more XUVs - especially in kerala there were none spotted , so people have a lot of curiosity about the vehicle. I used the cruise control frequently but really in india its of very little use as u have to brake every so often and cant use the cruise control for longer times - but i had good fun using it nevertheless.

d) Infotainment system works fine and with the latest software updates i felt the sound was improved, we used to gps in all the journey and it worked perfectly fine. It locks on fast too, never felt any locking delay whatsoever.

Now for the status of my overall niggles which really has nothing to do with the trip per se, but exists since before :-

i) The perimetric alarms still go off once a while and this especially happens after a long run and when the engine is hot, it sounds for around 10 secs and then rests itself. I am kind of so becoming used to it i inform the security around anywhere i park abt it as a security feature that will go off once lol. But seriously its an issue i expect mahindra to address asap - they have tried fiddling twice already but no success as yet in fully resolving the issue. i suspect the bonnet sensor, but cant say for sure - great if somebody has faced similar issue and can share their experience towards resolution ?

ii) The infotainment system has a strange issue with fuel efficiency display - it tops up at 15kmpl, even if u reset it it goes till 15 and then maxes out there - a funny problem i think. Its probably not anyone has faced yet as Mahindra thinks its a unique issue they need to debug with my car. Anybody else heard something like this and can think of a pragmatic reason for this ?

Apart from the above two issues, there is no problem whatsoever and the car including the rest of electronics behaved completely fine. Surprisingly even the tyretronics were spot on since the last time mahindra fixed it. Do these issues trouble me a lot ? - not really - but i need mahindra to fix them nevertheless. Its a small hassle to live with for being an early guinea pig i would say.

Overall my experience with the vehicle has been more than satisfactory - it topped all my expectations so far. i hope the longer term experience remains the same, but only time will tell.

 

[THE XOVER]

Re: Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

^^
Good that you are enjoying your "Dark Night" to the max buddy,and where are the pics of your trip?

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Re: Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

Glad to know Mahindra's been getting it right with the Dark Knight so far. Please post some pics of your trip.

 

[raj_5004]

Re: Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

Thanks for the review buddy. Good to hear that your XUV is performing as expected.

One thing you dint mention & I am curious to know - how was the ride quality?

P.S.: My native is Allepey!

 

[Iron Rock]

Re: Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

Thanks Xover, Sam and Raj, yes pics are due but i just realised my camera has been swapped in to my dad's luggage and now is in mumbai - as soon i get my hands on it will post the pics..sorry abt that delay, !!

Abt Raj, the ride quality was very good, especially high speed dynamics too with so much weight laden. But i would still put Aria as slightly better than XUV in the suspension feel. I had a moment on the NH17 where the car nearly flew off a gradient at 80kmph - my mistake clearly as i didnt spot the gradient quick enough to slow down. It behaved well on landing and was very stable - it was only a split second thing, usually in a xylo u wud expect a bounciness and roll on landing but in this there was nearly nothing. This was with the luggage carrier fully laden too - so i am glad the vehicle didnt bounce or swerve or the steering didnt go awry at all. In my personal view the ride quality of XUV only comes second to Aria, but its leagues ahead of the Fortuner. I havent driven the endeavour for long so cant compare with that.

Another point i missed mentioning, i keep getting a call nearly every week from Mahindra customer care asking for my feedback and experience with the vehicle - so i keep highlighting the perimetric alarm issue again and again- i dont want to be continuing experimenting at the service centre but at the same time i realise the above 2 issues are not easy ones to debug and fix. While i appreciate the effort mahindra is taking in collecting feedback - i hope they also act on it and drive to resolution - so far the answer is yes, but ill reserve my judgment till both my issues are fully resolved.

P.S Raj you lucky ..err cant mention that word on a public forum. To be a native of Allepey, you are really lucky - i would definitely recommend this to anyone especially during offseason. The boat rides and boat houses are too expensive in peak period. Because of the back water attraction, nobody mentions the beaches in allepey, but i found it very clean and the water quality very good too. Its a must visit.

 

[raj_5004]

Re: Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

Thank you buddy. We have put our XUV purchase on hold in view of the number of niggles mentioned across the forums. I guess I have to wait till mid 2012 for Mahindra to sort out the niggles as I can clearly see that they do want to improve the vehicle based on suggestions & customer feedbacks.

P.S Raj you lucky ..err cant mention that word on a public forum. To be a native of Allepey, you are really lucky - i would definitely recommend this to anyone especially during offseason. The boat rides and boat houses are too expensive in peak period.

And what if i say that we have our own houseboat there?

 

[Iron Rock]

Re: Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

Thank you buddy. We have put our XUV purchase on hold in view of the number of niggles mentioned across the forums. I guess I have to wait till mid 2012 for Mahindra to sort out the niggles as I can clearly see that they do want to improve the vehicle based on suggestions & customer feedbacks.

And what if i say that we have our own houseboat there?

Yes if u can wait u should, with anyways the autoexpo around the corner, u never know u might have a few new candidates to add to the confusion. But the XUV will get the full five stars when it comes to VFM quotient. I hope the other manufacturers(especially Tata, Ford and Toyota) match Mahindra on this one - it will be good for us customers!!

Regarding the boat house - wow i have a few questions for you :-
1) How much does it cost on an average to buy/build one ? I understand it made of fully local material and the thatch work and craftmanship is superb!!
2) is it expensive to maintain and what are running/ongoing costs ?
3) Hows the yearly P/L if i look at it as an investment option? ( you dont have to answer this on a public forum though :) )

 

[raj_5004]

Re: Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

Regarding the boat house - wow i have a few questions for you :-
1) How much does it cost on an average to buy/build one ? I understand it made of fully local material and the thatch work and craftmanship is superb!!

Ours is a 3 BHK A/C houseboat with a first floor balcony. Such a new houseboat may cost you around 35 lacs. Varies a lot depending on the construction.

Now a days you also have 4 BHK A/C houseboats with a full length A/C conference hall on top. 'Muthoot' group has such houseboats. They are hired mainly for office parties & conferences.

2) is it expensive to maintain and what are running/ongoing costs ?

It is a bit expensive. Running costs are low but taxes & periodic maintainence is hefty, especially since it requires very skilled labours to work on it.

It is propelled by a Ashok Leyland bus engine.

3) Hows the yearly P/L if i look at it as an investment option? ( you dont have to answer this on a public forum though :) )

If you have a dedicated person in Kerela to look after it, maintain it & run it, then it is a good investment. Competition is very fierce, so the person should be very capable. There are a lot of legal & safety requirements you need to comply with.

Maintainence is the key, as visitors/tourists want to sit in a good/plush looking houseboat which is very clean & with all modern amenities.

An interesting fact about houseboats of Kerela -

The skilled workers do not use any welding for the construction. Even nails are not used. The entire houseboat is made of wood, bamboo leaves and coir ONLY. And it is structurally very rigid!

 

[Iron Rock]

Re: Mahindra XUV5OO: "The Dark Knight" Buying and Ownership Experience

Quite Amazing actually - yes one look at it and you can make out it need special skills to build. Amazing they build it out of natural stuff. This is slightly OT(mods pls excuse) but hearing thats its powered by AL engines is something of a surprise - i am guessing that would come out cheaper than buying an imported engine to propel a boat of that size..
But really its a unique thing and must have experience - next time i am there ill ask for a special 'knowing raj on TAI' discount - offcourse in the offseason - i have just experienced the peak fares
Raj, Also can u please add some photos of ur house boat, keen to see the unseen sections like engine room etc