Tata Safari 2.2 VTT - Black 25,000 Kms Ownership Review

[sethumurugan]

Hari, That is nice to know that you had nice trip. Sometimes driving in Rain is fun but most of the time it is scary/risky. And its great that you have climbed up 70 hairpin bends () in that rainy day and came down very safety (hear so many news about stones/sand sliding in many ghat section roads including tirupati in last couple of days).

Your beast really looks great. The other day we did n't had time to catch-up with you beast. Hope one day we will do it.

 

[konkantrip]

Your beast is really looking stunning in black colo. 14.2 is a excellent FE with 70 hair pin ghat section.

 

[hari.d]

Yes sir, sure will catch up. The complete onward journey is gloomy. Due to the rain not able to use ac as it is very chill. For every 15 mins the windhsield gets fogged and needs to switch on the AC to get it cleared.

Some how the defogger button in the dash is not working or i need to look into the vehicle manual for the exact functionality.

The downside of the trip is, once i reach saidapet am able to hear front suspension noise. It was fine till kathipara but again the roads are great in the entire trip. Now the noise is aggravated in the last 2 days.

Last time the Center link road, center arm or pin and some bushes are changed(a month ago with expenditure of 8500). But i wondered the tie rods are good and the above got worned out. Now am sure the there are problems with ball joints and tie rods. Need to get it checked and replaced. Am sure the gross weight of 2.5 ton is never a going to withstand by the feeble tata's suspension parts for long time.

Expecting some burning in my pocket . Almost run 14000kms from the last oil change so need to do that servicing also in the next few weeks.

Vehicle crossed 20000kms in the 10 months of ownership.

 

[hari.d]

Your beast is really looking stunning in black colo. 14.2 is a excellent FE with 70 hair pin ghat section.

yes. The speed maintained is mostly 90 km/hr. Also the AC usage is less that 20%.

Those 70 hair pin bends are driven completely in 1st and 2nd gear covering 50kms two way. Also this is the highest mileage recorded in the 20K driving. On average i get approx 13km/ltr on long trips. But the speed maintained will be 90 to 110 and the more important than that is the AC which will be used minimum 70%.

If the roof AC also used then definitely the mileage will be in the range of 12 kms.

 

[hari.d]

Showed my vehicle to the local mechanic who did some suspension job last month. He feels the tie rods and all the ball joints need to be replaced to get better comfort and to get rid of the suspension noise. But he asked me to bring the vehicle next week.

Planning for a trip to Wonderla - mysore road this weekend with family.Hope the suspension doesnt creates any problem in the trip.

Also planning to do the engine oil service along with suspension job.

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Almost run 14000kms from the last oil change

Don't kill your engine; get the engine oil replaced TODAY, irrespective of whether you are running synthetic oil or not.

 

[hari.d]

Don't kill your engine; get the engine oil replaced TODAY, irrespective of whether you are running synthetic oil or not.

Sam,

The engine oil replacement interval is 15000kms or 12 months right for safari (Same mentioned in the manual). In the mentioned 14000kms 70% of them are in highways and moreover speed never crossed 100 so thought of replacing next week.

But off late i feel some extra vibration from the engine could it be the reason of overuse of the engine oil?

 

[konkantrip]

+1 with what Sam Sir Said. You can check the thickness of the oil but I think You should replace it.

 

[hari.d]

After couple of hectic weeks in work found some time to update my thread.

Last week on monday gave my safari for suspension overall and engine oil service.got the vehicle delivered on friday only.its a local known mechanic shop.

Changed all ball joints, tie rods, bush kits except the center link rod and some minor itemd which are changed last month.

Front brake pads replaced, oil and oil filter changed+lathe charge+alignment+spares+labour+waterwash -totally paid 14200 rs.

Now the vehicle rides smooth and great as usual.only downside is the rattling noise which is there for the last 4 months.

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Only downside is the rattling noise which is there for the last 4 months.

Confucious said: "Safari rattle, no cure. Safari rattle, turn up the stereo."

 

[hari.d]

Confucious said: "Safari rattle, no cure. Safari rattle, turn up the stereo."

. If i give it to ASS for rattling, they almost make it silent but it takes only couple of weeks to get it resurfaced.Mostly to blame chennai city roads and the number of atleast 20 speed breakers i face daily inside my office campus.

 

[hari.d]

Guyz,

After a gap of almost 3 weeks finding sometime to update the thread.

Went to Crocodile park and mahabalipuram with family on sunday. Usually we pack the lunch for 1 day trip and have it in the roadside shelter. We have a good memory of having lunch in the tree shelter in ECR.

Found a place on LHS just 5 kms before crocodile park, it was a 6 to 7 feet deep elevation from the road. Felt pride of safari and dropped down there and had the lunch.

When we are about to start, instead of taking a reverse a a few feet and turning sharply to get to the road proceeded little straighter where there is more sand than soil. idea is to take a comfortable easy turn to the not remembering the sand where we had the lunch. The left rear wheel got stuck and the more i accelerate the more it gets penetrates to the sand.

Accelerated couple of times and even we 5 of our family tried to push the vehicle back, not even an inch moved.Started dialing the Tata onroad assistance and proceeded with the vehicle and location and the problem information. Meanwhile found a tourist bus near by around 100 feet. Disconnected the helpline saying will try some local help and get back to them.

Went near the bus and asked for help. Promptly they came with 10 - 15 young people, meanwhile my wife and parents picked some 10 folks from road side to help on. Together it became 25+ people, they were trying pushing the vehicle on either side myself helping by acceleration. No progress, then a brilliant guy in that group picked a big stone from nearby place, digged the sand below the wheel and placed it underneath whereas all other folks lifted the vehicle higher. Once the stone got set below the wheel am able to reverse the vehicle with some push from the front.

Sighed a huge relief and thanked all the lads who helped me. If i was little more sensible and not overconfident this could have easily avoided. First time missed 4 * 4, but again i dont need that as i never tried offroad.

My sister has picked a snap of this incident, will post it sooner.

 

[pravin1987]

great to see the helping tendency of people. guess you are telling the area where is there is a lot of eucalyptus tress.

 

[*SMK*]

hari.d, your black safari looks stunning. appreciate your heart over mind decision. any plans for alloys? with alloys it will look killer!

 

[hari.d]

hari.d, your black safari looks stunning. appreciate your heart over mind decision. any plans for alloys? with alloys it will look killer!

No plans for alloys as of now due to budgetary concerns also am not sure whether i will go with this vehicle for more than 2 years, as all of may past vehicles are with me for less than or 2.5 years and dont want to spend much for looks.

great to see the helping tendency of people. guess you are telling the area where is there is a lot of eucalyptus tress.

yes i was really surprised and ecstatic to see around 30 people helping me within 5 or 10 mins. sorry i dont remember the trees exactly but it is some 5 -10 kms before crocodile park.