In late 2003 I am given responsibility to execute a bridge in interior Jharkhand full of hilly terrain & extremist dominated area. We are in search of a a comfortable, credible a safe vehicle. District head quarter is around 80Km away, Ranchi is 250 KM away & my HO is around 600 KM away. For safety It is very rare that I can use public transport & even for quite a long time I was suggested even not to move in trains inside Jharkhand.
We have taken some first hand experience with Mahindra bolero, Scorpio. But initially we thought that TATA SUMO Ex+ will be better & we purchased the same for that work. To day I am happy that our decision was very right. Every day I have to travel an avearage 250 KMs with out any fatigue. Approximately each month I have to come to My HO by road. I starts at 6 AM in the morning & reach by 8 o’clock night of the same day with out any pain.
I have a very good driver still I drive the vehicle for about 200 KMs enjoyingly. Its power steering, powerful AC with split window for rear seats really took all the pain away. Road condition never made any worry to us for its wide radial tyres. Till now it covered close to 200000 KMs but still no engine oil eating.
This is very credible & journey by it is very pleasnt.
It has only a problem that its radiator is at very lower level & the fans broken if travelled in a knee deep water with speed. Again the radiotor boses are fibre & cooling pipes are of aluminium. Hence this is irreparable & need replacement as a whole. Spare parts availibility also not up to mark. Consumption is alright start with 12 KM a litre & now 10 KM a litr.
However friends having Scropio, Travera alreafy confessed that SUMO Ex+ is better than those & in fact the Scorpio owner already purchased an Ex+ with turbo charger. My vehicle is with out turbo charger.