Losing Faith

[howam00]

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Originally Posted by pee wee

I've got a listing of specs on the Indian Scorpio SUV as 2510 kgs. which translates to nearly 5534 lbs. Here's where I found it: Mahindra Scorpio, New Cars India, Get Mahindra Scorpio New Car Price

Also, they list an engine torque maximum of 290 Newton/Metres which converts to 214 lb./ft., less than the 236 listed on the Mahindra N.A. spec sheet for the TRx trucks., and 120 b.h.p. instead of 140h.p.

from that report it certianly would weight that much. It must a typo becuase they also quote a 0-62 time in 10 seconds with the less potent 120 hp version of the motor. I wonder what that 2510 is supposed to be? maybe wheel base with the 2680 being the overall length?!

[gnorthern]

Originally Posted by pee wee

Here's where I found it

How come you can post links and I can't? Anyway, the Special Edition is 210 pounds heavier

[bobwilson]

I'm also starting to doubt this truck. I've been interested in Mahindra for about 3 years now. Honestly I really liked the truck because the thing is so incredibly ugly that I thought it would be cool to own something as such. I also liked that it has a diesel engine.

But... here's the problems I have with it. First of all, I own a 96' Tacoma 4 banger. Its as plain as it gets. Crank windows and a bench seat. It gets around 25-27MPG. It now has 235,000 miles and so far its been almost flawless. I could probably just keep driving it until I get bored with it. It cost around $13k new and even now I think they're around 15k for the same model.

So that's a tall order for the Mahindra truck to live up to. If it really only gets 30MPG then that's not much of an improvement. I know that while the new Jetta TDI is rated at around 35MPG many get over 50MPG in reality. Diesels actually have a break-in period and get better MPG over time. So I was hoping this was the case with these trucks. If not, then 30MPG isn't good enough.

Secondly, if I'm going to buy an untested, unknown truck from a company that has so far been unable to keep any of their promises ( delay after delay) then the truck had better be cheap. DIRT cheap. As in 12k-$15k MAX. No way am I spending anything close to 20k because at that price I might as well get a nicer Tacoma that I know is going to run forever.

Lastly, I've seen pics of the interior of these things and its not a pretty picture. I'm ok with a bare-bones, stripped down interior. But the one in this truck is pretty bad. It just looks horrendous. Absolutely no hint of styling at all. Just a bunch of rounded plastic pieces thrown together.

But the bottom line is this: Unless Mahindra can get the price down to the levels I mentioned they will not sell any of these things. I hope they're reading these posts.

[hsfbfan]

I guess Mahindra should absorb the cost of the diesel engine to put it out at $15,000? Throw in the 6 speed automatic as well?

No one has seen the US spec interiors.

[pee wee]

The fact that Mahindra even has a chance in our market says a bunch about our market, and very little about Mahindra. It's not like we've been salivating over this Indian truck and wishing they'd bring it here- it's that our choices have steadily grown fatter. When we heard they're bringing the Mahindra to this country it was like "finally, a no nonsense small truck". Like the BMW 1 series, it's time for a return to what made the market segment sell in the first place. I wish Toyota or Ford or Chevy were selling a truck like that here, but they haven't even announced plans to. Once the Mahindra trucks arrive, it will be time to look at them and make a decision. Overweight and plastic but safe and reliable, or diesel and stout but unproven and expensive, or buy an old school used truck and sink your money there. Low to mid 20 thou. will give a fellow plenty of options.

[sirmombo]

The only reason Mahindra has any chance is because there are currently no fuel efficient capable trucks in the US market. There's nothing out there that can tow 5000 pounds and get over 21 mpg. The BMW X5 diesel will get get 26 mpg, but that's $55K. If the Hilux or Amarok were coming to the US, very few people would care about Mahindra.

Pickuptrucks.com had an article on the US spec TR40. Many of us have seen what is supposedly the US spec interior and exterior. It looks virtually identical to the Austrailian version except the big Mahindra is missing on the tailgate and it had a bar in front of the front bumper to help pass crash tests.

There is very little information coming from Mahindra, so all we can do is speculate. My key assumptions are:

It will surpass the Pontiac Aztek as the ugliest vehicle on the US roads in recent history.
It will get somewhere between 25 and 30 mpg highway
MSRP will start in the low 20's for the TR20 and mid 20's for the TR40. They will have to offer incentives if a deluxe TR40 is close to 30K
It will have performance comparable to a 4 cylinder Tacoma or 5 cylinder hummer
It will get terrible reviews due primarily to appearance and performance. Some mags will hate it simply because it's an import, but nobody who reads those mags would consider a Mahindra anyway.

I am still wrestling with the question of taking a risk on an unproven truck or getting a truck that gets at most 20 mpg and hoping gas prices stay below $4 a gallon.

[hsfbfan]

I would like to see the link to the pickuptrucks.com article that showed a US spec TR40. Every article I've seen has said the pics are not of the US spec truck.

The interior is supposed to be different from the Australian trucks.

[pee wee]

Spied! U.S.-Spec Mahindra TR40 Diesel Pickup - PickupTrucks.com News

[hsfbfan]

Thanks peewee. I did a search after making that post and found that article.

Not sure what anyone has against that interior. That's what I'll be looking at more than the exterior.

[DickIsGone]

The interior is going to be standard, craptastic Lear seating and dash plastic. Of this you can be assured, considering Mahindra said Lear was building their interiors a while back.

Think ultra-cheesy, conversion van quality, complete with the eye-watering formaldehyde smell and you should be all over it.