To Mahindra 4x4 or sit on my hands.

[Davian74]

My "thing" is bird/nature photography. We just love to get into those more remote places where we can spend some hours at a waterhole or other quiet places. I have a 4x2 Ranger, which is my seventh Ford product to date. I have been very happy with Ford and my three Rangers and one Everest have especially treated me well. So they should because they are not often off tarred roads. However we do love the Northern Cape, Kgalagadi, Richtersveld etc., where the roads can be atrocious. Recently we went to Karoo National Park and discovered that the 4x4 routes in the park comprise about 60% of the park. Yes, I did wander into one of the 4x4 routes and did complete it quite comfortably but one day I might not be so lucky. I'm not sure if I just have a "bee under my bonnet" that I should kill with Doom or whether I should let my dreams have wings. I'm now 67 and want to spend the next few years that I am mobile pursuing my dreams where possible. My question is: should I give a Mahindra S11 auto 4x4 a second look or should I rather go for a 3-4 year old ford Ranger auto 4x4? They are about the same price and I get 5 years service plan and 4 years warranty with the new Mahindra. The only question in the back of my mind is the issue of reliability!! Please help me kill the bee or give my dreams wings.

[LouisXander]

You can go Mahindra with a rested heart.

Go read the test drives from the different magazines maybe that'll help.

Farmers prefers Mahindra nowadays because of the value for money too.

[FWM]

Nothing wrong with Mahindra

My dad who used to drive Isuzu since I can remember has switched over to a Scorpio S4 for farm work and he says he is as happy as can be.

[Orxy]

The Mahindras are used extensively in game parks in Sri Lanka, and the guys abuse those vehicles seemingly with very few issues.

[Jens78]

I'd rather get a new S11 than a 3/4 year old Ranger. Those M-Hawk engines have proven themselves over the years to be reliable and super economical. For your purposes, the Mahindra auto seems like a solid choice. Go test drive one to see if you'll actually like it.

[Jors55]

The 2.2 mHawk engine is quite lively and economical as well. I got 15km/l when driving conservatively on open road.
Be prepared to drive it into the ground as the trade-in value is not good. The plasticky interior of my vehicle looked shoddy after 5 years & 100k km (XUV 500 W6).

[Brownpine]

Wait for the new Mahindra Thar... its already out overseas and should be launching in SA early next year... it looks just like a Jeep Wrangler and in very impressive... you will probably get a good deal on a current 2019 / 2020 model.

[Dungbeetle]

For less than a new Mahindra you can get a 2014 or later Patrol 3.0D CRD. Just so much more of a vehicle that will last another 20years..with minimal maintenance cost and zero repairs. Just saying....

Hens teeth to find one I know.

And no mine will never be up for sale..

Don't fall for the fuel consumption ignorent comments out there - mine is average 8.2km/l

[Davian74]

Thank you for all the constructive comments, maybe I can give some of those nurtured 4x4 dreams wings. I have always felt so guilty venturing down a 4x4 trail in my 4x2 consoling myself that a diff lock is enough. I would hate to be the source of discomfort for someone else to come and extract me if necessary. The Mahindra seems like a very capable pickup that is doing very well in SA. The owners I've spoken to seem happy. I hadn't given the Patrol a second thought because they are as was said, "like hen's teeth". The thought of owning one is most appealing, as would a good condition Land Cruiser/Prado. It's just the cost of owning an older vehicle that makes me a bit nervous. I came across this add; 2016 Nissan Patrol 3.0TD GL with 85000k's on the clock with a full service record and two previous owners in Strand. Who can argue with Dungbeetle with over 800 000K's, it just deserves respect. Maybe the Patrol is worth a more serious look but the Mahindra is still in the game. Thank you so much to all who have helped give my dreams some structure, that's why I love this forum.

[walkabout]

To the OP, I don't know if it helps you, but I have a mate in PE who is selling his 2016/2017 3.2l Ford Ranger Wildtrack DC 4x4, 42000km, metallic charcoal colour, for around R450 000 negotiable (I still need to do a thread about it to see if fair price). Wife's car, never seen off-road, he has too many vehicles and they are downscaling.

I know which one I would choose.

[LouisXander]

If fuel usage don't play, go Patrol.

If you're wary of usage, go Mahindra.

But a new car is always so much nicer.....

[Peter Connan]

Thank you for all the constructive comments, maybe I can give some of those nurtured 4x4 dreams wings. I have always felt so guilty venturing down a 4x4 trail in my 4x2 consoling myself that a diff lock is enough. I would hate to be the source of discomfort for someone else to come and extract me if necessary. The Mahindra seems like a very capable pickup that is doing very well in SA. The owners I've spoken to seem happy. I hadn't given the Patrol a second thought because they are as was said, "like hen's teeth". The thought of owning one is most appealing, as would a good condition Land Cruiser/Prado. It's just the cost of owning an older vehicle that makes me a bit nervous. I came across this add; 2016 Nissan Patrol 3.0TD GL with 85000k's on the clock with a full service record and two previous owners in Strand. Who can argue with Dungbeetle with over 800 000K's, it just deserves respect. Maybe the Patrol is worth a more serious look but the Mahindra is still in the game. Thank you so much to all who have helped give my dreams some structure, that's why I love this forum.

If you drive both, particularly on a bad 2-spoor road, I reckon I know which one you will take home, and I don't think it's the Mahindra.

As for older vehicles costing more to run than new ones, that is bollocks in 90% of cases. Yes, they do require more parts replacement (but on a 4-year old Patrol that's not the case yet by a good few years), but the monthly installments and what you lose in depreciation more than make up for that.

I drive a 24-year-old Patrol, and the total cost per month is less than a third of the installment on the cheapest new 4x4 on the market. And then you still need to add fuel, tires, insurance etc.

[Dungbeetle]

Another factor is the space. I can just imagine how cluttered a Mahindra will be in cab with cameras lenses binoculars etc. etc

[LouisXander]

Have you ever been inside a Mahindra S series? It's as spacious as you'll ever get, no current Jap/German DC gets near to it, even the Amarok which always was wider.

[Hawkeye]

I owned a Mahindra Single cab 2.5 4x4 , the ugliest bakkie I have owned , in 300 000km it did not drop me once, It traveled through zim, moz, nam, all over SA, gravel roads, no roads and tar. I bought it reluctantly , but at the time it was the cheapest 4x4 I could buy cash , it also had more space in it than any of the single cabs out there..... at the same time I owned a 3L patrol , fantastic vehicle ...... but expensive to maintain and believe me when the K,s mount up stuff starts to give up.....my work at the time was guiding ..... eventually sold both and bought a Foton 4x4, also very happy with it..... a huge amount of vehicle for verry little and you save a fortune.

Would I buy a Mahindra again, for sure.....! It compares favourably with the best out there . Its still freeking ugly...

[Rainier Vermaak]

at the same time I owned a 3L patrol , fantastic vehicle ...... but expensive to maintain and believe me when the K,s mount up stuff starts to give up.....

This must be fake news, the Patrol is quoted above as a vehicle with "zero repairs".

They NEVER break. EVER.

[Koebelwagen]

Not really comparing apples with apples here...

New VS Second hand

Factory warranty and service plan VS None

Pickup VS SUV

Fuel consumption of 10KM/L+ VS 5KM/L to a claimed 8.2KM/L.

[jelo]

A Patrol will be still going long after the Mahindra has fallen apart. And you will be able to get Patrol spares on the interwebs long after Mahindra has left the country.

[Jens78]

Thank you for all the constructive comments, maybe I can give some of those nurtured 4x4 dreams wings. I have always felt so guilty venturing down a 4x4 trail in my 4x2 consoling myself that a diff lock is enough. I would hate to be the source of discomfort for someone else to come and extract me if necessary. The Mahindra seems like a very capable pickup that is doing very well in SA. The owners I've spoken to seem happy. I hadn't given the Patrol a second thought because they are as was said, "like hen's teeth". The thought of owning one is most appealing, as would a good condition Land Cruiser/Prado. It's just the cost of owning an older vehicle that makes me a bit nervous. I came across this add; 2016 Nissan Patrol 3.0TD GL with 85000k's on the clock with a full service record and two previous owners in Strand. Who can argue with Dungbeetle with over 800 000K's, it just deserves respect. Maybe the Patrol is worth a more serious look but the Mahindra is still in the game. Thank you so much to all who have helped give my dreams some structure, that's why I love this forum.

Why would you go for the Pik Up if you can get the Scorpio S11 4x4 wagon for less?

[Robbief]

18 posts and no suggestion of a Pajama