Mahindra makes 4×4 guide for scared drivers
December 2, 2009 by Tim Beissmann
Indian ute manufacturer Mahindra Automotive says that many Australian 4×4 owners are keen to go adventure driving but are too scared to do it.
A survey conducted at Mahindra dealerships along the Eastern Seaboard found that 32 per cent of ute owners were interested in 4×4 touring but had never done anything about it.
Another 7.2 per cent said they go touring with friends but wouldn’t brave the elements in their own vehicle.
The results prompted the company to develop a four-wheel drive guide to help first-timers and those unsure about how to prepare, what to take and other general safety tips for going off-road.
Mahindra Australia CEO, Claire Tynan, said it was important for drivers to have confidence in their car and themselves before setting off into the great unknown.
“Through talking to buyers and understanding the market via extensive research we found that drivers are rightfully apprehensive of finding themselves in sticky situations in remote areas.
“This is why understanding a 4×4 vehicle before making a purchase and questioning the brand’s capability and reliability, as well as taking all of the right precautions before heading out, is absolutely vital.
“This sort of knowledge makes a huge difference in terms of confidence on those special adventure trips as well as on the road daily,” she said.
Rees Leyshon was one of the more apprehensive drivers who had a lifelong dream to four-wheel drive up to Cape York.
He said learning the basics from the Mahindra guide and dealers and understanding his car helped him to overcome the fear and live the dream.
“It just takes time to do your research and build confidence with your vehicle once you’ve bought it before you can go out there and conquer some tough tracks. But it’s well worth it.”
Tips from the 4×4 guide include:
- Tyres, brakes and steering should all be in good condition, and oil and water levels should be checked
- Spare equipment should include: fan belts, radiator hoses, fuel filter, engine oil, gear oil and brake fluid
- Basic recovery equipment such as snatch straps, shovel, and basic toolkit are among the essential items to carry
- Try to travel with another vehicle or a four-wheel drive club and avoid travelling alone
Those example tips are just common sense really…
I thought Mahindra were trying to sell either a severely cheap 4WD where scratches and dents are really cheap to fix or an expensive 4WD that was unbreakable…
very scared once its trade in time….
Yeah, I’d be scared to sit in the 2nd most dangerous car sold in AUS or is it the 3rd most dangerous after the Great Wall Ute?
I’d be scared of the ridicule from other off-roaders.
Tip 1. should have bought a hilux
Here’s a fact – far more Hiluxs break down on Cape York than Mahindras.
Cape York is not that big a 4WD challenge. I towed my camper trailer through the Telegraph track behind my Jackaroo.
Idiots will still come to grief, saw 3 Troopys on their roof, a LC100 with wrecked engine after sucking water in Nolan’s Brook crossing, 2 LC100 broken front diffs, a lineup of LC100s waiting for radiators in Weipa after their fans sucked into them on river crossings.
Say no more…you own a Jackaroo
What a steamer!
I can’t really say there was anything added here that didn’t add up to more that common sense.
Still have not seen one…..
Not missed much me think,…….