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| The support vehicle for Warden's truck recovery. Nuff said. |
I stopped and asked a few of these Mahindra workhorse owners why they seem so happy, and the
short answer is “excellent value for money”.
Paul Parsons, who services and repairs garage doors, gates and
fences all over KZN, told me,
“for their price, these Indian-built workhorses are stunning”.
The entry-level Bolero Scorpio with a dropside load bin with its
2,5 NEF TCI turbo diesel engine has
a recommended retail price of just under R143k, which means a new one will cost R125 434 after the VAT has been claimed back.
a recommended retail price of just under R143k, which means a new one will cost R125 434 after the VAT has been claimed back.
A current offer on the bakkie most loved by KZN’s sugar cane
farmers for its soft ride and thick body panels, the Isuzu KB250 Standard, is
some R42k dearer than the Bolero at R191 250.
New, the long-proven engine makes 74 kW at 3 800 rpm and
238 Newtons from 1 800 rpm — which is 141 Newtons less than what we tested in
the Foton Tunland at Bosch Diesel Works on Perth Street in Pietermaritzburg, but
Parsons said he is happy with the smooth power delivery.
On India’s slow roads, the Bolero pickup is built to carry 1 250 kg
but in SA it is licensed to load 1 025 kg.
Even in the fast lane
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| Steady as she goes, the 2013 Mahindra Bolero in India. |
“It is simply my best workhorse bakkie ever, and I’ve had them
all,” he said.
He is now onto his third Bolero and his current one has 250 000 on
the odo. “I’ve replaced the clutch for five and half, done the brakes and a
silicone house which cost about R300.”
Electrical contractor Quintin Hodge, who operates Elecquick in
Msunduzi, had fitted a canopy and a roof rack to his nine-year-old Bolero, which
still has the same Peugeot engine with its after market turbo fitted to it for
South African buyers. He said he only operates in Msunduzi and would have liked
a little more “oomph” up the steeper hills going to Howick, but he has made
peace with the mulish pace from his workhorse.
Hodge said the only problems in his Bolero after almost a decade of
hard use are door handles that don’t handle, a broken brake cable a while back
and broken water pump about six months ago.
His secret for such longevity from an intercooled-turbo known for
melting the aluminium heads?
“I go out each morning, reach through the window to start it, then
go back in and have a cuppa while the engine warms up for a few minutes. You
can’t just start and rev an old diesel the way some okes do.”
The experiences of Hodge and Parsons are echoed on the 4x4
Community, where “Vlug Sersant” best summed up the feeling with a post about his
experiences with a 2006 Bolero 2x4 double cab, which he had bought used with
3 800 km on the odo. Some 67 0000 km later, he warned other bakkies owners, “You
get what you pay for.
“Yes, the ride is stiff, the windscreen mists up, the wind noise is
relatively high, etc. But I tell you what — my father-in-law drives a Defender
90 and apart from a softer ride, it is no better comfort wise. What you do get
for your money though [in my experience] is a reliable, tough BAKKIE, not a
semi-luxury car with a load bin. Nothing wrong with wanting that
— but be realistic about expectations vs price.”
Drive it till death does the parting
The one thing Mahindra owners must not expect is any resale value,
but “Vlug Sersant” adds the depreciation is less than 30% in the first year for
most bakkies, considering the low starting price of the Mahindra.
“I decided to keep mine until there is nothing left of it — that
way I will get good value out of it. The way it is going though, I might still
enjoy it for a long time.
“Bottom line is — if comfort, looks and luxury is important, look
for something else. If not, the Bolero is excellent value for money,” posted
Vlug Sersant.
