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nelson mandela bay's family lifestyle
author:
duncan mcdonald
picked up by a scorpio
photography:
zuko, lifegate photography
issue:
8, summer 2008
“A fish out of water” does not adequately describe what I felt when I found myself behind the wheel of the Mahindra Scorpio Pik-Up. I looked at Dirk from Mahindra, with a rather apprehensive stare and wondered to myself, how could I conjure up a positive road test of a vehicle that I thought was so clearly built for the bush. Thankfully, the Scorpio realized how I was feeling and decided to do, what I later found out, it does best – perform. The moment I left the showroom floor with a spotlessly bright white 4x2 Pik-Up, my perception of this vehicle started to change. I did not expect the Scorpio Pik-Up, being a “bakkie” to be quiet, but in town, I had to turn the radio down to hear the purr and whirr of its 2.5 turbo charged intercooled diesel engine. It effortlessly propelled itself through the busy streets of Port Elizabeth with a sense that it had much more than 74 kilowatts on tap. Taking a look around the cabin - from the dash to the pattern on the cloth of the seats, sleek and simple is the resounding theme. This Mahindra has all the modern day luxuries of a normal family vehicle: air-con, power steering, electric windows, adjustable steering column, CD player and remote central locking with an alarm and immobiliser. The most impressive attribute of the interior in this double-cab Pik-Up, is the space. Space enough for a family of five. This was proven a little later when I picked up the photographer and to my surprise, inherited her three kids for the rest of the day's photo shoot. I finally reached my destination for the day – a stud farm. This is where I thought I could really put this vehicle through its paces. Once again the Pik-Up rose to the occasion and monstered the undulations of slippery, wet paddocks even with a load of bales. I was struggling to find a scenario where the Mahindra was anything less than entirely competent. Although the vehicle was now dirty it did not deter me noticing how the shape of the Pik-Up complimented the bold “carlike” styling of the existing Scorpio. Here getting to grips with the vehicle I noticed that the Scorpio Pik-Up is a big vehicle - 5098mm long, 1770mm wide and 1860mm wide; the 4x4 models boast 200mm ground clearance. The single-cab has a 1.725-cubic metre double-skinned loadbox, with a 1.125-cubic metre cargo bay on the double- cab model. The Pik-Up has rack-and-pinion steering with a 12.8m turning circle. Braking is by ventilated discs in front and drums at the rear. The independent front suspension is entrusted to a torsion bar and anti-roll bar while the rear suspension uses progressive leaf springs and hydraulic shock absorbers. All models have five-speed manual gearboxes; the 4x4 also has a low range transfer case operated by a switch on the fascia. Taking this vehicle onto the freeway, brought some more surprises. The Pik-Up traveled along as comfortably as any SUV. 120 kilometers per hour is comfortably achieved at just under 3000 rpm. I arrived home tired after a day of changed perceptions and had time to reflect on my experience with this workhorse, cross family commuter and discovered that you should always allow someone or something, like this vehicle, an opportunity to shine.
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