Mahindra Scorpio N

shadow_man said:
I've had mine for about 5 months now. Drive is still nice, don't regret buying it.

At the moment the best deal you can get is prime -3% on selected models (check mahindra.co.za) - so take that deal over trade assist any day, as it's insane!

Trade assist means if you trade in a vehicle. They'll give you X vehicle value (whatever they quote you for your car) + 20k trade assist (which technically gets reimbursed to them by Mahindra) to sweeten the deal.

What sometimes happens though is they lowball you on the trade in - as the trade assist makes up for it (so make sure your trade in is fair, and not just trade assist subsidised).

The good, great vehicle - Mahindra has done well here for what it is and how it's priced.

The bad - customer service is shitty (in both India and ZA). The general just seems to be that nobody will get back to you unless you nudge and chase them. That + features like Apple Car play were just missing for 3 months while they futzed with firmware (yet it was being sold as Apple Car play enabled which it wasn't at the time).

I'm driving the Z8L 4x4 if you have any questions.
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Thanks, prime -3 seems great deal if available and will check it out. If I buy this one, I plan to by Z8 version just due to cost difference. It seems quite a lot.

I had a test drive on Z8L model yesterday and it was my first experience on 4x4 so felt a bit different. Drove XUV 700 back to back as well and I felt XUV was more smooth but salesperson said it was due to diesel/petrol difference and tyre size. Not sure if correct though.

I have heard about customer service issues but there is no real alternative. Maybe, as a company, Mahindra should look into the dealer/servicing network feedback?

Which color did you go for by the way? We saw black, red, olive greenish I think and silver at the dealership.
 
surface said:
Thanks, prime -3 seems great deal if available and will check it out. If I buy this one, I plan to by Z8 version just due to cost difference. It seems quite a lot.

I had a test drive on Z8L model yesterday and it was my first experience on 4x4 so felt a bit different. Drove XUV 700 back to back as well and I felt XUV was more smooth but salesperson said it was due to diesel/petrol difference and tyre size. Not sure if correct though.

I have heard about customer service issues but there is no real alternative. Maybe, as a company, Mahindra should look into the dealer/servicing network feedback?

Which color did you go for by the way? We saw black, red, olive greenish I think and silver at the dealership.
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You can compare editions here:

The big differences in Z8 vs Z8L were:
- Front and rear cams on Z8L vs only rear on Z8 (good to have, as fitting aftermarket cams requires wiring changes / voids warranty - XUV700 in India burnt down due to this and Mahindra wouldn't pay out...)
- Sun roof (actually could do without this, don't really care for it much)

- Sound system (good to have)

- Wireless charging

- Driver drowsiness detection (not needed)

I got a good price on a Z8L (R560k with 450km on the clock vs R590k new). At that point there weren't any discounted Z8's and the Z8 retailed for the same, so it was a no brainer.

I also went for silver - for me it would have been black, green or silver and I got the silver at a good price (see my pic on page 1).

--

Re XUV700 vs Scorpio N

XUV700 will be the faster / smoother ride / faster around corners with less body roll - as it's a monocoque vehicle (chassis, body are one part) vs Scorpio N which is BOF (body on frame, body bolted to chassis - so 2 pieces) as BOF is used for most 4x4's etc.

Scorpio N will go places the XUV700 wouldn't dare - so for me that enticed me.
 
shadow_man said:
You can compare editions here:

The big differences in Z8 vs Z8L were:
- Front and rear cams on Z8L vs only rear on Z8 (good to have, as fitting aftermarket cams requires wiring changes / voids warranty - XUV700 in India burnt down due to this and Mahindra wouldn't pay out...)
- Sun roof (actually could do without this, don't really care for it much)
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lt seems there is a sunroof in z8 4xplore though. I might go for L version if I can get it for decent price. Let us see.

I got a good price on a Z8L (R560k with 450km on the clock vs R590k new). At that point there weren't any discounted Z8's and the Z8 retailed for the same, so it was a no brainer.

I also went for silver - for me it would have been black, green or silver and I got the silver at a good price (see my pic on page 1).
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Yeah - I always had second hand car so far and my wife told me to go for new one at least once in a life. :cool: I liked all colors available there and I don't really care either. Black scorpio N looked fabulous though but that was the only one in the showroom. Rest were outside.

Re XUV700 vs Scorpio N

XUV700 will be the faster / smoother ride / faster around corners with less body roll - as it's a monocoque vehicle (chassis, body are one part) vs Scorpio N which is BOF (body on frame, body bolted to chassis - so 2 pieces) as BOF is used for most 4x4's etc.

Scorpio N will go places the XUV700 wouldn't dare - so for me that enticed me.
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Thank you - this explanation makes sense to me.
 
shadow_man said:
The only time it opening out is a PITA is when you reverse and park against a wall... Or the car behind you parks too closely...

Other than that it's fine.
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I can only imagine. I generally don't reverse park so should be ok. :cool: Thanks. Looking at 4x4community site as well and Scorpio N seems a hit in general.
 
@shadow_man - this is what dealer is quoting, in addition to standard price. Did you have something similar ?

Delivery fee
4999​
safety window film
3000​
carpets
3000​
licensing & registration
2000​
 
surface said:
@shadow_man - this is what dealer is quoting, in addition to standard price. Did you have something similar ?

Delivery fee
4999​
safety window film
3000​
carpets
3000​
licensing & registration
2000​
Click to expand...
I paid 560k all in - including on the road fees (try haggle).

1.) Safety film I didn't do - I've gotten quotes at about R2000-R2500 to do it privately (will do so next week maybe).

I'd probably just get them to do this one, as there's no parcel shelf - so hiding objects in the boot is probably a priority.

2.) Carpets got thrown in for free
3.) Licensing and reg - as per above all inclusive.
4.) Some dealerships also have weird and wacky perks - e.g. one of the guys bought his Scorpio N in JHB and it included a year or free car washes at the dealership.

I did get a quote on a tow bar for about R9500 iirc.

Where did you land on the prime -3% deal - as that's killer (and they make more of you if you finance through them etc - so probably be a bit more keen to bargain then vs a cash deal).
 
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surface said:
@shadow_man - this is what dealer is quoting, in addition to standard price. Did you have something similar ?

Delivery fee
4999​
safety window film
3000​
carpets
3000​
licensing & registration
2000​
Click to expand...
Carpets should be included in delivery fees and that R5000 looks more than adequate for everything, no need for the extra R3000.
 
surface said:
Thanks, prime -3 seems great deal if available and will check it out. If I buy this one, I plan to by Z8 version just due to cost difference. It seems quite a lot.

I had a test drive on Z8L model yesterday and it was my first experience on 4x4 so felt a bit different. Drove XUV 700 back to back as well and I felt XUV was more smooth but salesperson said it was due to diesel/petrol difference and tyre size. Not sure if correct though.

I have heard about customer service issues but there is no real alternative. Maybe, as a company, Mahindra should look into the dealer/servicing network feedback?

Which color did you go for by the way? We saw black, red, olive greenish I think and silver at the dealership.
Click to expand...
Body on frame on the Scorpio, compared to the unibody on the XUV, makes a big difference to driving dynamics.
 
www.autotrader.co.za

Mahindra Scorpio-n 2.2d Z8 4xplor for sale in Springs - ID: 27073547

Used 2023 Mahindra Scorpio-n 2.2d Z8 4xplor For Sale - R 519 995 - ID: 27073547
www.autotrader.co.za

Any idea if 519K is a decent price, all inclusive ? Considering launch price must have been 560K. 15000km mileage in a very short time though, not sure if I should go for it. Sales guy was driving it till now. Drives quite lekker.

This is not top of the range but is Z8 4x4 model. Tow bar is fitted so I suppose it would have cost them 6-8K or something.
 
surface said:
www.autotrader.co.za

Mahindra Scorpio-n 2.2d Z8 4xplor for sale in Springs - ID: 27073547

Used 2023 Mahindra Scorpio-n 2.2d Z8 4xplor For Sale - R 519 995 - ID: 27073547
www.autotrader.co.za

Any idea if 519K is a decent price, all inclusive ? Considering launch price must have been 560K. 15000km mileage in a very short time though, not sure if I should go for it. Sales guy was driving it till now. Drives quite lekker.

This is not top of the range but is Z8 4x4 model. Tow bar is fitted so I suppose it would have cost them 6-8K or something.
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I think it's excellent value for money, 4x4 and 7 seats at that price range looks unbeatable to me.

Ever since I saw that being tested off road I fell in love, you will never find anything that can match the Fortuner, Everest or the Mux at that price.
 
TheChamp said:
I guess it's slightly pointless if you are a city dweller but it still feels good to know your car can do all that.

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Yeah, city dweller indeed but we have been to KNP and many other places where 4x4 could have come handy.
 
I still cannot believe it is that affordable, I remember the Haval H9 was already R600k when it was launched a couple of years back. Looks like Mahindra has themselves a winning formula.
 
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surface said:
Yeah, city dweller indeed but we have been to KNP and many other places where 4x4 could have come handy.
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Then you need to start practicing your off road skills on the pavements and the potholes of Midrand, you don't want to be caught wanting in Kruger.

When you see a pothole, slow down and engage four wheel drive, low range at once.
 
My brother bought a TUV 300, recently, I have always looked at Mahindra vehicles as purely industrial tools of purpose but I was pleasantly surprised,, their cars are really good compared to the mediocrity from the more established manufacturers, their diesel engines in particular make everything just look ordinary.
 
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TheChamp said:
My brother bout a TUV 300, recently, I have always looked at Mahindra vehicles as purely industrial tools of purpose but I was pleasantly surprised,, their cars are really good compared to the mediocrity from the more established manufacturers, their diesel engines in particular make everything just look ordinary.
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Their diesel engine's are good - their petrol variants not so much, those have some issues.

The Scorpio N is a solid vehicle, some quirks here and there (but other brands have these too).

Pros:
- Good mileage for it's size
- Good size, position on the road
- Aircon is amazing, gets super cold quickly - 2 coils / condensers iirc one for front / back
- Value for money (given 4x4 at the price / features)
- Proper spare, tools
- Spacious vehicle (even more so if you remove the 4 bolts holding the 3rd row in place)

Cons:
- Fuel tank is smaller than it's rivals
- Firmware updates were slow to bring Apple Car play to market (pay for the car now, but no you can't have the functionality we've sold you till later :X3:
- Outwards opening door, vs upwards (less usable if someone parks you in or you reverse against a wall)
- Spare wheel under car vs at back of car (reduces ground clearance when 4x4'ing - Aussies are rectifying this with some aftermarket kit)
- Hardly any accessories locally available at this point
- They're tweaking the models as they come out - e.g. new models have foam padding around the sunroof to stop debris settling there, earlier produced models don't.
- No lighter 12v socket in the front - it's in the boot :X3:
- Stop start is on by default and you can't disable it permanently - you need to switch it off EVERY SINGLE F'ING time you start the car
- Added to this - the electronics and the F'ING lights switch off when the auto stop start kicks in (this is dangerous at night with loadshedding when you forget to disable it and you're trying to cross a big intersection)
- No parcel shelf (didn't bother me at first, does now) - get your windows tinted
 
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