I am creating this thread for the benefit of my traveler's community looking for "a bit more fun" (no serious offroading) from their cars but cars can't be stretched beyond a certain limit without damaging.
I am thoroughly enjoying my Corolla XLI for the last six years and it has never disappointed me as you can see in my threads. It climbed, it roared on highways, managed worst roads like KKH's Raikot/Thaleichi/Gilgit section in 2012 and last year's horrible stretches between Patan/Chilas. MashAllah it is soundless, just because I do not over expect, though sometimes I stretch it a bit.
What prompted me to go for a SUV?
January this year, I wanted to bag another fort in the Cholistan but that required about 15-20 km offroading in the sand. My friend and I were at the starting point of the track when a local pointed towards a far away tower erected by rangers and was the almost exact location of the fort. I pressed the pedal and the car started accelerating on the track that is beaten by the motorcycles and chingchi tires. It was exciting experience. When we drove back before Maghrib, we realized our mistake.... where is the milestone that we have to follow to reach the starting point of road that we had left. Ohhh, you stray from the track a couple of feets and you are stuck in the stand. There were many tracks as we were in the outskirts of the village. To cut the story short, it was exciting experience mixed with fear of not reaching the road before sunset.
When I returned home, I started looking for a 4x4 that can cruise on highways, can cross Deosai easily, can also pass through Shandur top. Last year in Shandur valley, guys from Gilgit on corolla had advised me not to pursue further as the track will damage the suspension. I set a budget of Rs. 1.2 million to import a reasonable and small SUV as a second vehicle. I did not go for old biggies available locally for two reasons (a) I don't have time for the rule "build break and rebuild" (b) I am not "showbaaz", so driving a little but practical 660cc dinky for "shok" is not at all insulting for me. I am also not like a sucker who believes he is successful while sitting in his dad's car.
So the choice was between 660cc Jimny, Pajero Mini and Nissan Kix (OEM Mitsu) as I was sure Japanese are not that fool to manufacture worst machines. My surfing on Pakwheels indicated that reputation of 660cc SUVs in Pakistan is even worst than call girls. Further scrutiny of specs made me feel that these machines are not that bad; the problem is importers bring in high mileage, accidented or run down vehicles that they repair locally and sell as "35,000km jaynein jeep". Second problem is with the buyers..... they expect the machine to perform as a combo of car/jeep and mileage should be top notch, though a SUV cannot be comparatively fuel efficient like a sedan. With these expectations, mostly they do not bother to research a bit for the recommended lubricants and filters; for instance they use engine oil recommended by word of mouth "peelay ya lal dubbay wala". Then they go to mechanics complaining about the low average, mechanics fix the last nail in the coffin of "jaynein jeep". "We" are not progressing because we do not believe in "Precision and Customer Service".
Finally in April, I was able to get my hands on a 4.5 grade 60,000 km run sratchless (yes scratchless) Nissan Kix from Japan. I will narrate my experience with this machine including a trip to Naran of last weekend. It was the first time, I hit Naran on the first weekend after road was open, though the best time is to wait for 2 to 3 weeks.
