Yeah - much like the Crosslander, the Mahindra seems to be a simple vehicle that people would be interested in. Not sure if enough are interested to make it a viable competitor, but if they (GV USA) make the appropriate plans, and don't pretend like they're going to be the next Toyota, I don't see any reason why they couldn't be profitable. Assuming they can clear the government hurdles of course.
It sort of does remind me of my 1st Toyota p/u standard cab.
If I had the need, I'd be interested in one for around the town loads, you know, the "honey do" list and stuff.
I'm not real fond of the front suspension set up though, just a personal thing.
RE: Automatics. I love to shift. I take pride when driving manuals in changing gears so smoothly that my passengers don't even know it happened. I drive with one eye on the tach, even when I have an automatic. I learned to drive in a Scout with a granny low 1st and no tach. I shift my auto. trans too. I just love to shift.
I like shifting too. I have an FJ62 which is of course and auto. I've considered several times, switching over to an H55 std trans, but when I'm sitting in the parking lots we call roadways in morning and afternoon traffic, I'm really happy to have the auto. You can build the daylights out of an auto as well and they're perfect for precision movements....don't need a third foot :wings:
But there's no way bringing in a vehicle in limited numbers makes sense as a manual, unless its a sports-car. Modern automatics are smarter, more efficient and faster than me. And people are lazy.
