Gareth’s Pik-Up Gets The Opposite Lock Treatment
A nice company car is one thing, but a company car that allows you to take the family out for a weekend of real four-wheel drive exploring is something else.
When it came time to choose a new company car for Mackay’s Opposite Lock outlet, it was decided not to tread the tired old path, but to find something a little more unusual as a display platform for the brand’s many accessory products – like a new Mahindra Pik-Up.
With its 2.2 litre, common rail Mhawk engine and Diff Lock, the Pik-Up fit the bill perfectly; a reliable work vehicle with terrain-beating performance and great fuel economy, as well as a plush interior and range of features designed for a comfortable, luxurious ride.
It also carries a starting price low enough to justify some serious accessorising…
Gareth Hartley tells: “The main reason we chose the Mahindra was that it is not your usual 4×4. As we had just become the new Mahindra Dealer in the area we decided on a Pik-Up as a point of difference… something to stand out from the crowd.”
The first items added to the vehicle were the genuine Mahindra accessories and some non-genuine items including a steel bull bar with RUNVA 11XP winch and Opposite Lock brand HID lights, Mahindra car seat covers, a tub liner and sports bar, as well as a soft cover over the tub (modified to suit the sports bar) and towbar.
After that the team decided on the next step.
“It was decided to create a vehicle that would show off the Mahindra Marque and at the same time advertise our Opposite Lock shop and the products we sell.
“We wanted to create a daily drive vehicle that could be used on the weekends to go away. During the week it’s the Opposite Lock shop pick up and delivery vehicle for parts as needed, so it gets driven by lots of staff as well.”
Gareth got in touch with Michael Butler from Sacred OZ Productions, who had got the wheels and flares sorted for the Mahindra Pik-Up he was setting up for his next film production trip.
“I have to give a big thanks here to Michael for his leg work in finding a wheels and flares package that suits the Mahindra.”
The Pik-Up now sports 17-inch Allied wheels with Maxxis Big Horn Mud tyres and according to Gareth, the result is a very capable off-roader.
“One of the first of the longer trips it was taken on was up through Eungella Forest to the lake up there, and from there out the back roads across the gravel, dirt and dust to the historical settlement at Mt Britton. The Pik Up handled the off road through the forest with ease, wading the creeks and ruts with no problems. The 4×4 system is electronic so without the need to get out, you can select 4×4 and keep going, while in the rear an Eaton Mechanical locking Differential from the factory gives plenty of good traction in the slippery stuff.”
Gareth said the dirt and dust was no issue for the Pik-Up and it handled the trip with ease.
“It’s good to drive. It’s a comfortable vehicle with tilt-adjustable steering, the gauges are well displayed and the seating position is great. I’m six-foot five and I have plenty of room.
My boy gets in the back no problems and he’s a 6-footer.”
For pricing on the Mahindra Pik-Up and the genuine products please see your local Mahindra Dealer.
Other Aftermarket products/modifications:
* Dual battery system (installed with minor relocation of Fuel filter mount and fuse box). This allowed for a Piranha battery tray and an Optima Deep Cycle battery to run the aux power sockets and lights and is monitored by a dual volts gauge in the cab and controlled by an Intervolt programmable Electronic isolator. This unit has an override switch on the dash to allow for the system to combine both batteries should the main go flat and assistance be required to start.
* Front Runner roof rack on Rhino Rack Bars. Attaching Feather Light awning, high lift jack and shovel via Rhino Rack mount kit, and two Great White LED light bars, which are wired up to also be used as flood lights, so, plenty of light, whether driving and camping or just having a BBQ at the beach.
* Overhead roof console (modified so as not to extend too low or too far back) housing a GME TX4500 UHF radio.
* Option Audio Mirror / Reverse Camera and a Drive Cam to capture those incidents on road and off.
To see the vehicle or get in touch with Gareth Contact the Mackay Opposite Lock at 27 Barnes Creek Road, Mackay. Ph: (07) 4961 8520 or email: [email protected]
All Mahindra Vehicles feature a leading 3 year / 100,000 kilometre warranty with free roadside assist
Speak to your nearest dealer today to book a test drive 1300 696 244
Who is Mahindra?
The Mahindra Group employs 180,000 people in over 100 countries and has an annual turnover of US$16.7 billion. Mahindra Group is made up of companies involved in automotive, aerospace, agricultural, defence, energy, industrial, logistics, consulting, real estate and steel industries. The Group also has a controlling interest in SsangYong Motor Company in Korea.
The Group rates in the Forbes Global 2000 top company list and Dun & Bradstreet listed the Mahindra Group as the leading automotive company in India’s top 500 companies. It’s also currently the only automobile manufacturer in the top 10 in India’s Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index.
Mahindra Automotive Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Mahindra Ag and Auto Australia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, based in Brisbane. The company has dealer network of over 70 dealers across AG and Auto segments in Australia and New Zealand.
Capex
Over the next three years, Mahindra and Mahindra will invest approximately $2B AUD on capital expenditure, setting up a new production plant and launching several new products.
As part of overall capex, the company is developing two new vehicle platforms for new products which will hit the market around 2015.
The company is also working on six new engines out of which three be from Mahindra and Mahindra and three from its subsidiary, Ssangyong.