Mahindra Thar : Test Drive & Review

[SPIKE ARRESTOR]

Originally Posted by pjbiju

Some amount of Off-roading. Tejas, you did the Thar Review so why bother about the overview.

Hence I kept quiet :-)

Originally Posted by star_aqua

Spike, some discount eh?? can we know the amount?

No discounts man, plan some official trip here, we will have fun. Answered above by Biju.

Originally Posted by Jaggu

One honest question from me to you now. After or before the drive to BLR (from wherever), was the front end attended to?? From the looks of it a nice clean up of suspension bits including tie end and lower arm seems to have been done (or were they new bits?), before coming to aavalaconda?? I had pointed it out to someone earlier itself, refrained from making the comment here to avoid "another" controversy.

Am i on the right track and cleared any perceived bias's

Jaggu, we did not even clean the vehicle with a water wash, just cleaned the windscreen thats all. While returning we flew from Avalakonda (40 odd kms) and then took a connecting flight from Bengaluru International Airport to Mumbai. Oh yes we never reached V1 speeds (V1 speed is the speed when the aircraft reaches a point of no return, from here on the pilot says "Rotate" and the aircraft lifts off, we were much below the V1 speeds :-P)

Originally Posted by Tejas@perioimpl

Production overview i wanna see. Spikey, i will be in touch.

Okie!

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Lol i was telling the same to someone! What is with this slipping timeline even for a test drive?? Hope everything is ok on the production line???

Wish it would be a pleasant surprise for all after this long wait!

Lot of turmoil going on

Spike

[khan_sultan]

Originally Posted by vinod_nookala

Dear Khan,
Saying THAR did not do the trail efforlessly is clearly wrong stating of facts! I agree on the first obstacle i had little bit of wheel spin for a moment. Every vehicle had a wheel spin out there specially Gypys's!! Why so big Fuss about THAR?

Yes i also feel CJ 3B's are phenomenal off road. They were built for it and they are grand daddy of THAR.

Good you agree that wheel spin was happening and don't know if yoou observed or not that the 3b's & 340's did that section without breaking a sweat. And yes, I was standing out there and the wheel spin in the Thar was not momentary but quite pronounced. Even when going back from lunch point to the toppling area, where I was sitting with you, we did encounter wheel spinning which the jeep behind us didn't. Infact I remember people from the jeep behind mentioning it loudly while we were trying to go up.

So what's wrong facts I am stating sirji? I just said that in comparison to the Thar, the 340/3B's did the trail in an effortless manner without breaking a sweat. According to me, stating that the Thar did it effortlessly is clearly & wrongly stating the facts.

NOTE: No where I have mentioned gypsy's in my above posts.

Be it roby's point, or any other place we never got stuck, towed or winched!! If vehicle was not good we should have got towed right?

When did I say that vehicle is not good enough? Read ALL the posts I have made in this thread/review and point me to one.
I stand by my statement that the Thar is good for 90% of the trails that we have in India for most people.

I think one should take it with a pinch of salt specially when vehicle is proved to be an all rounder rather than a specialist like old jeeps and Gypsys.

Yes, it will be a true all rounder once the V2 version comes out with better interiors, A/C & hard top

...P.S - I am a solid axle guy. Cant change my stand.

Good to know that you haven't changed your stand. What's your stand on these things that you yourself had posted on the Thar input thread?

Originally Posted by vinod_nookala

Dhabhar ji,
Iam confused, did you start this thread to
=============
Considering it is about wish list to buy a new MM540 from showroom, i would want the following-

1. 2.6 litre Crdi engine (derated light weight 2.2 litre would be dream come true)
2. 5 speed 4wd gearbox ( 2wd options NOT to be sold )
3. NGCS chassis (may be shortened version of bolero strom platform)
4. Would love to have live axles with coil springs front & rear (IFS will also do at front with 4wd of course)

5. A/C , P/S is a necessity!
6. Hard and soft top options to be provided
7. Lockable differentials an option or atleast LSD as standard
8. Retain classic jeep looks (Invader looks are a strict No)
8. pricing about 6.5 to 7 lakhs on road

...............!

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

Jaggu, we did not even clean the vehicle with a water wash, just cleaned the windscreen thats all.

I meant before the vehicle reached aavaloconda, and not you Spikee someone else who takes care of the maintenance. There was mud in the chassis, to an extent under body. But the tie end and lower arm's were squeaky clean all silver and black. Hence asked. That is all.

[khan_sultan]

Originally Posted by Tejas@perioimpl

....Got a second email from Mahindra regarding the Thar TD being postponed ....

So this is going EXACTLY like the Thar launch thing. Thareek pe Thareek

"Thank you for your interest in the Mahindra Thar. We are overwhelmed by the test drive requests received from all over the country...........

Imagine what the situation would be if these were requests for buying the Thar..!!! If they can't handle TD's then how on earth can they handle production????

We trust that true 4x4 enthusiasts, like you, will be nothing short of blown away."

Yeah, sure. The question is which way??

[Thar4x4]

@Tejas, if this is the case with you then we are far away from TD

I am calling a local dealer everyday however they are clueless about getting CRDe 4x4.

Vishal.

[vinod_nookala]

Originally Posted by Jaggu

For egs the Robi point and all i was not in the vicinity to comment, only could hear the turbo whizzzzz from a distance.

As i said earlier, Thar managed to do the obstacles without much fuss/trouble. I never said, it did not OR struggled did I?? I also said you were driving the way it should be driven inside a trail! keeping in mind the safety of people, vehicle and environment (full respect!). Hope there is no confusion with this??

Now having said that, i was not very impressed! Why?? Well because with the IFS (as usual)!! forget the interiors, forget the price.

for egs: when you were coming down the first obstacle (where i was spotting) the amount of leg lifting was more compared to a solid axle. This is just my observation and you had the perfect line and a MWB vehicle.

Again while climbing on the Shanawaz point, more than the IFS it was the superb engine that was aiding the performance (ok we have to look at the package in totality, i agree). I am atleast 100% convinced that the same Crde and solid axle would have been SUPERB there (Tejas you are on right track!).


I have a theory now (as stupid as it may sound), if the front is made stiffer, Thar might just add couple of points to its offroad capability?? Experts please???

One honest question from me to you now. After or before the drive to BLR (from wherever), was the front end attended to?? From the looks of it a nice clean up of suspension bits including tie end and lower arm seems to have been done (or were they new bits?), before coming to aavalaconda?? I had pointed it out to someone earlier itself, refrained from making the comment here to avoid "another" controversy.

Am i on the right track and cleared any perceived bias's

Hi Jaggu,
We are speaking on the same point. I am not saying IFS THAR is better than solid axle THAR on articulation front. Even i would have preferred a solid axle upfront on THAR CRDe, but with existing engine it wasnt possible. Even i didnt believe it till i saw the CAD layout till i joined the company.

My point is IFS THAR CRDe is an all rounder good on and off the road thats all and that has been proved even on the toughest of the off road trails.

Jaggu you are not the only one who doubted if the THAR i brought was a stock one. SOme gentlemen taking a ride on THAR also asked me- have you done somethig on this vehicle, how can this be so effortless? Engine and drive line on this vehicle is a gem!

Being honest- We went to garage only to remove the bits that would have fallen off. SUSPENION WAS NOT TOUCHED!! I believe in stock setup. That showed on my old MM540 as well. No compromise on reliability. Even after the event Suspenion is not touched. It is finally the driver who makes or breaks the vehicle be it IFS or solid axle. If i can do it every one else can. THAR let you live the joy of off road and new found joy of zipping on road!

p.s- Every long distant participant would have dreaded of the thought to travel 300 + kms back after two days of tiring OTR. But I felt bad that i had to leave it at air port for my driver to pick it up.

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by vinod_nookala

Jaggu you are not the only one who doubted if the THAR i brought was a stock one.
===========
p.s- Every long distant participant would have dreaded of the thought to travel 300 + kms back after two days of tiring OTR. But I felt bad that i had to leave it at air port for my driver to pick it up.

Ohey i never doubted "this" one, though you said it is R&D vehicle which goes around the country and showed the headlight rim holes and stuff! Remember?

Yup they would still unless you guys do something about an AC asap. Trust me doing a BLR-MUM in a soft top with no climate control can be taxing, be it Thar or FJ.

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Good evening gentlemen after a very long time!

Dear all - due to my very extensive and continuous travel (obviously with MH01V521), I was not able to be on line / reply to you. I also understand that you have now seen the reality that Pratheesh / Vinod have demonstrated to you on our white Thar MH02BT9571 in Avalakonda. I hope that at least now you will appreciate the vehicle.

MH01V521 had proved it in AKC / EXAMM in June 2010. MH02BT9571 has proved it once again in Avalakonda.

Well, it's back to work! You know what "that" means, don't you! .

Please accept my best personal regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[siddartha]

wonder if it was decided earlier itself that THAR crde will have IFS or after realising that CRDE engine's oil sump will foul with front solid axle.

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Well, it's back to work! You know what "that" means, don't you! .

Version 2 Sirji??

Atleast please get the team to help us with an air condition and ideally with some better finish, especially for the interiors. I know now, how difficult it is to production-ise something like this, but still. Will make a hell of a difference.

[vinod_nookala]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

When did I say that vehicle is not good enough? Read ALL the posts I have made in this thread/review and point me to one.
I stand by my statement that the Thar is good for 90% of the trails that we have in India for most people.



Yes, it will be a true all rounder once the V2 version comes out with better interiors, A/C & hard top



Good to know that you haven't changed your stand. What's your stand on these things that you yourself had posted on the Thar input thread?

Great that you have put my almost one year old post when i was not in the company . Glad to see that i have met the pricing expections and other except solid axle and A/C of my own post.

p.s- We are taking all your feedback in right sense and will do what is best fesible to us. At the end of the day all of you are my close friends and jeepers at heart!

[pjbiju]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

Good you agree that wheel spin was happening and don't know if yoou observed or not that the 3b's & 340's did that section without breaking a sweat.
...

Are the wheelspins caused by too much power/torque. I think that could be one of the probable reasons for the wheel spins. It may be difficult to control the power/torque unlike an old jeep which has considerably less power/torque.

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by pjbiju

Are the wheelspins caused by too much power/torque. I think that could be one of the probable reasons for the wheel spins. It may be difficult to control the power/torque unlike an old jeep which has considerably less power/torque.

My observation: this might be one of the reason, but i really dont know how much power Crde is making at crawling and tap speeds? That it has to spin off. Add the stock bridgestone or jk's its a disaster!! Aavaloconda this time of the year is super slippery soil. Then the issue of IFS which will not be able to put power down as efficiently like solid axle can.

Control the power part i really dont agree, coz i know of few guys who do such circus in 2 wheel sedans and manage to pull it off.

Technically the ECM Crde engine should be able to listen to the pedal (driver) more carefully and accurately than the old school pedals which have flat spots and what not.

[star_aqua]

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Add the stock bridgestone or jk's its a disaster!!

Jaggu, JK might be disaster but not the bridgestone HT. it will hold very well for all terrain except for the slush. its good for any kinda terrain until unless its dry. i have done almost all BLR otrs with almost worn out HT tires. but it doesn't mean the terrain was not challenging. you know it.

i was bit surprised, when i was honestly spotting for thar just like any other vehicle, vinod was in doubt and sent down spike to check it out and report him i agree vinod wanted to try in different way to test if the thar can do it in a style. nope it did not :(

my conclusion is thar can do everything BUT not easily AND not without spotter AND not without a good driver.

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by star_aqua

Jaggu, JK might be disaster but not the bridgestone HT. it will hold very well for all terrain except for the slush. its good for any kinda terrain until unless its dry. i have done almost all BLR otrs with almost worn out HT tires. but it doesn't mean the terrain was not challenging. you know it.

You know my view points about using the right tools, be it offroading or for working on the jeeps. If you say they cannot be compared to the JK, i might agree. But then dont say that they perform well like AT/MT tyres?? I see another NDMS in the making he he he