My li'l Red Mahindra Thar with some practical modifications Introduction
Words can't describe the joy that i feel right now as I begin my very own thread on such an esteemed forum. I had wanted to start this as a buying cum ownership experience thread around the same time last year after booking my Thar, but three unsuccessful attempts at securing this coveted membership put paid to that.
Well all is well that ends well, and so here i am posting bout my experience so far, after 11 months of being a satisfied owner and 12500 kms to my credit which includes trips to Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Chail (HP) and yess that Mecca of all motor heads, Leh.
I would like to begin by thanking the moderators for giving me this wonderful opportunity (don't know if it was my improved thought process or my persistence which paid of) and all the other esteemed members who have inspired me to start a thread on my Thar, like Manveet, Amolpol, Rajith, Cpbopanna, Nitin_80, Thar4x4, just to name a few. And offcourse, the stalwarts Behram Sir and Khan Sultan Sir. So here goes.. First Encounter
For the benefit of many potential Thar buyers, let me start by clarifying how or why i bought a Thar. I tend to agree with what many members have already emphasized on various threads, that Thar is definitely not as comfortable as a car or even other homologous SUVs and it is not as serious an offroader as say built up MM550s. But its unique appeal is that is provides fence-sitters like me, a middle path i.e a little bit of everything. My initial thoughts on seeing a Thar were the same as many others, that its too crude, with too many modern amenities missing and a unjustified high cost.
In Sep last year, i was requested by a junior of mine to check out a Rocky Biege Thar available on re-sale in Gurgaon through First Choice, since he was posted on a ship and frequently sailing. Even though i personally didnt enjoy the TD very much, i recommended the purchase since the vehicle was mechanically sound with new tyres and no body damage and also backed by First Choice's warranty support. So the Thar was bought in absentia and I was further tasked to pick up the vehicle and keep it with me till the owner managed some shore leave. The affair starts
Thats how my love affair with the Thar began (my wife has never completely forgiven that junior of mine). Initially, i just rode it for its attention grabbing ability and the admiration and awe it generated but slowly i started to love other things as well like the amazing throttle response and ease of drivability on crowded Delhi roads (this from someone who owns a Ford Fusion 1.6 petrol). Also, the sitting posture is much more relaxing with unmatched view of the road. I have owned a Gypsy earlier and believe me, as a daily use vehicle, the Thar has much more modern and sorted off feel especially in the drive train, suspension and overall ride quality departments. So these 15 days of borrowed ownership revived an interest (or keeda) of buying a jeep and the missus had grudgingly started admitting the fun factor of owning one.
The bolero was always an option, but after driving the CRDe motor, the M2DiCr powered Bolero just didn't inspire (the Storm version had been discontinued) and also there was no 4wd option in SLE, SLX and ZLX trims. So 'Thar' it was for me and i booked myself a white one around same time last year. The wife, after a lot of persuasion, reluctantly came around to support the cause (morally and more important, financially) and made me chane the colour to Toreader Red, which in retrospect was a good choice since a lot of UN duty return 550s in my locality resemble the white Thar, and i dont like people thinking that i am roaming around on 'Sarkari kharcha'.
So took delivery of my little Red Thar (i call it little because its small as compared to the Huge butch SUVs) just before diwali last year, almost stock except for the nicely designed but expensive OEM center console. And yes, i changed over to Yokohoma Geolanders (same specs as OEM i.e 235/70 R16) on the very first day, an exchange which costed me Rs 500 per tyre (except the stepney). I know people reading this thread would at this point expect a photo so here goes..
One of the first mods undertaken were to make my stay inside more comfortable, more modern car like, if i may say so. So i installed a light in the glovebox which turns on when the glove box opens via a contact switch fashioned from a bolt inserted in place of the plastic stoppers. A snap will prob make it clear
Last edited by samwagon : 16th October 2013 at 18:44.
|