Team-BHP (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/)

-   4x4 Vehicles (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-vehicles/)

-   -   Mahindra Thar and the Drool Quotient !! (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-vehicles/81801-mahindra-thar-drool-quotient-7.html)

You know I've been toying with just this idea. How about a thread on the 2wd Thar in the general car section to guage general car buyer response?

I disagree to that... just give me a few days' time. :D

Found some cheaper ideas here. Have a look
Hardtop Installation Accessories for your Jeep including, Hardtop Seal Kits, Hardtop Quick Release Kits, self install Hardtop sunroofs & more! - Quadratec

Getting back to drool quotient what attracts us to Jeep Rubicon?

1) Nice lift?
2) Big Off- Road Tires
3) Off- Roadability.

Apparently CMVR won't let us have any of this, so what can we drool about in the base Thar?

Some important points:

• The fact that remains that very little can be done with the bodyshell as its design in more or less fixed.
• The only way in which the 'drool quotient' can be increased is by playing around with other things which constitute the entire vehicle
• Due to CMVR regulations, some modifications cannot be incorporated directly but they can be offered as accessories at the dealer level itself.
• To keep costs in check, the parts-bin approach is the most viable.

__________________________________________________

So, here is my rendering:

Changes done:

• An all-black look
• Winch-bumper (can be offered as an accessory at a reasonable price). Note that I've not fiddled with the GC or the approach angle in any way. It is remaining equivalent to the stock specs. (I hope so)
• Mesh-grille (similar to the MM550)
• Clear-lens headlamps (as found in the Mahindra Legend)
• Modern turn-indicators (as found in the Legend: essentially, they are type I Bolero indicators). Clear white lens indicators on the side
• Thar and 4x4 Decals (an important differentiating factor compared to other 540s)
• Wheel and tyre-size remains stock. Black alloy wheels (Scorpio/Thar design)
• Newer wing mirrors from the Legend again
• Matte-black side step (although not reqd for off-roading)
• Tinted glasses

I think all these embellishments can be offered at least as optional extras if not on the top-of-the-line variant.

Another thing to be taken care of is that the showrooms should display the fully-loaded variants and not the plane-jane variants. Same goes with the website/brochure and stuff (with the mandatory disclaimers, of course!)

Although OTR enthusiasts might argue that many of the accessories are unnecessary, it should be understood that a sizeable chunk of the sales of a lifestyle 4x4s in any country consists of urban cowboys / wannabes / posers.

I could have gone overboard with oversized off-road tyres, loud paint jobs, lift kits and the like but I assume we are concentrating embellishments which are practical at the showroom/dealer level.

The most economical thing Mahindra can do is offer unique paint shades: white, black, red, blue, orange, purple etc.

Enough of talking, here's the pic

Great work there Salil, looks brilliant.

That is one hot thar.

Let us imagine a typical scenario:

I am a 4x4 enthusiast, I would love to off-road, but not experienced enough.

I don't want to buy an old jeep and restore/modify it because:
1. I am not well versed in the restoration process
2. I cannot get hold of a competent enough mechanic willing to do it.
3. Availability of spares might be an issue.
4. Since I am a novice, I will upgrade my vehicle in stages as my experience increases.
5. My budget is limited. I don't have enough money to buy, restore and modify the vehicle at one shot.

Not to mention the time required to get the vehicle on road(or off road) from ground up.

When I decide to buy a new vehicle, the points I consider:
1. Its a brand new Vehicle (reliability is more)
2. I should be able to pay off the cost in easy installments.
3. It should be having creature comforts like Air-con, power steering, etc., since I cannot afford to maintain two cars at the same time.
4. The new vehicle should look "NEW" (New Design): There should be cosmetic changes. If I show it to my family, friends or anybody for that matter, they should know why I paying more for a Vehicle.

Coming to the THAR, if the only thing that differentiates it from a MM550 is the badge, how many people will know it?

Making it look like a Rubicon (or any other pleasing designs) may not involve much in the terms of investment. If M&M wants to keep costs low, then it can be achieved only by increasing sales.

Why not go ahead and make it better looking?

I think this is where the assumption goes wrong. Changing the design of a bodyshell is probably no as cheap as it is thought to be. There are so many hidden costs involved which won't necessarily be compensated by the increase in sales atleast in a country like ours.

If at all changes are to be made, then they have to be carried across the entire range of vehicles in that category for cost-effectiveness which again brings us back to square one.

Disclaimer: This is just a speculation from my side. I am no expert.

Thanks :)

Salil,

Agree with your point. This one will sell like hot cakes in the wannabe segment.

Good rendering Boss.

Salil: This looks much better than the stock THAR. Hope MM are listening.

Can you please take away the following:

1. Bonnet Latch
2. Side steps - can you think of a step that drops down when needed and retracts when the door is shut!!
3. Change the Wipers
4. Better Door mirrors
5. A different type of front indicators?

Thanks, you seem to be a gem with photoshoppe!~!

Desmosedici and headers,
Thanks a lot. Let there be more suggestions and comments. I'll do some more mods by this Saturday. Got exams :(

To add to header's list : try to make the tyres wider with a little body lift.

Awesome job Salil! This is the beauty of the 540 base which allows so many possible mods! The bumper with the embedded lights is really nice!!

Am glad this thread came back to the point of what can be done with the Thar rather than what's right/wrong!

Couple of things I would like to see in this pic would be (I already have a black 540 :D)
1) lower slung doors like the Wrangler (look up Randeep's thread for pointers)
2) Bigger tyres
3) Slightly more sloped windscreen to give it a more modern/aerodynamic look
4) A possibly different color (Matt silver maybe - There's one member who's put the Nissan engine who's got that color)

Good luck with your exams! I for one am looking forward to you getting done with them!

Cheers,
Adi

Salil thats just superb! I just love it!

This is a quick chop before I am off to my exams preparation stupid:! Sorry for the shabby job!

• Removed the bonnet latches
• Added a bigger and slightly raked windscreen with modern wipers
• Wider tyres and better looking wheels :)

As I said before, I am trying to keep my renderings as close to production reality as possible because this is the crux of the entire discussion.

This is my latest rendering


This is the old rendering from my previous post