[amol4184]

Hello,

Wanted to keep the thread title short. Here is the premise: I will be flying out of the country for long term and have a Jeep at home that I don't want to sell. But there is no one to drive it regularly either.

xxxx

Now some more details. This car (2016 Mahindra Thar V1) was bought for my dad sometime in December 2020. We were looking for rugged car which would serve the purpose of carrying farming equipment, seeds, nutrients et al as well as ride on our war torn roads without hiccup.

xxxx

Immediately after buying and making a few trips to Pune we decided we HAVE to have a hard top and ordered a FRP HT from Vin. Our thinking was that we would be able to install the HT at home without much hassle, and boy we were wrong. The whole HT installation turned into a major, major DIY operation lasting over three weeks.

However, looking back now that was the biggest and last project I undertook with my father and I am so glad we could do it together. He was engineer by profession with keen eye on details and finishing and that experience proved immensely helpful. After our operation HT, we invited two of our trusted mechanics to drive it and their verdict was same: this does not look like a home grown operation at all. The whole thing was (is) extremely well put together and driving it on highway is a pleasure.

Anyhoo, shortly after the HT was installed, dad took it out to our farm and came back impressed. It reminded him of Jeeps with ROPLAS bodies during his service. It was a nostalgia trip for him and immediately felt at home in the Jeep. I could see how proud he was of it.

That turned out to be his first and last solo drive. Immediately afterwards covid struck and took him away despite being extremely fit for his age.

xxxx

The Jeep now reminds me of him and great time we had together and so I am reluctant to sell. But I would like to hear from members here too.

My plan is to have it kept at home and ask my sisters/BIL to juggle between their car and Thar. Basically, they come visit in their cars and while going back take the Jeep instead of theirs.
The visits may be infrequent and that is my biggest concern. What if for some reason they are not able to come by. Other one being, none of them are exactly what you call enthusiasts - meaning the Jeep won't be in tip-top shape in their hands like it is now. But I guess I have to live with that.

What do you guys think? Surely there others who are in same dilemma for one reason or other. What else can be done? How do you store a car for long term safely?

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by amol4184

I will be flying out of the country for long term and have a Jeep at home that I don't want to sell. But there is no one to drive it regularly either.

Been there, seen that!

If you are not returning anytime soon. Keep your emotions aside and sell it. You don't want to see the car in a sorry-unattended state. That hurts more than selling the car.

It is much more difficult to find a buyer on a (future) short term visit for a non-maintained car. And the asking prices then will raise your BP.

[Chetan_Rao]

Given what you've said about him, keeping the Jeep well-maintained and in-use would've pleased your dad more than keeping it rotting away in a garage just for the sake of holding onto it.

Find a buyer that'll appreciate and use it for what it is, and pass it on. Your dad's legacy will stay with you, vehicle present or not.

[anjan_c2007]

You would be having trusted relatives/good friends who could be employing drivers/chauffeurs. Please discuss the matter critically with them and know more about their drivers and their positive and negative personality traits.

Of the lot of drivers you could select the best one who suits you and agree to pay him a token amount monthly. The Thar keys can be kept with his employer. It needs to be wiped off the dirt, started and taken out for a 8-10 km drive once every week since I am sure that this is a BS IV compatible Thar (for BS VI, long at least 30-40 kms drives are essential technically). And air checking and refuelling if done once a month will keep the machine in ship shape. Even if used sparingly, the engine oil and filter need to be changed once every two years preferably. And the gear oil could be changed once every four years too.

Trust your Thar will get a reliable person for its good upkeep.

[libranof1987]

Sorry for your loss.

Agree with the earlier responses: sell. There's no point being attached to a vehicle that will see no use fitting of the memories you have with it. Unless they have a specific use for this car (eg. they LOVE off-roading and do so very regularly), and have the bandwidth to maintain it, this vehicle serves no purpose. Don't make it an overhead for your sisters/BIL.

[ani_meher]

Sorry for your loss.

Post the death, in whose name is the car? He/she is the legal owner and responsible person for any mishap or even sale of the car.

The HT installation was a great memory, but over time, it will perish. It was not meant to last forever, like an art or a gold piece. Unless you plan to return soon, I would say cherish the memory, and sell the car if there isn't anyone responsible. It will only lose its value over the years and there will come a time where the emotional cost of keeping it will be more than economical cost of selling it and getting a peace of mind.

All the best.

[Turbanator]

Originally Posted by amol4184

I will be flying out of the country for long term and have a Jeep at home that I don't want to sell.

That turned out to be his first and last solo drive. Immediately afterwards covid struck and took him away despite being extremely fit for his age.

My plan is to have it kept at home and ask my sisters/BIL to juggle between their car and Thar.

Can correlate the feelings. I had a similar for our Ambassador car that my Dad used to drive. We lost him very early, he was around 44 when he met with an accident. After my studies, I got the car completely redone and used it regularly. Then newer cars came but it was parked at home for Years.

When I went overseas for a while, my mother gave it to a nearby Gurdwara sahib for some construction/ general use. And that was it, I felt bad but at the same time was satisfied that the car is put to use for a good cause.

If you feel appropriate, you can sell and invest the proceeds in something that can keep his memories alive based on his interests. I will not suggest letting that Jeep rot just for sentimental reasons.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

You would be having trusted relatives/good friends who could be employing drivers/chauffeurs. Please discuss the matter critically with them and know more about their drivers and their positive and negative personality traits.

Unless this "trusted person" has the same level of emotional attachment to the car. To put it bluntly, it will either be abused or will be in a state of disuse. None of which are in OPs control.

In my case, it was my first car that was lying in disuse in my parents place. I can only talk on the phone, I cannot physically go an maintain from a far off land. The car was eventually sold at 40% of purchase value, thanks to all the disuse.

We are grown up adults, we learn to deal with emotions.

[thanixravindran]

Sorry about your personal loss.

I see you have mentioned about the farm. So I guess there will be someone who takes care of the farm unless it is sold out. So my suggestion is to use the Jeep for the farm as your dad would have planned. I am not sure whether you have registered a company for the farming and if so, you can transfer the Jeep to the company name to be on the safer side legally.

Further, even if the Jeep is unused and neglected, there is nothing that cannot be restored to its glory. In life, after some age, you may want to come back to India and do the things closer to your heart and at that time you can do this as a hobby project with an emotionally bonded one.

[amol4184]

Splitting my response so it does not become a huge wall of text.

Originally Posted by narayans80

Been there, seen that!

If you are not returning anytime soon. Keep your emotions aside and sell it. You don't want to see the car in a sorry-unattended state. That hurts more than selling the car.

I will be gone at 2 years minimum. In between there will be no one at home for many months at a stretch - so the Jeep definitely has to live at someone's place. I am now re-thinking my plans of not selling it.

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Find a buyer that'll appreciate and use it for what it is, and pass it on. Your dad's legacy will stay with you, vehicle present or not.

This is something I had not thought of, frankly. Thank you for a nice thought Chetan.

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

You would be having trusted relatives/good friends who could be employing drivers/chauffeurs. Please discuss the matter critically with them and know more about their drivers and their positive and negative personality traits.

It needs to be wiped off the dirt, started and taken out for a 8-10 km drive once every week since I am sure that this is a BS IV compatible Thar (for BS VI, long at least 30-40 kms drives are essential technically). And air checking and refuelling if done once a month will keep the machine in ship shape. Even if used sparingly, the engine oil and filter need to be changed once every two years preferably. And the gear oil could be changed once every four years too.

Trust your Thar will get a reliable person for its good upkeep.

Yes it is BS IV (2016 model). I do have friends who have drivers. Have not discussed the matter with them...yet. I will ask my friend now that travel dates are approaching fast. I know for a fact they like my car for novelty factor.

Originally Posted by libranof1987

Sorry for your loss.

Agree with the earlier responses: sell. There's no point being attached to a vehicle that will see no use fitting of the memories you have with it. Don't make it an overhead for your sisters/BIL.

Yes, I am seriously giving it a thought now. Sisters live in cities where parking spaces are a privilege (even on the streets) and their own parking spaces are full.

Originally Posted by ani_meher

Sorry for your loss.

Post the death, in whose name is the car? He/she is the legal owner and responsible person for any mishap or even sale of the car.

The HT installation was a great memory, but over time, it will perish. It was not meant to last forever, like an art or a gold piece. Unless you plan to return soon, I would say cherish the memory, and sell the car if there isn't anyone responsible.

All the best.

Thank you. The car is on my name so selling it won't be a problem. You have a good point. The responsibility, even if I thrust it on someone will wane after a while since no one else has same connection with the car as I have.

Originally Posted by Turbanator

Can correlate the feelings. I had a similar for our Ambassador car that my Dad used to drive. We lost him very early, he was around 44 when he met with an accident. After my studies, I got the car completely redone and used it regularly. Then newer cars came but it was parked at home for Years.

When I went overseas for a while, my mother gave it to a nearby Gurdwara sahib for some construction/ general use. And that was it, I felt bad but at the same time was satisfied that the car is put to use for a good cause.

If you feel appropriate, you can sell and invest the proceeds in something that can keep his memories alive based on his interests. I will not suggest letting that Jeep rot just for sentimental reasons.

Sorry for your loss and thank you so much for an excellent suggestion. This is something I will definitely discuss within the family and see where it leads.

Originally Posted by thanixravindran

Sorry about your personal loss.

I see you have mentioned about the farm. So I guess there will be someone who takes care of the farm unless it is sold out.

Further, even if the Jeep is unused and neglected, there is nothing that cannot be restored to its glory. In life, after some age, you may want to come back to India and do the things closer to your heart and at that time you can do this as a hobby project with an emotionally bonded one.

Thank you. Interesting suggestion. In past two years so many things happened now I am not sure where life will take me! I might be back, might not be its all up in the air. Right now I and wife have commitments in the USA for next few years. After that who knows.
If I am back, the vehicle would be great to have. The farm right now is unused and can think of pouring money once I am back. It is not registered under a company. Food for thought indeed

[GTO]

I'll illustrate with pictures.

How my Jeep looks today:


What I had to do after parking it in one spot for 2.5 years, while I was away in USA:


If you think you will be back in 2 - 3 years for good, keep the Jeep for your Dad's memories. Anything longer, just sell it.

Ask in your family & friend's circle if someone wants a Jeep. That way, it could still stay "within your circle". Who knows, years later, when you return, you could buy it back .

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by amol4184

If I am back, the vehicle would be great to have. The farm right now is unused and can think of pouring money once I am back.

Sell. Been there, done that.

Held on to my ~3 year old Vento (in warranty) when I went to the US; original plan was one year, turned out to be three years instead. A very close friend was entrusted with using it. He hardly used it for the next year, inspite of me asking him repeatedly over calls/messages. Understood the situation when I came a year later and saw the car had done less than a thousand kms in 1.5 years.

Took it back and kept it within the family; got a driver to drive it but again over the next 1.5 years the car hardly did another 1000-1500 kms. Further faced additional injector & EGR related costs over this time and sold it for peanuts (8 year old car).

-------

Sorry to hear about your loss and can understand your connect with the car. But the truth is nobody else can take care of your car as well as you can. Given the uncertainty in your future plans, the decision is obvious.

[Dry Ice]

If you do decide to sell, you call always retain something from the Jeep and maybe even carry it with you.

Maybe the number plate? If the ownership transfer is out of your current state/RTO, the plates will likely change. You can then ask the new owner to give you the old ones back once he gets the new ones. Just a thought.

[sukiwa]

Originally Posted by amol4184

However, looking back now that was the biggest and last project I undertook with my father and I am so glad we could do it together.

Hope you have documented this memory. Please weigh this memory Vs memory object itself.

He was engineer by profession with keen eye on details and finishing and that experience proved immensely helpful. After our operation HT, we invited two of our trusted mechanics to drive it and their verdict was same: this does not look like a home grown operation at all. The whole thing was (is) extremely well put together and driving it on highway is a pleasure.

If you have trusted mechanics by your side, all that Thar needs is regular usage and maintenance.

The Jeep now reminds me of him and great time we had together and so I am reluctant to sell.

Contrary to suggestions earlier in thread, I would say retain Thar provided someone you know well keeps it running. We have many regretful owners within forum having sold their vehicles be it Thar itself or 2-wheelers like RX100/RD350.

I am currently looking after a friend's Hyundai Creta while he is stuck abroad. I keep visiting nearby suburb and drive it for around an hour every 4-6 weeks. This doesn't have any emotional connect similar to yours, just that a machine needs to be kept in running condition. I also had neighbour's hatchback earlier with me for similar reasons.

My plan is to have it kept at home and ask my sisters/BIL to juggle between their car and Thar. Basically, they come visit in their cars and while going back take the Jeep instead of theirs.

How far is Thar going to be parked, does it have AC for them to use it similar to their current car?

The visits may be infrequent and that is my biggest concern. What if for some reason they are not able to come by. Other one being, none of them are exactly what you call enthusiasts - meaning the Jeep won't be in tip-top shape in their hands like it is now.

Can your trusted mechanics not help here?

[JediKnight]

Keep the Jeep man. Cover it nicely put it in covered parking. Plug the air intake/exhaust. Put fuel stabilizer/microbe growth preventer in the tank. Put some activated charcoal packets on the inside. Keep lot of naphthalene balls inside the engine bay. Overinflate the tyres. No need to tell anybody to drive/maintain it.

Two years is not a lot of time. Probably when you return you will have to change your tyres/battery and go for a complete service. You can get the jeep in working condition. May be some effort/money spent but it is not undoable.

You won't get these simple machines in future. And it reminds you of your Dad Keep it.