[anshumandun]

I've heard in all reviews that the Thar is bumpy on highways and therefore not a good choice as a family SUV for road trips. But seeing travelogues like these, I get so much tempted to get one!

I have booked the new Seltos. It is a wonderful car that makes sense to buy but somehow it is not pulling my heart's strings. I am in a dillema.

So please give your opinion of what would the Thar be as a family SUV for road trips. We are 3 people and we like to travel by road a lot. Just for reference, the other cars in the garage are GT TSI and Tiago EV.

[ghtg1]

Originally Posted by anshumandun

I've heard in all reviews that the Thar is bumpy on highways and therefore not a good choice as a family SUV for road trips. But seeing travelogues like these, I get so much tempted to get one!

I have booked the new Seltos. It is a wonderful car that makes sense to buy but somehow it is not pulling my heart's strings. I am in a dillema.

So please give your opinion of what would the Thar be as a family SUV for road trips. We are 3 people and we like to travel by road a lot. Just for reference, the other cars in the garage are GT TSI and Tiago EV.

Anyone seeing the post would like to buy out Thar straightaway but if you read pictures it would tell you a different story. The way luggage was stacked in back seat I am sure it won't be a comfortable ride and sight for anyone seating next to it and when someone loves to travel long with each extra day of travel this becomes more unbearable. The noise from soft top at highways speeds cannot be music to ears. Obviously when you are in good mood, vacation mode and fascinated by vehicle you always tend to overlook certain shortcomings but in long run they haunt you. I believe GTO and family were able to pull this off as the travel distance and duration would not be much each day (I am assuming it was nothing like 500kms a day or sort and would be much lesser) and like any mumbaikar he would have visited this places often so everything would have been properly planned and well with in comfort zone. If your use case is to travel no more than 250-300kms each day when you travel, and the 3rd passenger is not expected to be an adult anytime soon Thar makes an excellent choice but if anything more, you will be sowing the seeds of rebellion in your family atleast . For me, I have to give up my 2nd child up for adoption if it has to fit my use case or wait for 5 door Thar. Time will tell which option I chose.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by anshumandun

I've heard in all reviews that the Thar is bumpy on highways and
the new Seltos. somehow it is not pulling my heart's strings. I am in a dillema.

So please give your opinion of what would the Thar be as a family SUV for road trips. We are 3 people and we like to travel by road a lot.

You really cannot compare Seltos and Thar. They are worlds apart. From your post above, my honest suggestion is buy the Seltos or similar. The Thar will not fit your requirement as it will be just too impractical, bumpy and uncomfortable for your usage pattern.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Just sharing that in my case after installing the Arka Underbody protection and doing some deep slush and mud roading I was getting lots of creaks and squeaks. We removed the underbody cladding, cleaned all the edges thoroughly and carefully bolted it back on, and the squeakies withdrew. They haven’t been back since, thankfully.

Thanks for the tip! The squeaks have disappeared after driving for 200 - 300 km. If it resurfaces, will follow what you said.

Originally Posted by GForceEnjoyer

Your Thar looks fantastic with the tasteful mods

Thanks.

Would you mind sharing what you used for photography?

iPhone 14 (primarily) with a bit of Samsung Flip 3.

Originally Posted by anshumandun

So please give your opinion of what would the Thar be as a family SUV for road trips. We are 3 people and we like to travel by road a lot. Just for reference, the other cars in the garage are GT TSI and Tiago EV.

Stick with the Seltos as your other two cars are small. You need a good highway cruiser, get the 1.5L Turbo DCT or Diesel AT (depending on running). The Thar makes sense only as the 2nd or 3rd car of the house, and when you already have other cars that are more suitable for expressway runs (e.g. we have the 530d & Superb).

The Thar is like a dedicated home-theatre room in your house...possible only once you have enough bedrooms for family members.

Originally Posted by ghtg1

Anyone seeing the post would like to buy out Thar straightaway but if you read pictures it would tell you a different story.

Truly. Not practical at all. A total heart-over-head choice for the road-trip, but as much fun as the 530d.

By the way, the soft-top's noise is negligible after fitting the seatbelt covers (link in my opening post).

I believe GTO and family were able to pull this off as the travel distance and duration would not be much each day (I am assuming it was nothing like 500kms a day or sort and would be much lesser) and like any mumbaikar he would have visited this places often so everything would have been properly planned and well with in comfort zone.

Bingo! Lonavla is barely 90 km, while Koregaon Park is ~160 km. This entire road-trip was just 500 - 600 km over 6 days.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by GTO

And kids...oh my God, they just flip when they see the Red Thar. If you drive the Thar to a family function, you have to take all the kids for a drive. It's compulsory & non-negotiable:

With cousins last evening:


The non-negotiable part (drive with nephew on Carter's)

[Akib Khan]

After reading each and every word of GTO's and Phoenix's review and drooling at the pictures I went to take test drive and booked a Napoli Black LX soft top Diesel Manual with NBS International Andheri ( same dealership from where GTO bought his Thar) on 31st July 2023 and took delivery on 09th August(yesterday evening). While coming back home from dealership MID showed Engine Check Light and car went into limp mode. Contacted my sales executive Mr.Sagar Hadap and sent him the picture of the light. He promised to arrange a call with service advisor today morning but as per NBS International there was some miscommunication the call back never happened and I had to take my Thar to Sky Automobiles Mira Road MASS. The car is still at the workshop with 100km on the odo.
Sorry for high jacking your thread GTO.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Akib Khan

After reading each and every word of GTO's and Phoenix's review and drooling at the pictures I went to take test drive and booked a Napoli Black LX soft top Diesel Manual with NBS International Andheri ( same dealership from where GTO bought his Thar) on 31st July 2023 and took delivery on 09th August(yesterday evening).

Congrats on the Thar, but quite bummed to hear that she went back into the workshop . Mahindra & their niggles! Even I had two niggles within 24 hours of delivery (reversing camera & Android Auto), but luckily, nothing as serious.

Please do update us on the solution. I sure hope your car is back with you today, so you can enjoy driving it over the weekend.

What modifications are planned?

[Akib Khan]

Originally Posted by GTO

Congrats on the Thar, but quite bummed to hear that she went back into the workshop . Mahindra & their niggles! Even I had two niggles within 24 hours of delivery (reversing camera & Android Auto), but luckily, nothing as serious.

Please do update us on the solution. I sure hope your car is back with you today, so you can enjoy driving it over the weekend.

What modifications are planned?

Hey GTO, thanks for your wishes.
The car is still at the workshop. They have scanned and changed a few parts but after driving for a few hundred meters, the error pops up again and car goes into limp mode.
Maybe I made a bad decision by putting my money on a car I wanted to own since childhood.
In 48 hours of ownership, I had the car for not even 10 hours. Disappointed, anguished, embarrassed.

[inwester]

Originally Posted by GTO

This is indeed a car that pulls the strings straight to the heart.

Congratulations on your awesome Thar and the brilliant mods you have done on it.

I was never interested in buying an off-roader SUV and the Saharas and Rubicons I drove here never made the rational side in me a fan of those.

Now after reading through this entire thread I feel like getting one, that too the soft top version. Your passionate thread and the love for Thar among you all is going to cost me.

Incidentally, my father owns an old Thar which I've never driven (matter of fact I didn't even know we had one until very recently as it was probably always parked at his work).

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Akib Khan

They have scanned and changed a few parts but after driving for a few hundred meters, the error pops up again and car goes into limp mode.

Unhappy to hear this, Akib, but I hope Mahindra fixes it once and for all. What parts did they change already? Is this related to the DPF or exhaust system?

Originally Posted by inwester

Now after reading through this entire thread I feel like getting one, that too the soft top version. Your passionate thread and the love for Thar among you all is going to cost me.

Happy to spread the Jeep love . It's an experience to be cherished. In fact, these cars are so tough + practical + fun that IMHO, every multiple-car house should have one as the 2nd or 3rd car.

Incidentally, my father owns an old Thar which I've never driven (matter of fact I didn't even know we had one until very recently as it was probably always parked at his work).

That looks like a well-used Thar DI version, more of a workhorse than the Thar CRDe. Nice.

[Akib Khan]

Originally Posted by GTO

Unhappy to hear this, Akib, but I hope Mahindra fixes it once and for all. What parts did they change already? Is this related to the DPF or exhaust system?

I have absolutely no idea what they are doing with my car. Not getting any satisfactory response from Mahindra. The only hint they gave me is that the issue is related to DPF and exhaust sensors which is "very minor". Yesterday evening they asked for 2 more days to return my car.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Akib Khan

The only hint they gave me is that the issue is related to DPF and exhaust sensors which is "very minor".

Damn, these BS6 diesel exhaust systems are really a mess. It's the No.1 reason I bought the petrol. Do update us once you get your car back with the problem & diagnosis. I have a feeling that the DEF fluid level might be low, because your DPF is perhaps too new to end up choked. Unless, as the dealer said, it's a sensor issue.

[Akib Khan]

Originally Posted by GTO

Damn, these BS6 diesel exhaust systems are really a mess. It's the No.1 reason I bought the petrol. Do update us once you get your car back with the problem & diagnosis. I have a feeling that the DEF fluid level might be low, because your DPF is perhaps too new to end up choked. Unless, as the dealer said, it's a sensor issue.

Update- Day 4. Car is still at the service centre. Will be getting it by tuesday. Lost trust in Mahindra and their after sales service. Have asked NBS Mahindra to arrange for a flat bed and take their vehicle.

[Akib Khan]

Update- The Thar is back on the road. The sensors have been changed and after 30 km of testdrive the car was handed to me with a mini celebration planned by Sky Automobile service centre. The car is performing flawlessly now. Time to burn hole in my pocket and start modding it.

[ph03n!x]

Originally Posted by Akib Khan

...
Time to burn hole in my pocket and start modding it.

Don't let this initial hiccup spoil your ownership of the Thar. I had a niggle in the first month of ownership, and Mahindra came through - after they fixed it, it's been 54,000 KM and 45 months of excitement, non-stop. Hope it's the same with you, enjoy zillion memories in the years to come!