I was least interested on the issue but the picture spoke for itself - a convertible!

BHPian ex-innova-guy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

"These bicycles are wrongly parked in my parking area. I think they are stolen and kept here. I feel I have to report to authorities"

A person posted this in our society WhatsApp group. I was least interested on the issue but the picture spoke for itself - a convertible! Only question now was which one?

Lo and behold !! An E46 BMW M3 with SMG Transmission!

NFS Most Wanted.

The lovely wheel arches and exhaust tips.

Quad exhaust tips.

Lovely Alloys with blue brake calliper.

Red interior blending with S-Presso.

Check ou BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Some of the types that are available in India include hatchback, sedan, SUV, crossover, MPV/MUV, sportback, coupe, SUV coupe, convertible and pickup truck.

BHPian Aditya recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Which one is your preferred body style and why?

Cars come in various body styles. Manufacturers are continuously looking to attract more customers by coming up with new body styles. While some would prefer an SUV for its butch looks, some prefer small hatchbacks and others want the exclusivity that a coupe or convertible gives. Here's a look at some of the body styles that cars available in India come in.

Hatchback

Some of the cheapest cars you can buy today are hatchbacks. They have a shorter wheelbase and are smaller in size than other types of cars. This means that they are easier to drive and park in crowded cities. If the rear seatbacks are folded, a hatchback can carry a good amount of cargo too.

Coming to the drawbacks, since the cars are small in size, interior space is limited, especially at the rear. Also, with all seats occupied, the boot is smaller in size compared to other cars. Apart from this, many hatchbacks have low roofs making ingress & egress difficult.

Sedan

Sedans, in general, have more cabin space than hatchbacks, making them more comfortable. They also have more boot space than hatchbacks and you can keep your luggage out of sight of others in the covered boot. Out on the open roads, these cars ride and handle well making them fun to drive.

However, there are some drawbacks to be considered as well. Because of the extra length (due to the boot), these cars are not as easy to drive and park in crowded areas. They have low roofs which hamper ingress & egress. Many sedans ride low and have poor ground clearance.

SUV

People love SUVs for their commanding driving positions. Their large size gives them an advantage on our roads where "might is right" and other road users tend to give you way. SUVs have a lot of space on the inside, and usually also get a third row of seats. Most have four-wheel drive and high ground clearance which makes them capable off-roaders. Their large wheels and chunky tyres help them tackle bad and broken roads with ease.

On the downside, their size makes SUVs cumbersome to use in the city and because of their high floor, ingress & egress are an issue, especially for the elderly. The cars are bulky and have lower fuel efficiency. They are not very good to drive on the road either and many of them have a bouncy ride.

Crossover

Crossovers are generally just hatchbacks with more ground clearance and plastic cladding and roof rails which lend them a rugged look. Those who find SUVs too large, but still want a rugged-looking car, will find them appealing. The increase in roof height also aids ingress & egress and the higher ground clearance helps them tackle high speed-breakers and broken roads with ease.

However, very few crossovers come with all-wheel drive (let alone four-wheel drive) and that means they may not be as capable as traditional SUVs off the road and not as good to drive on the road as sedans or hatchbacks due to their taller stance. Crossovers are usually 5-seaters and rarely get a 7-seater option which makes them less practical than SUVs.

MPV / MUV

Recently, we had a thread on why MUVs / MPVs are the most competitive body style today. They come with higher seating which means a better view of the road and seating for 5-7 people. Their large size & butch styling along with commanding road presence is important in India where "might is right" on the road. They have large and powerful engines and high ground clearance which is necessary to deal with the large bumps and uneven & unpaved patches of road - a common problem in India.

However, like SUVs, the highway manners of these cars are also not as good as other body styles. Besides, many of them have a utilitarian image which may not go down well with urban buyers. Again, due to their large size, driving and parking in crowded cities will be a problem.

Sportback

A sportback is a sedan with a sloping rear end to give it a sleek and sporty look. Such cars are rare in India and appeal to those wanting some exclusivity. These cars have a liftgate rather than a boot lid. This gives one a large boot opening.

On the downside, the sloping roof restricts headroom for rear seat passengers. Low-placed seats can make ingress & egress difficult too.

Coupe

Coupes are two-door cars with a low roof. They look sporty and usually feature powerful engines. They are more driver-focused. They bring exclusivity and desirability.

On the downside, coupes are expensive and low on practicality. Low seating means ingress & egress is not easy. Some come with rear seats but the rear headroom is compromised. Coupes also have low ground clearance which means the driver has to be careful while negotiating speed breakers and potholes.

SUV Coupe

BMW first came out with this new body style with the X6, combining the high ground clearance of an SUV and the sporty looks of a coupe. Very soon other players like Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Volvo introduced similar cars. SUV Coupes have seating for four and good luggage space.

Like regular coupes, they are expensive and the rear headroom is compromised thanks to their sloping roof line. Their styling can divide opinions too. Rear visibility is poor as well.

Convertible

One of the coolest body styles out there. Convertibles are exclusive and very desirable. With very few of them on our roads, you easily stand out. The biggest plus point of a convertible is the wind in your hair feeling.

However, the cars are expensive and are generally heavier than coupes thanks to the roof mechanism and they also need extra strengthening for their chassis. Even with the modifications, many convertibles are not as sporty to drive as their coupe siblings. Convertibles can't be used regularly in dusty, hot or rainy conditions. Besides, most convertibles are suitable for two occupants rather than four.

Pickup Truck

Pickup trucks are popular in countries like the US and Australia where they are used as workhorses. Some of them have great off-road capability as well. They have seating for four and a large loading bay that can hold more cargo than any other car.

Just like MPVs, pickup trucks suffer from the utilitarian image. They are also too big for Indian cities and parking a pickup truck can be very difficult. Additionally, if the loading bay does not have a cover, the cargo in it is at risk of being stolen.

Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:

My picks:

• Sedans, especially fast sedans. I love European sedans (Virtus, Octavia, 5-Series, M340i, S-Class)
• SUVs: Big & tough ones like the Thar, Scorpio-N, Safari, Endeavour are really my style. Great looks + practicality.
• Crossovers: We have such great crossovers in the market today! Among the affordable ones, I love the Kia Seltos & Nexon EV.
• Coupe: Will definitely own a Mustang, 911 or F-Car one day.

Not my scene:

• MPV / MUV could never be my primary car due to the "van" styling & image. I am a sucker for vanity.
• SUV Coupe is just a way-too-confused & awkward bodystyle to my eyes.
• Convertible isn't my scene (unless it's a 4x4). I'd rather own a Cayman over a Boxster. There isn't a single sportscar I'd buy in convertible guise.
• Pickup Truck: In the USA, yes, because of models like the F150 in luxury editions. In India, it's a pointless bodystyle, although very stylish.

Here's what BHPian MotorDev had to say about the matter:

Voted for Sedan.

I still favour them over any crossover or SUV because of the generous boot space they provide and their appealing aesthetics. Plus, they handle quite nicely as well.

Here's what BHPian vattyboy had to say about the matter:

Voted for SUV Coupé

Looks Delicious

Here's what BHPian CArspeed had to say about the matter:

It’s Sedan for me for the following reasons:

• Comfortable ride
• Flickable and agile
• That proper car-like classic looks

The SUV may be good for the ingress and egress but my dad and other elders prefer my Altis to Compass since according to them they don’t feel tired in Altis even after a long ride plus their feet don’t swell in Altis since they are able to stretch their legs without bending it too much.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Being a Brazilian-spec VW Virtus, the convertible prototype is powered by a 1.4-litre TSI

Volkswagen Brazil has revealed a Virtus Cabriolet at its facility in Sao Bernardo do Campo. The Virtus convertible is a one-off project built especially for the occasion of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva's visit to the brand's facility.

The VW Virtus convertible was specially designed to transport the President around the plant's various facilities. VW Brazil is said to have built the prototype in just 6 weeks with a team of 30 professionals.

Volkswagen hasn't just chopped off the roof of the Virtus but has actually worked on the car. Due to the absence of the roof, other key areas have been strengthened, suspension components have been upgraded, and the doors have been slightly realigned and are now pillarless. The car has been painted in Biscay Blue and rides on 18-inch wheels. Inside, the car has an all-black interior.

Being a Brazilian-spec VW Virtus, the convertible prototype is powered by a 1.4-litre TSI, which is not available on the Virtus offered in India.

Source: NoticiasAutomotivas

The Mechatronics program offers a 3.5-year course that focuses on developing school leavers' talents to take up critical roles.

Skoda has showcased a unique 4-door convertible based on the Rapid, developed as part of the first-ever 'Student Car Project' in India. The Rapid convertible was created by students from the Group Academy's Dual Vocational Training in Mechatronics program. 

As part of their project, mechatronics students from the academy converted a standard hard-top sedan into a cabriolet. Students ensured to complete the project on time and with an immaculate finish. The Rapid convertible gets a retractable Skoda badge on the bonnet with LED lip lighting, an illuminated 'Skoda' inscription on the boot lid and other sporty bits. 

Inside, the car gets a touchscreen infotainment system, scarlet red leather seats and a sporty exhaust. The students also had to integrate the seatbelts into the front seat as the car doesn't have a B-pillar. 

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Academy's Dual Vocational Training in Mechatronics program offers a 3.5-year course that focuses on developing school leavers' talents to take up critical roles.

Since the car had not done a journey even remotely as long as this in a long long long time, we'd decided to take stops every 2-2:30 hours, irrespective of the distance covered.

BHPian ///RMan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Sometime in mid 2022, Aakash8300 and I began the hunt to find him his next car.

The requirements & conditions, while not too many, were as follows:

A V8 with no constraints on body-style.

OR

A V6/i6, but only in a coupe or convertible guise.

OR

A 4-pot convertible.

Cars in immediate contention, fitting into the aforementioned categories were the Lexus LS400, the Lexus SC430, Mazda Miata, R170/R171 SLK, C207/A207 E350, A209 CLK350, E36/8 Z3 etc.
A few others which did not really fit the above categories, but were considered due to sentimental value, like the W210 for example, which Aakash8300's grandfather owned back in the day.

One of the first cars which Aakash8300 went into advanced stages of negotiation was a lovely bottle green Lexus LS400. He flew down to Jaipur with another friend to go see the car, negotiated the price and delivery terms. But like is the case with a lot of imports from the era, paperwork turned out to be somewhat dodgy and that proved to be a deal-breaker.

Amongst all the cars that came by, this is probably the one that Aakash8300 regrets letting go off, the most.

We looked at a bunch of other prospects, but none really materialized.

A few weeks passed by, we had spread the word around to the dealers around and rightly so, one of them reached out with a seemingly clean R171 SLK200 Kompressor. The pricing for this one, however, was a bit on the higher side than the budget on hand. Nevertheless, with hope of haggling down on the price et al, we took the SLK for a check-up and took a few test drives as well. Alas, the seller did not budge on the price as much as we'd hoped for and this SLK had to be passed up as well:

It seemed we had hit a roadblock, with no decent car coming up our way. Just then a friend from Pune put up his beautiful, immaculate BMW F13 650i for sale. We called him up and expressed our interest in the car.

Even before we could plan to drive down to Pune to see the car, it was snapped up, all in under 24 hours of being posted online:

We had looked at a couple of C207 E350s which were offered by a few dealers but the ratio of asking pricing vs condition/work required on the car did not really seem sensible. At the same time, a friend here in Bombay put up his C207 E350 on the block.

Aakash8300 to have a look at this one as well. The car, albeit a high run one, had been in long term ownership and most issues on the car were known. Like they say, a known devil is better than the unknown!
Since we already knew the owner well, he offered that Aakash8300 keep the car for a few days, experience the car properly, before he could close in on the deal.

The butter smooth V6 motor coupled with the sleek body of the C207 seemed like a match made in heaven - and it looked like we had finally found the car we were looking for:

The C207 stayed with us for quite a while, and we drove it to car meets, drives and even took some pictures with its grandad - the C124 300CE:

As luck would have it, Aakash8300 and the owner could not conclude on pricing and payment terms and thus, the beautiful C207 too was returned to our friend, who continued to use it as his daily.

We kept the hunt alive, widening our horizons a bit more, geographically atleast.

One day, I chanced upon a sale post of a black R170 SLK230 Kompressor on Facebook Marketplace and shared it with Aakash8300. He had simultaneously received the Team BHP Classifieds link to the same car from another friend. We contacted the seller, based in Ahmedabad, who immediately sent us pictures and other details.

Aakash8300 then discussed the specifics with him. Meanwhile, I got in touch with my mechanic, who had worked on my Toyota TownAce, soon after I had purchased it in Ahmedabad. In a rather lovely turn of events, he told us he had worked on the SLK in the recent past and shared many details pertaining the car and its history. With the car vetted by someone known, knowledgeable and trustworthy, it helped us gain some more confidence in the car.

A couple of weeks passed after the initial conversation with the seller, when we finally decided to head to Ahmedabad to check the car out in person.

We initially planned to drive down in Aakash8300's W204 C200 Kompressor but then realized we would end up driving back in two separate cars, should we end up buying the SLK. So, we decided to look at other options to head to Ahmedabad.

Akasa Air fares on the BOM-AMD route made it pointless to check any other means of transport - we got 2 tickets with a meal included - all for Rs. 3000! While the flight experience was very sub-par, the flight fare does not really leave any scope for complaints.

After months of hunting for the right car, on the 12th of March 2023, Aakash8300 and I took a 5:40 AM flight out to Ahmedabad to see the SLK230 Kompressor.

A very sleepy Ahmedabad welcomed us as we landed and exited the airport just around 7AM.

With the city yet to get up and running, we decided to head to the area where the car was located and started to look at hotels near the same locality. The optimism that the deal would go through was so high, that the only filter/parameter selected on our hotel booking app was " Parking Available ". We took a cab out of the airport and reached our hotel, which thankfully accommodated us way before check-in.

In a rather spooky coincidence, we were allotted room #202, and the R170 is built on a shortened W202 chassis:

Before we flew out to Ahmedabad, the seller had shared some photos of the car with us:

This particular SLK was a 2001 SLK230 Kompressor with the M111 motor, which is the same block as the W124 E220 that was sold in India, but with 100cc more and a supercharger plonked on top. This particular example was not in the best shape cosmetically, as the pictures show, but was a runner. The spec-sheet of the car is as below:

After checking into the hotel, we freshened up and grabbed some breakfast. Upon getting back to the room, we realized it was still too early for a Sunday morning in Ahmedabad. So, we took a quick nap and at about half past 11, left to meet the seller and see the SLK.

The car was kept ready for us to test drive, and we immediately drove out for one. Sunday morning is the best time to test drive a car in Gujarat, period! No cars on the road at all and that only helped us do a thorough drive of the car, in and out of lanes and by-lanes of Ahmedabad.

After driving the car around for around ~30 mins, we got back to the seller's residence and decided to give him an offer on the car.

After going back and forth over the next hour or so, we finally decided on a number and sealed the deal! The SLK was coming home.

The following hour was spent transferring funds, signing documents and exchanging other stuff pertaining to the car. We picked up the car and drove it straight to the workshop to give it a basic check-up, change a couple of blown light bulbs.

The ever enthusiastic Aakash8300 had carried a fresh set of IND style number plates from Bombay and a Fastag, both of which were promptly installed on the car!

At the workshop, with new plates shod onto it already:

While work got done on the car, Aakash8300, the mechanic and I grabbed some much-needed lunch after all the running around all morning!

Post lunch we returned to the workshop, picked up the car and drove back to the hotel.

In the hotel parking, reflections of a very happy day:

We decided it was only wise to rest out for the remainder of the day, for a 600km journey lay ahead. We did head out for an hour to grab dinner but called it an early night, since both the car and the people needed to be fresh and alert for the long drive the next morning!

Continue reading on BHPian ///Rman's Mercedes SLK drive for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. These feel very high quality and the online reviews are encouraging.

GTO recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

On Team BHP's 19th birthday, I gifted my Jeep something . As I've frequently said before, LED headlights aren't the problem. It's the cheap 8 - 15k Chinese knockoff ones in the market that are the problem.

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. These feel very high quality and the online reviews are encouraging.

Thanks to .anshuman for sharing the importer's contact! I imported these from Offroaders Community, Number 9818059059.

They were largely plug & play with a little trial + error on the brackets, I am told. No cutting of wires at all.

Gulp...those eyes First impressions are positive. Am going to test them out over a couple of days, and then begin compiling my Thar thread which will have all details. Will update on their performance after using them in the city + highway.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The only “affordable” ones I can recount are the Mini Cooper Convertible ~65L and the BMW Z4 20i ~85L

BHPian QuentinTino recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Going by the news - come next month, there is going to be another convertible in the Indian market - the Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet; which made me sadly realise that this is going to be another brick in the wall for most of us, as it will likely be priced between ₹1.5 - 2 crores, hence only the UHNWIs (Ultra high net worth individuals) would be able to afford it.

Hence I feel like the Indian Car scene has no affordable/non-ridiculously priced convertibles

The only “affordable” ones I can recount are the Mini Cooper Convertible ~65L and the BMW Z4 20i ~85L, the rest of the others are either gone from the market or from the 1Cr bracket!

What do my fellow TBHPians think about this dilemma?

God! How great it would be if we had options in the ₹20-40L category!

(Note: Thar is not being counted as a convertible here)

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Nice thread.

Car OEMs are in the business of catering to demand. Hence, if there was a demand for convertibles, they would gladly offer it. But our weather is too hot & too dusty, and there is also the fear of theft with a convertible.

Not just in India, but even in the USA, convertible & 2-door sales have tanked (Convertibles / Roadsters segment is dying | Sales in US & Europe down 80% since 2005).

If you want to enjoy a convertible in India, you can do so only in the evenings, night time and mornings. And it's totally worth it, I might add. Just that you'll have to be happy with a soft-top 4x4 to get your fix (Mahindras, Gypsys, Gurkhas).

Here's what BHPian RedTerrano had to say on the matter:

Convertibles!

Hell, I still haven't figured out the point of sunroofs on Indian cars. As pointed out already, heat and dust are the main pain points.

And then, there is also the other factor. People and culture. One of my friends is a vintage car restorer. This dude.

Once he took a restored vintage beauty (convertible) to visit his relatives. After he came back to the public parking, he noticed someone had tossed a banana peel inside the car.

These are the same types who spit inside brand-new trains or intentionally scratch brand-new vehicles. I do not expect to see any improvement at least in my lifetime.

Here's what BHPian harry10 had to say on the matter:

I love convertibles.

My first experience was when I was 16 years old. We were on vacation at Dalhousie with extended family and one of their family friends brought a Mercedes convertible. He was a prominent businessman from Ludhiana who owned quite a few imports. I was extremely excited and he gave me a good ride in that car. Still, remember the experience. Sadly, in our country where opening the sunroof brings dust, and pollution in a second, convertibles will always be a dream.

Here's what BHPian Jeroen had to say on the matter:

If the weather is a consideration for a convertible, you are not a convertible enthusiast. For decades the UK has been the European country with more convertibles on the road and sold than others

But again, even in the UK, they all drive top-up! If you are a true hardcore convertible enthusiast you drive top down, no matter what the weather. Blistering hot, freezing cold, sun, snow, rain, sleek, all part of of the fun of driving top down. I keep my Alfa Spider in immaculate condition. But the top has a big test in it. I can’t be bothered to fix it properly, because we drive it top-down all the time. We drove more than 8000 km this year, all over Europe, always top down!

I never understand folks that buy a convertible and the. Spend 99% of the time with the top-up waiting for the one-off perfect top-down day per year.

Here's what BHPian Maverick1977 had to say on the matter:

This was one car with one of the most horrible build qualities. While still in production my boss had managed to get one, at a great discount though. The roof would not fit properly and the rainwater would leak inside causing an unwanted swimming pool. The car was poor on power also, can vouch as he used to give it to me to take it to the company office/rep (don't recall exactly now as this was in 2006) often for repairs. He used to hate it and then it became a garage queen.

Spares were tough to get even when this thing was in production, can't imagine what the scene will be like now.

We have never adapted to global car styles - even estates never took off.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Before buying the Thar, I was also considering options like the Hyundai Venue DCT, Hyundai Creta DCT, Skoda Kushaq 1.5 DSG and the Hyundai i20 N Line.

BHPian AMG1 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Intro:

I received her almost 2 months back and I am smitten! She's red, a convertible soft-top, drinks diesel, and sometimes upon mood likes to have Adblue (so I am told by her creators), and yes, she likes to change gears herself (an automatic)! She made me wait a lot to get to her (a typical diva- took months of persuasion with her creator) and by the time she seemed to be interested in me, her creators raised the prices by 63k! (Semiconductor issue means full seller's market these days).

Some background

I got married last year. Both myself and my wife were WFH (Lucknow). A few months back, our work wanted us to relocate to Hyderabad (Return to Office). We felt a need for a vehicle and were convinced needed one that should suit us and our lifestyle

Since it is only 2 of us, we wanted something compact, high GC, and fitting for 28-year-olds - hence the idea of a convertible

It's my first car and I have been using my parents' cars- Elantra 1.8 petrol manual, City manual, and Zen for the past years. This Thar brings many firsts for my family and me as far as the driving experience is concerned- SUV, first diesel, and first automatic car. We have been using a sedan/hatch all these years.

Our work may require regular relocations, I wanted a BH number plate and had to go through a fair share of trouble to get one. I will document the ordeal later

Options considered in preference order: Thar, Venue Dct, Creta Dct, Kushaq 1.5 DSG, i20 N Line (Creta & Kushaq were really stretching my budget)- Car's delivery time was the most influencing factor as due to the chip crisis, most had long waiting period. Point to note: I wanted an SUV but the i20 N Line really tugged me so I considered it.

Initial 3000 km experience

Dealership procured a Thar from their partner dealer in a nearby town for faster delivery and I got my Thar with 315 KM in the odo. The car was standing in the yard since March (It's a Feb 2022 manufacturer, I verified using its VIN)

What I like about her

• Convertible Soft top - An offroader ought to be topless!
• I am extremely delighted with the Thar. The Convertible top is something to be experienced! It transforms you into an instant celebrity with the locals, the wind in your hair feeling is just unbeatable.
• The soft top flapping noise can be noticed above 70 km/h but is not all intrusive and we actually like it. It gels well with the vibe of the Thar.
• Below 100 km/h that noise can easily be countered by raising the music/ ac fan level. I am a very sedate driver and have rarely gone beyond 120 km/h in any car, thus making the soft top noise a non-issue for me
• Takes me 10 mins max to put it up and 5 minutes to take the roof down. However, it took me a great deal of practice. I have taken the roof off and back at least 10-12 times now.

Driving position

I especially like the commanding driving position along with quick acceleration. Almost everyone gives way on the road- making one feel quite important, but importantly trips become stress-free

Rear seat space

Yes! you all read right. Thar is actually spacious for 3 adults in the rear seat. We have actually ditched our Elantra (maybe due to the novelty of the new car) and all 5 of us adults travel together in Thar. I find legroom more than my Elantra in the rear plus the rear seat recline can be done at various extreme angles! Thigh support is severely lacking though in rear

Freedom by Autobox

I can never go back to manual cars. Auto box has brought back the love of driving in me. My wife and sister have now learned driving thanks to Thar's auto convenience and in past 1 month, they have not only gotten their learning license but also have graduated to reasonably good learning drivers.

I find that the auto box took its own sweet time to adapt to driving style (1200km approx) and it generally holds gear instead of upshifting which is good for performance but bad for fuel economy

Off-Road Capability

Well, I haven't even ridden a cycle on rough terrain but my Thar makes me feel like I am a Dakar champ!

Enough has been said about its off-road prowess so I'll keep it short- Its capabilities make me hunt bad roads and I make it a point to run over the roads that have been scaring me so much in past years in my Elantra- I never miss a chance to take my revenge with those roads

Great after-sales

I must add service centres have been very proactive in sorting out any issues I bring up plus they even waive off charges sometimes- clearly they are not sitting with an attitude to flee the customers- top marks to them.

What I dislike about her:

• She has a drinking problem
• Thar has done its 1st doctor visit (service), but I am facing big fuel economy issues. I can never get over 10.2kmpl in the city, which I feel is too low for a diesel.
• The car is only driven in the city with very less traffic conditions (Average speed of all trips show around 20kmph- slow city traffic to be blamed)
• I have calculated the economy 6 times with similarly poor results

Reliability issues - What's a Mahindra without electronic issues!

So, I was prepared for this one and as a personal rule- I will buy TATA/Mahindra products only when they are at least 1.5-2 years in the market.

• Thar always has some alignment issues
• Bluetooth never really connects easily and if it does it's even faster to get disconnected on its own
• The touchscreen interface seems laggy (yes, it's waterproof but is laggy)
• Apple Carplay gets disconnected often
• I got a Pump failure light right after service but they rectified it the next day saying its a false alarm
• The speedometer console goes blank on its own for a fraction of seconds in every trip

Sidenote: Trust only Team-Bhp reviews and Ownership reports! Also, I urge everyone to stop looking at cars with the same lenses, as like us, most cars are different from each other- Thar cant corner like an Elantra nor the Elantra glide over potholes and give an open-top experience like a Thar!

There are far too many keyboard/GoPro warriors with no intention/inclination/knowledge to get a vehicle whose review they give! Case in point the soft top noise, handling, or even the music system- I found Youtube reviews for them seriously misleading once I am experiencing the car. At one point in time, influenced by various influencer reviews, I was about to change my booking to hardtop (thank god I didn't). Purely my personal opinion, not to offend anyone.

I will be documenting my experience regularly as I drive more kilometres and get to know her more.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Cooper S is more fun than a Ferrari in India. Like a fast go-kart really and loads of style too.

BHPian RoadFiend recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Team-BHP friends,

I've been toying with the notion of acquiring a MINI Convertible for weekend adventures on the outskirts of Bangalore. I have other cars for regular duties and this is purely for fun.

However, the almost Rs 60 lakh (On-Road, Bangalore) price is a downer. Since it's the "Convertible" aspect I'm drawn to, I'm starting to wonder about going the pre-worshipped route.

As a case in point, what are the Pros and Cons of the 2013 Mini Cooper 3-door in the link? It's quoted at Rs 25.75 lakh (un-negotiated). What'd be the right price considering Bangalore?

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Go for it, but preferably look for the Cooper "S". I found the non "S" to be dull to drive.

I don't know about Bangalore, but that price is high for a 9-year-old Cooper in Mumbai. You can try to get newer examples.

The pros & cons will be as outlined in our reviews of Cooper. Loads of fun to drive; IMHO, the Cooper S is more fun than a Ferrari in India. Like a fast go-kart really, and loads of style too. Downsides are the cabin size (hence low on practicality), it will remain a toy and the stiff ride quality.

Depending on your budget, you can also consider cars like the SLK, Boxster, A3 Cabriolet etc. Loads of options under 35 - 50 lakhs.

The Thar Convertible is a fantastic choice for open-top cruising in India and you can go offroading too. On the other hand, the Cooper S is way too much fun to drive on tarmac, something the Thar won't come close to (although a Jeep provides a different kind of kick).

Here's what BHPian 2000rpm had to say on the matter:

Any specific reason you are looking for a Mini and not a soft top THAR?

The adventure in a mini will be very limited to what you can do in a Thar!!

Here's what BHPian androdev had to say on the matter:

Thar open-top won't attract as much attention as an exotic like Mini cooper convertible. That can be a pro or con depending on the individual and his/her company.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I haven't had as much fun in a car before. The exhaust has a beautiful note, and no Youtube videos will do justice to what it sounds like when you're in it or around it.

BHPian kashesh recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I've previous owned a 2020 718 Cayman, Last year I've bought a M340i and this year picked a (preowned) 2016 F-Type V6 S.

The 718 Cayman is a great entry level car, and you can have a lot of fun with it. I still haven't driven a car that handles like a Porsche does. It's pretty tight and fun, but that 2 liter engine is quite a turn down. During my ownership experience, i've kept believing that 2 liter is adequate for Indian roads, and nobody could change my mind back then. I've read through a lot of threads here that how much of a let down 2 liter is and I kept thinking to myself that it's not. The Cayman has great appeal too. The curves are just timeless and it grabs a LOT of attention.

After a great deal of research, I got a M340i. You know, power and practical mix. It's a sleeper car, but it beats everything on a flick of a switch. I love the low profile look, and I think the 3 Series is a very handsome looking car. I look at it every time i park it, and i smile every time i floor it. I can drive with my family around with plenty of space for luggage. But it doesn't even come close to handling like a Porsche does and I don't even expect a 4 door to handle like a 2 door. But i missed that agility, and some what exclusivity.

And then I got a F-type V6 S. Simply put I was quite skeptic to buy a 2016 car in 2022, and that too a Jaguar. The reliability issues, and everything I've heard about JLR brand and then going that way just didn't make sense to me. But the car was driven less than 10k, recently serviced, and well-kept. and then I am not so much of a convertible fan. I've also written in the past how the attention of a yellow 718 swayed me from taking it everywhere. So I wasn't quite sure of a red F-Type.

But I did buy it anyway. And it changed my mind on everything (love that about it). After my experience with 2x3 liter engines. I just can't go back to ever buying a decent car with a 2 liter ever again. And it is something that you have to experience yourself for you to realize. I will highly recommend that if you do go two door route, look for a nice one with a 3 liter engine in it. I think with the  M340i, if practicality is necessary, then go this way. If you don't plan on doing long trips, then a two door convertible is very much fun, especially with a 3 liter engine.

I haven't had as much fun in a car before. The exhaust has a beautiful note, and no Youtube videos will do justice to what it sounds like when you're in it or around it. It makes me feel warm and funny when you're climbing the RPM, and the burbles and crackles; it's just so much fun. And the power that the V6 generates, you can make the rear move each time you floor it. It requires some skill to handle when you floor it and that makes it even more fun for me. It's finally some justice for what I had in mind about a sports car. Everybody in my family loves it. And to put it simply, I owned the 718 for a year and put 800 km on it. It's been less than 3 months for the F-Type and I've clocked more than 1k km on it. I WANT to drive it all the time. Also, I found the fit and finish of interiors of Jaguar a lot more appealing than a Porsche. But we all have a different taste. I am honestly quite surprised with this whole experience with Jaguar.

Surprisingly, there's not enough mention about the F-Type here on Team BHP. But it's a car that I am keeping forever and I'd be happy to dedicate time and money in maintaining it.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.