Why I added a Thar 4x4 diesel to my garage: My purchase story!

My garage already has a Rapid with a Stage-1 Remap & a BMW X1; there was no possible use case for the SUV & yet I bought it.

BHPian tejascshetty recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi All, first things first! A huge shoutout to Aditya and this official review thread which is an absolute treasure trove of information for anyone looking to purchase the all-new Mahindra Thar. Credit also due to GTO’s, dr TJ’s, ph03n!x’s and Dr.AD’s ownership threads amongst the innumerable others for all their inputs and sharing their experiences which made this decision so much easier.

Prelude

Had anyone asked me if I was looking to buy a Thar a year ago, I would have probably scoffed at the thought. Don’t get me wrong! I was absolutely in love with the looks and the sheer capability of the Vehicle. That indomitable feeling of having a Vehicle which can conquer all terrains as well as look like an absolute brute while doing it is every person’s dream. And I was no exception to the same. However, it just didn’t make any sense for me to purchase the same at this point.

I had in 2020 acquired the Skoda Rapid in its 1.0 TSI guise, which is presently running a Stage – 1 Remap, and is an absolute hoot to drive in the City. For outstation duties, we have a 2018 BMW X1 which is doing a commendable job of ferrying us in some comfort across cities. So there really didn’t exist a need, despite the constant longing for another Vehicle – especially a 4×4 Body on Frame SUV. Frankly speaking, there was no possible use case for the Thar in my household.

Why the THAR then?

Team-BHP along with its numerous ownership reviews began causing some real FOMO I won’t lie. What began as reading a few ownership reviews ended up becoming a non-stop poring of the same, as well as reading the numerous posts on this official review thread as well. Subconsciously, I began looking up accessories for the Thar without even owning one or even having definite plans to purchase one.

It had been almost 3 years since the All-New Thar was launched. There were a lot more of these bad boys on the roads today. So obviously it shouldn’t be drawing as much attention as when it was first launched right? WRONG. The Thar still draws attention from onlookers like it’s nobody’s business. With its towering presence and inexplicable street presence, it manages to evoke a second glance from even the most disinterested of passers-by. Heck, I caught myself stealing a second glance whenever I passed by one of these machines even after seeing so many of them on our roads. So quite obviously a head-turner.

As mentioned before, the X1 did all inter-city duties. However, with its run-flat tyres, trips to our estate in Chikmagalur had become a bit of a pain with a ripped tyre occurring almost every few trips. The cost of replacing each of those run-flat tyres was quite worrying and ensured a lot more trips to Madhus Tyre Centre than I had originally envisioned (their outstanding hospitality notwithstanding). Additionally, the X1 while a great highway mile muncher and reasonable corner carver, was just not the right vehicle to be trundling around broken and dilapidated roads.

With all these factors in mind, decided to take the All-New Thar for a Test Drive, and the rest as they say is history

Test Drive and Buying Process

Nothing much to really write about in this section. Went to the nearby Mahindra dealership and requested a test drive. A test drive was promptly arranged. As I had originally planned to purchase the Petrol Automatic 4×4, test drove the same. Found the same to be quite exhilarating and the whoosh from the turbo petrol is quite addictive! Thereafter, upon calculating the average range of both the diesel and petrol, realized that the longer range of the Diesel would be more in sync with my requirements. I have fairly quick turbo petrol already and while the mStallion in the Thar is quite a marvel, decided to opt for a more practical choice of the Thar in its diesel guise.

The dealership was happy to provide a Diesel Thar 4×4 for a test drive and arranged for the same to be bought at my residence. After a fairly extensive test drive of the Diesel Thar – felt that the same was more than adequate for my needs. While lacking the sheer pull of the Petrol, the Diesel was no slouch at all, and oodles of torque at your disposal ensure a fairly peppy ride and acceleration off the mark.

The decision was made. It was going to be a diesel Thar 4×4 AT. The last questions remaining to be answered were – (1) Hard Top or Soft Top? (2) Which Colour?

I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the choices and combinations. It all boils down ultimately to your personal preference. While the idea of a Soft Top was quite intriguing, it just wouldn’t be practical in the City. Bangalore with its moody weather – was also not going to be my friend when it comes to having the top on or off. It could be raining cats and dogs on MG Road while being clear and sunny on Lavelle Road. Added to that the security concerns made it a No for me at this stage. This being a Thar, with modification options galore, figured I can always remove the hard top if I really felt the need to do so at a later date (unlikely as it seems now). So Hard Top it was!

As regards the colour, as a young boy a Jeep meant a Bright Red Jeep. As an adult, this emotion hadn’t changed much. Hence, Red Rage it was!

Things moved fairly quickly thereafter. The booking amount was paid, finances were arranged, Car Loan was applied for and sanctioned. 10 days later, a freshly baked July 2023 Thar manufactured was delivered to me! A happy occasion indeed!

Accessories fitted at Dealership level

I intend to pen down a detailed ownership review including all details, so I beg your patience until then for the detailed images. For now, will include the list of the accessories added at the dealership level: