My Raging Red Mahindra Thar

[J.Ravi]

On 16 Nov 2022 [Wednesday], I bought home my all time favourite : Mahindra Thar LX Petrol AT Hardtop Red Rage. From my high school days, I was dreaming of driving/riding Willys Jeep and Royal Enfield Bullet; now, both have become a reality in my lifetime. Although Willys Jeep and Mahindra Thar are not the same, they are like first cousins, if not half-brothers, and have the same DNA.

Thar is my
* first 4x4, A/T tyred, genuine automatic vehicle [not counting Nexon AMT]
* second Mahindra [after XUV 5OO]
* third SUV [counting XUV 5OO and Nexon as SUVs]
* fourth petrol [after Omni/Versa/Linea]

I took two test drives of Diesel MT in 2020 [see here and there] and two more in Petrol AT in 2022 [details are here] and jumped into the Thar bandwagon after knowing its ready availability with Anant Cars, Mysore Road, Bangalore. They agreed for my own insurance and did not pressurize me for unnecessary accessories. Earlier, I cancelled my introductory price-protected Scorpio N booking due to callous attitude of India Garage, PC Road, Bangalore and Mahindra, resulting in postponement of delivery several times.

My Thar was made in October 2022 with 22 km on odometer, when I did PDI at the dealer's stockyard. It was 38 km, when it was delivered.

I have started another long journey with my Thar.

 

[GVC1967]

Congratulations Sir on your new Thar, keep updating

 

[Nairrk]

Congratulations on your new purchase. Enjoy the new ride and wish you many many happy miles ahead

 

[J.Ravi]

Congratulations Sir on your new Thar, keep updating

Thanks for the good wishes. All the good wishes are badly required !

Congratulations on your new purchase. Enjoy the new ride and wish you many many happy miles ahead

Thank you so much.

 

[mayankdixit]

Many congratulations on your new Thar. Smashing colour and smart choice!!
Looking forward for detailed review from you.
BTW I still own 2 of the cars owned by you in the past. Goes on to show both of our choices are quite similar!!

 

[J.Ravi]

Many congratulations on your new Thar. Smashing colour and smart choice!!

Thanks a lot, doc.

I still own 2 of the cars owned by you in the past. Goes on to show both of our choices are quite similar!!

 

[mayankdixit]

My Thar was made in October 2022

I would advise you to check for the presence of rear locking differential. I heard rumours about recent batches of Thar with this feature deleted/ made optional.
I sincerely hope it's just a rumour.

 

[SandeepJohn]

Congratulations on your New Thar.

I would personally prefer BLD instead of MLD, as MLD would have sudden kick in of power, where as BLD would be gradual. This is my personal experience from my Off-Roading with my New Thar.

 

[J.Ravi]

I would advise you to check for the presence of rear locking differential.

I am not a regular hard-core off-roader. I just want peace of mind during my Himalayan drives due to Thar's immense ground clearance, water-wading ability and availability of 4x4 for those tricky situations.

Congratulations on your New Thar.

Thanks a lot.

I would personally prefer BLD instead of MLD, as MLD would have sudden kick in of power, where as BLD would be gradual. This is my personal experience from my Off-Roading with my New Thar.

 

[J.Ravi]

My Raging Red Thar LX P AT HT has completed 2,290 km so far. It has visited Shravanabelagola, Chennai, Kundadri, Agumbe, Kundapura, Maravanthe, Kollur, Hattiyangadi, Attur and Karkala. It had its first free service [at 1,000 km] done at MM Motors, Iyyappanthangal, Chennai amidst cyclonic storm and bad weather. It was literally 'free' service as I was not even charged for consumables. First time, I experienced the real free service!

I enjoyed driving on Kundadri and Agumbe ghat roads. Thar recorded actual fuel efficiency of 10 kmpl of petrol [tankful-to-tankful], when going from Bangalore to Kundapura via Kundadri and Agumbe, covering 434.6 km in 43.39 litres of petrol. Driving in triple digit speed is addictive and thoroughly enjoyable.

I did not face any problem regarding bug hits on the almost vertical windshield. However, it is more than my previous vehicles, Nexon/XUV 5OO/Linea.

I faced fogging of windshield due to very cold ambient temperatures during nights. I had to use the heater extensively to clear fogging.

Hill descent control was very useful, while descending Kundadri and Agumbe hills. Gear-shifting of the automatic transmission was very smooth.

 

[GVC1967]

Test drove the thar today afternoon at a local dealership, the SA was knowledgeable, drove over 10kms on good road as well as truly bad road.
Ride quality on termac was excellent due extra wide tyres,low road noise,and on road with potholes and undulations suspension absorbed them,vehicle being wide which prevents rollover.

 

[Ambylovers]

Hi,
Congratulations on your new Mahindra THAR.
Wishes to clock many more miles without issues.

 

[J.Ravi]

Raging Red Thar has so far visited 6 states. Did sand dune bashing and off-roading. Will post detailed travelogue after my return.
KA
TN
MH
GJ
RJ
MP

Hi,
Congratulations on your new Mahindra THAR.
Wishes to clock many more miles without issues.

Thanks for the wishes.

 

[J.Ravi]

Raging Red Thar celebrated the dawn of 2023 at Thar desert, RJ, where it did sand dune-bashing, off-roading and visited India-Pakistan border at Tanot, war memorials at Longewala & Jaisalmer, forts at Jaisalmer, Jodhpur & Chittorgarh, Bibi ka Maqbara, Ajanta & Ellora Caves and Gol Gumbaz.

We four travelled with our luggage for 15 days without fixing roof-carrier. Raging Red Thar behaved fantastic throughout the trip. No breakdown. No puncture. No problem from cops/RTO. No challans.

I will write a detailed travelogue shortly.

 

[J.Ravi]

During my recent drive to Thar desert in RJ, many petrol pump attendants suggested to affix 'petrol' sticker on the fuel lid so that they could identify 'petrol' vehicle from the distance and guide it to the appropriate pumps. Many times, I was guided to the diesel pump and I had to tell them 'petrol' and I had to reverse Thar and go to the relevant petrol pump. So, after coming home, the first thing I did was to order a 'petrol' sticker from amazon and affixed it today.